Malaga Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, See & Eat
Updated: Oct 29
Malaga truly has the best of two worlds – the beach and the city! It is quite international for an Andalusian city, but it still has that magical Spanish vibe.
In this article, I have put together everything you need to know when traveling to Malaga in Spain.
1. Travel to and from Malaga
2. Staying in Malaga
3. Top things to see and do in Malaga
4. The best viewpoints in Malaga
5. Malaga Cuisine
6. Day trips from Malaga
Travel to and from Malaga
Malaga has a great international airport, so the easiest way is to fly to Malaga. It is a bit outside the city centre, so you will need to take a bus or taxi from the airport. You will find a bus stop just outside the airport from which the bus to Malaga Town Centre goes every 20 minutes. You can also take a direct bus to all nearby cities and towns directly from the airport too, but those ones don't go that often.
If you are planning to travel around Spain, then Malaga is a very good starting point. It has large train and bus stations that offer many convenient routes around Spain.
Note from my personal experience: the cheapest car rental around Malaga is at the airport!
A car you will need only if you are planning to travel to nearby cities, as you don't really need it to explore Malaga itself. All major sights and activities are within walking distance. Even if you do decide to travel to cities around Malaga, the city bus station offers many different routes.
Malaga also offers the typical tourist hop-on, hop-off bus. And there are several ways how to explore the city: with tuk tuk tour, by bike, or pick one of the free walking tours!
Staying in Malaga
I find Airbnb in Malaga quite expensive, so I would suggest that you get a hotel where you will get more for your money.
For budget traveling, I personally recommend Feel Hostel, where I stayed twice. It is very well located, within walking distance to all the major places in the town centre and near the beach at the same time. Just bring your own lock.
For a more comfortable experience, I recommend AC Hotel - Marriott Malaga Palacio. The location is excellent, and the rooftop terrace offers incredible views of the city and sea, but more about this I will comment below.
Interesting Fact: Antonio Banderas was born in Malaga and still has a house there so he trips back to Malaga frequently.
Top Things to See and Do in Malaga
The Alcazaba of Malaga is one of the best well-kept fortresses in Spain. You can take a walk up it to enjoy the beautiful views on the way up and feel the history of the city. In the beginning part, you can walk around for free, but to get to the very top you will need to pay an entrance fee.
Once you have reached the top of the Alcazaba of Malaga, you will find the Gibralfaro Castle. The history of this castle dates back to the 10th century and is a big part of Malaga's history, as it is on the flag of Malaga city and Malaga province. More about both the castle and fortress, opening hours and ticket prices, you can find on their page, as there are different parts with different access.
Old Town of Malaga is a lovely area full of restaurants offering the best of Spanish cuisine, shops, and museums.
Whilst wandering around the old town, you won't miss the Cathedral of Malaga. It is an incredible Renaissance architecture masterpiece in the middle of everything. Even if you do not plan to see it, you will eventually pass it. Here are the opening hours and prices.
The Port Area is a lovely place for a stroll, with a waterfront promenade and an upper level offering beautiful views of the harbour. You will also find plenty of bars and restaurants, making it a great spot to relax, enjoy a drink, and soak up the atmosphere.
If you enjoy art, the Picasso Museum is definitely worth a visit! Malaga is the birthplace of the legendary artist Pablo Picasso, and the museum celebrates his life and work through an impressive collection of his paintings and other artworks.
Malaga has a beautiful, long coastline with plenty of beaches to enjoy. If you are staying near the coast, you can easily walk to the beach and spend a relaxing day by the sea. You will also find plenty of beach bars, known locally as chiringuitos, where you can rent sunbeds and enjoy food and drinks.
The main street Larios, is absolutely beautiful, covered with tiles; you actually have the feeling that you are walking indoors. It is full of shops and is the beginning and the main entrance to the old town. This street is famous in Andalusia as it hosts one of the biggest Christmas light show gatherings; people from all over Andalusia come to see it.
You can definitely enjoy shopping on the main street, Larios, but if you want proper shopping, then I would suggest you go to big shopping malls outside of the centre.
If you want to experience traditional Andalusian culture, I highly recommend seeing a flamenco show in Malaga! Flamenco is a beautiful combination of passionate dancing, Spanish guitar music, and singing. You will find several venues around the city offering live performances, especially in the historic centre. It is a wonderful way to spend an evening in Málaga!
The Best Viewpoints in Malaga
One of my favourite things to do in Malaga is to discover new peaks of the city. Every top has its own magic and vibe, allowing us to see Malaga city from a different perspective.
Nr. 1
Mirador de Gibralfaro. It is a lookout place at the top of Castillo Gibralfaro, part of the Alcazaba of Malaga. It is quite a walk up but definitely worth it! Because of how it is situated, you can see the whole city; it offers a 360-degree view! As I mentioned before, you will need to pay an entrance fee to get there. There are a few lookout points on your way up, still in the free zone.
Nr. 2
Not all tops in Malaga are reachable by walking. Another must-do in Malaga is to have a ride on the big Malaga Ferris wheel, Mirador Princess. It is situated between the port and the city centre, so you can’t miss it; just be ready to spend around 8 Euros per person to enjoy this ride.
Nr. 3
My favourite top in Malaga is definitely the rooftop terrace of the AC Hotel - Marriott Malaga Palacio. The views are just breathtaking, the atmosphere is super chilled, and the drinks are always high quality. The prices are not the lowest, but they are definitely not overpriced for what you get. I recommend my favourite Spanish drink – Tinto de Verano, which is a red wine-based sweet drink, not too strong.
Malaga Cuisine
Like anywhere in Spain, Málaga is a great place to enjoy traditional Spanish food, from churros for breakfast to delicious tapas for lunch. But Málaga also has its own local specialities that are worth trying during your visit. Here are three traditional dishes you shouldn't miss!
Malagueño Gazpacho - Gazpacho, in general, is a cold soup, a traditional food in Spain, and usually it is red as tomatoes are a usual ingredient, but Málaga has its own special 'Gazpacho Malagueño', which is simply potatoes, salt, vinegar, and fish; moreover, it is a hot dish! However, these days, people tend to add a wider variety of seafood to the soup, like langoustines and clams.
People living in Malaga or those from Malaga refer to themselves as Malagueños.
Plato De Los Montes De Malaga - A mixed dish, usually consisting of potatoes, meat, roasted vegetables, and chorizo or other Spanish delicacies. The direct translation of this dish is 'Dish of the mountains of Malaga', so that is why it is heavier than other Malaga traditional dishes.
Tarta Malagueña - and for dessert, I have to mention the cake of Malaga, which is made from almonds and special Malaga wine.
Any coastal city in Spain always offers really good quality fresh fish and seafood. Malaga is no exception. You will find many wonderful beach bars on the beach offering 'catch of the day' and other seafood dishes.
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to recommend, but I want to highlight an amazing brunch place! Honestly, one of my favorite brunch spots in the entire world - Mi Cafecito! It is a bit outside the city center, but by the beach, so you can have a lovely morning walk by the beach and end up in this wonderful cafe on the promenade. Every time I am near Malaga, I go there. I love it!
Day Trips from Malaga
As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, Malaga has a great infrastructure in place, and by train or bus, you can literally get anywhere in Spain, even Barcelona! So if you have enough time to visit some nearby cities, I definitely recommend these 3.
Nerja
Nerja is just a 30min drive away and is my personal favourite spot on this side of the coast. It is a lovely beach town popular among locals as a summer holiday destination. It simply has a very nice vibe, and Burriana beach is just the perfect summer chill spot offering many beach bars, kayak and SUP rentals, and beautiful views.
Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey is one of the most exciting things to do near Malaga! It is a beautiful walking trail that takes you along wooden walkways attached to the steep walls of a gorge, with incredible views of the cliffs and river below. The trail is around 7.7 km long, including the access paths, and is a great experience if you enjoy nature and a little adventure. Despite its dramatic location, the route is well-maintained and suitable for most people with a reasonable level of fitness. Just make sure to book your tickets in advance, as it is a very popular attraction!
Ronda
Ronda is one of those places that will simply take your breath away! This beautiful little city is famous for its dramatic gorge, stunning views, and iconic bridge connecting the two sides of the town. Located around 1.5 hours from Malaga by car, it makes a wonderful day trip. Ronda is also known for its local wineries, so visiting a vineyard or joining a wine tour is another popular activity in the area.
To all 3 above places, you can easily get by train or drive yourself, but there are also many tour agencies that organize day trips to Ronda and Caminito del Rey. I recommend Nerja for 2 or 3 days as a beach holiday destination.
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