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Malaga is one of the most popular destinations along Southern Spain’s sunny Costa Del Sol. Famous for long sandy beaches and lively Spanish towns.
I’ve visited Malaga, and the surrounding region of Andalusia and the Costa Del Sol several times over the past few years. Each time I visit, I discover even more reasons to keep going back!
Often known as the capital of the Costa del Sol, Malaga is the most visited destination in this sunny coastal area. And with good reason! It’s no wonder that Malaga draws visitors to the city each year. With long stretches of sandy beaches, a charming old town and lively bars and cafes.
Malaga is a great destination for a European city break or long weekend away. There are frequent low-cost flights and great train links between the city and airport.
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Best things to do in Malaga
I’ve answered some key questions around planning your trip to Malaga at the end of this blog, but for now, let’s get into some of the best things to see and do in Malaga!
Visit the Cathedral
Malaga’s cathedral is one of the most spectacular cathedral’s I’ve visited. It sits in the centre of the Old Town and is surrounded by cafes and shops.
Inside the cathedral, you will find ornate choir stalls and stunningly detailed pillars, ceilings and sculptures. The sheer size and scale of the cathedral is even more impressive from the inside!
It costs €10.00 to enter the cathedral, which includes an audio guide. If you also want to climb the tower to access the cathedral roof, you can buy a combined ticket for €15.
If you enjoy looking at historic and beautiful buildings, then I’d really recommend visiting the cathedral. It is one of the best things to do in Malaga Old Town.
Stroll around the Alcazaba
The Alcazaba is a moorish-style fortress which sits on the top of a hill on the edge of Malaga’s Old Town. On one side, there’s gorgeous views of the Port.
The fortress is a series of ruins and resorted rooms, which show glimpses of its palatial past. In between the buildings are small courtyards with manicured gardens and water fountains. Whilst it is not as large as the Alcazar in Granda or Sevilla, it is a must-visit when in Malaga. You’ll need around 1 hour to explore the Alcazaba.
The ticket price is budget friendly, too at just €3.50. However, it is much better value to buy the combined ticket. This also includes entry to the Gibralfaro castle and costs €5.50. Tickets can be bought at the entrance, or if you want to avoid the queues in the busy summer months, you can also buy them online.
See the Mirador de la Alcazaba
Sitting in between the Alcazaba and Malaga Old Town are the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre. You can see the ruins from the main pedestrianised street, but for a slightly different view, follow the signs for the Mirador de la Alcazaba. This short walkway will take you alongside the amphitheatre to several viewing points, each of which gains in elevation. Eventually the path will stop in front of the walls of the Alcazaba at the back of the amphitheatre so that you are looking down onto the seats.
There’s no cost to do this and will only take about 20-30 minutes, making it a great free activity in Malaga!
Visit Castillo de Gibralfaro
Built high on the top of the hill, Gilbralfaro castle dominates Malaga city. It dates back to the 14th century and was constructed to house and protect troops who were guarding the Alcazaba. Today, it is mostly ruins, but it was once known as the most in-pregnable fortress in Andalusia.
The best way to see the Castillo de Gibralfaro is to buy a combined ticket which gets you into both the castle and the Alcazaba. The cost is only €5.50 which is great value and very budget friendly.
You can walk up to the castle from Malaga Old Town, but the path is very steep and can be hard going in the heat of the summer months, so take water with you! Luckily, there are several viewpoints along the way where you can stop to catch your breath and take in the sea views.
If you are not able to, or would rather not walk up the hill, you can take a bus, taxi or drive to the entrance of the castle, too.
Wander around Malaga’s Port
Malaga’s Port is more of a working Port, with large commercial ferries and boat tours departing from here. You won’t find as many privately owned yachts or sailing boats, as you would in the French Riviera, but it is still nice to stroll around. The Port area is a really popular place for eating lunch al fresco or to sit and enjoy a coffee or beer. There’s plenty of restaurants to choose from, to suit all budgets. There’s also a couple of shops here, too.
Malagueta Beach
Leaving Malaga’s Port behind, you can continue to stroll around the waterfront and along the seafront promenade adjacent to Malagueta Beach. Malaga’s main city beach is not the prettiest beach, however it’s a nice place to cool off on a hot sunny day. In the summer months, it does get quite popular and the restaurants on the beach open up to serve lunch and drinks. Even in the winter months, walking along the promenade is a nice way to spend an hour or two and you might even spot windsurfers.
Wander around Malaga Old Town
There’s nothing I love more when visiting somewhere new than strolling around without a plan and exploring the little side streets and passageways. Malaga’s Old Town is perfect for this!
Most of the Old Town is pedestrianised and there are so many streets and squares to discover. All of which have an abundance of cafes, tapas bars and shops to visit along the way. Stroll to the popular Plaza de la Constitution and see the Fuente de Génova. Visit the Church of the Holy Martyrs Ciriaco and Paula which is tucked away down a quiet, unassuming alley. See the Iglesia de San Juan – with its baroque tower. And discover cute little cafes, shops and tapas bars hidden in the maze of narrow streets.
Go shopping
Malaga is a great place for shopping. Luces Navidenas is Malaga’s main shopping street, with well known high street and designer brands. If you visit around Christmas, this street is decorated beautifully with lights reminiscent of London’s Regent’s street.
For some serious shopping, jump on the train from Malaga Centro to Plaza Mayor. This is an out of town shopping centre and designer outlet. You will need to catch the C1 train in the direction of Fuengirola and take it 5 stops to Plaza Mayor.
If you want something a little less mainstream, you can find lots of independent, smaller shops dotted all over Malaga Old Town to pick up a souvenir.
Cool off in Malaga Park
Sitting between Malaga Old Town and the Port is the leafy Malaga Park. Whilst it is not quite as impressive as some other European city parks, like the incredible Jardin du Tuileries in Paris, this tree-lined city park is a great place to cool off on a hot summer’s day. Adjacent to the main park is a small landscaped rose garden, which is a pretty place to take a seat and rest your feet after a long day walking.
Visit the Picasso museum
If you are interested in art, then you might want to visit Malaga’s Picassco museum, located in the centre of the Old Town. The museum, which is much larger than the Picasson museum in Antibes, France, sits inside a restored 16th century palace and houses over 200 pieces of work by Picasso. After all, Malaga is known as the birthplace of Picasso!
Enjoy Malaga's food and drink scene
One of the best things to do in Malaga is to enjoy all of the delicious food! There are so many restaurants, cafes and tapas bars to choose from, you are literally spoilt for choice. One of my favourite things to do when I’m in Spain is to have a ‘Tapas bar crawl’. Just hopping around different bars and enjoying a drink and tapas in each one!
Another thing I love doing when I’m abroad is eating lots of ice cream (the ice cream is always better than in the UK somehow!). Luckily, there’s ice cream and gelato shops all over Malaga and the Old Town. It’s hard to go wrong wandering around the Old Town and picking a great restaurant or bar. But I’ve listed a couple of my favourites below:
La Terraza de La Alcazaba – An open-air rooftop bar with views of the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre – great for evening drinks
El Pimpi – popular traditional wine cellar and tapas restaurant with views of the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre – make sure that you book!
Casa Lola / Pez Lola – Casa Lola and Pez Lola are part of the same small group. Both are incredibly popular. Think good, traditional tapas and lively atmosphere.
La Tasquita de en Medio – Large, airy Tapas restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Large menu and delicious food.
Fuente Plaza del Obispo – This cute square is lined with several great restaurants, with indoor and outdoor seating. The main focal point is the magnificent Malaga cathedral which can be seen from any of the restaurants, making it a really special place to dine, especially in the evening when the cathedral is illuminated.
Café Lavazza Granada 44 – Budget friendly, simple cafe with amazing cakes and great coffee
- La Tarta de la Madre de Cris – THE place to go for traditional cheesecake!
Best Day Trips from Malaga
Malaga is such a well connected city, making it a great place to base yourself if you want to explore the wider region.
If you have more time in Malaga, I’d highly recommend taking one or two day trips to some of the beautiful locations Andalusia has to offer. Soak up the cultural sights of Ronda and Granda. Take on the challenge of hiking the Caminito del Rey. Or enjoy some beach fun along the Costa del Sol in Torremolinos or Marbella.
There are simply too many great daytrips to include in this post, so I’ve written a separate blog post about the best places to visit from Malaga on a daytrip, here.
A guide to visiting Malaga
Now you know some of the best things to see and do in Malaga, here’s some useful information for visiting the capital of the Costa del Sol…
Who is Malaga for?
Although there are activities that families can enjoy, the main draw of Malaga is the Old Town and the lively bar and cafe scene. Therefore, I personally would say that there is more to do in Malaga for couples or groups of friends.
Perhaps for families wanting to visit Malaga, it might be best to tie it in with a beach holiday along the Costa del Sol. You could then stay somewhere closer to the beach or with a pool and visit Malaga as a daytrip.
How long do you need in Malaga?
Malaga is a fantastic destination for a long weekend or short city break. There are numerous low cost airlines that frequently fly direct to Malaga. And from Malaga airport, you can take the train into the centre of Malaga in just 30 minutes. Making it really convenient for a short visit.
I would say that 3 days / 3 nights is a good amount to stay in Malaga. This will allow you to explore the main highlights in the centre of the city. Of course, if you have more time, then you could easily spend 5 days or more in Malaga. Use the city as a base from which to explore the wider Andalusia region, or along the Costa del Sol.
What is the best way to get to Malaga?
By car:
Malaga is surrounded by main highways, making it really easy to travel by car. Whilst you wont need a car to get around Malaga city centre, a car can be handy if you are planning on exploring the wider area of Andalusia. If you don’t have your own car, you can rent a car to take a day trip.
By train:
If you are travelling from elsewhere in Europe or Spain, you can reach Malaga by train. Many of the long distance trains arrive into Malaga’s Maria Zambrano Station. From here, you will need to transfer onto the C1 line and travel one stop to Malaga Centro to get into the city centre.
By plane:
Malaga has a good sized airport and is well connected with the rest of Europe. There are numerous low cost airlines that fly in and out of Malaga.
Travel to and from Malaga airport
To get to and from the airport, you can take a taxi or bus. However, the easiest way to get from Malaga airport to the city is by train. Simply hop on the C1 line direct from the airport to Malaga Centro Alameda. You can use your contactless bank card to tap through the barriers. There are also ticket machines you can use if you prefer.
Tip: there are two train stops for Malaga- Malaga Maria Zambrano and Malaga Centro Alameda. For the city centre, you will need to get off at Malaga Centro Alameda, which is the last stop and the end of the line.
If you are using your bank card, I would strongly recommend using a card with no overseas charges. Personally, I have an account with Starling and have used my Starling card all over the world avoiding bank charges. I recommend Starling to all my friends and family, but as with anything – make sure you do your research first to check that it is right for you.
Transport in Malaga
Malaga is a very walkable city and the majority of Malaga’s Old Town is pedestrianised. If you are only planning to spend 2 or 3 days in the city, it is likely that you won’t need to take any transport at all (except to and from the airport). However, there is a hop on, hop off sightseeing bus which will take you to all of the main sights around the city if you prefer.
Trains in Malaga
In addition to connecting the airport with Malaga city, the C1 train line runs all the way to Fuengirola. This connects Malaga with some of the most popular towns on the Costa del Sol.
Malaga is also well connected with other major towns and cities in Andalusia and beyond. If you are heading further afield for the day, or you are extending your trip elsewhere, take a look at the Renfe website for full details of the train network in this region.
Buses in Malaga
Malaga has a great bus network which will connect you to both local towns and popular places further afield, such as Marbella and Ronda. Many of the local buses will allow you to buy your ticket on the bus using either contactless card or cash. Depending on the value of the ticket you purchase, they usually they do not accept notes of under €5 or €10, so just bear this in mind.
For long distance buses, I would recommend booking your ticket in advance online as the seats on the coaches do get filled up, especially in the peak summer months.
When is the best time to visit Malaga?
It’s not just the charming Old Town and tapas bars that draw the many visitors to Malaga each month. The weather also attracts many tourists through the year.
The weather in the Costa del Sol is pretty mild and sunny for most of the 12 months of the year, making Malaga a fantastic year round destination. And I can say that with experience. I have visited Malaga in June, October and January and have had great weather every time.
The summer months are obviously the best time to visit if you want to sunbathe and swim in the sea. However with temperatures rising to mid-30’s, it can be unbearable walking around the Old Town and seeing all the sights in the midday heat. Personally, I think the best time to visit Malaga is in the autumn months – September to November.
When I visited in October, the summer crowds had thinned out, so we were able to enjoy all the sights with fewer people to share them with. You’re able to get a good seat in a restaurant or bar without having to wait, yet the atmosphere is still buzzing. Plus, it is still pretty warm! I was walking around in a t-shirt and shorts during the daytime and just a thin jumper and jeans in the evening.
Even in January, the average temperature when I was there was 16 degrees. The Costa del Sol is really a great place to enjoy some winter sun! Plus travelling out of season means that accommodation is much more affordable and available.
Is Malaga expensive?
Malaga is a very affordable city break destination. Even if you are on a budget, you will have a great time. There are so many things to see and do in Malaga for free! Plus, you can get a great meal and enjoy a couple of drinks for much less than in the UK! For example, a glass of local wine is approximately €3-4 and a beer would cost around the same. A sharing sized Tapas dish is as little as €5-6 in some places, too.
Malaga has so many bars and restaurants to choose from. There are plenty of shops for beach picnic supplies, or little takeaways if you want to keep things even more low cost.
Public transport in and around Malaga is also very budget friendly. A coach from Malaga to Marbella costs less than €20 for a 1 hour journey each way. And the train from the airport to Malaga Centro is just €1.70!
Accommodation is the only thing that can be expensive, but even then, you can find great deals. Obviously, the more central, the higher the cost of accommodation. There are several boutique hotels nestled within the narrow streets of the Old Town, as well as large chains around the edge. For a hotel with an impressive rooftop view, there’s no better location than the AC Marriott.
For something more budget friendly, I always use booking.com to search for the best deals on hostels, guesthouses and apartments. I often find that apartments can be cheaper than hotels, so it is worth keeping your options open.
