Real Traveler Experiences

City guide / Spain

Malaga, verdict by verdict

Malaga has grown well past its role as the Costa del Sol airport. Our verdicts cover Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, Atarazanas market and Caminito del Rey, the airport route and where to stay.

All 10 verdicts What to skip in Malaga
Malaga port, cathedral and Alcazaba hill seen from Gibralfaro
Photo: Vlad Podvorny, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)

Explore the decisions

Sights and tickets

3 verdicts
The Alcazaba fortress walls in MalagaAre the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro worth it?Go
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The stained-glass entrance of the Atarazanas market in MalagaIs the Atarazanas market worth it?Go
Photo: Rafa Esteve, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Entrance to the Museo Picasso MalagaIs the Picasso Museum Malaga worth it?Go
Photo: Llecco, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)

Explore the decisions

Tours

1 verdict
Tapas plates at El Pimpi bodega in MalagaIs a food tour in Malaga worth it?Go
Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)

Explore the decisions

Day trips

3 verdicts
The cliff walkway of the Caminito del ReyIs a Caminito del Rey day trip from Malaga worth it?It depends
Photo: Eliza Saroma-Stepniewska, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The coast and Balcon de Europa in NerjaIs a Nerja day trip from Malaga worth it?Go
Photo: Dguendel, CC BY 3.0 (source)
The Puente Nuevo bridge over the gorge in RondaIs a Ronda day trip from Malaga worth it?Go
Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)

Explore the decisions

Big choices

3 verdicts
Passengers boarding a Cercanias train at Malaga Airport stationMalaga airport to the city: which way?Our pick: Cercanías C1 train
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0 (source)
Plaza de Espana in SevilleMalaga or Seville?Our pick: Both cities
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Calle Marques de Larios in central MalagaWhere should you stay in Malaga?Our pick: Centro Historico
Photo: mahr, CC BY 2.0 (source)

The review

Malaga in short

Malaga has grown well past its role as the Costa del Sol airport: the old town now carries the [Picasso Museum](/malaga/picasso-museum-malaga/) plus Carmen Thyssen and Pompidou branches, the layered climb of the [Alcazaba and Gibralfaro](/malaga/alcazaba-gibralfaro/) fortresses, market eating at [Atarazanas](/malaga/atarazanas-market/), and proper city beaches at La Malagueta, all inside a compact center of tapas bars and umbrella pines.

The catch is that it remains a working port city: parts of the center are scruffy, August is brutally hot, and Semana Santa or the August feria can mean packed streets or closed sights. Winter stays mild enough for outdoor tables but the sea is for walking rather than swimming most of the year, and anyone chasing a pure beach holiday or the whitewashed-village fantasy should look up the coast or inland instead.

Treat it as a two to four day city break and it delivers: Picasso and the fortress climb, market lunches, an evening tapas run and beach time at La Malagueta, with the airport twelve minutes away by C1 train. It suits travelers who want city first and sand second, and it doubles as the base for [Caminito del Rey](/malaga/caminito-del-rey-day-trip/), [Ronda](/malaga/ronda-day-trip/) and [Nerja](/malaga/nerja-day-trip/).

Go if

  • Art: the [Picasso Museum](/malaga/picasso-museum-malaga/) plus the Carmen Thyssen and Centre Pompidou branches
  • The [Alcazaba and Gibralfaro](/malaga/alcazaba-gibralfaro/) fortress climb
  • Tapas and market lunches at [Atarazanas](/malaga/atarazanas-market/)
  • A city plus beach break with an airport 12 minutes away by train

Skip if

  • August heat or feria crowds
  • A pure beach holiday: this is a city first
  • The whitewashed Andalusian village fantasy
When to go
March to June and September to November. Summer is hot; winter stays mild enough for terraces.
How long
2 to 4 days; add a day for the Caminito or Ronda.
Getting around
The center is flat and walkable. The C1 commuter train links the airport in about 12 minutes, and buses cover the suburbs.

Where to stay

Hotels that fit this trip in Malaga

We are checking our Malaga hotel picks against live rates. Meanwhile: Search Malaga hotels on Expedia partner site

In pictures

Malaga, frame by frame

The Alcazaba fortress walls in Malagathe Alcazaba and Gibralfaro worth it
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The stained-glass entrance of the Atarazanas market in Malagathe Atarazanas market worth it
Photo: Rafa Esteve, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The cliff walkway of the Caminito del Reya Caminito del Rey day trip from Malaga worth it
Photo: Eliza Saroma-Stepniewska, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Passengers boarding a Cercanias train at Malaga Airport stationMalaga airport to the city: which way
Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk (Tupungato) Photo portfolio, CC BY 3.0 (source)
Tapas plates at El Pimpi bodega in Malagaa food tour in Malaga worth it
Photo: Xemenendura, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
Plaza de Espana in SevilleMalaga or Seville
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
The coast and Balcon de Europa in Nerjaa Nerja day trip from Malaga worth it
Photo: Dguendel, CC BY 3.0 (source)
Entrance to the Museo Picasso Malagathe Picasso Museum Malaga worth it
Photo: Llecco, CC BY-SA 3.0 (source)

Keep exploring

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Pack for it

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