11 Best things to see & do in Malaga

For thrills, chills and hopefully no spills, this vertiginous walkway, pinned 100m above ground to the walls of the narrow gorge, has become one of Andalusia’s top bucket list attractions.

Originally built in concrete in 1905 for hydroelectric plant workers, it earned its name, the ‘King’s Little Path’ in 1921 when Alfonso XIII walked it to open the Conde del Guadalhorce dam.

As it crumbled and devil-may-care walkers began plummeting to their deaths, it was closed in 2000. Fifteen years later, it reopened with a spectacular new and safe 1.5 km-long boardwalk.

Andalusian cooking is renowned for fresh seafood, olives and olive oil, sun-ripened vegetables, garlic and paprika.

Cooking is simple, letting fresh, delicious ingredients speak for themselves. Much of the preparation in the kitchen is minimal – fish is usually lightly dredged in flour and golden fried in olive oil.

Cold soups star in summer, hearty stews in the winter and melt-in-your-mouth cured ham (jamon serrano) year-round. Many of the desserts, many involving almonds, go back to Arab times.

Sangria, as elsewhere in Spain, is a popular drink, as is sherry.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in Malaga. The city’s Picasso Museum, set in a restored 16th-century Andalusian townhouse in Malaga’s historic centre, displays over 250 of his paintings, sculptures and ceramics spanning his entire career. Book an entrance ticket here and a private guided tour here.

Here Carmen Cervera, the Malaga-born wife of Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, displays her prize collection of mainly Andalusian art, ranging from the mainly religious works of old masters to the colourful, luminous landscapes, portraits and street scenes from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Malaga’s Arab shipyards were adapted in the 19th century to create this wonderland of fresh fruit and veg, meat and seafood. In fact, the entire neighbourhood is devoted to food – it’s a great place for a tapas crawl.

A monumental, atmospheric complex of inviting pools that resembles a movie set, with a steam sauna and hot table, and 30-minute massages on offer. Client numbers are strictly limited so be sure to book online.

This gigantic, breath-taking stalactite show cave is open all year round, with possible night visits. Buy the ticket that includes the museum, with photos of the cave’s inaccessible art –possibly the oldest paintings in Europe, dating back to 42,000 BC. 

Every 3rd week in August, Malagans (and their millions of guests) take to the streets for an exuberant week-long street party. It’s the largest part in the Costa del Sol, and one of the largest fiestas in Spain.

Expect sevillanas street dancing, colourful flamenco-style dresses, castanet-clicking, an opening firework display, concerts and plenty of sherry.

The fair commemorates the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and Ferdinand in 1487.

This well-preserved Moorish city fortress, built 11th century on a hill in the city centre, was used as a military installation right up until the 18th century. The complex includes an outer enclosure, and an inner enclosure that housed the palaces.

It’s connected by a walled corridor to the higher Castle of Gibralfaro, and adjacent to the entrance are the remains of a Roman theatre, dating back to the 1st century AD.

Paris’s famous Pompidou centre is home to Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art – anything from Picasso to Pop Art. Malaga’s striking museum outpost – housed beneath the colourful Cubo, was initially established in 2013 for 5 years – and was subsequently extended to 2025. It houses a permanent exhibition of several dozens of works of the impressionist collection of the XX and XXI centuries. It also hosts 2 or 3 temporary exhibitions each year, sourced from the parent collection and designed by its curators.

Opened in 2010, this quirkily-named museum houses the private collection of Portuguese car fanatic Joao Magalhaes.

There are more than 80 vintage and modern cars here, arranged in 10 themed areas such as Belle Epoque, Art Deco 30s and English Tradition.

Alongside the cars, presumably to interest the wives of petrol heads, are beguiling displays of fashionable travel memorabilia from the 20s, 30s 40s and 50s, including a collection of 300 vintage hats.