Visiting Malaga? These Are The Best Things To Do In The City

What kind of city explorer are you? Do you want to explore rich Spanish, Moorish, and Roman culture? Or perhaps you’re more interested in modern museums and art galleries? You could even favour city breaks where you can spend times relaxing on the beach.

Whichever type of trip you choose, Malaga offers it all! It is considered both the gateway to the Costa Del Sol as well as one of the best cultural cities in Spain.
So what should you do if you’re visiting Malaga? What are the city’s ‘must visit’ attractions? Here’s a complete list of the best things not to miss!

Things To Do In Malaga’s City Centre

Malaga’s city centre is wonderfully compact, meaning that you can explore all of its most popular attractions on foot. Highlights not to be missed include:

• The Museo Picasso Malaga. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and is considered the city’s most famous son. The people of Malaga are proud to have this link to Picacco and the Museum Picasso Malaga contains dozens of examples of his works, as well as a lovely shop and cafe. There is also another museum close by which is located in the house where Picasso was actually born. Make sure you book your tickets in advance though: this is a hugely popular attraction and tickets can sell out quickly.

You can book these at museopicassomalaga.org and if you visit for the last 2 hours of opening on a Sunday then entrance is free.

• Malaga Cathedral. Barcelona doesn’t have the only unfinished cathedral in Spain! Malaga’s cathedral was constructed in the 16^th century but one of its towers was never finished, lending it a lopsided appearance. It’s as interesting inside thanks to its 2 18^th century organs and carved stalls. The Cathedral is open to the public from 10am to 6pm on Monday to Friday and from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays.

• The Roman Amphitheatre. In the shadows of the arguably more famous Alcazaba and at the base of Mount Gibralfaro you will find a wonderfully well preserved example of a Roman amphitheatre. This dates back to 1BC but wasn’t discovered until 1951. You can explore the amphitheatre and there is also a well thought out visitor centre here. Entry is free of charge. And at certain points throughout the year there are also concerts hosted here, so its worth checking if there are any special events during your travel dates.

• The Alcazaba.  Perhaps the most famous attraction in Malaga is the Alcazaba, a wonderfully preserved castle with obvious Moorish influences that reflect Andalusia’s Moorish past. The site was constructed by the Romans, and was buit in the 11^th century. Wear your most comfortable shoes, as getting to the site involves a lot of walking, and there is currently no lift available.

For tickets visit  alcazabaygibralfaro.malaga.eu

• The Gibralfaro Castle. This imposing castle sits above the Alcazaba, so if you’re happy to take the walk up the steep hill then it’s possible to visit both attractions in one day. This is another example of wonderfully preserved Moorish architecture in Malaga.  It was built in the 14^th century, and was still used in active military manouvers in the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

It’s recommended that you book tickets in advance, and you can book these here alcazabaygibralfaro.malaga.eu/en

• Visit The Carmen Thyssen Malaga Museum. If you’re interested in art then this is a great place to visit. Set in an 16th century palace, this is a gallery dedicated to 19th century Andalucian art. Some of the artists displayed here include  Zurbarán, Sorolla and Romero de Torres. With a cafe and a gift shop, this is a good place to take things at a slower pace and relax with a drink.

• Relax In Thermal Spas. On the subject of relaxation, thermal pools have been popular in Andalusia since the 8th century when Hammams were brought to the region. There are beautifully decorated and a great place to unwind. You can drift between hot and cold thermal pools, sip sweet mint tea and have a soothing massage.Just be sure to book your visit to the Hammam Al Andalus in advance, because this is an incredibly popular experience.

• The Pompidou Centre. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because this is an outpost of the Parisian modern art gallery of the same name. It is a beautiful building topped with a multicoloured glass cube, and there are regular exhibits using works loaned from the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Artists such as Bacon, Kahlo, Chagall and Picasso are all represented here. Note that the centre doesn’t open on Tuesdays.

• The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo. Located in a repurposed fish market, this is a highly regarded modern art gallery. Spanish artists in the collection include Miquel Barceló, José María Sicilia and Juan Muñoz. This gallery is located in Malaga’s Soho district, so you can enjoy the famous street art here as part of your experience. Entrance to the gallery is free of charge.

• The Museum of Wine. Malaga is known for the excellent quality of its wines, with have been produced in the region for thousands of years. This is celebrated in the  Museo del Vino Malaga. It’s located in the fantastically restored Palace of Biedmas, a Baroque 18th-century townhouse. As well as learning about wine you can also try wine tastings and other wine-related courses here.

Things To Do Outside Of Malaga’s City Centre

If you’ve got the time to head outside of the city centre then you’ll find that there are even more attractions for you to explore. These include:

• The Colección del Museo Ruso. Interested in Russian art? This is the museum for you. This used to borrow Russian works from the St Petersburg’s Russian State Museum but this is no longer possible because of the war in Ukraine. However you can still see excellent examples of Russian art here, with pieces borrowed from private collections.

• Automobile and Fashion museum. This is a great place to explore the history of cars with more than 100 vehicles on display, from the earliest to the more modern examples. You can get here by walking from the city centre (which will take around half an hour) or you can hire bikes to get to the museum in around 10 minutes.

Visit museoautomovilmalaga.com for more information and tickets.

• La Concepcion. La Concepcion has been ranked as one of the best botanical gardens in Europe. It is a tropical, botanical paradise with a huge array of different exotic plants ot explore. This huge garden was created in the mid-19th century by an aristocratic couple, Jorge Loring Oyarzábal and his wife Amalia Heredia Livermore. There is a cafe here, or your welcome to bring your own picnic for an injection of old-world charm.

• Hit The Beach. Malaga is surrounded by beautiful beaches and fishing villages, and you wouldn’t be doing your time in the city justice if you didn’t explore some of them!  About 20 minutes’ walk from the centre is Playa de la Malagueta, which is the closest beach. It’s a great place to splash and swim. Alternatively walk east along the city’s promenade and you’ll find the fishing villages of El Palo and Pedragalejo, which are home to some of the province’s best seafood restaurants.

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