10 Must-See Attractions in Malaga – Top Sights You Can’t Miss! August 21, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Andalusia, Archaeology, Attractions, History, Holiday, Malaga, Shopping, Spain, Vacation

Tourist Attractions in Malaga

Each year, approximately 3 million tourists from around the world arrive in Malaga. Malaga is truly a tourist city, offering everything from shopping and neon lights to happy hours. Fortunately, Malaga also has a lot to offer if you’re more interested in history, art, and culture.

So, if you can tear yourself away from the beautiful beaches in Malaga, there are plenty of exciting attractions to explore. Here’s a guide to some of the top highlights in the city. And don’t worry about seeing everything on your first visit – once you’ve been to Malaga, you’ll definitely want to come back!

10 Attractions in Malaga You Must See

To get around the attractions, it’s quickest to lace up your walking shoes. To visit all the attractions listed here, the walk is about 5 km. Note that the final stretch up to the fortress Castillo de Gibralfaro is quite steep – but the view from there is absolutely breathtaking! If you choose attractions below the mountain, the rest of Malaga is as flat as a pancake, suitable for strollers and wheelchairs.

1. Mercado Central de Atarazanas

We begin our tour of Malaga at the historic market hall, Mercado Central de Atarazanas. The impressive Moorish entrance indicates that this was the site of the Nasrid dynasty’s shipyard in the 1300s. As we’ll see later, it was also the Nasrid rulers who added the beautiful palace to Malaga’s Alcazaba during their reign.

The market as we know it today opened in 1879, with the addition of the characteristic stained glass mosaics in 1973. At the market, you’ll find both tourists and locals buying fruits, vegetables, fresh fish, or just stopping in for lunch. The market is open every day from 8 AM to 3 PM, closed on Sundays.

2. Calle Larios

Next, head to Calle Larios, Malaga’s famous pedestrian street. Here, tourists from all corners of the world gather in a delightful mix of ice cream parlors, souvenir stalls, and various shops. The street has a wonderful atmosphere around the clock and is often decorated with festive lighting. To find out more about the best shopping spots, click here: Shopping in Malaga.

3. Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga

Calle Larios continues all the way to the harbor. However, we’ll head to the parallel street, Calle Molina Lario, where Malaga’s grand cathedral dominates the city. Catedral de Málaga was originally built from 1528 to 1782 near the Moors’ former mosque, incorporating the city wall from Alcazaba into the cathedral.

The cathedral is also humorously referred to as “La Manquita,” the one-armed lady, and if you look up, you’ll see why. Due to a lack of funds, only one of the two towers is completed.

It costs 8 euros to enter the cathedral and 12 euros if you want to enjoy the view over Malaga from the cathedral’s roof.

4. Museums in Malaga

Malaga has several fascinating museums. Just behind the cathedral is the Museo de Málaga located in the beautiful Palacio de la Aduana. The museum houses both an extensive art collection and an archaeological museum. Admission is free, and it’s open from 9 AM to 9 PM every day except Sunday.

Malaga: The Birthplace of Picasso and Banderas

Malaga is also the birthplace of painter Pablo Picasso – and actor Antonio Banderas! However, only Picasso has two museums named after him. Just a five-minute walk from the Malaga Museum, you’ll find the Museo Picasso, where you can admire works by one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. A bit further north, you’ll also find Casa Natal Picasso, Picasso’s birthplace. This small museum offers insight into Picasso’s life.

5. Parque de Málaga & Muelle Uno

Before we continue, it’s time for a little break. In the midday heat, tourists and locals alike relax in the shade of the elongated Parque de Málaga. You can also continue out to the harbor to Muelle Uno, where there are plenty of shops and restaurants where you can enjoy views over the water.

6. Teatro Romano

After lunch, it’s time for some vertical sightseeing. We’ll head up the Gibralfaro mountain, all the way to the top! Our first stop is the Roman theater located in front of the entrance to Alcazaba. As you walk around Malaga, you’ll notice that the city is quite ancient. Beneath all the hotels and charming pedestrian streets lie the ruins of the various peoples who have passed through here.

Before the Romans, it was the Phoenicians, and later also the Germans, Visigoths, Moors – and now tourists from all over the world. When you’re at the Roman theater, try to notice how many different languages you can actually hear.

Malaga has always been a popular city, even during the Roman Empire, for its strategic position and large tuna stocks. The Roman Theater was built in the 1st century AD and was in use for about 200 years. Later, the theater was used as a quarry for the nearby Alcazaba fortress. There are many other fascinating stories about the Romans in Malaga, which you can read about by clicking the link.

7. Alcazaba Málaga

Now the tour begins to go uphill. First, we’ll visit Alcazaba Málaga, considered one of the most beautiful fortified palaces in Spain. The palace was built over three centuries by successive Moorish rulers, who continually expanded it. Today, Alcazaba Málaga covers 15,000 m², but back then it was much larger, essentially a city within a city.

To enter the caliph’s private quarters, you must first pass through gates, long corridors, and beautiful gardens. Finally, you’ll stand right by the most beautiful fountains in what was once the caliph’s orangery. For the full story of the palace, read here: Alcazaba of Málaga. A ticket valid for both Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro castle costs 5.50 euros (2023).

8. Castillo de Gibralfaro

And now we’ll head further up the mountain. From Alcazaba, you can follow the path all the way up to the Castillo de Gibralfaro, the castle perched on top of Gibralfaro Mountain. On your way up, you can stop and catch your breath at the viewpoint Mirador de Gibralfaro.

Castillo de Gibralfaro was built in 929 by the Caliph of Córdoba, Abd-al-Rahman III. Previously, there was a lighthouse built by the Phoenicians on this site. From the top of the castle, you can see for miles around.

There is a small bar at the exit where you can buy a drink. Otherwise, the surrounding park is also a splendid place to enjoy your packed lunch.

9. Plaza de toros de La Malagueta

From Castillo de Gibralfaro, you can look down on Malaga’s bullfighting arena, the Plaza de toros de La Malagueta. This is where we’re heading next. The bullfighting arena “La Malagueta” was inaugurated on June 11, 1876. The large arena measures 52 meters in diameter and can accommodate 14,000 spectators.

The bullfighting season runs from April to September, with the major city festival in August as the highlight. If there’s no bullfighting during your visit or if you don’t have a ticket, you can also visit the associated bullfighting museum.

10. Beaches in Malaga

And now it’s time to move away from all the cultural sites! Malaga also boasts plenty of beautiful beaches, with Playa de La Malagueta being the most popular. The beach is located right by the city center, so no matter where you stay in the city, you can quickly return to your hotel to change into swimwear. With imported sand from the Sahara and plenty of bars and lively atmosphere, many of your holiday days will likely be spent here!

At Playa El Palo in the northern end of Malaga, it’s quieter. This is where the locals swim, play volleyball, or just hang out all weekend. We had a lovely hike from El Palo back to Malaga, which you can read more about here: Hiking in Malaga: Discover the Best Trails

More Tips for Your Malaga Holiday

A Lovely Hotel in Malaga

Malaga has a plethora of hotels, which can make it a bit overwhelming to decide where to stay. We found a delightful place in Centro right by the Guadalmedina River, and you can always find your way back! There are many other hotels in this area, but we wanted to treat ourselves and stayed at the fantastic Vincci Selección Posada del Patio.

There are certainly cheaper hotels in Malaga, but Posada del Patio, as it is also called, is just a bit more luxurious. The rooms are so beautifully decorated that you’ll want to stay in bed all day. But that won’t happen! The breakfast buffet is exquisite, filled with both small and large delicacies. You can also order freshly cooked eggs, pancakes, and other delicious dishes if you desire.

The hotel is located right on the edge of the charming pedestrian streets. But the hotel also has its own pool on the rooftop terrace – so what should you choose? Rune, being a specialist in great gifts, had found another hotel with its own Roman ruins in the basement! Here you can find the walls of the old Roman port and a well-preserved well. Someone was quite pleased there, and you know your partner well!

Read more about the hotel here: Vincci Selección Posada del Patio and see all the other hotels in Malaga by clicking here. You can also search for hotels in Malaga right here:

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