Málaga (Spain) is mostly famous as a package holiday destination among holiday makers and is predominantly visited in the summer. Most of the tourists do not even see this beautiful city, as they land at the airport and from there they are taken to their resorts on Costa del Sol. However Málaga is so much more than that.
So, is Málaga worth visiting? Read further to find out whether Málaga should be on your bucket list or go directly to our Málaga travel guide.
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9 reasons why Málaga is worth visiting
With its rich history, stunning beaches, and dynamic cultural scene, Málaga offers something for everyone. The city is home to several impressive landmarks, such as the Alcazaba fortress and the Picasso Museum, which celebrates the life and work of the famous artist born there.
Additionally, Málaga’s Mediterranean climate ensures pleasant weather year-round, making it an ideal destination for both relaxation and exploration.
Here are our 9 reasons why Málaga should be on your bucket list:
1. Historical Heritage
Málaga is a bit overshadowed by Granada if it comes to historical heritage sites, however Málaga has its very own fortress from the Moorish period which is almost as beautiful as Granada’s Alhambra. The Alcazaba of Málaga fortress and the Gibralfaro Castle, built between 11th – 14th centuries, should not be missed when visiting Málaga.
Other significant historical sites in Málaga include the Roman Theatre (1st century BC), the Cathedral of Málaga (15th – 17th century), and the Church of Santiago (St. James’ Church) from the 15th century, among others.
2. Great art museums
If you are a fine art lover, Málaga won’t disappoint you either. Málaga is the birth place of Pablo Picasso, and has a whole museum (Museo Picasso Málaga) dedicated to the life and the works of this world-famous Spanish artist. You can also visit the birth house of Picasso in Málaga.
Other notable museums in Málaga with some great art are the Pompidou Centre, which exhibits the Pompidou Collection of fine arts, and the Carmen Thyssen Museum, showing a lovely collection of 19th-century Andalusian paintings.
3. Stunning views
This ones comes a bit of a surprise, but Málaga offers some amazing views. Take a hike up to Gibralfaro Castle for panoramic views of the city and the Mediterranean Sea.
And if you are addicted to searching to most scenic views everywhere you go, the Cathedral of Málaga won’t disappoint you. Take a rooftop tour to enjoy the best views of the city.
Note: As of 1 April 2024, there are construction works carried out on the roof of the cathedral which will continue most probably for about 3 years. At this moment the rooftop tour is not available.
4. Nice weather all year round
Málaga is located on the so-called Costa del Sol (Sun Coast) in Spain and the name says it all. Málaga is one of the sunniest places in Europe. With 300 sunny days per year, Málaga is attracting tourists all year round.
If you want to escape the rainy gloomy weather in the autumn, Málaga would be the perfect destination for a city trip. Do you want to enjoy a bit of a sunshine in the middle of a snowy winter – Málaga will be your answer.
However, the warm weather comes with a downside. In the summer it could get very hot in Málaga with temperatures well in the 45 plus degrees Celsius (113 degrees F).
5. Easily accessible – own airport
In terms of logistics, Málaga ticks off all the boxes. With its own international airport, Málaga can be easily visited from virtually anywhere in Europe. This means that quite quickly you’ll reach your hotel and maximize on your time exploring the city. Besides, the public transportation is quite reliable. The airport is well connected with the city, as are the various neighbourhoods in Málaga.
6. Lots of tours to other places in Andalusia
There are lots of tours are organized out of Málaga to explore the rest of Andalusia. Basically, you can spend a week, or two in Málaga and explore the rest of Costa del Sol and Andalusia. Indeed Málaga would be the perfect base for your Andalusian adventures.
Here are some of the places that you can visit on an organized day tour from Málaga:
- Granada (affiliate link)
- Ronda (affiliate link)
- Nerja (affiliate link)
- Seville (affiliate link)
- Morocco (affiliate link)
- Antequera (affiliate link)
- Córdoba (affiliate link)
- Marbella (affiliate link)
- Mijas (affiliate link)
- Caminito del Rey (affiliate link)
- Gibraltar (affiliate link)
7. The food and wine are great
Well, that’s not true only for Málaga but for the rest of Andalusia, as well. It goes without saying that tapas paired with a local wine are a guarantee for a well-spent evening. The one dish that is symbolic with Málaga, is espetos – sardine skewers roasted on a BBQ directly on the beach. Another typical dish is the fritura malagueña – a platter of fried fish, which includes various catch-of-the-day seafood. The best place to try the fish platters are at the so-called chiringuitos – a type of beach bar/restaurant.
Other dishes that are must-try in Málaga include gazpachuelo malagueño (a warm fisherman’s soup, not related to the gazpacho), porra antequerrana (a cold tomato soup), and last but not least the famous ensalada malagueña (fresh potato salad with salt cod, onion, green olives, and oranges).
Join a food tour to experience to food scene in Málaga (affiliate link), meet other travellers and have some fun.
8. Festivals all year round
The most famous festival of Málaga is Feria de Agosto, celebrated in the second half of August. The Fair of Málaga commemorates the conquering of the city by the Catholic Monarchs on 18 August 1487 during the Reconquista.
Whether you are visiting in the winter or in the summer, Málaga is buzzing with festivities, from traditional festivals like Noche de San Juan (the Night of San Juan) in June and the Semana Santa (the Holy Week) at Easter to the Picasso month in October and the Biannual Flamenco Festival.
9. 14 km of lovely beaches
Málaga boasts approximately 14 kilometers of beautiful coastline, featuring a variety of beaches that cater to different preferences and activities. From bustling urban beaches like La Malagueta or La Caleta to quieter, more secluded spots like Playa de Guadalmar, everyone can find their perfect spot for relaxation and of coarse to get a bit a of a sun tan or do some water activities.
Is Málaga worth visiting in winter?
Absolutely! With the mild winter temperatures and no crowds at all, Málaga is the perfect destination for a winter city trip. As the high season in Málaga is in the summer, during the rest of the year the city is left to the locals, so it’s less crowded.
Besides, Málaga is pretty magical during the Christmas period. The Christmas lights are one of Málaga’s main attractions in the winter period. Each year there’s a different design with a different theme and the lights are officially lit the last week of November.
In the Christmas period you can enjoy Christmas markets, nativity scenes (belenes), and outdoor ice-skating rinks. The culmination of the Christmas events is the Three Kings Parade, or Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos, held on January 5th. It features elaborate floats and costumed participants, distributing sweets to children.
How many days to spend in Málaga
If you want to explore Málaga properly you should stay at least 2 days so that you have time to visit most of the museums and other tourist attractions in a relaxed pace. However, you can also see most of Málaga in one day, but you won’t have time for the beach.
Málaga can also serve as a base to discover the rest of Andalusia on day trips, as it is very well connected to the other major cities and also lots of tours depart from Málaga, thus you can visit Marbella, Granada, and Mijas, for example.
Málaga vs Granada – which is better
Without a doubt Granada is more popular than Málaga. And there’s reason for that. You can’t compare Alhambra in Granada with anything else. But Málaga has it’s very own fortress and castle from the Moorish period – the Alcazaba of Málaga, which is also quite beautiful.
Granada’s got beautiful gardens – the Generalife gardens, Málaga – as well – the Botanic Gardens. Granada’s got a beautiful cathedral, Málaga – as well. However, Málaga’s got Picasso and beaches, but Granada’s got Albaicín and Sacromonte neighbourhoods.
So, which is better Málaga or Granada? Which one should you visit? Our verdict is: both! You don’t need to choose between them. If you are short in time, plan a day in each and you’ll be able to get a glimpse of these two worlds.