Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, blends millennia-old heritage, world-class museums and a shoreline of urban beaches with seafaring neighbourhoods full of character. Its mild climate, outdoor lifestyle and Mediterranean cuisine with deep local roots make it an ideal starting point to discover the city and its surroundings; if you’re looking for things to do in Málaga, begin by strolling its historic centre, heading up to its viewpoints, and enjoying its beaches and local flavours.
From Malaka to Málaga: a journey through time
A brief timeline of Málaga
Málaga was born as Malaka in the Phoenician era in the eighth century BC and soon became established as a Mediterranean trading port. The Roman period left the Roman Theatre and a well-organised urban layout. Under Al-Andalus the city experienced notable agricultural, artisanal and defensive development. In 1487 it passed to the Crown of Castile and in the nineteenth century it stood out for its industry and wine trade. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries it has driven an urban and cultural transformation that has placed it among the most active heritage destinations in the country.
Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle
The Alcazaba is an Islamic-period palatial fortress that combines walls, dog-leg gates, courtyards with gardens and privileged views over the old town. At the top of the hill stands Gibralfaro Castle, designed to protect the Alcazaba and the port. Its ramparts allow for a panoramic walk that explains at a glance the relationship between the city, the bay and the surrounding hills.
Historic centre and Cathedral
The historic centre preserves a layout of narrow streets and bright squares where Renaissance, Baroque and nineteenth-century buildings coexist. The Cathedral of the Incarnation, known as “La Manquita” for its unfinished tower, is one of Andalusia’s great Renaissance temples and stands out for its carved choir and the breadth of its naves. A few steps away are Plaza de la Merced, Atarazanas Market and shopping streets that keep up a constant pulse throughout the day.
Neighbourhoods with character
Soho is a creative district where street art has transformed façades and party walls into an open-air museum, in addition to adding galleries and cultural spaces. Pedregalejo and El Palo maintain the scale of the old fishermen’s quarters, with low houses, a seafront promenade and an everyday rhythm best understood by walking unhurriedly among beached boats, ice-cream shops and beach bars.
Neighbourhoods and streets you must walk
Historic centre and Marqués de Larios Street
A nineteenth-century pedestrian axis connecting the Alameda Principal with Plaza de la Constitución. The elegant architecture of balconies and patios sets the pace of the stroll and, on either side, passages like Chinitas and little lanes such as Strachan, Sancha de Lara or Liborio García open up. From Larios it’s easy to reach the Cathedral, the Museo de Málaga and Calle Comedias, so in a few minutes you can take in squares, temples and small historic shops. Early morning and sunset light enhance the façades and the atmosphere is more serene.
Calle Granada and Plaza de la Merced
Calle Granada preserves medieval traces and concentrates crafts, small chapels and buildings of interest such as the church of Santiago, where Picasso was baptised. To the south, the street opens onto Calle Alcazabilla, which skirts the Roman Theatre and the slope of the Alcazaba. To the north lies Plaza de la Merced, a bright space presided over by the obelisk and Picasso’s birthplace. It’s an area with a strong cultural pulse and a good point from which to grasp the continuity between the old town and the hills that frame it.
Soho Málaga
Between the centre and the port, Soho has turned façades and party walls into a map of street art. Around the Contemporary Art Centre, large-format murals succeed one another, as well as pieces that pop up on corners and pedestrian crossings. Streets such as Tomás Heredia, Alemania or Barroso invite you to walk slowly and look up to spot new interventions. The regular grid and proximity to the river make for a linear route that ends by the Palmeral de las Sorpresas.
Pedregalejo and El Palo
These seafaring neighbourhoods preserve low houses, slipways and a promenade that breaks into coves sheltered by breakwaters. The stretch invites an unhurried walk, watching the boats and pausing at improvised viewpoints over the sand. The light at the end of the day is especially photogenic and lets you see the bay light up while the city lies at your back. From the Baños del Carmen eastwards the promenade becomes more local and offers a very authentic image of Málaga’s shoreline.
Sun and beach in Málaga
La Malagueta
An urban beach next to the port and Muelle Uno, with dark sand and moderate surf. It has showers and lifeguards in season, as well as shaded areas and sunbed rentals. Its proximity to cultural areas lets you combine a swim and a stroll without long journeys. It’s quieter early in the morning, and at sunset it draws walkers and runners.
Pedregalejo and El Palo
To the east of the centre are a succession of small coves protected by breakwaters, with usually calm waters. The seafront promenade preserves low houses and beached boats, and concentrates beach bars specialising in seafood cookery. It’s a very pleasant stretch for an unhurried stroll and to enjoy the neighbourhood atmosphere at any time.
Misericordia and Huelin
In the western sector the strip of sand is wide and you can find space even on busy days. The promenade integrates green areas, play spaces and an iconic industrial chimney as a landscape landmark. Sunsets are one of its great attractions and the atmosphere is usually relaxed.
Peñón del Cuervo
Beyond El Palo you’ll find a more natural setting dominated by a large rock that divides the beach in two. Services are basic and access is from the coastal road, so it’s best to come prepared on hot days. It’s a quiet option for those seeking a different landscape without going too far.
Málaga’s hallmarks
Sardine espetos on the boat-grill
Espetos are one of Málaga’s most recognisable images. Sardines are skewered on canes and roasted over embers, usually in wooden boats adapted on the sand. The most prized season coincides with the warm months, when the sardine is fattier and tastier. Watching the espetero control the flame and the distance from the fire is part of the experience, especially in Pedregalejo and El Palo.
Málaga biznagas
The biznaga is a small bouquet of jasmines hand-placed on the dried stalk of the nerdo. Its perfume defines summer nights and is associated with the figure of the biznaguero, who carries and sells them in traditional dress. It’s a sentimental symbol of the city and appears at festivals, in shop windows and in artisanal souvenirs.
Sunsets from Gibralfaro
Gibralfaro Hill offers Málaga’s most famous panorama. As evening falls, the light highlights the port, the Alcazaba and the curve of the bay. It’s a much-loved spot for photography and to understand the relationship between the city, the sea and the nearby hills.
Four unmissable art stops
Museo Picasso Málaga
Located in the Buenavista Palace, it allows you to trace the artist’s evolution from his early explorations to later stages. It brings together painting, sculpture, ceramics and works on paper, showcasing Picasso’s breadth of techniques and languages. The Renaissance architecture of the palace and its central courtyard add heritage value, while the programme of temporary exhibitions and activities helps to reread his legacy from contemporary perspectives. All practical information—opening times, tickets and exhibitions—on the official Museo Picasso Málaga website.
Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
Its collection focuses on Spanish painting of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with special attention to costumbrismo and the Andalusian landscape. Its rooms help you understand themes, schools and sensibilities that shaped the artistic life of the period—from urban scenes and popular festivities to country views. The visit is completed with temporary shows that dialogue with the permanent collection and refresh the perspective. Plan your visit on the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga website: agenda, tickets and updated hours.
Centre Pompidou Málaga
The Cube at Muelle Uno offers a window onto twentieth- and twenty-first-century art. The presentation combines works from the Pompidou collection with temporary projects, making it easy to see pieces from different disciplines such as installation, photography, video art and design. Its seaside location and mediation programmes bring contemporary art closer to very diverse audiences. Check the official Centre Pompidou Málaga website for hours, tickets and current exhibitions.
Museo de Málaga
Housed in the Palacio de la Aduana, it brings together Archaeology and Fine Arts to tell the story and art of the province. The archaeological section brings together Phoenician, Roman and Islamic materials that explain the origins and transformations of the territory. In Fine Arts, painting and sculpture from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries stand out, with a strong presence of the Málaga school. The historic building and its courtyards reinforce the heritage dimension of the visit. For up-to-date information on collections, tickets and hours, visit the official Museo de Málaga website.
Flavours of Málaga: from sea to table
Must-try dishes
Málaga’s cuisine combines seafood and inland recipes with extra-virgin olive oil playing a starring role. The Málaga-style fried fish selection brings together small fish such as anchovies, squid and marinated fish, light and crisp when well done. Sardine espetos, roasted over wood embers, are an emblem of the coast. Ajoblanco brings freshness with almonds, mild garlic and grapes or melon depending on the season. Porra antequerana, thicker than gazpacho, is served very cold with egg and ham or tuna. The campero malagueño is a toasted round-bread sandwich with chicken, cheese, tomato and mayo that has become a classic snack. Don’t miss aubergines with cane honey, gazpachuelo for milder days, conchas finas as a local shellfish and anchovies in vinegar as an aperitif. For sweets, the tortas locas stand out and, as an accompaniment, the sweet wines made from Muscat or Pedro Ximénez grapes with the Málaga designation.
Where to eat
Atarazanas Market brings together fresh produce and tasting spaces with a local vibe. In the historic centre, around Calle Granada and Plaza de la Merced, you’ll find plenty of tapas areas with Málaga-style fried fish, ajoblanco and porra. Muelle Uno lets you dine outdoors by the sea. To the east, Pedregalejo and El Palo keep their beach grills and espetos on the sand; to the west, Huelin and Misericordia come alive at sunset.
Mini food-lover routes nearby
Frigiliana is known for its cane honey and for a small restaurant scene that combines local and Mediterranean cuisine. Ronda and its mountains have consolidated wineries with tours and tastings that introduce you to mountain viticulture. In Vélez-Málaga and Torre del Mar you’ll find traditions such as ajobacalao and a wide range of daily-caught fish. These outings can be combined with cultural visits and walks through well-preserved historic centres.
Day trips to other towns
Nerja and Frigiliana
Nerja is known for the Balcón de Europa, its clear coves near Maro and its famous caves. It’s about fifty-five kilometres east and the journey usually takes around three-quarters of an hour along the Mediterranean motorway. Seven kilometres away, Frigiliana preserves a network of cobbled streets and viewpoints over the Axarquía, ideal for strolling among whitewashed façades and craft workshops. For more ideas and routes, here’s a guide to what to do in Nerja. If you’d like to look deeper into its whitewashed neighbour, take a look at what to do in Frigiliana.
Ronda
Ronda impresses with the Tajo gorge and the Puente Nuevo, which links the historic and new quarters over a dizzying ravine. The old town preserves Arab baths, palaces and a bullring with a museum. From the viewpoints you understand the breadth of the mountains and enjoy fine sunsets. The distance from Málaga is around one hundred kilometres and the usual travel time is about an hour and three-quarters through the interior.
Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey runs along boardwalks anchored to the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge, between Ardales and El Chorro. The usual direction of the route is downhill and, at the end, there’s a shuttle service to return to the starting point. It’s advisable to book in advance, wear suitable footwear and check for possible closures due to wind or rain. From Málaga it’s about sixty kilometres and the trip usually takes around an hour.
Granada
Granada offers the Alhambra atop the hill, the Moorish fabric of the Albaicín and a monumental centre around the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel. Visiting the Nasrid palaces requires planning, so it’s best to secure tickets in advance. The city is around one hundred and thirty kilometres away and the journey usually takes about an hour and a half via the A-92. To prepare your visit in detail, check this guide to what to do in Granada.
Don’t miss these city highlights
Stroll along Muelle Uno and the Palmeral de las Sorpresas
The port’s seafront offers a comfortable, accessible walk by the Mediterranean. The Palmeral provides shade and rest areas, while Muelle Uno opens the promenade to the bay with views of La Farola and the Centre Pompidou Cube. Early morning and sunset light are especially pleasant—perfect for photography and for watching port activity.
Climb to Gibralfaro Castle
The ascent up the hillside helps you understand Málaga’s defensive layout and to locate at a glance the Alcazaba, the port and the curve of the coast. The slope calls for comfortable footwear and water in the hotter months. From the ramparts the viewpoints offer clear panoramas over the old town and the bay—one of the city’s most recognisable images.
Atarazanas Market
Former shipyards of Nasrid origin turned into the central market, with a monumental stained-glass window depicting port scenes. Stalls display fish from the bay, seasonal fruit, olives and salted fish that sum up the local larder. It’s a good place to grasp daily habits and discover typical products in a heritage setting.
Water sports on the coast
On calm-sea days, kayaking and paddleboarding are common along urban stretches such as La Malagueta, the Baños del Carmen and the coves of Pedregalejo and El Palo. Check the sea-state flags, respect buoyed areas and avoid the middle hours of the day in summer. These activities offer a different perspective of the coastline and let you appreciate the city from the water.
Málaga festival calendar
August Fair
Usually held in mid-August and launched with fireworks over the bay. The city lives a double fair: by day, the historic centre fills with music, verdiales, dance groups and sweet wines; by night, the Cortijo de Torres fairground concentrates booths, rides, equestrian shows and concerts. The morning pilgrimage to the Basílica de la Victoria and traditional dress add colour to a week that never loses pace. Stay hydrated and plan visits for early or late hours to avoid the heat.
Málaga Holy Week
From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the brotherhoods parade through the centre with monumental thrones and bands that set an unmistakable sonic pulse. Some days bring very awaited moments, such as the symbolic release of a prisoner by the El Rico brotherhood or the procession of Cristo de Mena, accompanied by the Spanish Legion. Seats and stands tend to fill up in advance and many streets become processional corridors where the city beats to the sound of cornets and drums. The experience blends Baroque art, tradition and intense popular participation.
Virgen del Carmen
On 16 July the seafaring neighbourhoods celebrate their patron saint with processions that culminate at the shoreline. The image is brought close to the water and, in some places, boards a boat for a short trip among decorated craft. In El Palo, Pedregalejo and Huelin the promenade fills with vows, flowers and songs that underline Málaga’s bond with the sea. Late afternoon usually concentrates the most emotional moment, when golden light at sunset accompanies the Virgin’s arrival at the coast.
Christmas and lights on Calle Larios
From late November the centre transforms with markets, nativity scenes and cultural programming, but the headline act is the lighting on Marqués de Larios Street. The structures create a luminous corridor with daily musical shows that draw thousands of people. The surrounding areas, such as Plaza de la Constitución and the Alameda, add decorations and concerts, and museums and theatres expand family-friendly activities. It’s advisable to arrive with time to enjoy the spectacle without crowds and to make the most of the festive atmosphere in the pedestrian streets.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I rent a car in Málaga?
Book through reliable Málaga Airport car hire. You’ll get a modern fleet, unlimited mileage, 24/7 roadside assistance and a fast, no-wait key handover—always with transparent pricing and no hidden fees.
When is the best time to visit Málaga?
Spring and autumn deliver mild weather, fewer crowds and great walking light. Summer offers long days and lively beaches—just avoid the midday heat—while winter stays mild and ideal for cultural outings.
What do I need to know about driving in Spain as a visitor?
Driving is straightforward, but check speed limits, toll roads and parking zones. See these tips for driving in Spain to stay safe and hassle-free.
Which Málaga beaches are best for families and services?
La Malagueta offers showers, summer lifeguards and quick city access. Misericordia and Huelin provide wide sands and nearby parks, while the coves of Pedregalejo and El Palo are sheltered and calm for kids.