Málaga Travel Guide: 4 Days in the Southern Spanish City
Málaga is far less popular than the Spanish cities of Valencia, Seville and Barcelona. However, it still holds a special place in our hearts: it’s the perfect place to combine city and beach, and thanks to its southern location, it’s almost always a great place to be. With this 4-day Malaga travel guide, you’ll make the most of your time in and around the city!
Malaga. While most people travel directly to one of the many seaside resorts on the Costa del Sol, you’ll want to stay in the city itself. Just a short transfer time awaits you!
Apart from the short flight and transfer times, Malaga has several advantages. For example, you can count on around 300 days of sunshine per year. The historic center is compact, so you can see a lot in a short time and still have time to lie on the beach. And there are plenty of beaches to be found! To avoid decision fatigue and to make the most of your short trip, we’ve put together a handy Malaga travel guide. It includes extra tips if you want to extend your holiday and stay longer than 4 days.
Day 1: A first introduction to Málaga
Of course, we don’t know when you’ll land at the airport. But let’s assume it’s afternoon. Then the first day is primarily a day of travel and an initial introduction.
Explore the area around your hotel and order a drink on one of the many terraces to simply enjoy the Spanish sun. In the evening, it’s time for dinner with a view or a fruity cocktail. Where can you do all this? We have some recommendations!
Plaza de la Constitución is a lively square with several terraces on the outskirts. From experience, we can tell you that the cocktails at Café Central Málaga are more than delicious.
For a great dinner with the best sunset in Málaga? Take the bus to El Belneario, just outside the city center. This traditional pavilion serves the best fresh fish.
Prefer a simpler evening with tapas of your choice? There are plenty of options on Calle Calderería in the old town. Our favorite is Matahambra.
Want to end your first night in style? For a fee, you can access the rooftop terrace of the AC Hotel Marriott Málaga Palacio. A drink is included in the price, as well as a great view of the illuminated city.
Day 2: Discover the old town
Málaga has a compact historic center; you can walk from west to east in less than 20 minutes. However, this does not mean that there is not much to see. Quite the opposite!
We recommend leaving early and doing what you don’t want to do in the scorching heat first: heading up to the Castillo de Gibralfaro. From the top (at a height of about 130 meters), you have the most beautiful view of the city and the port. The castle itself was originally a Phoenician fortress, but was converted into an Arab castle in the 14th century.
Although many people choose to use the stairs from the old town, we recommend taking the less touristy route via the north side of the mountain. This way, you will walk in the shade. Want to know more about this route? Check out our article on budget-friendly Málaga.
After a visit to the Castillo de Gibralfaro, it’s actually convenient to go back down the stairs. Then you’ll automatically arrive at the old town and – to be even more precise – at the entrance to the Alcazaba. This is perhaps the most famous landmark in Málaga.
The Moorish fortress – which was defended from the Castillo de Gibralfaro – was built in the 9th century and expanded in the 11th century. And it’s still in good condition. In fact, it’s one of the best-preserved fortresses in Spain. There you’ll find richly decorated arches with Arabic characters and figures, narrow passages and – provided it’s the right time of year – colorful flowers.
The Roman columns are a bit of a curiosity. They come from the adjacent Teatro Romano. This theater was only discovered in the 20th century, after it had been buried under rubble during the construction of the Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro. It took them 30 years to restore it, but this was not entirely successful because the columns had already found a place in the Alcazaba.
Does the historic center have even more attractions? Absolutely!
Málaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. You can visit not only his former home, but also the Pablo Picasso Museum. This is located in the Buenavista Palace, a palace from the 16th century.
One of the most striking and dominant landmarks in the old center is the Cathedral of Málaga. Construction began as early as the 16th century and took over 250 years. And it is still not completely finished! Due to the long construction period, you will find a mixture of architectural styles there. By the way, you can also climb it for a fantastic view of the city!
Those who like to mingle with the locals on vacation can visit the Mercado Atarazanas. This is one of the markets where the Malagans themselves shop.
Day 3: Relaxing on the beach
A day of sightseeing in Málaga can be quite intense. We therefore recommend planning a beach day on the third day. After all, there is no shortage of beaches in this Spanish city.
Málaga's most famous beach is Malagueta. The each is closest to the historic centre and has a Blue Flag certification. It is popular with tourists, but certainly also with locals. And there are plenty of facilities. You can choose to rent a sunbed or seek shade under a parasol. Those on a smaller budget can settle down among the palm trees on the lawns set up for this purpose.
In between, you can take a dip in the sea or play a game of beach volleyball. In addition, there are masseurs on the beach who can work out your muscles. Also nice: on the shoreline you will find countless chiringuitos, the Spanish equivalent of beach bars. Fresh sardines dominate the menus here.
You can end your day at the beach with a visit to Muelle Uno. This promenade only opened in 2011, but has been incredibly popular since day one. You will find countless bars and restaurants there, as well as the opportunity to shop in a shopping area of approximately 14,000 m².
Day 4: Cycling
Do you like exploring a city by bike? Malaga is perfect for this! You can book an organized tour through our partner Baja Bikes, but it can be even more fun to just rent a bike and head out on your own. Depending on whether you have an afternoon or evening flight, you can do more or less.
In the morning, it’s time to check out the street art in the old town. In the up-and-coming Soho district, you’ll find a street art project called MAUS. Various artists have contributed to the growth of this neighborhood through beautiful artwork.
Although MAUS is the official street art project in Malaga, you can find amazing street art in other places as well. In the Lagunillas district, for example. For years, poverty, school dropouts, and unemployment were the order of the day in this neighborhood. But since street artists have brightened up the neighborhood, a change is slowly happening; it’s the city’s premier neighborhood, and more and more people are flocking there!
Once you’ve seen all the street art, it’s time to cycle from the center towards the boulevard. This is perfect for a long bike ride, as it continues all the way to the fishing villages of El Palo and Pedregalejo. If you cycle straight through, you’ll be there in no time, but that’s not the point. Make sure to stop at one of the many beach bars along the way, admire the street art on the colorful beach huts, and eat some fresh fish along the way. Depending on the day, you might also stumble upon a local market.
Back in town to return your bike to the rental location? Take a detour. Sights you can still visit include the impressive bullring and Plaza de la Merced, one of the most charming squares in Malaga.
Tips for those staying longer in Malaga
Don’t fancy going to Malaga for “just” four days, but want to spend more time in the Spanish city? Even then, you won’t be bored.
Malaga is a great base if you want to explore Andalusia. The region has an extensive bus network that will take you to many of the highlights, but for more freedom, rent a car. Here are some things to see and do:
Visit Marbella, which – contrary to popular belief – is not just about trendy beach bars and luxury boutiques. The old town is also beautiful!
Travel to magical Ronda. This town is split in two by a huge gorge, which makes for a stunning landscape. The white houses complete the picture.
Incidentally, there is no shortage of white villages in the area. Nerjas, Mijas and Frigiliana are all highly recommended. Just make sure you get there in time; they are popular with tourists and the later in the day, the busier they get.
Tip! Tips for those staying longer in Málaga
Still looking for a hotel for your city break? Here is our ultimate hotel travel guide for Málaga:
Shhh… At the Barcelo Malaga, you can whizz down a slide from the ground floor to the lobby bar. Cool! What’s more, this hotel offers modern rooms, a rooftop terrace with a pool, wellness facilities and an à la carte restaurant.
We – just like our holidaymakers – are fans of Malaga Vibes. The hotel owes its popularity mainly to its modern rooms, infinity pool and sky bar. And conveniently, a bus and metro station are within walking distance.
There are very few hotels in the historic centre with a swimming pool. Molina Lario is one of them. And swimming here is even more fun; from the water you have panoramic views of the grand cathedral, among other things.
You’ll feel right at home at the H10 Croma Malaga. The trendy hotel is located in the heart of Málaga, with famous landmarks such as the Malaga Museum and Castillo de Gilbralfaro within walking distance. Back at the hotel, the rooftop terrace is the place to be. Here you can swim in the pool, order a cocktail from the bar and enjoy the views of the city.
Looking for the convenience of your own apartment during your city break? Apartments Tandem Soho is a great base in the city centre. The apartments and suites offer amenities such as kitchenettes, free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. If you feel like going out, you are just a few steps away from nice restaurants and cafes. Ideal!
