The 27 Best Things to See and Do in Málaga, Spain

The best views of Málaga’s attractive 19th-century bullring are from the turrets of the Gibralfaro castle, from where you can see it tucked in amongst high-rise apartment blocks just a stone’s throw from the sea. Work on this understated, elegant plaza began in 1874 and it staged its first bullfight two years later; nowadays, it is one of the the most important bullrings in Andalusia and holds prestigious bullfights during Easter and throughout Málaga’s riotous August fiesta. Tours of the ring are available, and it also houses a museum exploring the history of the controversial spectacle that takes place within. Recommended by Mark Nayler

Alcazaba, at the foot of Gibralfaro hill, is Málaga’s most iconic landmark and the best-preserved Moorish fortress palace in Spain. It was constructed by the Hammudid dynasty in the early 11th century and later captured by Ferdinand and Isabel, after the siege of Málaga in 1487. It is renowned for some of the most important Muslim works in Spain today, as well as its caliphal arch work. Reach it by foot or bus, and head there early to avoid the midday heat. Our four-day Mini Trip to Málaga includes a visit to the Alcazaba with our Local Insider.

You won’t see many tourists on the streets of Soho, a now-neglected quarter of Málaga that fifty or so years ago was a desirable residential area. Bordered by Alameda Principal to the north, the Guadalmedina river to the west and the port to the east, this now-unloved neighbourhood is nevertheless home to the most exciting and innovative street art scenes in Andalusia. As part of the initiative known as Málaga Arte Urbano Soho (MAUS), some of the world’s leading grafitti artists have adorned Soho’s crumbing facades with amazing spray-paint images; hunting for these is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon off the tourist circuit. And best of all, it’s completely free. Recommended by Mark Nayler

Street art in Málaga’s Soho district I © Encarni Novillo

Los Gatos is one of the friendliest bars in Málaga, a place where visitors stepping in for the first time are greeted like loyal clients of 20 years. The décor is traditional, with an enormous stuffed bull and bullfighting paraphernalia occupying one corner, and various trinkets and antique items randomly scattered throughout the restaurant. Los Gatos pulls off the not-inconsiderable feat of appealing to both locals and visitors, the latter of whom are warmly welcomed in both English and Spanish. Its location just off Calle Granada – the historical quarter’s central street – means it’s a perfect place to enjoy a cold beer and tapas whilst monument-hopping.Recommended by Mark Nayler

One of the best things about being in Málaga, especially on a sweltering summer’s day, is the city’s proximity to a cluster of superb beaches. The Playa Malagueta is the closest and most popular of them all and is reached by just a 10-minute walk along the lovely promenade at the east end of Málaga’s great port. Its 0.6 mile-long, man-made stretch of fine sand provides the perfect setting for a refreshing dip and a dose of Andalusian sun, before lunch or drinks in one of the many excellent restaurants and bars on the nearby Paseo del Muelle Dos. Recommended by Mark Nayler

Every August, usually around the middle of the month, Málaga’s annual feria erupts into life. A distinctive aspect of Málaga’s week-long blowout is that the celebrations don’t just take place in marquees (called “casetas”) on a sandy site the size of several football pitches known as a “recinto”, which are usually located quite a way out of the city center. Of course, Málaga has a caseta-packed recinto to rival any other major Andalusian city: but here, during the day, the fiesta is on the streets. Spontaneous street parties break out all over town, with women wearing the stunning flamenco dresses and big groups of Malagueños sharing bottles of cartojal, a sweet white wine that is the feria’s signature drink. Particularly lively are Calle Marques de Larios and Plaza de la Constitución in the old town, which are packed with locals dancing, drinking and socialising all day, every day, for a week. Quite simply wonderful. Recommended by Mark Nayler

This scruffy and charming barrio is situated between the Guadalmedina river to the east and the Maria Zambrano train station to the west and is one of Málaga’s oldest neighbourhoods. It’s hard to believe that Perchel is in the same city as the smart, sophisticated old town, but for that reason it gives you a true taste of what life was like before Málaga became a major tourist destination. It was – and still is – a working-class neighbourhood, many locals earned their living from the ocean on their doorstep. Nowadays it’s still the place to head for the freshest fish in the city, sold from stalls at the wonderful Mercado del Carmen. Recommended by Mark Nayler

One of old Málaga’s central squares is Plaza de la Merced, on which Pablo Picasso was born in 1881: nowadays, it is lined with bars and restaurants with sun-drenched terraces, making it a great place to hang out. The fact that it’s favoured by street performers of all kinds means there’s likely to be live entertainment as you enjoy your tapas, too. Venturing off Plaza Merced itself, the neighbourhood of La Merceditself is a hedonist’s playground: Calle Alamo is lined with super-trendy bars and clubs and gives way to the equally popular Calle Carreteria, on which you’ll find La Tranca, the tapas joint of choice for La Merced’s locals. Recommended by Mark Nayler

La Tranca’s client-base almost entirely consists of Malagueños, making it a unbeatable spot to take the pulse of La Merced’s streetlife. Crammed into the tiny bar and spilling out onto Calle Carreteria, clients are plied with vermouth, sweet wines and homemade tapas by the ebullient owner Ezequiel, making for a noisy and chaotic atmosphere that is the signature of any truly local bar in Andalusia. The back wall of Tranca is plastered with album covers by classic Spanish singers, from pop to flamenco, but the bar itself is airy and light rather than cluttered. One of the best bars in Málaga that tourists don’t know about. Recommended by Mark Nayler

This vast and beautiful park, spanning almost 5,000ha (12,355 acres) and reaching heights of 1031m (3,383ft), is just 5km (3.1mi) north of Málaga city. Rent a bike, and spend the day exploring lush mountains, pine-topped hills, babbling streams and rolling fields of flora – and don’t be surprised if you get up close with wildlife like eagles, wild boars and chameleons. Come prepared with a packed lunch, and enjoy it with magnificent views of the Mediterranean.

No visit to Málaga would be complete without a visit to El Pimpi, one of the city’s oldest and most-loved places to eat. Enjoy a pre-lunch or early evening vermouth (red Martini over ice) on the outside terrace, overlooking the Moorish Alcazaba and the Roman amphitheater, and watch the world go by on Calle Alcazabilla. An army of waiters provides excellent service, much like the original pimpis – cheerful locals who would help sailors arriving in Málaga’s port to unload their wares before showing them where to head for a drink and a snack. Particularly recommended here are the mini buey (ox) burgers and the homemade croquetas. Recommended by Mark Nayler

Mirador de Gibralfaro, near Castillo de Gibralfaro, is a hilltop lookout point just outside the centre of town. Ramble up its tree-lined paths at sunrise or sunset for panoramic views of the city: the higher you get, the more amazing the vantage point. Choose from the two main viewpoints (or pick your own romantic spot), and enjoy a bird’s-eye-view of the towns and mountains of Costa del Sol, and the Mediterranean Ocean seemingly blending into the sky.

The white stonework of the Neo-Gothic Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, built in 1920, glows in the Spanish sunshine – and even more so when it’s floodlit by night. Marvel at its tall spires, intricate archway entrance and stained-glass windows, with your camera in tow. It’s only a 2-minute walk from the main cathedral, but tucked away, making it a real hidden gem of Málaga.

History buff? Head to the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista on Calle San Juan, for its striking religious architecture. The original church, built in a Gothic-Mudejár style, dates back to 1487; it was remodelled many times over the centuries, including during the Baroque period, evident in some of its details. The tower was added in the 15th century, while the sacristy was built in 1789. It is an incredible place to visit and a chance to enjoy a mishmash of architectural styles.

Museo de Málaga, on Plaza de la Aduana, is Andalusia’s biggest museum and the fifth-biggest in Spain. It opened in 2016, bringing together the 1913 Provincial Museum of Fine Arts and the 1947 Provincial Archeological Museum. Begin your visit in the large indoor courtyard, before walking through the rooms of Palacio de la Aduana, which house 2,000 pieces of fine art over three floors and more than 15,000 artefacts across its five-floor archaeology collection. The museum is closed on Mondays.

If you get tired of looking at monuments and want to experience some authentic Málaga life, head to El Perchel’s Mercado del Carmen. The usual cacophony of bargaining and socialising awaits you inside, along with what many Malagueños say are the best fish and seafood stalls in town. Indeed, El Carmen sits in the old neighbourhood of ‘El Perchel’, named after the hooks – ‘perchas’ – on which local fisherman used to hang the day’s catch to dry. Though now surrounded by fashionable tapas joints, this market has not lost its truly local ambience or its wonderfully fishy aromas. You can enjoy the freshest catches as tapas in one of the many nearby bars.

The beautiful Moorish entrance of the Atarazanas looks more like something you’d expect to see in Granada’s Alhambra than adorning the facade of a posh supermarket – but then Málaga’s grandest mercado has had many incarnations. The archway is the only piece to survive from the original 14th-century seven-arched structure, which was a giant shipyard when Málaga was under Arabic dominion (at which time the sea came further inland than it does today). When the Catholic monarchs seized Málaga from the Moors in 1487, the Atarazanas was turned into a convent and in subsequent centuries the structure was also used as a military fort, a hospital and a medical school. Be sure to also check out the beautiful stained-glass window on its rear façade, which depicts fishing boats coming and going in Málaga’s great port.

Port of Málaga, only a few minutes from the city centre, is a glamorous seaport with restaurants, bars and fashion boutiques. Although it is one of the oldest ports in the Med, it boasts a distinctively modern feel, with superyachts docked in the harbour and high-rise buildings towering over the palm tree-lined promenade. The best way to enjoy it? Watching the world go by with a cocktail in-hand.

Castillo de Gibralfaro, on Gibralfaro hill, overlooking Málaga city, is a Moorish palace that dates back to the 10th century. The castle, which is renowned for a three-month siege by Catholic monarchs, has been mostly restored and today also features a military museum. It can be reached by bus or foot, but it is well worth making the steep climb to enjoy the scenic view of the city. You can also get to Gibralfaro via the scenic walkway of Paseo Don Juan de Temboury, south of the Alcazaba.

Exploring Málaga’s key architectural attractions can be thirsty work, especially in spring or summer, but there is no shortage of places to eat and drink in the city centre. One of the coolest spots to grab a cold beer and some tapas is Mercado de la Merced: reopened in October 2015 after a six-month makeover, Mercado de la Merced is now one of the trendiest places to eat and drink in the city, as well as being a den of culinary innovation and excellence. The market’s 22 stalls offer everything from cured hams, fresh fish and vegetables to designer tapas bars and sushi stalls. The market is situated in the heart of the super-cool La Merced neighbourhood and just a five minute walk from Málaga’s old town. Recommended by Mark Nayler

If you want dinner with a difference in Málaga, few places can beat Vino Mio (situated just a few minutes’ walk off Plaza Merced) for friendliness and originality: indeed, it may well be the only restaurant in Andalusia where you can enjoy kangaroo and crocodile while watching a live Flamenco show. This imaginative combination of artistic and culinary pleasures makes dining at Vino Mio a hugely enjoyable experience, and one which is enhanced by the warmth and efficiency of the waiting staff. At the end of the show, the dancer selects diners to come up and try their flamenco skills – an experience which will makes an evening at this quirky restaurant all the more memorable. Recommended by Mark Nayler

Hiking through the Chíllar River to the Caves of Nerja offers some of the most stunning scenes in the region – it is an absolute must for outdoor enthusiasts. A pair of solid trainers is essential for your walk (or wade) through the mostly ankle-deep waters. The trek takes 4–6 hours to complete and leads through narrow cave walls and pebbled river beds. On arrival at Nerja, you’ll welcome cooling off in the water basin.

This botanical garden, spread out over 25,000 square meters (269,100sqft), is located just outside of the city centre and can be reached within half an hour by bus. It was constructed in 1850 by an aristocratic couple and, today, boasts more than 2000 different plant varieties from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania, as well as a huge variety of bird species.

The Cathedral of Málaga, in the historic centre of Málaga, is one of the most important architectural structures in this port city. It was designed in the Renaissance style by Diego de Siloe, with a Baroque façade and frescos on the walls inside, and constructed between 1528 and 1782. A lack of funds meant only the north tower was completed, but the cathedral is still considered one of the most impressive throughout the region.

Artist Pablo Picasso is from Málaga, and today you can discover some of his works, from the late 19th century through to his death in 1973, at the Museo Picasso Málaga in Buenavista Palace. Located in the centre of the old town, it is close to the Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso was born. Some 230 artworks offer insight into his style, while there are also changing contemporary exhibitions.

It is estimated that this Roman theatre, at the foot of the Alcazaba, in the southern part of Málaga, was constructed under the dominion of Augustus in the first century CE. It remained in use until the third century, when it was converted into a source for building material by Arab conquerors. At the time of its construction, Málaga represented one of the most important cities in the region, and the theatre itself is a historical reminder of the Roman imperium.

El Pedregalejo, home to Playa Pedregalejo, one of the best beaches in Málaga, is a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Spend the day relaxing on the 1.2km-long (0.7mi) beach, before tucking into local seafood at one of its many restaurants and dancing the night away at one of the clubs.