Things to do in Málaga: visits, activities and attractions

Discover the best things to do in Malaga. Tours, places to visit, cultural activities and attractions in the capital of the Costa del Sol.

Malaga is the capital city of the Costa del Sol and offers so much more than just an airport. This is an essential day trip from Marbella, as it’s easy to reach and is full of history, culture, art galleries and wonderful bars and restaurants. It’s also a great place to choose for a holiday in its own right.

What to visit in Málaga?

We love Malaga! Over the last decade it has seen a lot of investment and been transformed into one of the must visit destinations on the Costa del Sol, yet sadly many of the tourists to Marbella miss out, so we hope you’ll take our advice and fit a day or two in Malaga into your next holiday on the Costa del Sol.

If you do, here are our recommendations on places to visit in Malaga –

Picasso Museum Malaga

Malaga is Picasso’s birthplace and so you can’t miss a visit to the stunning Picasso Museum in the Old Town to enjoy his work. It has a great collection, from some of his earliest works, to excellent pieces from throughout his life and it is housed in a beautiful old building tucked away in the Old Town.

Alameda/Malaga Park

A stroll along the Alameda in Malaga is a must do activity. This is a beautiful park, which stretches for nearly 700 meters between the port and the main street. It’s a great route to return from the Port into the centre of the city, enjoying the trees, plants and flowers, and the welcome shade. There are benches and places to rest, as well as statues, fountains and areas such as the music area, which often hosts concerts and events.

Carmen Thyssen Museum in Malaga

The Carmen Thyssen Museum is a spectacular art gallery in Malaga, offering a collection of Spanish art through the ages in a stunning building. Visiting the museum allows you to enjoy some wonderful architecture, including the remains of a Roman villa in the basement of the museum, plus over 200 works of Spanish art. The main period is the 19th Century for the permanent collection, but they also have regular temporary exhibitions, exploring different art forms and themes.

Málaga’s Roman Amphitheatre

In the centre of Malaga, in front of the Alcazaba and the city walls are the remains of a Roman amphitheatre. This is the oldest monument in Malaga, which was built in the first century BC and not rediscovered until 1951. There is a fascinating Visitor’s Centre next to the theatre, which is free to enter and gives the history of the site and its excavation and restoration.

Pompidou Centre Malaga

This art gallery is the first Pompidou Centre outside of France, which opened in the port area of Malaga in 2015. You won’t miss the striking, coloured cube which houses the gallery, designed by French artist Daniel Buren. The modern art collection features pieces from some of the finest 20th and 21st century artists and there are lots of temporary exhibits to enjoy. We’d also recommend checking out the events and children’s activities if you’re travelling with kids.

The Russian Museum in Malaga

This museum is located in the old tobacco factory in Malaga and showcases Russian art of all kinds, in a beautiful setting. It runs regular exhibitions charting the history of Russian art and culture, with long term and temporary exhibitions as well as events, including concerts, cultural events and talks. Please note, that it is located 3km out of the centre of Malaga, next to the Misericordia Beach. You can get there by Metro – get off at the Princesa-Huelin stop, or by using the numbers 3, 7, 15 and 40 buses.

Malaga Cathedral

Malaga’s cathedral is right in the middle of the beautiful Old Town and is hard to miss. It is built in the Renaissance style and was built between 1528 and 1782. The architecture of the building is breathtaking, and it includes some wonderful artworks, including a striking Gothic altarpiece, and various chapels, statues and relics. You can visit the cathedral and follow the audio guide to learn about the many fascinating aspects of the cathedral. You can now also have a VR experience to bring the history to life.

Alcazaba Fortress in Malaga

The Alcazaba dominates the skyline of Malaga Old Town, with its fortified palace and walls, perched high on the Gibralfaro mountain. It was built as a fortification in the Islamic period, becoming a palace, fortress and seat of government. The architecture is spectacular, with arches, courtyards, gardens, towers and water features, which showcase the beauty of Moorish building techniques. You can stroll along the walls, visit the Nasrid palace and see exhibitions of ceramics from Muslim Malaga, as well as going to the visitor’s centre in the castle, to learn about Gibralfaro castle and its history.

Soho Málaga – the Art District

Moving away from the historic centre of Malaga, you’ll find Soho, a cool and edgy area, with a strong urban art scene. There are amazing graffiti art murals, by renowned artists, and several art and cultural centres. There are independent shops and cafes, and restaurants catering to the younger, more alternative crowd. There’s also a monthly market on the first Saturday of each month.

What to do in Málaga?

There is so much to love about the buzzing, beautiful town of Malaga. It is the perfect excursion from Marbella, so make sure you don’t miss it on your next trip to the Costa del Sol! Here are some of our favourite things to do in Malaga.

Enjoy Malaga’s gastronomy

Malaga is full of great restaurants and tapas bars which are buzzing from lunchtime, late into the night – the trouble is choosing where to go. The standard of the food is very high and service is normally good, so choose your favorite looking place, or if you can’t decide, do a tapas crawl to visit five or six different places and try a dish in each.

Discover the beaches of Malaga

Malaga has some great beaches along its 14 kilometers of coastline. You can stroll down the seafront promenade between them and sample the great cuisine, or perhaps just have a drink in one of the many beach bars and chiringuitos. There are 16 beaches in total, many of which have blue flag status and offer lots of things to do and a wonderful place to relax and soak up the sun. The most popular beaches are La Malagueta, Playa del Palo and Playa de la Misericordia.

Enjoy Malaga’s nightlife

Malaga is a buzzing city, with a large student population and as the region’s capital, it has some of the best nightlife on the Costa del Sol. Dinners are long and leisurely and people hit the bars and clubs late. We’d recommend checking out the areas of Plaza Mitjana and Plaza Uncibay, as they have lots of bars and clubs where you can party long into the night. Check out TripAdvisor’s recommendations for nightlife in Malaga to choose your destination.

Discover Andalusian culture

There are many ways to do this, from visiting a flamenco show, joining in with the Malaga Fair in August, visiting during the Carnival and Easter processions, or seeing the Three Kings come to town on the 5th of January. Tapas culture, live music and Spanish art is all alive and well in this stunning city, so check what’s on during your visit and go and experience it!

Shop til you drop on Calle Larios

Calle Larios is Malaga’s central artery and is a paradise for shoppers, with international brands and independent boutiques. It is pedestrianised and has benches to rest weary feet, as well as great coffee shops and wine bars nearby. This is the perfect place for some retail therapy!

Visit the stunning port

Muelle Uno is the newly developed port area of Malaga, which must be visited. Strolling along the waterfront you will find sculptures, parks and playgrounds for the kids, museums, great bars, restaurants and shops. There’s always lots going on and it has a wonderful atmosphere, plus you get to ogle the amazing superyachts!

What to visit near Málaga?

Malaga is the Costa del Sol’s capital city and so it’s easy to visit other areas during your stay. You can take the train from Malaga to Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola and buses and coaches connect Malaga with the rest of the Costa del Sol. Hiring a car gives you the most flexibility to explore the towns and villages near Malaga.

Marbella

It is under an hour by car to get from central Malaga to central Marbella, and we’d very much recommend visiting this beautiful town. It’s got a strong international identity, great restaurants and bars, interesting history and culture and lots going on. The beaches and seaside promenade are wonderful and it’s a laid back and cosmopolitan place to visit at any time of year. The Old Town is stunning, and full of history, and it’s a pleasure to explore the winding streets, pretty squares and discover its many wonderful shops and restaurants. Search holiday rentals in Marbella Old Town

Nerja

An hour’s drive to the east of Malaga is the spectacular town of Nerja. Famous for its coves, bays and crystal-clear waters, it’s very different from the Costa del Sol and well worth a visit. The Old Town is full of great bars, restaurants and shops and there’s lots to see and do. The beaches are spectacular, if a little hard to reach, and it is famous for one of the most spectacular caves in the region.

Estepona

Estepona is a charming town to the west of Malaga, with a strong Spanish identity. The Old Town is beautiful, with white washed streets lined with plant pots and pretty squares. It is known for its excellent restaurants and green spaces, and is called the garden of the Costa del Sol. Check out the wonderful murals on many of the buildings around Estepona and visit the Orchidarium, to see one of the largest collections of orchids in Europe, and the indoor waterfall! There are loads of great events and activities taking place in Estepona throughout the year.

Search our holiday rentals in Estepona

Caminito del Rey

If you like the great outdoors and are ready for an adventure, you should definitely hike the Caminito del Rey. In the beautiful countryside outside of Malaga, this is an iconic hike, which takes you along some very high walkways and bridges across the spectacular gorge. Please note, this is a very popular activity, and you do need to book tickets quite far in advance, so if you plan to walk the Caminito del Rey during your holiday on the Costa del Sol, get those tickets early.

We hope this guide to Malaga helps you to enjoy your visit to the full. We love visiting Malaga throughout the year and we know you will too!

 

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