10 things to do in Malaga in September

Don’t expect cool weather in September when the days are still long and the sunshine shines bright. But do look forward to balmy evenings and a much quieter city especially after the schools go back mid-month. These are just two reasons why it’s one of the best times of the year to visit the city. In the next in our month-by-month round-up, we recommend the top things to do in Malaga in September including foodie treats, fun experiences and interesting activities.

Read on and then book your stay in Malaga!

Check out local and national fashion

The Pasarela Larios Malaga Fashion Week has its usual September date this year with two evenings of the best in local and Spanish fashion. Calle Larios turns into a giant blue catwalk (over 300m long) and showcases established Malaga fashion labels and up-and-coming local talents.

This year’s action takes place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 September. Get there early to grab your place next to the catwalk.

Read more about Malaga Fashion Week.

See a different side to Malaga

With slightly cooler temperatures, September makes a good month for sightseeing and exploring Malaga beyond the city centre. For this month, we propose heading to the northern edge of the old quarter.

This self-guided Malaga walking tour explores medieval walls, industrial towers, vertical gardens and a simply stunning concert hall.

You also get to see one of the more unusual art museums in Malaga and a market, quieter but just as lovely as Atarazanas.

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Need a hotel in Malaga in September?

Our carefully curated list of hotels has something for everyone from cheap but cheerful accommodation to treat-yourself 5-star luxury. Check out our recommendations for the best places to stay in Malaga.

And if you’re not sure where to book, read our comprehensive guide to where to stay in Malaga. it covers every area and lists amenities, links to public transport, distance to the beach and pros and cons for each one.

Feast on muscatel grapes

One of the best things to do in Malaga in September is to try the local grapes, freshly harvested from the Axarquía region to the east of Malaga. The video below shows how local grape growers have to use donkeys in the harvest because of the sloping terrain.

Malaga muscatel grapes are as sweet as they come. Choose a very ripe bunch because the best grapes are the ones that have already turned into raisins on the bunch. Buy them at Atarazanas Market during the first two weeks of September.

Take a stroll in the back streets

For cool spots in the city centre, head for the back streets around Calle Andrés Pérez. They’re perfect for strolling and exploring – lose yourself in the labyrinth of alleyways. Look out for the vertical garden, medieval walls and fine architecture.

Read our guide to exploring this part of Malaga.

Take in a sunset

There’s something about the September humidity that makes good sunsets and those at this time of the year are some of the best. Top places to watch the sun go down over the city include the Gibralfaro viewing platform, Muelle Uno and one of the rooftop terraces in Malaga.

Admire some aviation

Our museum suggestion for things to do in Malaga in September takes you back to the airport, but to the original terminal (you won’t believe how small it is!). Malaga Aircraft Museum has some excellent exhibits including old planes and you can sit at the controls. A great one for kids and anyone interested in how planes get up in the air and what they used to look like.

Buy some Malaga wine

Seeing as September is grape harvest time it makes sense to stock up on some Malaga wine this month. You can try before you buy at several shops in the city centre and traditional grocery stores also stock local wine.

Find out where to buy Malaga wine here.

See the vineyards

And continuing our vino theme, our recommendation for a day trip from Malaga in September goes to Antequera to the Bodegas Gross. The harvest will in full swing with the first pressings of this year’s grapes underway. Find out more about this Malaga wine tour

And for more about a holiday discovering Malaga wine, get your copy of the Malaga Wine Costa del Sol Road Trip. 

Get on two wheels

The less intense heat this month means you can out and about on a bike in Malaga without sweating quite as much. Flat, compact and with plenty of cycle lanes, the city makes a great place to explore from your saddle.

Book an electric bike tour (and sweat even less!) or book a regular bike tour in Malaga.

If you’re looking for inspiration on where to ride, check out our suggestions for the 5 best bike rides in Malaga.

See the shipyards

Our last suggestion for things to do in Malaga in September visits one of the more unusual spots in the city. The Astilleros Nereo (shipyards), at the west end of Pedregalejo, rank as some of the oldest and most traditional in Spain.

They’re well worth a visit, which includes a tour of the workshop with an exact replica of a traditional jabega boat used by the first inhabitants of Malaga, the Phoenicians in the 7th century BC. You can also see the nautical-themed museum plus photos of boats and Pedregalejo as it used to be.

Astilleros Nereo is open Monday to Wednesday and Friday 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm, Thursday 10am to 2pm and 9pm to midnight, Saturday from 10am to 2pm, and the last Sunday of the month, 10am to 2pm.

Enjoy Malaga in September and if you want to keep up with events in the city during the month, sign up to our free fortnightly Newsletter.