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Destination guide for Malaga

Malaga, Andalusia, Spain

Close up of the beautiful cathedral from the side

Last updated: 22 June, 2023

Expert travel writer: Dana Facaros

Spain’s increasingly hip sixth city, Malaga has 3,000 years of history to explore and gorgeous sandy beaches. Although it’s the capital of the Costa del Sol, forget any retired expat or package holiday atmosphere; Malaga has energy to spare.

Wander through fascinating Old Malaga, with its Moorish citadels and gardens, and discover a lively contemporary art scene, including the Picasso and Carmen Thyssen Museums and a branch of Paris’s Centre Pompidou.

A year-round destination, bathed in winter sun with superb restaurants and bars, Malaga is a great urban battery charger for the whole family.

Orientation

Plaza de la Constitucion is the heart of Old Malaga, a triangular district framed by the Guadalmedina river to the west, the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Hill to the east, and the boulevard of the Alameda Principal/Paseo del Parque to the south, parallel to the port and beaches.

Calle Marqués de Larios, the main north-south street, passes the landmark Cathedral. The Soho district, renowned for street art and galleries, is tucked just west of the port.

Tours, tickets & transfers

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers

The Best of Malaga in 2 Hours on a Segway

Malaga

We start our guided tour from the Paseo del Parque, than through the "Palmeral de las Sorpresas” straight to Port of Malaga. Next stop of our Segway tour is at the Cathedral, also called "la Manquita" because they never finished constructing the South Tower. Than your private guide will take you to great Picasso Museum. After Pablo Ruiz Picasso birthplace, guide will take you to the Plaza de la Merced, an important square of Malaga. After Roman Amphitheatre, built by César Augusto, we will roll from the Monte de Gilbralfaro to the Parador Nacional. Our professional guide will tell all the history and you will enjoy the most amazing views of the coast of Malaga where you will take a lot of photos. We ride down with Segway back to the city and streets, roll up to the Plaza de Uncibay. We continue our journey through the Plaza de la Constitución to the famous Calle Larios, built in 19th century and now converted into the fifth shopping street more expensive in Spain.

Price: €55

Min age: 8

Rating 4.95 / 5 [674 ratings]

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1 Hour Malaga Panoramic Segway Tour

Malaga

We will start our guided tour from Calle Larios, built in century 19th by the family of the same name and converted today into the fifth most expansive shopping street in Spain. Than through Plaza de la Constitución we will slide by our original segways to Plaza de Uncibay. Your guide is going to take you to the Alcazaba, palatial fortification of the Muslim period at the foot of the Monte Gibralfaro, and allow ourselves to be seduced by the story and the beautiful views of the Bay of Malaga. After we reach Roman Amphitheatre, built by César Augusto. Also we can see the birthplace of Picasso, which Foundation promotes since the end of the 90's. Will roll through the Plaza de la Merced, observing all the perspectives of the neoclassical Obelisk that stands in the middle as a tribute to General Torrijos. Picasso Museum, the old Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista

Price: €35

Min age: 8

Rating 4.93 / 5 [279 ratings]

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Malaga Tour with Cathedral, Alcazaba and Roman Theatre

Malaga

Would you like to visit the most important monuments of Málaga? In this Full Tour you will discover the emblems of the city such as the Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba, Picasso’s birth place and the Cathedral, known as “la manquita”. Málaga, one of the most prominent cities of the Nasrid Kingdom, was the main harbor of the country and inside its Alcazaba a small Alhambra can be discerned. Almost all the city can be seen from the top, so the panoramic views will leave you speechless.

Price: €32

Min age: 0

Rating 4.60 / 5 [192 ratings]

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Malaga Electric Bikes Guided Tour

Malaga

This 2h E-bike tour is the best to do during your stay in Malaga! Electric bikes are fantastic! If you have never used electric bike before, get ready to feel new amazing sensations! You only need to know how to ride a regular bicycle. Within two hours, we show you the best of Malaga in term of architecture, sceneries, and culture. This tour is designed for you to have fun and to get the best overview of our great city, and, its lifestyle. Last but not least, you ride through the Gibralfaro forest up to the hill. On the top, we have a little break to leave you time to enjoy the AMAZING VIEW over the bay!

Price: €34

Min age: 10

Rating 4.80 / 5 [179 ratings]

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Ultimate Malaga History & Tapas - All Included Full Experience

Malaga

Discover the must-see places as you explore Malaga with a licensed local guide in this Ultimate Malaga Food & Culture Experience. See monuments, hidden places, and more, and take in the city’s major attractions as the Alcazaba Arabic Fortress, Roman Theater and Cathedral with all tickets & fast track skip the line included. After this complete history lesson, you will learn and enjoy great local food paired with the best Spanish wines in two different restaurants, all-included on this Ultimate Experience in Malaga – Spain. You’ll get simply the best of the best with this combination of history and food

Price: €95

Min age: 4

Rating 4.96 / 5 [117 ratings]

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Travel advice

When to go

Peak season is spring, with Holy Week (Semana Santa) and other fiestas: Christmas is another busy time. The city roasts in July and August; if you go then, take a long afternoon siesta.

Autumn is lovely and warm; January and February are quiet, and can be rainy, but offer a good chance to feel like a local.

Getting there and away

Malaga’s international airport is 20 minutes from the centre, linked by train (the C1 line) with a station directly under Terminal T3; it runs every 20 minutes until 11.20pm. For the heart of Malaga, get off at the last station (Centro-Alameda). Buses (Linea A Express) go the centre from Terminal T3, level 0, and run every 15 minutes until midnight. Buy tickets on the bus. Taxis are easy to find.

Getting around

All the sights of Old Malaga are in a compact, walkable area. Taxis and Ubers are readily available, and the efficient bus network (EMT), is useful for reaching the Sunday flea market (No. 54) or the Botanical Gardens (no. 2) from the Alameda Principal.

Although traffic can be crazy, hiring a bike isn’t a bad option: there are miles of bike paths and it’s a great way to get to the beach.

Where to stay

Hotels are concentrated in evocative Old Malaga, in walking distance of the historic sights, bars, restaurants, shops and the Playa de la Malagueta.

There are cheaper choices around the main train station in the new part of town, a 20-minute walk from the sights. If you want to spend a lot of time on the beach and enjoy Malaga’s nightlife, look at the seafront hotels along the beaches of Malagueta and Pedragalejo.

Where to eat or drink

Old Malaga is packed with tapas bars, gastro bars and new edgy restaurants, several sporting Michelin stars for their takes on new Mediterranean cuisine.

For seafood (and the city’s famous pescaíto – crispy fried small fish) head to the strip of restaurants along Playa de la Malagueta, or east to the cool bistrots and chiringuitos (beach bars) of Pedragalejo or El Palo, that stay open long into the night.

Where to shop

Smart shops and international chains line Old Malaga’s pedestrian Calle Marqués de Larios and around, but the whole district’s little independent boutiques make for fertile fashionista hunting ground.

The big Sunday Cortijo de Torres flea market in the fair grounds has 300 stands; Sunday also sees local artists and artisans selling their creations at Muelle Uno near the cruise terminal.

Try the excellent covered market, the Atarazanas Central Market for local produce and foodie treats.

What to buy

Local wines and olive oils, Spanish designer fashions and colourful hand-painted ceramics.

Destination guides

Other guides relevant to this destination

Andalusia

Andalusia, Spain

A big dazzling region, packed with fascinating cities, beautiful landscapes and beaches, colourful fiestas and oodles of sunshine.

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