Things for younger children in Malaga

Malaga has a secret: it’s one of the best cities in Spain for a family holiday. Beyond the beaches and the sunshine, there’s a city packed with museums you can actually touch things in, water parks, treasure hunts, a zoo worth travelling for, and play parks right on the seafront.

In this guide, we’ve compiled the best things to do for children in Malaga aged up to 10 — a mix of free, cheap, and worth-every-cent options to keep younger kids happy from morning to bedtime.

Travelling with older children? Don’t miss our guide to things to do in Malaga for tweens and teens. And if you’ve got a toddler in tow, we’ve got you covered there too.

What to budget for kids’ activities

Finding your way around Malaga with kids

Malaga city centre is easy to navigate because it’s relatively small and flat. All the attractions listed in this post are within 30 minutes’ walk maximum of the old quarter, except for BioParc and SeaLife. These two family-friendly things to do are an easy trip on public transport.

Art museums for children

Most of the art museums in Malaga cater for children with special one-off activities or guided tours. These are usually in Spanish so no good if your child doesn’t speak the language, but the guide might be English-speaking so it’s worth asking.

Highlight

The Pompidou Centre welcomes children up to 8 years old with open arms – there’s a special entrance for them and the installation room has twice-yearly exhibitions. Open Wednesday to Monday, 12.30 to 2pm and 5 to 7.30pm.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? Free for the under 8s and accompanying adult.

Read our guide to the Pompidou Centre in Malaga.

Sandy and watery things to do for children in Malaga

One of the best children’s activities in Malaga has to be visiting the beach. Both the main beaches in Malaga are within walking distance of the centre and both have blue-flag status in 2026. Kiosks along the seafront promenade sell bucket and spade sets as well as cold drinks and ice creams.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? Free!

Swimming in the sea – safely

The sea doesn’t generally get too rough in Malaga, but beware of strong currents and big waves when the surf’s up. Some parts of the beaches shelve sharply from the shore so you can quickly find yourself out of your depth.

The safest places for children to go in the sea in Malaga are at the west end of La Misericordia near the causeway and at the small bays in Pedregalejo. 

Lifeguards operate between Easter and the end of September on La Malagueta and La Misericordia beaches. Follow their instructions and heed the flags – green for safe bathing, yellow for caution and red for danger/no swimming. There’s also a special jellyfish flag when there are a lot in the water. 

Water parks

There are two in Malaga and both great for younger children. But, note that they’re open in summer (mid-June to mid-September only).

WaterFun

An inflatable water park is set up just off La Caleta beach (east of La Malagueta) with slides and obstacles. Suitable for kids over 6. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult (who must buy a ticket). The session lasts an hour. Open in the summer months 11am to 8pm.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? From €15.

Splash!

This water park is at the far west end of La Misericordia beach and is perfect for kids (and their parents!). Open from mid-June to the end of September, family fun is guaranteed – see the video below. 

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? Free

Museums for kids in Malaga

There are a few excellent museums for kids in Malaga, including these:

Music Museum

This counts as one of the best things to do for children in Malaga because this is a museum where you can touch practically everything. Look out for the RED rooms where you can bang on all the instruments, try your hand at conducting and scrape a few notes on the violin.

There are also special activities for kids such as concerts and storytelling sessions.

Calle Beatas 15. Open daily.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? €6 for children over 6 and adults.

Top tip – entry to the MIMMA Museum is included in the price of the Malaga hop-on hop-off bus

Museum of the Imagination

A great one on the long list of Malaga museums, this space is dedicated to stretching your imagination to its limits. Four rooms full of scientific and optical illusions take you on a journey where nothing is quite as it seems. Lots of things to look at, touch and take photos of.

Calle Martínez Campos 13. Open Mon, Tues & Thurs 11am to 8pm, Fri to Sun 11am to 9pm. Closed Wednesday. More information.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? Free for the under 6s, €5 for children aged 6 to 14, €10 for the over 14s.

Family fun at the English Cemetery

This lovely spot (Avda de Pries 5, slightly east of the Malagueta bullring) brings history and fun together in its family activities on Saturday mornings. Pre-reading age children will enjoy the I-Spy games while parents can tour the fascinating site.

Allow around an hour for the visit. Book your slot here.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? €5 for adults, €4 for children.

Malaga Treasure Hunt

If you fancy discovering the city while searching for treasure, this family-friendly tour is for you. Allow 2-3 hours for the tour, which includes plenty of surprises. We’ve done this tour with kids and would rank as one of the best things to do for children in Malaga.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? €18 for children aged 4 to 14, €35 for the over 14s.

Caught in the rain?

Statistically, Malaga has around 320 days of sunshine a year, so your chances of being in town on a rainy day are small. But, if you’re visiting in late autumn or winter, you could find yourself in the rain with the kids in tow.

If that’s you, we’d recommend heading for any of the above museums. You can all easily spend a fun couple of hours while it rains outside. And hopefully the rain will have stopped by the time you’ve finished!

Things for kids outside Malaga city

There are lots of things to do for children on the Costa del Sol generally and several nearby resorts have excellent family-fun attractions. For younger children try these:

Sea Life

Big aquariums and lots of sea life to see at SeaLife in nearby Benalmádena. Highlights include the 180º submarine tunnel, complete with sharks and turtles, and the Amazonia freshwater zone, packed with colourful tropical fish and underwater species. Don’t miss feeding time! Open daily.

How to get there: Take bus 110 from Muelle Heredia, every 10-15 minutes and get off at the Benalmar bus stop. Allow 35 minutes for the journey.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? €17 for children aged 2 to 11, €21 for the over 11s.

BioParc Fuengirola

This is one of the best zoos anywhere and a great day for all the family. BioParc belongs to a global breeding programme and includes four geographical areas – Madagascar, Equatorial Africa, Southeast Asia, and Indo-Pacific – each with their unique habitat and animals. One of our highlights in the lemur island. Open daily.

How to get there: take the local train from Malaga (cercanías, station at the north end of the Alameda Principal). There are three trains every hour and the journey takes 50 minutes. Get off at Fuengirola and walk 15 minutes to the zoo. More information here.

How much is this kids’ activity in Malaga? €21 for children aged 3 to 9, €28.50 for the over 9s.

Play parks for children in Malaga

Children on holiday in Malaga are spoilt for choice when it comes to play parks and you don’t have to go far to find some fun things to climb on and slide down.

The western seafront promenade has a great choice and there are also climbing frames on the beaches.

Highlight: the ship and climbing frames at the start of the western seafront. Walk a little further west and there’s a zip line on the beach.

If you’re looking for rides or trampolines, try Muelle Uno where there are usually some set up during weekends. In the warmer months, you’ll find an old-fashioned merry-go-round near the lighthouse.

And of course, during the Malaga Fair (in August), there are rides galore for all ages!

Eating out with younger children in Malaga

The good news for families is that Malaga is an exceptionally child-friendly city when it comes to eating out. Spanish culture is genuinely welcoming of children in restaurants — even in the evening — so you’re unlikely to feel unwelcome anywhere.

That said, a little know-how goes a long way. Choose a restaurant on the beachfront or in one of the squares (e.g. Plaza de la Merced or Plaza Enrique Herrero) to give your children room to round around. And as a general rule, the more informal the restaurant, the more tolerant your fellow diners will be of your restless five-year-old!

Timing is also worth thinking about. Malagueños eat late by northern European standards — lunch runs from 2pm to 4pm and dinner rarely starts before 9pm. With young children, the sweet spot is arriving for lunch between 1.30pm and 2pm (when kitchens are fresh and it’s not yet crowded) or eating dinner early at around 7.30–8pm, when most restaurants are open but quiet.

Many chiringuitos — the casual beach restaurants along the seafront — are ideal for families: relaxed atmospheres, simple menus of grilled or fried fish, salads and chips, and staff used to sandy children piling in from the beach.

5 top tips for eating out with children in Malaga

1. Order tapas or half portions (medias raciones). Most restaurants offer smaller sharing portions that are ideal for younger children who can’t manage a full plate. It also lets them try a wider variety of food without waste.
2. Head to the chiringuitos on the western seafront or in El Palo. The beach restaurants along La Misericordia beach are informal, affordable, and perfectly set up for families — many have outdoor seating right on the sand.
3. Ask for bread immediately. Spanish kitchens move at their own pace. A basket of bread (pan) buys you time with hungry children while you wait for food to arrive. It isn’t usually free (expect to pay from €1.50 per person), but we think it’s cheap amusement!
4. Don’t skip the kids’ standbys. Malagueño children grow up on croquetas, tortilla española, and fresh-fried fish (pescaíto frito) and calamares. These are almost universally available, inexpensive, and tend to go down well with younger palates. Encourage your kids to be adventurous eaters in Malaga!
5. Book ahead for Sunday lunch. Sunday lunch is a big family occasion in Malaga and popular restaurants fill up fast — especially between 2pm and 4pm. If you’re planning a Sunday treat meal, reserve a table in advance.

Time out with children in Malaga

This one’s more for the parents than the children – if you fancy some quiet shopping time to yourself, there are childcare centres in:

Vialia – Recrealia, on the ground floor, has activities in English and Spanish with regular workshops for children aged 4 to 12. Open Fri 5.30-9.30pm and Sat 11am-3pm & 5.30-9.30pm. Free.

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Where to stay in Malaga with younger children

Choosing the right base makes a real difference when you’re travelling with children aged 3 to 10. The most practical areas to stay are the old quarter or the seafront strip on La Malagueta and La Misericordia beaches. These locations put you within easy walking distance of the beach, the main museums, the play parks on the western promenade, and plenty of casual restaurants.

Choose the right location by reading our comprehensive area guide to Malaga

Most mid-range and above hotels in Malaga are well set up for families — cots, extra beds, and connecting rooms are widely available on request. Be sure to confirm the extra when you book.

5 top tips for booking accommodation in Malaga with young children

1. Prioritise location over price. A cheaper hotel 40 minutes from the beach might appeal to your wallet, but wait until you’re carrying a tired six-year-old and a bag of wet towels back in the heat. Central or seafront beats budget every time.
2. Check the pool situation carefully. Many city-centre hotels don’t have pools — or have rooftop pools unsuitable for young children. If a pool matters to your family, filter for it specifically rather than assuming it will be child-appropriate.
3. Ask about connecting rooms or family suites. Standard double rooms are tight with two young children. Many hotels offer family rooms or adjoining rooms that aren’t always visible in the standard search results — a quick email to the property before booking can unlock better options.
4. Book family-friendly hotels early for summer. Malaga is a popular destination in July and August and the best family-oriented properties sell out months in advance. If you’re travelling in peak season, don’t leave accommodation until the last minute.

Check out our list of recommended family-friendly hotels in Malaga

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