Why we love this underrated city!

Originally published October 5, 2022. Updated Febaruary of 2024.

All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.

For many years, Málaga city was not on the radar of most travelers to Spain. This is for a variety of reasons. Many people think Málaga is just an airport and a cruise ship port.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Málaga such as that it is full of “expat enclaves” like a lot of the Costa del Sol (not true! read on!) and that there is nothing to do in Málaga (again, totally false! read on!), and many more incorrect stereotypes about this city.

Those false notions about the city coupled with the fact that Málaga has always been somewhat of a diamond in the rough has made it less popular than many of its neighboring cities in Andalucía.

But within the past 10-15 years, Málaga city has changed and undergone a renaissance in many senses. And we think you definitely should add it to your Spain travel itinerary.

In our Ultimate Malaga travel guide, the team at Spain Less Traveled reveals why this bustling city on the Mediterranean is one of our favorite cities in Spain!

A city that looks forward, into the future

The biggest draw to some of the other cities in Andalucía is that they hold on to their past (in a good way). But Málaga city is very different in that it has a ton of history, but really looks forward into the future.

Sure, the historic center is not as quaint as the one in Córdoba.

And the cathedral is not grandiose as the one in Seville.

And unlike Granada, there is not a well preserved Moorish quarter with Moroccan vibes (and no, you simply can not compare Málaga’s Alcazaba to Granada’s Alhambra).

But what you will find in Málaga is a vivid art scene, with more museums per capita anywhere in Spain except Madrid. A free-thinking, up and coming city with lots of gastronomy and Southern Spanish culture, but with more of a modern flair.

Click here for our in depth guides to Andalucia.

Your ultimate Málaga travel guide

Beaches, art, architecture, history, Andaluz culture, nature, gastronomy, and more… Málaga has it all. Here are just some of the reasons we love this city detailed in this Malaga travel guide.

And if you need more personalized information or would like some assistance putting your dream trip to Spain together, we’d love to work with you too.

Be sure to check out the professional Spain travel planning services we offer!

What are Málaga’s monumental historical sites?

We could not write a Malaga travel guide without mentioning Málaga’s insanely cool historic sites. Just about everyone has been through Málaga at some part, from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Moors to the Jews, and of course the Christians, who created what we know as Spain today.

And that history is evident all over Málaga.

Let’s start with the oldest structure in Málaga, the Roman Theater, dating from the 1st century AD. Right in the historic center of Málaga is this massive and well restored monument. You can see it from the plaza or (even better) walk on the walkway for free.

Towering above the Roman Theater, is the Alcazaba fortress, Málaga’s best example from when the city was under Moorish rule starting in the 11th century. With gardens, fortified walls, and small palaces within the complex, the Alcazaba is our #1 “not-to-miss” site in Málaga!

On top of it, is one of the most visited castles in Spain, the Castle of Gibralfaro. It was constructed by the Moors in the 1300s, just about a hundred years after the conquest making it one of Spain’s later Moorish monuments. There are great views of Málaga city from the castle and grounds.

Back down in the city center, just around the corner from the Roman Theater and Alcazaba is Málaga’s small Judería (old Jewish neighborhood). Plans are in the works to open a Sephardic history center, which will undoubtedly put Málaga on the map of the best places to see Spain’s Jewish history.

It wouldn’t be a proper Spanish city without a towering cathedral, and Málaga has that of course too. Malaga’s cathedral was constructed in the Renaissance style between 1528-1782. It is open to visitors and is one of our favorite cathedrals in Spain.

For a unique experience, you can buy tickets for Las Cubiertas, to go up on the roof of the cathedral to see it (and the city of Málaga) from a different prospective. Make sure to walk through the small patio, with typical gardens and flora of Málaga.

What are some of Málaga’s best museums?

Did you know that Málaga city has the second most museums per capita of any Spanish city other than Madrid?

Probably not!

But it does, and Málaga has a museum for every taste!

While this is the ultimate Malaga travel guide, there is no way we can possible write about every museum in Málaga. So instead these are some of the personal picks of the Spain Less Traveled team.

Instead of starting with the most famous (it’s coming, don’t worry) let’s start with the one our founder loves the most (and arguably one of her favorite museums in all of Spain): the Carmen Thyssen Museum. The main focus here is on 19th century Spanish painting. Full of artwork depicting the beautiful landscapes and culture of Andalucía, this museum housed in a former Baroque palace also hosts wonderful temporary exhibitions. And the gift shop at the Carmen Thyssen Museum is divine! During busier times of the year, we recommend buying timed entry tickets in advance.

Of course, the most famous Málaga museum is the Picasso Museum. And rightfully so, because it was here in Málaga (right in Plaza de la Merced) that Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in 1881. Naturally Spain’s best known cubist painter has a museum dedicated to him in his city of birth. Also housed in a former palace, this one in mostly Plateresque and Mudéjar style, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance if you want to visit Málaga’s Picasso museum. Lines can be long and tickets can sell out.

And if you are a true Picasso fan, be sure to also check out the Museo Casa Natal Picasso (the house that he was born in), right in Plaza de la Merced.

One of Málaga’s most peculiar structures, a colorful glass cube, houses a small branch of Paris’ Pompidou Museum. The collection is mostly of modern Spanish art. Being the Pompidou’s first collection outside of France, this museum is technically classified as a pop-up. But for now it is a prominent part of the Málaga experience, with no plans to close it in the immediate future.

Contemporary art fans will want to be sure to visit the CAC Málaga, which houses a healthy collection of contemporary art and exhibits.

Just about every city in Spain (or even many smaller ones) has a municipal museum, and Málaga is no exception. The comprehensive Museo del Patrimonio Municipal details Málaga’s rich history and culture. This is often just called the Museo de Málaga.

And finally…

The small Museo del Vino-Málaga showcases Málaga province’s winemaking tradition (more on that below, so read on…)

Again, this list of museums is far from exhaustive, so if you are a museum lover come to Málaga and discover even more!

How about Málaga’s parks and green spaces?

Málaga is not all concrete. The city is full of beautiful parks, and tree lined streets. From orange trees to almond trees to jacarandas and more, they is usually something blooming or bearing fruit in Málaga.

It would be a shame not to include some of our favorite parks in this Malaga travel guide.

Málaga’s long Parque de Málaga has almost a jungle-like feel to it. With many types of flora and fauna, and hidden plazas, this is the perfect park to stroll through if you want to walk from the center to the nearest beach (Malagueta).

With a lot of Moorish garden and watering elements, Jardínes de Pedro Alonso is just at the base of the side of the Alcazaba facing away from the city center. While these gardens are beautiful year round, October to January is when the orange trees have their fruit. And if you are lucky enough to hit Málaga when the Azahar (orange blossoms) are blooming, the signature Andaluz smell engulfs these beautiful gardens (and the city in general). That can start in March and end in early May, depending on the year.

Further afield, a favorite park of Málaga locals, Parque del Oeste has swans and some interesting structures.

On the far western edge of Málaga’s city limits, you will find Parque del Guadalhorce is a triangular nature park by the ocean and in between two canals on the far western edge of Málaga city. Rent a bike and ride out there or take a walk on some of its trails. From time to time there are flamingoes in the lagoons.

The Ultimate Malaga travel guide to eating, drinking, and shopping

Málaga has plenty of places to eat, drink, and shop. Obviously we can not list them all in this Malaga travel guide, but here are just a few of our recommended highlights.

Málaga’s central market (Mercado Central de Atarazanas) is one of the best public markets in all of Spain. Housed in a Mudéjar style building, it is a great place to buy local Málaga products. Think produce, olive oil, cheese, meats, seafood, wine and more! As it is a traditional Spanish market, its hours are limited to 9am-3pm Monday through Saturday.

There are small bars, restaurants, and food stands on the small streets surrounding the market.

Málaga’s most famous street for shopping is Calle Marqués de Larios, or Calle Larios as most call it. Starting from the Alameda principal and ending at Plaza de la Constitución, all in the historic center, this pedestrian street is lined with shops, mostly Spanish and European brands. During the holiday season, the street is where you can find Málaga’s famous light display. If you want to live on Calle Larios, be prepared to pay for it as this is Málaga’s most expensive street to live on. Luckily, you can window shop for free.

For a more bohemian flare, check out the shops on and around Calle Granada.

Málaga has a restaurant for every taste. It is hard to make blanket recommendations as everyone’s culinary palate is different, but we always make personal suggestions to our clients who are visiting the city.

For a true slice of Malagueño life, be sure to have a meal at a chringuito. It’s a hard word to pronounce, but the concept is simple. Beach front restaurants (some none more than shacks) serving up fresh seafood. Espetos are fresh sardines from the grill, and are a Málaga specialty. You will find chringuitos up and down the beaches of Málaga.

If you really want to eat your way through Málaga, we recommend kicking off your visit with a food tour. Not only will you sample some of Málaga’s culinary staples, learn the lay of the land of Málaga’s tapas scene and understand why Málaga has some of the best food in Spain.

The Malaga travel guide to urban beaches

It’s common knowledge that Málaga is on the Mediterranean and has beaches. But Málaga is often mistaken for nothing more than a beach town. If you’ve read this far, you already know that is not true. But we did want to highlight some of our favorite beaches in the city for our Malaga travel guide.

La Malagueta is the most centrally located beach in Málaga’s city limits, and the most popular. Just a short distance from the center of the city (walkable), Malagueta attracts locals and tourists alike. Here you will find the “Malagueta statue” where many have posed for photos.

Heading east, the next beach down is Playa La Caleta. Thanks to its location in an upscale part of town, this beach is pretty well-kept and has loads of shady spots to relax under palm trees.

On Málaga’s eastern limits are the beaches of Pedregalejo and El Palo (see below for some neighborhood information). El Palo is a bit more rough around the edges, attracting locals going out to do their fishing, while during the high-season (especially) Pedregalejo, with its beach town vibe, is becoming increasingly popular.

Heading west from the city center, the first beach past the industrial port is Playa de Huelin. It is a smaller beach, but further down is the long and sandy Playa de Misericordia, where you will find a lot of activities such as beach volleyball.

Harder to access, Playa Guadalhorce is at the tip of Parque del Guadalhorce. Because there is no parking closeby, or access to public transportation, this beach tends to be less crowded year-round.

Finally, on Málaga’s westernmost edge is Playa Guadalmar. Walk a bit further down for wind and kite surfing. At the very end of the beach is a small, mostly gay nudist beach.

There really is a beach for everyone in Málaga city!

One important thing to keep in mind is that Spain is not a tropical country. And although Málaga is (almost) as far south as you can get, beach weather is not a year round thing. The water is really only warm enough to swim from late June until early October. But walking on the paseo or just sitting on the beach is always nice.

What neighborhood should I stay in Málaga?

While, just like any other Spanish city, you will find a lot of tourism in the historic center, if you venture out into Málaga’s neighborhoods, you will find city that is very much Spanish and Andalusian to the core.

Therefore we wanted to include a few areas outside of the city center in our ultimate Malaga travel guide. Here are just a few of our current favorite Málaga neighborhoods:

Soho - Nestled between the historic center and the old port, Soho is currently cool and hip. There is a lot of great street art in this part of town.

El Perchel - This working class neighborhood near the train station is home to Mecado del Carmen, which carries the freshest seafood in the city.

La Trinidad - The former outskirts of the medieval Málaga is just across the (usually dry) Guadalmedina River the center. It’s where traditional and hip mix.

El Palo - In far eastern Málaga, this seafront area was once Málaga’s traditional fishing village. It still has that vibe to this day with chringuitos that serve the catch of the day.

Pedregalejo - Just west of El Palo, much of Pedregalejo has an almost California beach town vibe. The beachfront is lined with cafes, bars, and restaurants.

Teatinos - Known as Málaga’s university area, Teatinos has a student vibe with “college town” amenities thanks to the University of Málaga.

Pacifico - One of Málaga’s beachfront neighborhoods west of the city center. The area’s Tabacalera (old tobacco factory) houses a fashion museum and an automobile museum.

Los Guindos - Further west up from Pacifico, in Los Guindos you will find La Térmica. an important cultural center with rotating exhibits. Be sure to check out what’s happening when you’re in town for a true slice of local life.

Does Málaga have nature within the city limits?

In short, yes!

Technically within Málaga’s city limits are the the Montes de Málaga, a beautiful mountainous area with good hiking and biking. You will really feel like you are out in nature (because you are!).

In the foothills, wedged between where the city ends and the mountains begin, are Málaga’s expansive botanical gardens, Jardín Botánico Histórico La Concepción. Featuring tropical variety plants, these are some of Spain’s most unique botanical gardens.

On Málaga’s east side, you can also climb Monte San Antón, which has an out and back trail with some amazing views of Málaga city.

It is clear that Málaga is one of the best Spanish cities for nature lovers.

Day trip suggestions from the ultimate Malaga travel guide

Málaga city is well positioned for day trips further afield in Málaga province as well as some of the surrounding provinces.

Again, there are so many options, but here are some of our favorite day trips from Málaga that we specifically wanted to mention in this Malaga travel guide.

We are not going to go into much detail here to keep our ultimate Malaga travel guide focused on the city, but you can find information about all of these in our post all about Málaga province.

Antequera: A small city north of Málaga city that is quintessentially Andaluz, but sees very few international visitors. Southern Spain off the beaten path indeed!

There is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site there.

Nerja: Málaga province’s prettiest beach town that is easily accessible from the city.

Frigiliana: A beautiful whitewashed village in the hills just above Nerja.

Ronda and some of the pueblos blancos: Ronda has become increasingly popular with international visitors thanks to its vistas and jaw-dropping “new” bridge. But many like to combine a visit to Ronda with some of the pueblos blancos in both Málaga and Cádiz province.

Álora: A low-key, rough around the edges whitewashed village with a castle accessible from Málaga by commuter train.

El Caminito del Rey: The famous path that goes through rock formations and has amazing scenery through the entire walk.

Wine tasting: Yes! Málaga province does have a wine industry. And there are bodegas near Ronda and even closer to Málaga city. An organized day trip is the way to go.

Olive oil tasting: Being in Andalucía, Málaga province has an olive industry. There are a few mills nearby where you can learn more about olive oil production and do a tasting to try Málaga’s varieties of this liquid gold.

Goats!: Little known fact - Málaga province has the most goats of any province in all of Europe. You can go meet them and taste their cheese.

We work with some amazing local tour companies and tour operators, and can help you design itineraries to get to some of these amazing places, with or without a car.

Tempted by Málaga?

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Out of all of the cities in Spain, it is the one that our founder chose as her home!

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