Guide to Malaga Cathedral
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Updated April 2026
Malaga Cathedral took 254 years to build — and they still didn’t finish it. That’s the first thing worth knowing about this place. The second is that it dominates the old quarter so completely that you’ll catch glimpses of its single tower from almost every street corner before you ever arrive at the front door.
It’s the city’s biggest and most-visited monument, and for good reason. Once you’re inside, the scale of the thing stops you in your tracks — three vast naves, towering columns, and one of the finest sets of carved choir stalls in Spain. Outside, the main façade facing Plaza del Obispo is one of the best pieces of Baroque architecture in Andalusia.
This guide covers everything you need to visit: the history, what to look out for inside, the best spots to view it from the outside, and the practical information on tickets and opening times.
Malaga Cathedral features quite a lot in our video – see how many times you can spot it below!
📢 Quick heads-up
April 2026: Note that the rooftop tour is currently closed for restoration work. Check back for updates.
Is Malaga Cathedral worth it?
Yes, if you’re spending more than a day in the city or you love an impressive church. The scale of the interior, the choir stalls, and the overall atmosphere make it worth the entrance fee.
Cathedral History
Like most cathedrals in the cities in Andalusia, Malaga Cathedral was built on the site of the main mosque. Today, there’s isn’t much remaining of this Moorish place of worship, reputedly one of the finest in Al-Andalus. Apparently, its orange tree patio once rivalled those in Cordoba and Seville, both still standing today.
When the Catholic Kings Isabel and Ferdinand conquered Malaga in 1487, one of the first things they did was order the demolition of the mosque for construction of a Christian church. However, this took some time. Centuries in fact because although construction started in 1528, it didn’t finish until 1782.
Cathedral design
The Cathedral, built with stone from quarries in the AxarquÃa region to the east of Malaga, started life as a Gothic temple under the design of renowned architect Diego de Siloé. But, the city quickly abandoned this project and didn’t take it up again until 1550 when the Renaissance and Baroque styles took over.
Malaga Cathedral was consecrated in 1588 although the first masses were held in an unfinished building. This situation that continued until the late 18th century when building work was declared complete.
The mystery of the missing tower
Except the Cathedral had only one tower.
There’s no definitive reason why the second tower wasn’t finished. According to Malaga Cathedral website, historical circumstances halted constuction, including the invasion of Spain by Napoleon and lack of funds.
Whatever the reason, well over 200 years later, there’s still no second tower and Malaga Cathedral is known as ‘La Manquita’ – the ‘one-armed lady’.
Read about other churches in Malaga
Did you know?
All processions during Holy Week in Malaga visit the Cathedral for a blessing. They exit via the Baroque facade on Plaza de Obispo.
Guide to Malaga Cathedral Highlights
While you’re visiting, don’t miss the following:
Size
This is a large cathedral with three naves and endless columns. Look out for the extensions to the columns, added to give the interior extra height. The main nave measures nearly 42 square metres.
Choirstalls
A stunning work of carpentry, considered one of the best examples of Baroque sculpture in Spain. Don’t miss the intricate carving that adorns the entire stalls.
The main figures are the work of the city’s celebrated sculptor, Pedro de Mena, who also designed and carved the first Christ of Mena, carried during Holy Week. You can visit de Mena’s house, now home to the Museo Revello de Toro art museum. He lived in the city from 1658 to 1688.
Organs
Malaga Cathedral boasts some of the finest Baroque organs in Spain. The twin 18th-century organs have over 4,000 pipes and measure 22 metres in height. They have conserved their original pitch and their sound is famed for its clarity.
Free organ concerts are held periodically throughout the year. Our monthly what’s on posts have the details.
Iglesia del Sagrario
Outside in the Cathedral grounds, this Isabelline chapel is also incomplete, but has a lovely Gothic portal and stunning altarpiece.
You also get a good idea of the stone façade from Calle Cister as you walk towards the Alcazaba Fortress and Roman Theatre.
Façades
Perhaps Malaga Cathedral’s best side is the one facing the Plaza del Obispo. This is a feast of columns and marble crowned by statues of Malaga’s patron saints, St Ciriaco and St Paula.
Do get the audio guide
Grab your audio guide (included in the entrance fee) for all the details. It’s available in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, German, Russian, Italian, Polish, Dutch and Danish. There are also children’s audio guides, available in Spanish, English, French, Italian, German, Dutch and Danish.
Malaga Cathedral Views
The Cathedral is visible from all over town. Here are our top five spots for Cathedral gazing:
- From above – visit the Alcazaba Fortress and/or the Gibralfaro Castle for great views of the Cathedral from up above.
- From afar – walk to Muelle Uno and then look back at the city. Malaga Cathedral’s one tower sits perfectly ‘on top of’ the pergola sculpture.
- Glimpses – when you’re in Calle Larios and Plaza de la Constitución, look out for sneak peeks at the tower from side streets and across the rooftops.
- Side view – take the lift up to the top floor of AC Palacio hotel to the roof terrace for exceptional views of Malaga Cathedral sideways on.
- Front view – visit the terrace at the Gourmet Experience at El Corte Inglés department store for a full frontal view of the Cathedral.
Tips for visiting Malaga Cathedral
- Grab a table at one of the bars on the Plaza del Obispo towards the end of the day and watch the main façade of Malaga Cathedral glow golden in the fading light.
- If you’re on holiday in Malaga at Christmas, don’t miss the Cathedral concert – but start queuing early to be sure of a seat.
Visitor Information
Opening times
| Day of the week | 30 March- 30 May | 1 June- 25 October | 26 October- 29 March |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 10.30am-7.30pm | 10.30am-8pm | 10.30am-6.30pm |
| Saturday | 10.30am-6pm | 10.30am-6pm | 10.30am-6pm |
| Sunday | 2 to 6pm | 2 to 6pm | 2 to 6pm |
Entrance fee
€10 Cathedral only, with audio guide (€9 for the 65+). €15 Cathedral and VR tour or guided tour (€13 for the 65+).
Free entrance
Daily from 8.30 to 9am. This is a very small visiting window and wouldn’t give you time to see anything properly (and you have to get up early on your holiday), so we don’t think it’s worth it.
For Malaga city residents (you need to show proof of address), the disabled and children under 12.
You can buy tickets at the entrance or online.
Accessibility
Malaga Cathedral is fully accessible for wheelchairs and there are disabled toilets. In addition, you get free entry.
While you’re in the area
Check the following sights, all within a few minutes’ walk of the Cathedral:
The ‘secret’ alleyways around the Picasso Museum
The Bishop’s Palace Museum, with its world-class art exhibitions (€3 entry)
FAQs
Got a question about Malaga Cathedral? Check to see if it’s below. If not, get in touch and we’ll answer it asap.
Yes, particularly if you’re spending more than a day in the city. The interior is impressive — the scale, the choir stalls, and the overall atmosphere make it worth the entrance fee. That said, it’s not as ornate as the cathedrals in Seville or Cordoba, so if you’ve already visited those, temper your expectations slightly. If Malaga Cathedral is your first Spanish cathedral, you’ll likely be blown away.
The Cathedral sits in the heart of the old quarter, 5 minutes to the east of Calle Larios and a block from the Alcazaba and Roman Theatre.
The entrance fee starts at €10 for the cathedral alone. There’s also a combo ticket for €15 that includes rooftop access, but the rooftop is currently closed for restoration work, so the combo ticket isn’t worth it right now.
If you want to visit for free, entry is free on Saturday mornings from 8.30–9am and Sunday mornings from 8.30–9.30am — though you won’t have the place to yourself.
On foot, if you’re staying in the city centre. If your hotel is further away, get a bus to Plaza de la Marina and walk 10 minutes to the Cathedral entrance. Or get a taxi or Uber to the door. You can’t drive to the Cathedral as all its surrounding roads are pedestrian or restricted to resident traffic only. The nearest car park is Parking Alcazabilla on Plaza de la Merced.
The main body of the cathedral is accessible, with level (if bumpy!) entry from the Calle CÃster entrance. You won’t be able to access the stairs facing Plaza del Obispo.
Most visitors spend between 45 minutes and an hour. If you’re into religious art or architecture, allow 90 minutes. For extra value, get the audio guide (included in the price), so you don’t miss any of the highlights.
Yes, dress respectfully. Remember this is a place of worship, so dress accordingly.
Nobody knows for certain. The second tower was never completed, and no official record explains exactly why construction stopped. The most widely repeated explanation is that the funds were diverted to support the American War of Independence in the late 18th century. Whatever the reason, the missing tower earned the cathedral its nickname: La Manquita, which roughly translates as “the one-armed lady.”
Normally yes — there’s a rooftop tour included in the combo ticket that takes you up for views across all of Malaga. However, the rooftop is currently closed for restoration work, with no confirmed reopening date. Check the cathedral’s official website before you visit if this is something you’re specifically planning for.
Yes, but you can’t use the flash or a selfie stick.
Mass takes place at 9am and 10am Monday to Friday, 9am, 10am and 6.30pm on Saturday, and 9am, 10am, 11.30am (High Mass), 1pm and 6.30pm on Sunday. Entrance to mass is free, but you can’t visit the Cathedral during a service.
Before you rush off to visit the Cathedral…
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