Málaga

Understand

Málaga is capital of the Málaga Province. It has a typical Mediterranean climate, and was the birthplace of the artist Pablo Picasso.

Climate

Malaga's weather is quite mild throughout the year. The city is very sunny in summer and can also experience some sun in winter. Rainfall is generally scarce and normally takes place during the spring and autumn. During summer temperatures rise over 30 °C, in some occasions reaching up to 38-39 °C. Winters experience colder temperatures, with January averaging 9.5 °C. In September, October, April and May, the weather is mild but usually maintains a cool regime, with temperatures rarely rising over 25 °C, making it ideal to go sightseeing the city and its surrounding areas without the heat of the summer. The winter months can witness unpleasant weather with temperatures feeling colder than they are due to the wind. Sunshine is scarce during the winter, and this causes the closure of most activities. It is therefore advisable to visit Malaga in June or September, as despite the possibility of rain, the city is less crowded and the temperatures more comfortable than those of the chilly winter and of the hot summer. Humidity is relatively high due to the proximity to the sea, so normally thermal sensation makes it seem colder or hotter than it really is.

Tourist information

Málaga Tourism website

Getting there

By plane

1 Málaga Airport (AGP IATA). The third biggest international airport in mainland Spain (after Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat Airport). As a holiday destination, the airport's primary tenants are discount carriers and charter airlines, although limited service on the European national carriers (Air France, British Airways, etc.) is available. Seasonal service (non-daily) is available from New York-JFK on Delta. Getting there/away:

Bus. Line A express is very convenient, running every 20–25 minutes and stopping at Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque, where most of the local buses that serve the city stop as well, costs €4 (Oct 2024). The route map for bus A can be seen online. The stop names are shown on an electronic display inside the bus so you can tell when to get off. (NOTE Bus & Metro websites are geoblocked outside of Spain) From the airport you can get a train (C-1 line), that goes to Málaga Centro Alameda station in city centre. It costs €1.80 (Dec 2024), runs every 20 to 40 minutes from about 07:00 to 01:00 and takes 8 minutes to reach the María Zambrano station for transfer to Renfe's high-speed AVE service or the main bus station which is right next to the train station. Train route and timetables are here. A taxi to the city centre will cost about €20, a journey to Málaga Port will cost around €25. Taxis can be found at the airport's taxi rank just outside the arrivals hall of Terminal 2. Generally, there are taxis available, although you may have to queue and in summer the queues can be very long. Minibus. Taxis can carry a maximum of 4 passengers regardless of passenger age. Although this can be cost effective if 4 passengers are travelling together over shorter distances, it can be expensive if travelling in large groups. Licensed minibus transfers can be ordered in advance that carry up to 17 passengers for a fixed fee and will meet you in the arrivals lounge of Terminal 2. Minibus companies can not be flagged down from outside Malaga Airport it is forbidden. A typical single transfer to Marbella will cost around €110. Renting a car at Málaga's airport is relatively cheap, but it is advisable to book in advance.

By carpooling

In Southern Spain (Andalusia) you usually get a better price using Blablacar than travelling by train or intercity bus.

Getting around

By foot

The best way to get an impression of Málaga is to discover the charming corners, stunning sights and lovely neighbourhoods by wandering the streets and narrow roads on foot: take a stop for churros con chocolate, ice-cream, a coffee or some tapas and enjoy the Andalusian atmosphere.

By bicycle

Málaga is making big improvements when it comes to cycling. Nowadays Malagueños use their bikes more often to go to work or for recreational use in the weekends. Also Málaga established a cycling association supported by the local public transport association. The use of bicycles is promoted as being eco-friendly, fun, safe and healthy. Promotional campaigns in the form of group cycle activities or excursions outside Málaga are being introduced and this has led to big success. Meanwhile, Málaga also constructed several bike lanes. Due to this construction the centre is also better connected with the northern part of the city. The historical centre of Málaga is already free of motorized vehicles, which makes cycling much safer than in the past. Also spots like the boulevard and the harbour are only accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. This 2-km-long boulevard is wide enough for cyclists to enjoy and cycle in a relaxing fashion. Besides cycling in the city the coast area of Málaga is also worth exploring by bike. Going east from Málaga is probably the most popular route as it's possible to travel along a route through the twin traditional fishing villages of Pedregalejo and El Palo all the way to the end of Rincon De La Victoria without going on the main road. Travelling west along the coast is not quite as straightforward, for example biking from Málaga to Torremolinos is a popular route but it is difficult to find a good route away from busy highways but it is possible. Cycling inland north from Málaga is characterized by steep climbs with little in the way of long easy winding routes. The Montes de Málaga is probably the most notable mountain route from the city where an elevation of over 900 m can be reached in less than 15 km, this route is known locally as "The Reina" and is not for the lazy cyclist. Other notable climbs include a section known locally as "The Wall" which is a terrifying descent or climber's challenge depending on what direction it's cycled. "The Wall" is a 9 km section between Moclinejo and Almáchar (this is the terrifying descent direction) on an inland route from Malaga to the coastal resort of Torre Del Mar. An alternative mountain route for the committed cyclist is around the "Sierra de Mijas". The route goes west from Málaga on quite a busy main road past the airport, then up a steep country road to the white villages of Benalmadena Pueblo and Mijas Pueblo, dropping down then to Alhaurin el Grande and back on the north side of Sierra de Mijas to Málaga via Alhaurin de la Torre.

Escapada Cycling, Plaza Poeta Alfonso Canales. 10:00 - 20:00. High-end road bike hire. starts from €35/day. (updated Apr 2019)

See

Málaga has become a well-known place for visiting art galleries, historical sites and monuments in the South of Europe: 1 Alcazaba, C/ Alcazabilla 2 (from the bottom of the hill in the centre of the old town; buy your tickets online and skip the queue at the entrance through the building on the right), ☏ +34 630 93 29 87, gmpalcazaba@malaga.eu. Apr-Oct: daily 09:00-20:00; Nov-Mar: daily 09:00-18:00. A Moorish castle built in the 11th century on a hill in the middle of the city, this old fort is the best-preserved of its kind in Spain. Upon entering you'll climb up past the ramparts offering excellent views of the city and lush gardens to a small Moorish palace at the top which holds a number of artifacts from excavations on the site. €5.50, free Sundays after 14:00. 2 Roman Theater (Teatro Romano), C/ Alcazabilla 8 (next to the Alcazaba), ☏ +34 951 04 14 00. The beautiful remains of an old Roman theater. You can view them anytime from the overlook in the plaza, but if you want to get up close you can enter the attached building, where you'll be shown a short film and view some artifacts before entering the theater itself, where you can walk past the old stage and sit on the stone steps. Free. (updated Nov 2024)

3 Castillo de Gibralfaro, C/ Gibralfaro 11 (at the top of the hill, you can walk or take bus #35 (not Su)). Tu-Su 09:30-19:00, closed on Mondays. Another Moorish castle and the counterpart to the Alcazaba, the Castillo sits on a larger hill behind the Alcazaba and offers an incredible view of the city and neighboring suburbs from the ramparts that encircle the castillo. Within the fortress is a set of gardens and some displays, including an exhibit on the various military forces to have occupied the fort. Between the Castillo and the Alcazaba, visit the Alcazaba if you only have time for one, as the Castillo requires a hefty hike or a bus ride (bus 35) up the mountain. €3.50; reduced €1.50, free Sundays after 14:00. Combined ticket with Alcazaba €5.50. (updated Dec 2024)

4 Málaga Cathedral (Catedral de Málaga), Calle Molina Lario 9, ☏ +34 952 21 59 17. M-F 10:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 14:00-18:00. In the heart of the city centre and well worth visiting. Adults €10. (updated Nov 2024) 5 Picasso Museum, Palacio de Buenavista, C/ San Agustín 8 (in Buenavista Palace in the centre of the old town), ☏ +34 952 127600. Jul-Aug: daily 10:00-20:00; Mar-Jun Sep-Oct: daily 10:00-19:00; Nov-Dec: daily 10:00-18:00. The Picasso museum hosts exclusive paintings and other artworks by the Málaga-born artist. Your entry fee also provides access to regularly changing exhibitions by other artists. €12. 6 Picasso's birthplace (Museo Casa Natal de Picasso), Plaza Merced 15, ☏ +34 951 92 60 60. Daily 09:30-20:00. Loads of objects and some paintings that the most famous artist of the 20th century created during his childhood. €3. 7 Museo Carmen Thyssen, Plaza Carmen Thyssen, C/Compañía 10, ☏ +34 902 303131. Tu-Th 10:00-20:00, F Sa 10:00-21:00, Su and holidays 10:00-20:00 (open M and closed Su in summer). Opened in 2011 and has an excellent collection of 19th and 20th century Spanish paintings. €8. 8 Centre Pompidou Málaga, Pasaje Doctor Carrillo Casaux, s/n 29016, Muelle Uno, Puerto de Málaga. 09:30-20:00 except Tuesday closed. Works from the Paris Centre Pompidou's collection. See website for prices. (updated Nov 2024) 9 Museum Jorge Rando, Calle Cruz del Molinillo 12, ☏ +34 952210991, info@museojorgerando.org. M-F 10:00-14:00 & 16:00-20:00 Sa 10:00-14:00 (Afternoon session is one hour later June-September). Museum focussed on expressionist art. (updated Nov 2024) 10 Interactive Museum of Music (Museo Interactivo de la Musica Málaga), Muralla Plaza de la Marina, ☏ +34 952 210 440. Daily 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-20:00. Has one of the largest collections of musical instruments in Europe. €6.

Do

Visit the remodelled Port Area (south of the Plaza de Toros de la Malagueta). A hive of activity, especially at weekends, the new Port Area or Muelle Uno is a wonderful seaside addition to the city. Bars and restaurants abound overlooking the harbour and there are normally free music concerts and market stalls at weekends. A great place to people watch. Rock climb. There is lots of great rock climbing in and around Málaga. The amazing El Chorro gorge is 50 minutes drive to the north west and this also features the 1 King's little pathway - an amazing pathway suspended high above the gorge. There is also Via Ferrata and rock climbing at 2 El Torcal. Beaches: The nearest beach to the centre is La Malagueta - this is fine for a day's sunbathing although quieter and prettier beaches can be found further east or west. It can be a nice (if rather long!) walk along the waterfront to reach these beaches, otherwise you could get a bus from near the bull ring in the direction of El Palo (e.g. line 33). Malaga East tends to have smaller beaches while Malaga West have long stretches of beaches. 3 Sightseeing Treasure Hunt Málaga (Malaga City Adventure), Plaza de la Constitución, 29008 Málaga (meeting point next to the fountain), ☏ +34 618 250 617, info@malagacityadventure.com. By appointment, tours last at least 2.5 hours. Malaga City Adventure is a startup company and pioneers in Treasure Hunting Events in Málaga. They offer a Sightseeing Treasure Hunt for tourists and tailor made team building events for companies. Equipped with a treasure hunting bag, a treasure book with information and recommendations and a modern GPS-compass you explore the historical centre of Málaga, search for hidden items and solve challenging riddles to find the secret treasure. Tours last 2-3 hours, you are in your private group and do the treasure hunt at your own pace. €25 - 35. (updated Feb 2024) 4 La Cochera Caberet, Bus 3 to Camino del Pato or metro La Paz 2 . Small music & theatre venue a couple of km out of the centre. (updated Dec 2024) 5 La Trinchera, C. Parauta, 25 (Bus 20 to Paquiro-c/ La Oratava or Victoria Kent C-1/C-2). Concert Hall 2 km west of city centre. (updated Dec 2024)

Events

Semana Santa (Holy Week). The Holy Week processions in Málaga are known for at least 500 years, and are one of the oldest in all of Spain. They begin Palm Sunday and end Easter Sunday. The Spanish Legion's procession is a must see on Maundy Thursday. (updated Mar 2016)

Shopping

Most merchants are able to accept Credit Cards, and can use contactless tap. Although tipping is not required, if you want to add a tip you need to tell the merchant before they put the amount into the credit card machine, because there is no option to add the tip in the machine. Otherwise tip with cash. Even most bank ATM's are able to do contactless (e.g. Apple Pay) withdrawals. 1 Central Market (Mercado Central de Atarazanas), Calle Atarazanas (north of the Alamada Principal). M-Sa 08:00-15:00. A lively market featuring regional produce and olive oil, fish, meat, and cheese, housed in a 19th-century wrought iron building. Don't miss the restored, enormous stained glass windows, as well as the large 14th-century Moorish gate incorporated into the building's southern façade. Plaza Mayor. An out of town shopping centre full of boutiques of almost every major luxury brand in the world, including Armani, Prada, and Versace, rivalled only by Puerto Banús in Marbella. You can get there by bus, line 10, M-136 and M-123, or by train, get off at stop Plaza Mayor C-1. El Corte Ingles A huge department store right in the heart of Málaga, it also has a huge selection of luxury brands, but its main advantage over Plaza Mayor is the selection of fragrance and its location. The metro station Guadalmedina 1 2 is right in front of it. Librería Rayuela idiomas, on Calle Cárcer . A valuable resource, offering textbooks and dictionaries for learning just about any European language you could desire.

Eat

Along the coast there are dozens of restaurants and chiringuitos (beach restaurants) where you can have fish, seafood, paella, sangria, etc. One of the most famous chiringuitos is El Tintero, at the east end, where there is no menu: the waiters sing out what they are carrying and they leave you a plate at your signal. From time to time, one of them offers to give you the bill. The most typical thing to eat in Málaga is espetos, sardines squewered on a bamboo stick and grilled over a fire (typically driftwood); and pescaíto frito: all types of deep-fried fish from anchovies to squid. A speciality of Andalucia is fish (most commonly dogfish "cazon", although sometimes other fish such as tuna, "atun") marinated in garlic and vinegar - look on the menu for Cazon en adobo. Try also the coquinas (small clams cooked in white wine). Simply delicious! Jamon is a regional specialty, and is an aged, salted ham, from acorn-fed pork, similar to prosciutto. One final note: do not bother picking oranges from the trees that grow all over the city. They are of a very bitter variety and are not good to eat. You can however make marmalade out of them, if you were so inclined!

Budget

Beware of places that seem to have prices too good to be true like Bar Aduana Vieja near Malaga Museum. They'll give you extremely tiny portions but luckily they are easy to avoid - they have horrible reviews on Google Maps.

Centro historico

There are several inexpensive restaurants in the historical centre.

Drink

Málaga has a local sweet wine called Moscatel made from muscat grapes. It can be tasted in popular pubs in the city centre, like the famous old La Casa del Guardia (Avenue Alameda Principal) or the well-known El Pimpi. Málaga nightlife will make you think that nobody sleeps in this town even during the work week! It is especially busy from Thursday to Sunday, where people buy drinks at supermarkets and drink them at night in controlled areas known as "botellodromos" in the city centre, before going into the clubs:

Metropol, Cosa Nostra, Vaticano, Andén (big busy Latin club) Velvet Club (aka Sonic, plays metal, hardcore, punk) [not open Sundays] Nyx, Urbano, Village Green (Rock, Indie, etc.) White, Abyssinia, Bar El Sound (Rap, Hip Hop, R&B) Paradise/Punto G, Warhol (gay) ChillHouse ( house-dance music) There are several nice Moroccan-style tea houses in town, serving an amazing variety of teas in addition to other interesting non-alcoholic drinks. Craft beer

1 Central Beers, 6 Calle Cárcer, ☏ +34 636 82 97 00. M-F 18:00-02:00; F-Sa 13:00-03:00; Su 13:00-03:00. Good choice of Belgian beers. Busy at weekends. (updated Nov 2024) 2 Birras Deluxe, Plaza de la Merced 5, ☏ +34 621007218. open from 17:00. Belgian & American-style beers on tap with friendly staff. Food available. (updated Nov 2024) 3 Tako bar (Little Delirium Tako Bar), C. Álamos 2, ☏ +34 682868575. Mainly Belgian beers with range of Tex-Mex food available. (updated Dec 2024)

Sleep

There are basically two good locations for tourist lodging in town: At the beach, or in or near the pedestrian zone in the centre. The cheapest beds are found in the red light district between the centre and the port.

Budget

1 Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Malaga, Calle San Telmo 14 (in the city centre), ☏ +34 952 005 116. Check-in: midday, check-out: 11:30. It has a big roof-top terrace to overlook Málaga and a bar in the basement. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast. From €14, dorms and double rooms. Directions: From Bus station Paseo los Tilos it's a 2-km walk to the Oasis Hostel at Calle San Telmo 14. Walk to the right of Paseo los Tilos turning into Callejones del Perchel. At the roundabout take a right into Avenida de la Aurora crossing the river. Continue on the river bank on this side for about 800 m, (Pasilla de Santa Isabel) until you turn right into Calle de los Cisneros. Turn into the 4th street on the left, Calle Santos, next to the right, than left again, than right again into Calle San Telmo at No. 14 from €14. Pension La Palma, Calle Martinez 7, ☏ +34 95 222-6772. Run by a friendly lady, this cheap and cheerful place has rooms starting from €30. It's very central and some rooms have little balconies. Pension Costa Rica, Calle Córdoba 5, ☏ +34 95 221-3577. Very primitive and in the middle of the red light district, but it seems to be one of the cheapest available. From €20. Picasso's Corner, San Juan de Letrán, 9, ☏ +34 95 221-2287. Right in the historic district, close to the beach. Bar and lounge, food and disco shows. 15-20.

Mid-range

2 Hotel Alameda, Street Casas de campos, 3 (corner street Cordoba,9) (next to the harbour, a short walk from Alameda Principal (sur) stop on the no. 19 bus), ☏ +34 95 222-2099, info@hotelalamedamalaga.com. Economic budget between the historical centre and the port. All rooms have private bathrooms, television and air-conditioning or heating. The hotel is on the eighth floor of a building shared with other businesses and you will need to use the buzzer (well labelled) to speak to reception so they can let you in. (Reception is staffed 24 hours a day.) From €55. 3 Apartamentos Debambú, Calle Cintéria, 7, ☏ +34 952 21 99 16, info@debambu.es. Centrally located, with very clean rooms. Exceptionally clean and modern, with helpful staff. Free wi-fi, airport shuttle available. From €60/studio. Málaga Hotel, Acacias de Guadalmar 153 (on Guadalmar beach), ☏ +34 95 217-6061, fax: +34 9521756552, info@malagahotelpicasso.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 3-star hotel with garden, swimming pool, jacuzzi, restaurant. Boardwalk with beach restaurants (chiringuitos). €60 - 119. 4 Oficentro Suites, C/ Tomas Heredia, 8 (city centre), ☏ +34 952 213 447, info@oficentro-suites.es. The apartment is fully furnished and cleaning is done weekly. (updated Mar 2024) Silken Puerta Málaga, Héroe de Sostoa 17, ☏ +34 93 280-2988. Very stylish four-star from the Silken chain, opposite the main train station. Beautifully decorated rooms and bathrooms, with great attention to detail. Good discounted rates in winter (€56-69+VAT). Hotel Guadalmedina, Pasillo del Matadero, 16, ☏ +34 952 365 146. €55-90. Suites del Pintor, C/ Montaño 18 Portal 3, ☏ +34 952 22 43 50. Bright, comfortable apartments in Malaga's historic centre (updated Jul 2016) Hotel MS Maestranza Málaga, Avda. Cánovas del Castillo 1, ☏ +34 952 21 36 10, maestranza@mshoteles.com. Nice 4-star hotel in the centre of Malaga. (updated Jul 2016) Higueron Hotel Malaga, Curio Collection by Hilton, Avenida del Higueron, 48, Fuengirola, ☏ +34-95-1505101, hotel@reservadelhigueronresort.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. (updated Jan 2021) 5 ibis budget Málaga Centro, Hostal 1 - H/Ma/02083, C. Calvo 4. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Well located comfortable basic budget hotel from French Hotel chain with good wifi. (updated Mar 2026)

Go next

Málaga has exceptional road and motorway links, making it an excellent base for exploring the nearby villages and towns. Wonderful drives inland reveal the hidden gems of this region, with small restaurants nestling in the hills where you can experience an authentic taste of Andalucia. There are also several tourist holiday resorts within reach: Torremolinos, Nerja and Marbella. Berrocal's Museum System. Exhibition venue around the work of the sculptor Miguel Berrocal in the Andalusian village of Villanueva de Algaidas, in the outskirts of Málaga. The project offers the possibility to visit 3 exhibit spaces:

The Museum has its first wing dedicated to painting and graphical works. The Studio-Workshop is devoted to the creative and technological processes behind his sculptures, particularly the puzzle sculptures that are made to be disassembled. The House-Museum focusses on the personality and life of Berrocal, and houses artworks made by his friends For an exotic experience, you can visit the autonomous city of Melilla with a 75% discount on flights (30 min) or ferries (6 h) through the Melilla vouchers.

More pictures of Málaga

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.