Malaga – map, sightseeing plan, attractions, accommodation, interesting facts

Malaka

Malaga is one of the oldest cities in Europe (8th century BC). The Phoenicians are responsible for the beginnings of colonization, creating numerous trading posts in these areas for their needs. First known name of the city (Malaka) comes from the Phoenicians, probably from the word meaning salt. Practically in parallel with the Phoenicians, the same areas were also populated by newcomers of Greek origin. The actual political affiliation of the areas was therefore not clear. Everything became clear thanks to the conquests led by Carthage, which around 230 BC took over part of the Iberian Peninsula. Several dozen years later, in 200 BC, Carthage lost control of this area to Rome.
The affiliation of Malaga and the surrounding areas has changed many times over the course of history, and I will leave the precise tracking of these changes to historians. I will only mention that the current appearance and character of the city was significantly influenced by the very long period of Muslim rule, who ruled this area practically continuously for almost 800 years (!!!), from the time of its conquest by Abd al-Aziz (716), until the fall of the city during the Spanish Reconquista (1487). You will undoubtedly notice a lot of buildings and architectural elements with clear Muslim influences preserved to this day in the city.

Málaga today

Modern Malaga definitely focuses on pleasure. It is mainly associated with the sweet wine of the same name, relaxation on sunny beaches and (thanks to Pablo Picasso, born in Malaga) with ubiquitous art. Tourism is definitely the most important source of income for Malaga and it is immediately obvious that tourists are taken care of here. Parks, promenades, alleys, excellent food, vast beaches and even free museums. Adding cheap airlines that can fly to Malaga from almost every corner of Europe, we get the picture of a city created for tourism and relaxation. And it seems that we can stop there, but if I put a full stop here, it would be unfair to Malaga. Why? Because Malaga, although self-sufficient in itself, gives us much more. Just expand the map of Andalusia, where Malaga is located, and everything becomes clear: Seville, Cordoba, Granada, the Sierra Nevada mountains and their neighboring attractions, nearby Gibraltar and the shocking beauty of the Path of the Kings (Caminito del Rey) ... countless attractions located almost within easy reach of Malaga. All this makes Malaga worth treating not only as an intermediate station on the way to the beach and back. Located almost exactly in the middle, at a similar distance from all the most important attractions of the region, Malaga is the perfect place to start your great Andalusia adventure. If this hasn't occurred to you before, after reading this guide, I hope that, in addition to being well prepared for visiting Malaga, you will feel like enjoying the pleasures that Andalusia has to offer you.
My adventure with Andalusia also started here and spread widely to other places, cities and attractions. I feel it perfectly and I can only hope that I have enough skills to effectively translate my admiration into words that will also encourage you... I will do everything I can, although on the other hand I am calm. The south of Spain is a professional heart thief and will probably do just fine, even without my intercession :)

Where is Málaga?

The location is always easiest to describe when you have a simple and clear map at your disposal.

Malaga is located at the southern tip of Europe and is so far south that it is closer to the equator than Tunis (!!!), the capital of Tunisia in Africa. So it's easy to realize that the weather in Malaga has more in common with Africa than with Europe. In practice, this is exactly the case. Malaga's location makes it a perfect destination for trips all year round. The sun shines here on average 300 days a year, the summer is very long and warm, and the winter is short and very mild (the daytime temperature in winter usually exceeds +15 degrees Celsius).

Analyzing the location of Malaga, I cannot help but show the location of the other attractions of Andalusia that I mentioned in the previous paragraph. So here's a simple map. It shows how favorably the city is located compared to other interesting places.

I know!!! A sightseeing plan is already forming in your head, begging to be implemented the second you look at this map for the first time. And I'll tell you right away: this is an excellent idea, to start from Malaga, where you can easily and cheaply rent a car (based on my own experience, I described it in car rental guide in Malaga – [click]), then set off on a tour of Andalusia, staying overnight and visiting other beautiful cities and attractions. Great idea!

Malaga sightseeing plan

Visiting Malaga is not as complicated as it may seem at first glance. The city is perfectly connected by public transport and has two Matra lines…. which are of no use to us :) Why? The reason is prosaic, and the answer will satisfy every traveler! Attractions in Malaga are located close to each other and can be arranged in such a way that you can reach everywhere on foot without excessive effort. Just arrange and plan the sequence of visits appropriately and you're done!
I will be happy to propose a ready-made sightseeing plan, which you can treat very freely and modify almost on an ongoing basis, depending on your current condition and desire. The mutual proximity of attractions and their location means that the same thing can be visited in different orders and in several ways. You can change the direction of the tour, eliminate or add further points in the program, and the plan will still remain coherent.
However, there are also places that cannot be manipulated so freely. The first is Gibralfaro Castle, which is located at the top of a steep hill. It is best to plan your visit in such a way as to get to it bus number 35, which drives right up to the castle. After visiting the castle, you can follow the walking path down to the next attractions. Going in the opposite direction is, of course, also possible, but it requires much more effort, which may not be pleasant, especially in summer, at temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.
The second attraction that you won't be able to easily change in your sightseeing plan is Pablo Picasso Museum. The problem with it is that it is very popular and crowded with tourists. Entrance tickets, which are not easy to obtain, are purchased for a specific day and time. So you have to be at the entrance at a specific time and there is nothing you can do about it.

Entrance tickets to attractions

Every plan has a weak point, and most often these are entry tickets to attractions. A real traveler's nightmare is that you can travel halfway around the world and kiss the doorknob at the entrance to an attraction because there are no more free admission tickets. There is one such place in Malaga: Pablo Picasso Museum. Fortunately, it is now possible to guarantee your right to enter the museum in advance, without waiting in line and without the risk of tickets being unavailable. However, you must make sure of this in advance by purchasing an admission ticket online. It's obvious and trivial to implement, but most people forget about it anyway. So I remind you and recommend it. Take care of this in advance!
For your convenience, I am providing links to two sources where you can buy tickets in two ways: as single admission tickets or as a ticket package in combination with other attractions. Buying tickets in the form of a package often has the advantage that it is simply cheaper, because in the case of packages you can often find promotions and discounts.

check out: entry tickets to the Pablo Picasso Museum – [click]

check out: entry ticket packages to attractions in Malaga – [click]

Important note!
There are two main Pablo Picasso museums in Malaga. The first of them is the Pablo Picasso Museum mentioned above (with an exhibition of over 200 works by the artist), admission to which is strictly regulated and ticketed. The second one is Museu Casa Natal de Picasso, the house where Picasso was born and lived (the exhibition of paintings is smaller). Admission to Pablo Picasso's childhood home is free (only applies to European Union citizens) and you do not need to buy any tickets. Of course, it is worth visiting both places.
Some ticket packages include information that the package includes entry to Pablo Picasso's family home (Museu Casa Natal de Picasso), but it is worth knowing that this information is only included to make the package look nicer, because admission to this facility is free .

Free museums in Malaga

Malaga is one of the few cities where some museums are available for free, but it should be noted that these are really valuable exhibitions. We are used to tourists having to pay dearly everywhere, so it is worth taking advantage of this opportunity and appreciating the city's efforts.

Museums in Malaga with free entry:
– Pablo Picasso Family House (Museu Casa Natal de Picasso) – on the tour plan number (5)
– Malaga Museum (Museo de Malaga) – on the tour plan number (3)
– Contemporary Art Center (CAC Málaga) – on the tour plan number (12)

Use GPS coordinates

I provide precise GPS coordinates for each attraction. This may not seem particularly useful at first glance, but in practice, the exact opposite is true. Thanks to these coordinates, you do not have to stick to a specific sightseeing path. You can explore the city basically as you like.
How to use GPS coordinates in practice? Just click on the link next to them. Then the navigation will open on your phone and automatically calculate the path to your destination, but… you don't have to follow this path! Walk as you like, wherever you want and treat the indication on the phone only as an indication of whether you are approaching your destination or whether you have already taken the wrong direction. Visiting the city is not about walking the shortest route, but enjoying its atmosphere. Thanks to GPS coordinates, you don't have to worry about getting lost, and at the same time you have unlimited freedom of sightseeing.
In short: click on the coordinates, walk and check from time to time to see if you are going in the right direction. No nerves, no stress, pleasure. Simple and beautiful!

Malaga – map of tourist attractions

It's time for one of the most important pieces of information in the entire entry about Malaga, i.e. a map of attractions. You will find a lot of important information on the map below.

First, pay attention to na numbered red points. These are the main attractions on which the entire sightseeing plan is based. The numbers you see on the map can be found in several different places throughout this post. They can be found in the table of contents at the beginning of the article and in the descriptions of the sightseeing route. The paragraph titles begin with these numbers, where you will find broader descriptions and additional information about each attraction (e.g. GPS coordinates, information about entry tickets, etc.). The attraction numbers are connected with small red dots that present the approximate route of my proposed sightseeing route. It combines the attractions described in this guide into a logical whole.

Secondly, you can see on the map area marked with a thin red line in the shape of a slightly flattened circle. This circle marks the approximate area of ​​the historic part of the city. If for some reason you want to take an additional walk beyond the main tour route, I recommend this area.

Thirdly, I also placed them connected by green dots on the map square green markers with the inscription "BUS 35". The markers present the location of stops and the route of bus no. 35, which many of you will find very useful (more on this in a moment, in the next paragraph). Next to the stops, I also added the names of the stops to make it easier to find your way while driving.

Take a close look at this map and take a moment to analyze it. This will make it much easier for you to move around the map and the city.

WARNING!
Clicking on the map will display a higher resolution version.

List of tourist attractions in Malaga:
1. Gibralfaro Castle (Castillo de Gibralfaro)
1.1 Gibralfaro Viewpoint (Mirador de Gibralfaro)
1.2 Malaga skyline viewpoint (Mirador Panoramico de Malaga)
1.3 Viewpoint (Mirador de la Coracha)
2. Alcazaba
3. Museum in Malaga (Museu de Malaga)
4. Roman Theater (Teatro Romano de Málaga)
5. Pablo Picasso's childhood home (Museu Casa Natal de Picasso)
6. Merced Square (Plaza de la Merced)
7. Pablo Picasso Museum (Museo Picasso Malaga)
8. Cathedral (Catedral de Málaga) and Archbishop's Palace (Palacio Episcopal)
9. Carmen Thyssen Museum (Museo Carmen Thyssen)
10. Marqués de Larios pedestrian street (Calle Larios)
11. Malaga City Market (Mercado Central de Atarazanas)
12. Center for Contemporary Art in Malaga (CAC Malaga)
13. Málaga Park (Parque de Málaga) and Park Promenade (Paseo del Parque)
14. Harbor promenade (Palmeral de Las Sorpresas)
15. Center Pompidou (Centre Pompidou Málaga)
16. Municipal Heritage Museum (Museo del Patrimonio Municipal – MUPAM)
17. Bullring (Plaza de toros de La Malagueta)
18. Maladueta Beach (Playa de la Malagueta)
19. Malaga Lighthouse (La Farola de Malaga)

Malaga – sightseeing plan

I combined all the attractions on the map into one tour route. Attractions are visited in sequence, from numbers 1 to 19. By following this route, you will follow the sightseeing route precisely marked on the map. I didn't add red dots to number 19 (the lighthouse in Malaga) because I don't think it's worth going to the lighthouse. Just seeing her from afar is enough.
The beginning of the route and the direction of sightseeing are not accidental choices! The first point of my plan, that is Gibralfaro Castle (1) is located on the top of a hill. This is also the perfect time to return to bus number 35, marked in green on the map. This line runs through the center of Malaga and has a final stop at the top of the hill below the castle. So when you go to the beginning of the sightseeing route, you get on at any of the intermediate stops and get off at the last stop, called "Castle". This way you avoid the unpleasant climb on your feet to the top of the hill. Then the sightseeing route runs downhill or on flat ground and you don't have to climb any hills.

The entire route is approximately 6 km long and can be covered with a leisurely walk in less than two hours. Of course, the time I gave only covers going from point to point without stopping. There are several museums along the route, objects that require visiting and places where it is worth sitting for a moment to enjoy the surroundings: e.g. delicious coffee at Plaza de la Merced (6), a meal in the most famous market hall, Mercado Central de Atarazanas (11), a drink in one of the establishments on the impressive port promenade (14), or relax on Malagueta beach (18).
If you decide to visit and see everything that is available on the route I planned, you will probably miss the whole day.
I packed the route with attractions for one prosaic reason: not everyone will be interested in everything I put on it. Virtually everyone will remove something from it, adapting the route to their interests. However, if you skip some of the attractions, you will still have plenty of things to do. And this is the idea behind the excess number of attractions in the plan.
For a moment I was even tempted to write that I didn't believe anyone could complete everything, but I quickly bit my tongue. I've already written something like this for other guides, which also seemed impossible to me, and what? Just a few days after they were published, the first heroes who managed to do it started contacting me!!!
I swear! You are often amazing!

Either way: those who like intense sightseeing have a packed itinerary, and those who want to choose just something for themselves also have plenty to choose from.
I arranged the proposed plan in such a way that it had the form of a closed loop. Why? This is to make it easier for you to modify it! In the system I proposed, you simply throw away the point that you are not interested in and go straight to the next point of the trip. This shortens the route and reduces the amount of time needed for sightseeing, but the main plan remains the same. So you can easily modify and implement your own idea for visiting Malaga.

However, before you start seriously modifying my plan, pay attention to the direction of the tour. If to the number (1) if you want to go on foot from the side of the other numbers, you will have to climb a quite solid hill where the Gibralfaro Castle is located (1). The rest of the route can be modified with virtually no restrictions.
Have fun exploring!

Detailed descriptions of attractions in Malaga

1. Gibralfaro Castle (Castillo de Gibralfaro)

Before the castle was built Gibralfaro, the top of the hill located on the seashore served as a natural navigation point. Nothing is better suited as a natural lighthouse than the light emitted from such a peak. The Arabs living in these lands then used to say colloquially to the hill: gíbal al-faruh, That is "mountain of lighthouses". This name has undergone only minor phonetic transformations, even though over the centuries various nationalities have ruled the area and adapted it to their own pronunciation. Over time, on Mount Gibralfaro, thanks to Abd ar-Rahman III (10th century AD), the existing primitive buildings were transformed into a massive fortress, the role of which was to protect the Alcazaba located below (2). The heavily fortified Alcazaba therefore gained enormous additional support from the fortress on the top of the hill (further strengthened by Yusuf I in the 14th century), and both structures were connected by a thick defensive wall equipped with a perfectly protected passage.
By the way, it is worth paying attention to the mentioned wall. Its course is not straight, but clearly zigzag. The Arabs noticed that defending a simple wall was much more difficult and required additional structures. An opponent who is right next to the wall is difficult to attack from the top of the wall. However, if the wall line runs zigzag, you can stand on the wall so that you can see from the top of the wall and easily attack the back of the opponent located under the wall.

The resulting fortification, consisting of a palace-citadel (Alcazaba) at the bottom, a castle fortress (Gibralfaro) at the top and a powerful wall connecting them, was an almost impossible fortification to conquer.
The Spanish found this out when they recaptured Malaga from the Arabs in 1487. The siege of the castle lasted over three months, and the defenders, cut off from the outside world, were defeated not by the Spanish army, but by hunger.

Gibralfaro Castle was so important for Malaga and the entire province that it permanently became the main element of the emblem of the city and the entire region.

The castle is divided into two parts. The upper one, called the main patio, houses the Heritage Interpretation Center (Centro de Interpretación) and the Mayor's Tower (Torre Mayor). In the lower part of the castle there were barracks, a parade ground and military stables. There is also the characteristic White Tower here.

Gibralfaro Castle, GPS coordinates:
36°43’24.8″N 4°24’38.0″W
36.723542, -4.410549 - click and route

1.1 Gibralfaro Viewpoint (Mirador de Gibralfaro)

There are three interesting viewpoints near the castle. Two of them are in the immediate vicinity of the castle, and the third one is on the path leading from the castle down towards the Alcazaba.
I won't try to describe what you can see from the viewpoint. You have to go and see for yourself. There are only a few steps to take, so come join us!

Gibralfaro viewpoint, GPS coordinates:
36°43’22.5″N 4°24’31.0″W
36.722916, -4.408611 - click and route

1.2 Malaga skyline viewpoint (Mirador Panoramico de Malaga)

The viewpoint is located right next to the Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro hotel and I don't think more information is needed. We approach, take a look and it's ready :)
Depending on the number of leaves on the trees obscuring the view, the view may be better or worse.

Panoramico de Málaga viewpoint, GPS coordinates:
36°43’21.7″N 4°24’37.7″W
36.722698, -4.410484 - click and route

1.3 Viewpoint (Mirador de la Coracha)

The viewpoint is located on the path leading from Gibralfaro Castle to the Alcazaba. If you follow the path, you will simply come across this place. You enter the path by going left along the castle walls. In my opinion, this is the most interesting viewpoint near the castle.

Mirador de la Coracha viewpoint, GPS coordinates:
36°43’20.8″N 4°24’43.5″W
36.722456, -4.412092 - click and route

2. Alcazaba

The place where the Alcazaba is located has always been a natural point for fortifications to protect the city. The earliest defensive buildings were built here by the first settlers (Phoenicians) who came to this area. The Romans made further expansion, but perhaps the greatest leap took place under the rule of the Moors. Emir of Cordoba Abd al-Rahman I (in the 8th century AD) gave the order for construction al-qasbah (alkazaba), i.e. translated from Arabic citadel. In this way, Roman fortifications were expanded to the size of a powerfully fortified castle - fortress. Over time, the Arab fortress, to which the name Alcazaba permanently stuck, gained additional support on the hill in the form of a defensive wall and further strongly fortified castle buildings (Gibralfaro Castle). In this way, one of the strongest and most difficult to conquer defense complexes on the entire Iberian Peninsula was created, which guaranteed the Arabs over 800 years of continuous rule over the area under its control.

Curiosity:
It is easier to realize how strongly fortified the Alcazaba is when you consider how many obstacles the attacker had to overcome to reach the upper part of the palace, where the most important inhabitants were sheltering. First, he had to break through three concentric defensive walls, and then he had to break through the elongated gardens under fire. If this was successful, there would be eight (!!!) fortified defensive gates in front of the attacker, two of which were located in bends that made the use of larger siege mechanisms and battering rams difficult or completely impossible.

Currently, after archaeological and security works, the castle is open to visitors. It exhibits finds of Phoenician, Roman and Arab pottery. There are also internal gardens built by Moorish and Catholic rulers.

Alcazaba in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’14.3″N 4°25’00.9″W
36.720639, -4.416917 - click and route

3. Museum of Malaga (Museo de Malaga)

First, the good news: introduction to Malaga Museum jest Free. This state of affairs has been going on for several years, so I don't expect any fees to be introduced for now.
The museum's collection includes approximately 15 exhibits. The permanent exhibition also includes works made available by the largest Spanish and most important museums in the world: Prado Museum and Reina Sofía Museum.
The museum in Malaga in its current form is a very young facility. The official opening (after general renovation) took place in 2016. Originally, after its construction (in 1829), the building was to serve as a customs office, and it was designed and built with this in mind. Unfortunately, he never played this role. It began its operation as the Royal Tobacco Factory, and after ten years it was transformed into a branch of the State Treasury. Later, the building served many different functions, including a police station and a prison. During the dictatorship of General Franco, fighters and political opponents were tortured in the dungeons located in the basement of the northern corner of the building.

Curiosity:
When Elizabeth II of Spain (Queen of Spain) visited Malaga in 1862, there was a problem with her accommodation. The city authorities did not find a suitable place to stay for her. So the idea was born to accommodate the queen overnight in the building of the former Tobacco Factory. Luxurious furnishings were quickly purchased and rooms for the queen and her husband were properly furnished. After the visit, the purchased equipment was sold.

and one more
Curiosity:
There is also another interesting story associated with the current museum building. It comes from the times when the building served as a police headquarters and a prison. For some time, an extremely popular and well-known American actor of Italian origin was kept in prison dungeons Frank Sinatra. It happened while the film "Von Ryan Express” (1965). According to police notes, Sinatra was fined and imprisoned for "causing a public scandal." We don't know what the term "public scandal" means. However, it should be remembered that the event took place during the dictatorship of General Franco and then even slight criticism of the dictator could be considered a scandal.
On the other hand, nowadays much more is known and talked about Frank Sinatra in the context of his mafia-criminal connotations and conflicts with the law. You can even find police photos from the actor's arrests on the Internet (below a photo taken in Bergen County).

Museum in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’11.0″N 4°25’02.9″W
36.719734, -4.417461 - click and route

4. Roman Theater (Teatro Romano de Málaga)

The Roman Theater in Malaga is a very young and accidental discovery. During works related to the creation of a new green space in the city, fragments of buildings were found, which were initially considered elements of the city gate. However, during further work, it turned out that these were stone construction elements that were part of a decorative "skene", i.e. a building that served as the back wall behind the stage of the Roman theater. Over time, the entire theater was excavated and plans to create new green areas had to change. Currently, it is definitely the most important remnant from Roman times in Malaga, and after years of work, the building has even been restored to its stage functions.
It is worth noting that standing near the amphitheater we are in an extremely interesting place. Here we can admire three unique buildings from very distant parts of the city's history:
– Roman Theater (Roman rule – its creation dates back to the 1st century BC)
– Alcazaba (Arab rule – 7th century AD)
– Malaga Museum (Christian rule – 19th century AD)

Roman theater in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’16.5″N 4°25’01.6″W
36.721261, -4.417112 - click and route

5. Pablo Picasso's childhood home (Museu Casa Natal de Picasso)

For lovers of Pablo Picasso's work, this place is a must-see. We rarely have the opportunity to visit the family homes of famous artists of this caliber, and houses with so many preserved family souvenirs are an exceptional rarity. The tenement house at Plaza de la Merced is the painter's birth and childhood home, and at the same time a wonderful souvenir of his father Jose Ruiz Blasco, who was also a painter and professor at the School of Fine Arts in Malaga.
In addition to family souvenirs and elements of original interior furnishings, the museum contains many sketches made by Pablo Picasso and, probably the most important of them, preparatory drawings (84 pieces) for one of the artist's greatest works: the painting "Young Ladies of Avignon".
From the huge collection of shared works (I don't want to describe everything here), I will also highlight a set of 55 illustrated books, where the authors of the illustrations, apart from Pablo Picasso were Joan Miro, Marc Chagall or Max Ernst.

Admission to Pablo Picasso's childhood home is provided Free!!!

Pablo Picasso's family home, GPS coordinates:
36°43’26.5″N 4°25’03.5″W
36.724021, -4.417639 - click and route

6. Merced Square (Plaza de la Merced)

One of the most important squares in the city, often (due to its size) used for outdoor events and festivals. In the Middle Ages, this area was outside the city walls and one of the entrance gates to Malaga (the so-called Granada Gate) stood more or less here. Through this gate, Christian troops entered the city and conquered Malaga in 1487, thus ending almost 800 years of Muslim rule.
When visiting Malaga, it is a perfect place for a short rest, looking for a shaded bench or a short break in the cafés that surround the square.
Coffee in the shade of Pablo Picasso's tenement house next to the square tastes great!

Merced Square, GPS coordinates
36°43’24.1″N 4°25’03.2″W
36.723359, -4.417563 - click and route

7. Pablo Picasso Museum (Museo Picasso Malaga)

The Pablo Picasso Museum is definitely the most crowded facility in the city. There is no point in advertising it additionally. Due to the wonderful harvests, it is the main reason for coming to the city for most tourists. There are always plenty of people willing to enter, so museum visits are strictly limited and ticketed.
I wrote a little earlier about the problems with the availability of entry tickets to this museum and strict adherence to entry hours. I won't repeat it and scare you with difficulties once again. Everyone who wants to enter knows about it and buys tickets well in advance.
For your convenience, I will post links once again that will allow you to check availability and possibly buy tickets in the most convenient way, i.e. online.
Links take you to single-ticket deals (via GYG) and to ticket packages that are often cheaper (via Tiquets). I recommend checking both options, especially during the season when availability is limited.

check out: entry tickets to the Pablo Picasso Museum – [click]

check out: entry ticket packages to attractions in Malaga – [click]

Pablo Picasso Museum, GPS coordinates:
36°43’18.2″N 4°25’06.4″W
36.721723, -4.418439 - click and route

8. Cathedral (Catedral de Málaga) and Archbishop's Palace (Palacio Episcopal)

Most sources state that the cathedral in Malaga was built for over 250 years (1525 - 1782). However, one look at the building is enough to ask yourself: is it really finished? Is there anything missing here? One bell tower is clearly unfinished!
The regular cathedral building was built on a rectangular basis and was undoubtedly supposed to have two symmetrically placed bell towers. One of them beautifully towers over the city, while the other one was clearly started but was never completed. Therefore, it is difficult to consider the cathedral completed and it is safe to say that its construction has been ongoing for 500 years.
The construction of the cathedral was a heavy burden for the city from the very beginning. It started spontaneously. Just a few days after a long and heavy siege of the city. The Catholic Kings (this was the official title given by Pope Alexander VI to the royal couple Isabella I the Catholic and Ferdinand II the Catholic), happy to take over the city that had been under Muslim rule for over 800 years, wanted to commemorate this fact with something spectacular. So they decided to raze the mosque standing there and build a huge Catholic temple in its place as a symbol of permanent change. By the way, almost 800 years earlier, Muslims did the same thing, demolishing the Catholic temple standing here and building a mosque.
However, we had to wait a while for this quick and spontaneous decision to be implemented, because the first construction works began only forty years later. Unfortunately, the implementation of the project required huge sums of money, so from time to time the work stopped and waited for more funds to appear. In the 18th century, a special tax was even passed in the city for the construction of the cathedral, which was paid by ships arriving in the city, and then the work progressed very quickly. Unfortunately, political and personal changes among the royal families meant that things turned out unfavorably again and the stream of money supporting the construction ended. When, at the end of the 18th century, it became possible to continue construction again, the American Revolutionary War broke out and the city donated the funds intended for the construction of the second bell tower to support the Americans. As we know, America gained independence, freeing itself from British colonial rule, but the cathedral remained unfinished. It is true that the Americans, in gratitude for their help, offered Malaga support in completing the second bell tower, but Malaga decided to allocate this money to other, more important investments at that time.
So we have a beautiful, monumental cathedral in Malaga, ranking at the top of the list of the largest, most beautiful, highest ... and unfinished, to which the inhabitants gave their own name: "La Manquita", i.e. "The One-Armed".
However, the city did not abandon plans to continue construction. The topic comes back from time to time and who knows? Maybe one day we will see it in a version with two bell towers? For now, let's hurry to see it in an asymmetrical form.
You can visit the cathedral inside, but you can visit the upper floors of the building and climb to the roof of the cathedral.
Ticket prices (2024):
– visiting the cathedral = EUR 10
– upper floors and roof of the cathedral = EUR 10
– combined ticket (visiting the cathedral + entering the roof) = EUR 15

Malaga Cathedral, GPS coordinates:
36°43’12.3″N 4°25’12.2″W
36.720094, -4.420043 - click and route

Archbishop's Palace I placed it in the same point as the cathedral because these buildings are right next to each other. You will definitely pay attention to it, because the tiny Obispo square is closed on one side by the monumental facade of the cathedral, and on the other three sides by the facades of smaller buildings. The Archbishop's Palace is the most beautiful of them. Currently, it houses an exhibition space under the care of the Centro Cultural Fundación Unicaja Málaga, but tourists are most interested in seeing the building's quiet gardens, patios, courtyards, imperial stairs and chapel.

Visiting the Archbishop's Palace is subject to a fee (ticket costs EUR 3).

Archbishop's Palace, GPS coordinates:
36°43’13.1″N 4°25’13.0″W
36.720293, -4.420288 - click and route

see: panoramic photo of the cathedral and palace – [click]

9. Carmen Thyssen Museum (Museo Carmen Thyssen)

The collection of works of art amassed by the Thyssen family is exhibited in a huge museum in ... Madrid – [click].
There is an exception to this rule and this exception is the Carmen Thyssen collection, for which a special building was built in Malaga. The exhibition focuses on the presentation of works by Spanish (mainly Andalusian) painters from the 19th century. The works are so interesting that they attract a large number of visitors, so admission to the museum is ticketed. There should be no problem with purchasing them, especially since they can be purchased online.

check out: tickets to the Carmen Thyssen Museum – [click]

Carmen Thyssen Museum, GPS coordinates:
36°43’17.0″N 4°25’23.2″W
36.721399, -4.423110 - click and route

10. Marqués de Larios pedestrian street (Calle Larios)

The iMarqués de Larios shopping street is one of the prettiest shopping streets I know. Running along a row of beautiful, not very large tenement houses, it looks almost cozy, even pleasant. I don't like shopping streets, but Malaga organized Marqués de Larios in such a way that even I enjoyed walking there. The street decoration changes from time to time and always looks spectacular. I consider a walk along the promenade to be obligatory.

Landmark approximately halfway along Marqués de Larios Street, GPS coordinates:
36°43’10.4″N 4°25’17.7″W
36.719568, -4.421586 - click and route

11. Malaga City Market (Mercado Central de Atarazanas)

Standing in front Mercado Central de Atarazanas It's hard to believe, but when Malaga was under Arab rule, the place where the Atarazanas bazaar currently operates had direct access to water! Today, it is about 500 meters from this place to the sea shore. However, in this context (word atarazanas from Spanish it means shipyards) the name of the bazaar is no longer surprising. This is precisely where the Nasrid war shipyard operated, but having lost contact with water, it had to cease its operations. After the city was conquered by the Spanish, the buildings of the former shipyard were intensively used, serving various functions: a monastery, a military hospital or a garrison. Over time, they slowly deteriorated and eventually fell into ruin. In the 19th century, the ruined buildings were taken over by the city and the decision was made to demolish them. One of the stone gates to the building (Nasrid Gate) has been preserved from the old buildings.
The city decided to use the recovered space to build the main market hall in the city. In this way, a metal, decorated market hall was created, modeled on the French Le Halle, whose artistic character was subordinated to the stone Nasrid Gate incorporated into it. The style of the building can therefore be described as neo-Arabic with Nasrid elements.
Of course, the most interesting are both main entrance gates leading to the hall. On one side, there is the front Nasrid Gate and, located exactly on the opposite side of the building, a richly decorated steel and glass rear gate with stained glass.
The interior of the hall is filled with stalls stuffed to the brim with delicacies. The commercial space is divided into three parts, in which the stalls are grouped thematically into stands with: seafood, vegetables and fruits, and meat and cheese. However, tourists come here for a different reason, because among the three official parts of the bazaar, there is also a fourth part: the gastronomic part. In the Mercado Central de Atarazanas there are plenty of stalls serving excellent snacks and dishes with incredibly fresh seafood. It's hard to resist and sit down to eat something small, washing it all down with a deliciously cold beer or wine. Everyone deserves a short break from sightseeing! True?

Atarazanas Bazaar, GPS coordinates:
36°43’07.0″N 4°25’27.1″W
36.718621, -4.424192 - click and route

12. Center for Contemporary Art in Malaga (CAC Malaga)

If you like to be surprised by art and enjoy learning about new forms of communication, where art affects the viewer and interferes in relationships with him much more than classical forms, then Centro de Arte Contemporeneo de Malaga is the place for you. The gallery presents several hundred contemporary works of art of a nature that is sometimes even difficult to classify. The entire exhibition can be divided into five areas. The first is a permanent exhibition, the next three are changing temporary exhibitions, and the last (fifth) is an exhibition of works carried out as part of projects carried out by the museum.
As you can see, most of the museum's exhibitions change from time to time, so you can always see something fresh, new and interesting.
I recommend it even more to art lovers and seekers of different experiences admission to the museum is free.

Centro de Arte Contemporeneo de Málaga (CAC MAlaga), GPS coordinates:
36°42’52.2″N 4°25’31.9″W
36.714509, -4.425531 - click and route

13. Málaga Park (Parque de Málaga) and Park Promenade (Paseo del Parque)

Located in the very center of the city, adjacent to the port, the port promenade, the old town and the most important monuments, the park with an area of ​​33 hectares is unique on a European scale. It is rare to find such extensive and conveniently located green areas in the city center. The park area is divided into two parts by the main communication artery, where public transport stops are conveniently located.
There are countless exotic plants brought from five continents growing in the park. The entire area of ​​the park is filled with small architecture (benches, fountains, sculptures, etc.), and tall palm trees provide pleasant shade.

Malaga Park, GPS coordinates:
36°43’08.9″N 4°24’56.9″W
36.719148, -4.415800 - click and route

14. Harbor promenade (Palmeral de Las Sorpresas)

The port promenade is a promenade known from photos on the Internet, which is partially covered with a futuristic roof. A nice place for a walk and equally nice to sit in one of the pubs and hydrate your body with something really tasty. I have very pleasant memories on this topic and if I come to Malaga, I will definitely come back here to remember the wonderful taste of a cold, coconut drink. Yummy!

Harbor promenade, GPS coordinates:
36°43’05.2″N 4°24’56.7″W
36.718115, -4.415743 - click and route

15. Center Pompidou (Centre Pompidou Málaga)

The statistics are clear and surprising! The Pompidou Center is the second most visited attraction in Malaga! Would anyone guess? Total surprise! I was convinced that the gallery was popular, but definitely not that popular! On the other hand, this is the first branch of the Pompidou Center located outside France, and Malaga paid EUR 1 million annually for the possibility of exhibiting the shared works and using the official name (this was the case until 2020, because after that time a new contract and a new rate came into force. What ? I don't know). Such expenses are not undertaken when there is no hope of a solid return.
It can be safely assumed that the popularity of the Pompidou Center in Malaga will soon increase dramatically again, because the main Pompidou museum in Paris will be completely closed for renovation in 2025 and will only open in 2030. Malaga will undoubtedly only benefit from this. So what can you see at the Pompidou Gallery in Malaga? The names of the authors of the works are enough: Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Rineke Dijkstra, Tony Oursler, Frida Kahlo, Francis Bacon, Max Ernst, René Magritte, De Chirico, Alberto, Sophie Calle Guacometti, plus temporary exhibitions, which in the coming years (during the renovation of the Paris headquarters) will probably break further popularity records.

Admission to the museum is charged. The ticket price is EUR 9 (2024) and can be purchased online by reserving a specific day and time of entry. In case of availability problems, here are two sources for purchasing tickets.

check out: tickets to the Pompidou Center – [click]

in case of problems with ticket availability check also here – [click]

Pompidou Center in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’08.1″N 4°24’45.4″W
36.718922, -4.412618 - click and route

16. Municipal Heritage Museum (Museo del Patrimonio Municipal – MUPAM)

Another museum in Malaga, available free of charge, presents works of art and historical memorabilia directly related to the history of Malaga. The exhibition is divided into three parts:
– period from the 15th to the 18th century
– 19th century (mainly Picasso and Carlos Haes)
– 20th century and contemporary trends

Urban Heritage Museum, GPS coordinates:
36°43’16.2″N 4°24’45.4″W
36.721172, -4.412618 - click and route

17. Bullring (Plaza de toros de La Malagueta)

Entertainment in which a man fights a bull and kills it has always been controversial (to put it mildly), and is now less and less welcomed and accepted even in Spain. However, you cannot pretend that it does not exist, because it is an important part of the history of these areas. So I encourage you to see at least what the facility looks like and visit it. The arena has the shape of a regular hexagon, with a diameter of 52 meters and can accommodate up to 9 spectators. There is a museum inside the arena building. Antonio Ordoñez (one of the legendary bullfighters), presenting costumes, sheets, sculptures, historical advertising posters and photos.
The museum is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. and from 17:00 p.m. to 20:00 p.m. It remains closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The entrance ticket costs EUR 1,8.

If you ask me if bullfights still take place here, I will answer: yes. They are taking place. However, I will not provide more information on this subject and I will not post a link to tickets because I do not want to support the development of this form of spectacle.

Bullring in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’14.5″N 4°24’37.2″W
36.720680, -4.410326 - click and route

18. Malagueta Beach (Playa de la Malagueta)

Malagueta in Malaga is not only a beach, but also an iconic place with a characteristic inscription, where you must have a photo. Everyone has it, I have it too! However, apart from popular fashion and internet trends, the beach in Malaga is large, comfortable and pleasant. There is always something to eat and drink nearby, and often almost on the beach there are temporary grills where delicious seafood is prepared just out of the water. It is worth visiting the beach in Malaga so that a person tired of sightseeing can have a chance to relax a little and experience the simple and sweet pleasure of lounging.

Malagueta inscription on the beach in Malaga, GPS coordinates:
36°43’02.8″N 4°24’34.9″W
36.717454, -4.409681 - click and route

19. Malaga Lighthouse (La Farola de Malaga)

The lighthouse in Malaga is an important and well-known object, and some say that it is even a symbol of Malaga, but... its view from a distance should be enough for us. Approaching it closely will not bring anything new to our impressions, so as you can see on the map, I haven't even marked the access path. Observing the lighthouse from the beach is the last point of our trip, which I hope will leave you with a lot of wonderful impressions and memories.

Malaga – hotels and accommodation

An overnight stay in Malaga is a real pleasure. The city comes alive in the evenings and invites you to countless bars and restaurants serving great food and excellent drinks, including excellent wine.
Below you will find some suggestions. Please do not use these as a specific indication of the hotels I recommend. Treat them as a good start for further exploration. The links I posted use the search engine mechanism, which, next to a specific hotel, always offers other, similar offers, often with more attractive prices. Additionally, the links contain filters I have prepared. They prevent the display of offers that could unnecessarily clutter search results and appropriately narrow the search area to the area that interests us. So you don't have to do it manually every time. I recommend using these links because they make your search easier and save time.

Agua Viva Mar – [click]

Urbe10 Terrace Constitucion 1 Bedroom Apartment – ​​[click]

Feelathome Mártires Apartments – [click]

Attractions near Málaga

When planning your stay in Malaga, it is worth remembering that in the immediate vicinity of the city there are several extremely interesting and unique attractions. If you have too much free time and don't plan more intensive sightseeing, a few trips outside the city may be an interesting option for you. Some of these proposals are interesting because you don't even have to rent a car, because you can take advantage of the offers of local agencies that organize group trips to attractions, providing a guide, transport and entrance tickets. This is important and interesting because in the case of selected attractions, entrance tickets are purchased many weeks in advance and if you have not managed to arrange tickets in advance, you simply will not be able to buy them on your own. However, when choosing a group trip, you are guaranteed an entrance ticket and in many cases, joining an organized group is the only (although usually a bit more expensive) option to visit a popular attraction.
Below I will include a short list of the most interesting places near Malaga, and where possible, I will include links to the offers of local travel agencies that organize group trips.
I will describe each place with one or two short sentences that will help you understand what the proposed attraction is. Where it will be useful, I will also include GPS coordinates to the parking lots, in case someone wants to go there on their own by car.

1.1 Caminito del Rey Trail

A spectacular, extremely spectacular trail leading along footbridges suspended on vertical, rocky slopes of ravines will leave an unforgettable impression. It's hard to find something more exciting and beautiful. A detailed description of the trail and many details about organizing your own tour can be found in a separate entry about Caminito del Rey – [click]

Caminito del Rey is, of course, very popular, even crowded, and the number of tickets is limited. Tickets are sold for specific entry times.

check out: availability of tickets to Caminito del Rey – [click]

check out: organized trips to Caminito del Rey – [click]

1.2 Montes de Málaga

Fans of mountain walks and bicycle trips can visit the Malaga Mountains Landscape Park (Parque Natural Montes de Málaga), whose altitude ranges from 100 to 1000 m above sea level.
The park area is covered by a dense network of paved dirt roads. There are approximately 50 km of walking routes and approximately 250 km of bicycle routes of varying difficulty on roads and paths.

Montes de Malaga parking lot and starting point for walks, GPS coordinates:
36°49’26.9″N 4°22’59.8″W
36.824140, -4.383290 - click and route

1.3 UNESCO Antequera Dolmens Site

The Dolmen Area in Antequera, included on the UNESCO list, consists of several objects, so it is worth setting aside a whole day to visit it. There are three dolmens and two mountain landscape parks to see here. None of these places require long or demanding walks. However, there are walking paths of various lengths available (especially in El Torcal) and if someone wants to take a longer walk, this option will be available.
As a reminder, I will only add that dolmens are prehistoric megalithic tombs made (to put it simply) of two huge boulders dug vertically into the ground and covered with a third, huge, flat boulder.

WARNING!
The dolmens and El Trocal can be easily reached from Malaga, even without a car. Local offices organize sightseeing trips. The offer of organized trips and prices can be found in the link below.

check out: trips to Antequera Dolmens Site – [click]

Curiosity:
The dolmens in Antequera are very peculiar and therefore extremely interesting. They are characterized by an unusual orientation towards the directions of the world. Only one of them (Dolmen Viera) is situated in a typical way (like almost all dolmens around the Mediterranean Sea), so that at dawn on the summer solstice, sunlight directly enters and illuminates the interior of the dolmen chamber. The other two dolmens face completely different directions.
The Menga Dolmen points to a nearby peak called Pena de los Enamorados, whose shape resembles a human face. Inside the mountain, a cave (Abrigo de Matacabras) covered with prehistoric paintings was discovered.
The Tholos Dolmen in El Romeral is oriented so that in terrestrial orientation it points to the El Torcal Mountains and the Bull Cave located within them, and in astronomical orientation it points to the midday sun at the time of the winter solstice.

Dolmen Menga (Dolmen de Menga)

It is one of the largest known ancient megalithic structures in Europe. Its creation is estimated at 3700 BC. It was made of 32 megaliths, the largest of which weighs about 200 tons. It is 27,5 m long, 6 m wide and 3,5 m high.
After the dolmen was discovered and excavated in the 19th century, the skeletons of several hundred bodies were found inside.
Remembering the unusual orientation of the dolmen, when visiting it, stop in the corridor leading inside and look towards its outlet. In front of you (during favorable weather) you should see Mount Pena de los Enamorados, to which the dolmen points.

Parking at the Menga dolmen and Viera dolmen, GPS coordinates:
37°01’25.3″N 4°32’49.0″W
37.023695, -4.546940 - click and route

Dolmen Viera (Dolmen de Viera)

It is located only 70 meters from the Menga dolmen, and its name comes from the discoverers (brothers Antonio and Jose Viera). It is assumed that it is younger than the Menga dolmen and was built between 3510 and 3020 BC. It takes the form of a long corridor ending with a rectangular room, slightly larger than the corridor.
It has a typical (like virtually all places located near the Mediterranean Sea) location relative to the cardinal directions. At dawn on the summer solstice, sunlight enters and directly illuminates the interior of the dolmen chamber.

Parking at the Menga dolmen and Viera dolmen, GPS coordinates:
37°01’25.3″N 4°32’49.0″W
37.023695, -4.546940 - click and route

Dolmen Tholos de El Romeral

It is approximately 2,5 km away from the two dolmens described above, and at the same time the youngest of them. Its construction is estimated at 1800 BC. At first glance, it looks different from the Menga and Viera dolmens. Its side walls were made of small stones, and large megalithic slabs were used to build the ceiling. The long corridor leading inside ends in two round chambers resembling beehives. Only the first, larger chamber (approximately 4,2 meters in diameter) is available to visitors. The smaller chamber has a diameter of about 2 meters and its floor is lined with stone slabs.

Parking at the Tholos de El Romeral dolmen, GPS coordinates:
37°02’01.8″N 4°32’06.1″W
37.033827, -4.535017 - click and route

La Peña de los Enamorados mountain

A very characteristic mountain that, seen from the city of Antequera, forms the shape of a human face. For this reason, it is often called Montana del Indio (Indian mountain), due to the fact that the shape of the face has distinct Indian features.
There are many typical legends associated with the mountain, which I will not mention, because none of them contains anything that we have not heard before. Much more interesting is the Abrigo de Matacabras cave, located inside the mountain (not open to the public), decorated on its walls with prehistoric paintings. A group of scientists from the University of Seville recently published an analysis based on high-resolution photos of the paintings covering the interior of the cave, confirming the connection of the mountain and the cave with the Menga dolmen pointing to them.

Landmark, which you need to follow when coming from Antequera, GPS coordinates:
37°03’11.5″N 4°30’00.1″W
37.053187, -4.500022 - click and route

The Torcal de Antequera

The El Torcal de Antequera Nature Reserve, designated in the Sierra del Torcal mountain range, is approximately a 30-minute drive (18 km) south of Antequera. When driving towards Antequera from Malaga, it is right on the way, so it is most convenient to see it first and then go to visit the dolmens.
The most important point of the reserve is... the tourist parking lot, where two scenic trails begin. The paths are 1,5 km and 2,7 km long, partially overlapping and are color-coded. Depending on your preferences, weather and willingness, you can go to one of them. If someone does not feel like taking longer walks, it is enough to walk a short, initial part of the trail, where we are accompanied by beautiful views from the very beginning.
The trail leads along an uneven dirt and rocky path. The most unfavorable conditions for walking occur here... in summer!!! This is due to the extremely high temperatures that often occur here, and the tendency for additional heat to accumulate between the rocks, which is exactly where the walking path runs.

The parking lot where the trails through El Torcal begin, GPS coordinates:
36°57’10.3″N 4°32’40.3″W
36.952860, -4.544517 - click and route

Map of the yellow trail (longer) coming from the website Junta de Andalucia
download: map of the trail in El Torcal de Antequera – [click]

1.4 Round

A small and incredibly located town. Located on the Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos trail, i.e. the Trail of White Villages, connecting a total of a dozen small towns:
– Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz region),
– Espera (Cádiz region),
– Bornos (Cádiz region),
– Villamartín (Cádiz region),
– Prado del Rey (Cádiz region),
– El Bosque (Cádiz region),
– Ubrique (Cádiz region),
– Grazalema (Cádiz region),
– Zahara de la Sierra (Cádiz region),
– Aldodonales (Cádiz region),
– El Gastor (Cádiz region),
– Olvera (Cádiz region),
– Setenil de las Bodegas (Cádiz region),
- Ronda (Málaga region),
– Benaoján (Malaga region),
– Algatocín (Málaga),
– Gaucín (Malaga region),
– Casares (Malaga region),
– Jimena de la Frontera (Cádiz region),
– Castellar de la Frontera (Cádiz region).

Find out more about Ronda in a separate, detailed entry sightseeing plan – [click]

Important to me!

Give the article a good rating (5 stars welcome 😀)!
It's free, a for me it is very important! The blog lives on visits and thus has a chance to develop. Please do it and ... thank you in advance!

If you like my guides, you will certainly find the one I created useful guide catalog - [click]. There you will find ready-made ideas for your next trips, descriptions of other tourist destinations and an alphabetical list of guides divided into countries, cities, islands and geographical regions.

I also post link to Facebook profile - [click]. Come in and press "Follow"then you will not miss new, inspiring posts.

Unless you prefer Instagram. I'm not a social media demon, but you can always count on something nice to look at on my instagram profile - [click]. The profile will gladly accept any follower who likes it.

I make the content I create available free of charge with copyright, and the blog survives from advertising and affiliate cooperation. So, automatic ads will be displayed in the content of the articles, and some links are affiliate links. This has no effect on the final price of the service or product, but I may earn a commission for displaying ads or following certain links. I only recommend services and products that I find good and helpful. Since the beginning of the blog's existence, I have not published any sponsored article.

Some of the readers who found the information here very helpful, sometimes ask me how you can support the blog? I do not run fundraisers or support programs (type: patronite, zrzutka or "buy coffee"). The best way is to use links. It costs you nothing, and support for the blog is self-generating.

Pozdrawiam