15 ultimate things to do in Malaga (that most tourists miss)

Yes, it’s true, there are literally tons of things to do in Malaga. They include the must-see classics – all of which should be on your to-do list – but what if you want your holiday to do more than just scratch the surface? What if you’d like to experience the ultimate things to do in Malaga and discover the real city at the same time?

If you’re hoping your visit will take you beyond the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, and Alcazaba (again, all well worth a visit), and lead you to authentic local experiences in this incredible city, read on. We live here, have explored every corner, and have distilled our insider knowledge into 15 ultimate experiences that capture the real Malaga. Not just what to see, but what to feel. Ready to experience the city like a local? Let’s dive in.

Looking for hidden gems in Malaga? Read our sister guide to the best places to see off the beaten track in Malaga.

See where these activities are

Pick a museum, any museum

Start your day in Malaga with a visit to a museum (or several – Malaga has over 30). Take your pick from the Picasso Museum (the most visited in Andalusia), the Museum of Malaga (the 5th largest in Spain), the Glass Museum, the Pompidou Centre, the Wine Museum…

Our Malaga Museum Guide has all the details

Best museum in Malaga for…	Museum name
Picasso fans	Picasso Museum
Quirky art lovers	Pompidou Centre
Gamers	OXO Museo del videojuego
Kids	MIMMA Music Museum
History buffs	Museum of Malaga
Footie fanatics	Malaga CF Museum
Petrolheads	Malaga Car Museum

Need to know about Malaga museums

💰 Cost: €4-15 (discounts often available for children and those over 65). The main art museums have free entry from 4pm on Sunday (the Picasso Museum is free one hour before it closes on Sundays).

⏱️ Time needed: 1-2 hours.

🎫 Book: some museums offer online pre-booking. It’s a must for the Picasso Museum to avoid the queues and we’d recommend it for the Malaga CF Museum to ensure your time slot.

Top tip – Malaga museums are all air-conditioned, making them ideal for a cool afternoon if you’re on holiday during the hot summer months.

Drink your coffee like Malaga makes it

Before you move on to the next in our list of the ultimate things to do in Malaga, it’s probably time for a caffeine fix. But do you know how to order your favourite coffee in Malaga? Pop along to the façade of the Flamenco Museum (Peña Juan Breva) on Calle Ramón Franquelo 4 and check out the tiled mosaic that used to be inside Café Central on Plaza de la Constitución.

Find your strength of coffee (and milk) and then head for one of the great places in Malaga serving coffee.

💰 Cost: from €1.80

⏱️ Time needed: as you long as like (but see below).

Need to know about Malaga coffee

📌 Many ‘trendy’ coffee shops have sprung up in the old quarter over the last year. They offer single origin coffee, but it’s pricey (more than €3 in many cases) and often server in a single-use cup. Avoid overpaying for your caffeine shot and keep your fix sustainable by heading to one of the local spots. Ana La Fantástica and Recyclo Bike are two good options.

📌 The city is now home to several micro-roasting companies, all of which distribute to the best coffee shops in town. Look out for local labels such as Mountain Coffee and Artisan Coffee.

📌 The most popular coffee type among locals is a café con leche, a half coffee half milk mix. In Malaga, the coffee is called a mitad.

📌 Unlike the Italians and Portuguese who like to swig down their coffee, locals prefer to take their time. A coffee with breakfast is always a leisurely affair and often time to catch up with friends. ⚠ But don’t overdo it – the café owner has a business to run!

Top tip: take home some coffee beans from Malaga. Buy them at Artisan Coffee (Plaza San Francisco 8) or La Hacienda (Calle Esperanto 5).

Feast your senses, all 5 of them

Sightseeing is hungry work so next make your way to Atarazanas Market, an indoor feast for the senses. Treat your eyes, nose and palate to a world of foodie treats as you make your way round the dozens of stalls, literally groaning with fresh produce. Taste before you buy and then sample a few choice quick bites at one of the market bars.

Top tip: don’t forget to take in the wonderful stained glass window at the north end of the market and the lovely Moorish façade on Calle Atarazanas.

💰 Cost: free entry, but you’ll want to buy a few bits to eat now to take home.

⏱️ Time needed: allow at least 45 minutes, longer if you’re staying for lunch.

Need to know about Malaga markets

📌 Fresh food markets open Monday to Saturday, usually from 9am to 2pm.

📌 Market bars open for lunch only, usually from noon to 3.30pm.

📌 Fresh fish and seafood stalls are closed on Mondays.

📌 Respect the locals – many visit the markets to do their shopping.

📌 Don’t try without buying something from the stall.

Discover the top 10 places to shop in Malaga

Take in a view

Malaga is almost completely flat, and you might miss seeing the fantastic vistas of the city from above. The good news is that it isn’t too difficult to find a viewing point and feast your eyes on the old quarter, Malaga Bay and the Mediterranean, and the mountains to the east and west.

One of the best places to see a great view of the city is from the Gibralfaro viewing platform. Take the road on the right-hand side of the entrance to the Alcazaba Fortress and follow it as it turns into a path and winds it way up the hill. It’s one steep climb, but the views from the top are more than worth it!

💰 Cost: free

⏱️ Time needed: allow at least 30 minutes to climb up and as much as need at the top.

Top tip: this is one of the most popular viewing points in town, so to avoid the crowds, head up there first thing in the morning.

Where else can you get the best views of Malaga?

🔎 The palace rooms at the top of the Alcazaba Fortress have stunning views of the Port.

🔎 The highest roof terraces in Malaga all have excellent vistas of the city.

🔎 Muelle Uno offers a lovely view of the city skyline, especially at sunset.

🔎 Some hotels have fabulous views from their rooms. For example:

Parador de Gibralfaro – even better views than those at the viewing platform.

Only You – stunning views of Malaga Port.

AC Malaga Palacio – perhaps the best views of Malaga Port and the Mediterranean beyond (from the 6th floor upwards).

Marvel at a mural (or 10)

Once you’re down from the viewing platform, make your way to the Soho district. This is packed with street art including some amazing murals. Don’t miss the giant Obey and D*Face mural behind the MuCAC Mayoristas.

Our top tip for street art in Malaga? Look up as well as down!

💰 Cost: free

⏱️ Time needed: allow at least 45 minutes.

Need to know about Malaga murals

📌 They’re a work in progress, and may change.

📌 The streets off Calle Victoria (off Plaza de la Merced, heading north) also have some interesting murals.

Top tip: our best-selling Malaga on a Short Break ebook includes self-guided tours of the city and interactive Google maps. Download your copy for just €6.95 – 74 jam-packed pages of handy info, inspo, and insider tips for the price for less than four coffees!

Forget that knife and fork

Pescaíto frito (deep-fried fresh local small fish) is one of Malaga’s signature dishes – not for nothing are locals known as boquerones, named for the local anchovies. These delicious bites lend themselves perfectly to finger food.

So, when the plate arrives, forget about that knife and fork – just dive right in with your fingers and enjoy. Check out 1 of our most popular posts to see how.

💰 Cost: expect to pay from €8 for a sharing plate of boquerones fritos.

⏱️ Time needed: as long as you need, but we guarantee this deliciousness won’t be waiting on the plate for long!

Need to know about Malaga pescaíto

🐟 Boquerones are in season all year round, although they’re at their most delicious in the summer.

🐟 Grilled sardines on sticks (espetos) are another local staple, best eaten in months without an ‘r’ (so, May to August) and at a beach restaurant with an ice-cold beer!

🐟 Beware plates of ‘pescaíto frito’ offered in tourist traps – they’re often expensive and of low quality. Order several sharing plates of individual fish instead, for example, boquerones fritos, salmonetes (red snapper) and calamaritos (baby squid) instead.

Top tip? Our Where to Eat section lists some great places in Malaga for pescaíto.

 Beach-it

A visit to one of the beaches should definitely be on any list of ultimate things to do in Malaga. And the good news is that with over 320 days of full-on sunshine it’s beach weather in Malaga practically all year round.

The Malagueta beach is the handiest for the city centre or you can walk west along the seafront to the Misericordia beach – they’re both blue-flag status in 2026. However, Malaga also has other smaller beaches.

💰 Cost: free. If you want to hire a sun lounger and umbrella for the day, expect to pay from €8 per person.

⏱️ Time needed: as long as you like.

Top tip: Malaga beaches are the best place to see the sunrise at any time of year. The winter months have particularly spectacular sunrises.

Need to know about Malaga beaches

🏖 All Malaga beaches are public and have free access.

🏖 Lifeguard services operate at weekends from Easter to late September, and daily from mid-June to early September.

🏖 Most beaches have toilets and showers, as well as drinking fountains and kiosks to buy ice creams and beach equipment.

 Take a stroll around the Port

When you visit Malaga, it’s easy to get caught up in the monuments, museums and shops in the old quarter. But, don’t miss Malaga Port, a lovely place to stroll and take in the city skyline and views out to the Mediterranean.

It’s our favourite place in Malaga – and the Pergola is my absolute best. I love its design, which looks almost as good for the top as it does from underneath.

(Thanks to Joanna from MyMalaga for the great photo!)

💰 Cost: free

⏱️ Time needed: allow at least an hour, especially if you walk to the far end and back.

Top tip: Malaga Port and Muelle Uno are favourites with locals at weekends, making them crowded at times. Enjoy the Pergola and quays (almost) to yourself by visiting at first light.

Need to know about Malaga Port

⚓ Malaga Port is a popular cruise ship destination, with tens of thousands of passengers disembarking every year. Find out who’s in town when with our Malaga cruise ship guide.

⚓ Malaga is also home to some cutting-edge art at the Pompidou Centre. And you can browse around some seriously good handicraft stalls on Sundays.

⚓ Several companies offer boat trips from Malaga Port, from €14 per person. Book your ticket here.

Discover where to stay in Malaga – our area-by-area guide has all the info and inspo.

Va va voom

Not many cities can boast a first-class collection of vintage cars and Malaga is lucky enough to have one of the largest in the world. Make your way to the Car Museum and admire bygone vehicles alongside some of the most glamourous rides on 4-wheels ever.

💰 Cost: €12

⏱️ Time needed: allow an hour.

⏱️ Opening hours: daily 10am to 2.30pm and 4 to 7pm.

📍 How to get there: take the No 7 bus from the Alameda Principal. Or walk along the western seafront.

Top tip: while you’re there, pop into the Russian Museum & MEET next-door, home to several excellent temporary art and photography exhibitions. €4, open Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 8pm.

Cheer for Malaga FC

Malaga FC have returned to the Spanish first division for the 2026-2027 season. Use your visit to Malaga to cheer them on as they take on the best in premier football! You’ll also see some of the best players in Spain at the moment.

Home matches take place at the Rosaleda Stadium (marked on our map – see above). For a calendar of fixtures and tickets, visit the Malaga Football Club website.

💰 Cost: from €27

⏱️ Time needed: 90 minutes for the match, plus extra time!

📍 How to get there: buses 17,20 and 30 will get you here in around 16 minutes from the Alameda Principal; otherwise, it’s an easy 30-minute walk along the river.

Top tip: the best seats are those in the Tribuna or Preferencia sections.

 Arabian-night it

You’ll be pleased to know that not all of our ultimate things to do in Malaga are about being active. And yes, here it is at last – the opportunity to really sit back and relax!

Book your bath at the Hammam Malaga whose Moorish baths take you back several centuries and leave you feeling totally rejuvenated. Our favourite spot is the hot stones room – we could lie on those marble slabs for hours!

And yes, do treat yourself to a massage while you’re there.

💰 Cost: from €60 per person.

⏱️ Time needed: sessions last at least 90 minutes.

🎫 Book: advisable, especially at weekends and in high season.

Top tip: the quietest times are during the week in the early morning and mid-afternoon.

Take in a sunset

Malaga offers some great opportunities to take in a sunset. Just before sundown, make your way to Muelle Uno, the Gibralfaro Castle or one of the great rooftop terraces in town. Add an awesome view to one of your ultimate things to do in Malaga!

💰 Cost: free. If you’re at a rooftop terrace, expect to pay from €10 for a cocktail.

⏱️ Time needed: sunset usually lasts 30 minutes.

Top tip: sunsets in Malaga are their most beautiful in the late autumn and winter.

Try some Malaga wine

While you’re in Malaga, don’t miss the wine. Not just sweet but salty, dry, red, white or sparkling. One of the best places to try Malaga from a barrel is Casa Antigua de Guardia on the Alameda Principal – it’s spit and sawdust but a great experience.

If you want to buy a bottle, try La Mallorquina on Plaza Feliz Saenz – they have a great selection.

💰 Cost: from €3 a glass, from €8 a bottle.

⏱️ Time needed: you’ll know the answer to that one!

Need to know about Malaga wine

🍷 Malaga has two D.O.s that officially class its wine: D.O. Málaga, founded in 1933 and D.O. Sierras de Málaga, established in 2001.

🍷 The two D.O.s are divided into 5 areas: La Axarquia and Montes de Málaga (to the east of the
city); Norte (to the north of the province); Manilva (near Marbella in the west), and Ronda.

🍷 You can book a tour of a nearby winery and try the produce (from €95 per person).

🍷 Our Malaga Fine Wining & Dining cookbook includes a guide to Malaga wines and how to pair each recipe with a local label.

Buy a biznaga

A visit to Malaga wouldn’t be complete with buying a souvenir. One of the most typical is the biznaga flower, made for lots of jasmine flowers and sold by biznagueros on Malaga streets during the season. The scent will accompany you all evening. If you want a biznaga that lasts forever, buy a handcrafted brooch or pendant.

💰 Cost: from €5 for the fresh version; from €10 for a souvenir.

🌸 Biznaga season: July-September only.

Jazz it up

A great way to end an evening in Malaga is listening to some live music. Malaga has several excellent venues, showcasing different genres such as jazz, rock, pop and flamenco. Read our guide to live music in Malaga for all the information.

💰 Cost: some venues have free entry, but you have to buy a drink. From €5 at others.

⏱️ Time needed: allow at least 45 minutes for a performance.

Need to know about live music in Malaga

🎶 Malaga has world-class festivals, including the Jazz Festival in November and Guitar Festival in September.

🎶 If you prefer your music flamenco, check out these venues.

🎶 Malaga has a Philharmonic Orchestra, with a year-round programme of concerts.

Top tip: book concert tickets as far ahead as you can, especially during the big festivals.

Anything else?

Have we missed any other ultimate things to do in Malaga? If we have, let us know what it is and we’ll add it to this list. Thank you!

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