Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and one of the largest cities in Spain, offering many things to see and experience. Read on to find out why you should spend at least one day in this city, considered one of the happiest places to live in the world.
Sights in Malaga
Among the most important monuments in Andalusia are the stunning Alhambra, the mosque in Cordoba and the Alcazaba in Malaga. However, this unique castle is just the beginning of the list of places you simply must visit in the capital of the Costa del Sol.
Malaga Cathedral has only one tower, which is why the malagueños (the city’s inhabitants) call it „one-armed”. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries and is one of the most important buildings in Spain. It is worth buying a ticket with access to the roof of the cathedral – it is a unique experience due to the magnificent view of the city panorama.
A visit to the Alcazaba castle and the Gibralfaro fortress is another must-see when in Malaga. The 14th-century Moorish fortress is located right next to the Old Town, just above the former Roman theatre. From here, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city and the port. Gibralfaro is just a few steps away from the Parador Gibralfaro hotel, where you can enjoy delicious coffee and appreciate the charms of Malaga.
Roman ruins, i.e. the ruins of a Roman theatre located next to the Alcazaba fortress, which was built at the end of the 1st century BC. It was in use until the 3rd century AD. Over time, it fell into ruin and oblivion, but in 1951 it was discovered and is now being systematically restored. Next to the theatre is a small exhibition centre dedicated to the remains of Roman culture in Malaga. Through this building, you can enter the stage of the former theatre, which looks most beautiful at night when illuminated with the Alcazaba in the background.
Museums in Malaga
Malaga can be described as a city of museums, as there are currently over 40 of them. Most of them are located in the Old Town, so they are easily accessible. More and more museums are also being built on the outskirts of the city.
Picasso Museum – Malaga is the city where Pablo Picasso was born in 1881. A small museum dedicated to him is located here. In addition to the permanent collection, mainly works from private collections, the gallery also offers temporary exhibitions. The building is located in a beautiful 16th-century noble palace. In the basement, you can see remnants of the city from Phoenician and Roman times. It is worth booking your visit in advance.
The Carmen Thyssen Museum, which, according to Baroness Thyssen, is her greatest joy as an art collector. The museum displays an important collection of thematic Spanish and Andalusian paintings from the 19th century. Interesting temporary exhibitions are also organised regularly.
The Pompidou Centre is a must-see for all lovers of contemporary art. It is the first sister centre of the Paris Museum to be established outside France. It is located in the basement of a colourful cube near the port, more precisely in Muelle Uno. The building is architecturally impressive thanks to its glass structure and two huge floors below. The collection is accompanied by constantly changing temporary exhibitions.
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Centre Pompidou Malaga, or contemporary art in Andalusia
The Motor Museum is a private collection of a Portuguese entrepreneur, which combines two areas in its exhibition: motoring and fashion. Among the cars, you will find luxury models from famous brands such as Hispano Suiza, Bugatti, Delage, Packard, Auburn, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes and Ferrari. The fashion exhibition features classic outfits by Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Givenchy, Balmain, Oleg Cassini, Dior and Chanel.
Also worth mentioning is the museum of traditions and local customs, the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares, located in a charming Andalusian manor house on the Guadalmedina River.
Where to eat in Malaga?
Wine and tapas at Bodega El Pimpi, which is considered an „institution” in Malaga. It is definitely worth stopping by to enjoy the unique atmosphere with a glass of wine and tapas. El Pimpi is the most famous bar in Malaga, where the atmosphere is more important than the tapas themselves.
From Calle Granada, you can walk to the Roman Theatre square, admiring numerous photos of actors, politicians and other celebrities. On old, pyramid-shaped sherry barrels, you will find many signatures of famous people who spent unforgettable moments here. In El Pimpi, each room has its own character and creates a completely different atmosphere. They serve delicious wines and excellent toast with anchovies (boquerones) or anchovies (anchoas) and montaditos (small sandwiches), as well as plates with local delicacies: dried ham (jamón ibérico) and long-aged cheese (queso curado).
Tapas at Taberna Uvedoble – this place presents a completely new type of tapas bar. The decor is bright and simple, without complicated decorations. Only high-quality ingredients are used to prepare the dishes. The menu offers a wide selection of tapas, half portions and full portions (tapas – media ración – ración). We recommend the oxtail meatballs (albondigas de rabo de toro) and potato salad with prawns (ensaladilla rusa con gambas).
The El Tintero fish restaurant is interesting and always bustling. It is a chiringuito, a typical beach bar at the end of the El Palo promenade. The speciality is fried or grilled fish and seafood (the menu also includes meat dishes). However, here… you don’t order, as the waiters bring ready-made dishes out of the kitchen and walk between the tables loudly advertising what they are carrying. Just let the waiter know and the dishes will be on your table. Prices are calculated on the basis of the size of the plates: they are small, round, oval and trays. Then other waiters walk around shouting „yo cobro”, which means „pay me”. At the end, the plates are counted and a collective bill is presented.
Antigua Casa de Guardia is a tavern worth visiting after shopping at the local market. Dating back to 1840, it offers sweet wine or beer and small tapas with anchovies (anchoas). It is a very charming place with a local atmosphere, where you can only order dishes at the bar.
In Malaga, you must try churros with hot chocolate – these are long, fried dough sticks served with hot, thick chocolate. The best place to find them is next to the market – Casa Aranda is hidden in a small, narrow street.
Discover the charms of Malaga
Lovers of sunsets in beautiful places should not miss the view from the terrace of AC Málaga Palacio. The hotel’s rooftop terrace offers one of the best views of the Costa del Sol. Located exactly between the cathedral and the city park, you can enjoy a romantic dinner or a drink at dusk with a breathtaking view of the port and the Old Town.
The terrace of the Parador Gibralfaro hotel, located on the hill of the same name, offers an equally spectacular view of the Old Town, the bullring and the port. Over a cup of coffee, you can take unique souvenir photos of Malaga. If you are feeling energetic, you can walk up through the Gibralfaro fortress from the Old Town or simply drive up by car.
A stroll through the Atarazanas market is another must-see in Malaga. The market hall of the central Atarazanas market is closed on Sundays, and we do not recommend visiting on Mondays either, as the most interesting part, the fish market, is closed. Other stalls are also interesting, but the fish market has its own unique atmosphere. The fishmongers, always in a good mood, shout out to encourage you to buy, and you can feel the Mediterranean character of this place. The most famous and recommended place is Bar Mercado Atarazanas, where you can order freshly prepared fish and seafood.
A drink by the pool at the Molina Lario Hotel, on the eighth floor of this exclusive establishment, is not just for those who love the view. The bar has become a meeting place for many Malaga residents (malagueños), who come here for a drink after work or to enjoy a cocktail and tapas in a pleasant atmosphere with a beautiful view of the cathedral and the city.
Wellness and relaxation in the Arab baths will be appreciated when sightseeing starts to become exhausting. Then it is worth taking advantage of a wellness treatment in the Arab baths in Malaga, offering, for example, a bath, scrub or relaxing massage for two. After the treatment, delicious Moroccan mint tea is served. The Arab baths are now modelled on traditional Hammam baths and offer customers the pleasure of wellness that the inhabitants enjoyed during the Moorish period.
Muelle Uno is a pier that opened in early 2012 and connects the port with the city. Here you will find restaurants and boutiques that you can visit while admiring expensive yachts or strolling through the palm tree park. The pier ends at the La Farola lighthouse. There, at , where you will see a large, colourful glass cube (El Cubo), is the Pompidou Centre Museum.
At Muelle Uno, you can rent bicycles (including electric ones) and Segways. You can ride from the port along the waterfront, past the city beach of La Malagueta, to the Tintero restaurant, located at the end of the Malaga coast in the former fishing village of El Palo. Halfway there, you will pass Baños del Carmen, a seaside resort from the early 20th century, which is an ideal place to take a break and stop for a bite to eat.
If you want to see the city from the sea, you can take a boat trip from Muelle Uno. There are several companies offering different options for those who love to explore the Costa del Sol from the water, including dolphin watching or a cruise along the coast to Benalmádena and back. One of the boats has a glass floor for observing the colourful marine world and rich biosphere of the Mediterranean Sea.
The best local beer is called Victoria. You can now visit the Victoria brewery and discover the secrets of each stage of the brewing process. This 90-minute guided tour ends with a beer tasting and is another local attraction in Malaga. It is advisable to book your visit to the museum in advance.
A stroll along the Calle Larios promenade
Malaga’s beautiful, representative street is Calle Larios, where you can buy the best traditional ice cream at the Casa Mira ice cream parlour. Be sure to try the Málaga and turrón (almond) flavours. You can explore Malaga on your own or hire a guide who will tailor the tour to the needs and interests of each visitor. The capital of the Costa del Sol is really worth a visit!
