Content
What to see in Malaga. Introduction
Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers visitors a wide range of experiences. From its heavenly beaches and warm climate to its rich history and culture, Malaga has something for everyone.
Its rich history is reflected in the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre. The Picasso Museum pays homage to the most famous local artist. Flower-lined streets lead you to the Cathedral. Savour the essence of Andalusia in its tapas and let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of the flamenco that you can see in Malaga at any point. If you want to discover what to see in Malaga, you will see that it is a Mediterranean oasis that invites you to discover its history, culture, beaches and gastronomy
If to the combination of sea and culture we add a lively atmosphere, the abundant tapas served in its bars, trendy neighbourhoods such as Soho, areas such as the port that have been transformed to offer a more modern face and monuments with centuries of history, the result is an exciting city that anyone would want to visit. Because if everyone says that Malaga is more beautiful than ever, there must be a reason.
What to see in Malaga. Its history
A journey through time.
Malaga is a city full of historical corners such as the Alcazaba, one of the largest Arab fortresses in Andalusia, or the Gibralfaro Castle, from where you can get what are probably the best views of the whole city. At the foot of the castle lies the Roman theatre and a historic quarter made for strolling.
Its streets are lined with corners such as the Atarazanas Market where you can have a vermouth and monuments such as the Cathedral, known as “La Manquita“, because of its unfinished right tower. Don’t miss a visit to its roofs, because the experience is unique. We are in the city of Picasso, so in the centre there is also a highly recommended museum dedicated to the painter and it is possible to visit his birthplace.
However, if you are looking for more underground culture, don’t miss the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, the urban art on the facades or the clubs in the alternative Soho district.
There are several things to see in Malaga that give it its unique touch. For starters, beyond the monuments, it is always a good idea to enjoy a day in the sun on the legendary urban beach of La Malagueta. And if you want to immerse yourself in traditional flavours, you should go to the seaside neighbourhood of Pedregalejo and try the typical grilled sardine skewers.
Returning to La Malagueta, next to it is the Muelle 1, a promenade in the port full of shops and restaurants where it is a pleasure to walk at sunset until you reach the Farola, a lighthouse that is a symbol to see in Malaga.
another emblem to see in Malaga? Undoubtedly its pedestrian street Marqués de Larios, a very lively promenade decorated with flowers and where you must pass at least once on a trip to Malaga. At night, moreover, this area and its surrounding streets become the perfect place to go for tapas in places that are already institutions such as the Bodega El Pimpi and try what an ajoblanco tastes like.
Malaga is also its Film Festival, its Holy Week, its innovative restaurants? But above all, what you have to see in Malaga is joy, and it is contagious.
Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC, and christened Malaka, the Andalusian capital of Malaga is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was a place of great strategic importance for the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula. During this period it established itself as a thriving medina which was four times the capital of its own kingdom until it was incorporated in 1487 into the Crown of Castile.
Nowadays, Malaga is a notable economic and cultural centre, an important communications hub in the Mediterranean and, thanks to its coastline, a focal point for tourism in the south of Spain.
What to see in Malaga. Key sites
Join us to discover the key places to see in Malaga.
1. Contemporary Art Centre (CAC)
The Contemporary Art Centre is located in the old Wholesale Market, a historic building to see in Malaga. The museum is dedicated to the dissemination and reflection of contemporary art. Exhibitions, publications, conferences, educational programmes, workshops and seminars are some of the many activities that make the CAC Malaga a living centre, a dynamic, innovative place open to all kinds of artistic and cultural proposals of the international avant-garde.
The permanent collection is constantly evolving, in addition to new acquisitions by the Malaga City Council, owner of the museum, has introduced the system of cession by which private collectors cede their works for a certain period of time.
You can take a journey through the artistic movements and trends of the 20th century, especially from the last decades, from the 1950s to the present day.
The former Wholesale Market is a historic building designed in 1927 by Luis Gutiérrez de Soto, built in 1939. It is a triangular building, with two floors and defined by cubic spaces and straight lines. In 1983 its use as a market was abandoned and later it was proposed to be used as a museum. In 1987, the process to have it declared an Asset of Cultural Interest began. In February 2003 , once the refurbishment was completed, it was opened to the public.
It has a total surface area of 6,000 square metres, of which 2,400 are used for exhibitions and the rest for conferences and other cultural events.
2. Soho district
A central neighbourhood and symbol of urban art and underground culture to be seen in Malaga thanks to a citizens’ initiative project.
Its most striking image is perhaps that of the large graffiti that adorns some of its buildings. On these walls, you can see the work of internationally famous graffiti artists such as Obey or D*face. The Soho neighbourhood in Malaga can be visited on foot and is very close to the main tourist area of Malaga. Its streets are lined with independent local businesses with a strong identity, several art and culture centres such as private galleries, artists’ studios, the Alameda Theatre or the Contemporary Art Centre, plenty of Malaga, ecological and gourmet restaurants and spaces with modern and functional street furniture.
In addition, on the first Saturday of every month it hosts the “Made in Soho” market with stalls dedicated to design, crafts, plastic and audiovisual arts, antiques and vintage products. Soho or Barrio de las Artes is the result of a citizens’ initiative project for the recovery of the area, which now has institutional support in its urban planning.
3. Atarazanas Central Market
The Atarazanas Market is a historic market to see in Malaga and is located in the heart of the city. An architectural treasure that showcases the city’s rich heritage and gastronomy. But it is also an obligatory stop to immerse yourself in the local culture and take the pulse of the city.
There are dozens of stalls where you can buy the freshest products (fish, seafood, organic fruit and vegetables…) and also many where you can buy a souvenir of the flavour of Malaga. Traditional products such as oils, typical sweets, cheeses, local sausages, preserves… A whole symphony of flavours to taste the most authentic Malaga. It is also the favourite place for locals to eat the popular pescaíto frito (fried fish).
The Atarazanas Market, which you have to see in Malaga, is located on the site of a Nazarite shipyard in the 14th century, when Malaga belonged to Al-Andalus. After the Christian conquest of the city, the space was used as a warehouse, arsenal, military hospital and barracks.
In 1870 it was demolished to provide work for the poorer classes and a project was drawn up by the municipal architect Joaquín Rucoba for a new market. Thanks to the intervention of the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Telmo, the old monumental door of the building was saved, which today can be seen on the main façade of the building.
Today, the Atarazanas Market is one of the best examples of 19th century architecture.
4. Marqués de Larios Street
On 27th August 1891, Calle Larios was inaugurated, a project designed by the engineer José María Sancha and later modified together with Manuel Rivera.
For its construction, the Town Hall promoted a joint-stock company with a capital of one million pesetas of the time, about 6,000 euros, the majority of the shares being acquired by the Larios family.
The architectural and urban value of this space to see in Malaga is unquestionable as a harmonious and consolidated ensemble, highlighting its buildings, designed by Eduardo Strachan and Viana-Cárdenas.
Since its origins, Calle Larios has had a mixed use, with both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, until its remodelling in 2003 when it became pedestrianised. In addition to being an important shopping street, among the first in Spain, together with the Plaza Constitución it forms an urban space that has been the protagonist of important events in the city.
5. Cathedral of the Incarnation
Malaga Cathedral perfectly combines different architectural styles: Gothic in its ground plan, Renaissance in its elevation and chancel, and Baroque in its main façade and in the decoration of its roofs. Among its works of art, the choir stalls by Pedro de Mena stand out.
The north tower rises to a height of 84 metres, making it the second tallest cathedral in Andalusia, after the Giralda in Seville. The south tower is unfinished. This condition gives the Cathedral the nickname of ‘La Manquita’.
The Cathedral of the Incarnation stands on the site of the Mezquita-Aljama, or main mosque of the city, during the eight centuries of Muslim rule.
Its construction began in the first half of the 16th century and continued throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, but it is an unfinished work, lacking the finishing touches to the main façade. Inside, it is worth highlighting the sculptural work in the choir, with 42 carvings, and the two organs, magnificent musical instruments.
This enormous temple to be seen in Malaga, once begun, was involved in constant interruptions and changes of direction until well into the 18th century when, in 1782 and with one of the towers of the main façade unfinished, a long construction process came to an end.
In several respects the structure of this cathedral is inspired by that of Granada Cathedral, with a typically Gothic rectangular plan with three naves and side chapels. After a period of inactivity and the end of the War of the Spanish Succession, in 1719 work was restarted again.
The Cathedral is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest, according to the publication that appeared in the Gaceta de Madrid in 1931.
6. Constitution Square
The Plaza de la Constitución square has been the nerve centre of the city’s life since the time of the Reconquest, when it was called Plaza de las Cuatro Calles . It has also had other names such as Plaza Mayor until 1812, when it was renamed Plaza de la Constitución.
Here were located the Town Hall of Malaga until 1869, the Casa del Corregidor, the prison, the Audiencia, the convent of the Augustinian nuns, and even other points of tourist interest such as the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (Economic Society of Friends of the Country).
On one of its sides is the Fuente de Génova (Fountain of Genoa) . Casetas de la Feria de Málaga, the authorities’ tribune during Holy Week are some of the great events that this central Malaga square continues to host.
In 2003 it was pedestrianised next to the main street of the city, Calle Larios, which leads to this square, one of the recommended places to see in Malaga on a walking tour of the historic centre of Malaga.
7. Carmen Thyssen Museum
One of the most important galleries to see in Malaga, the Museo Carmen Thyssen houses the private collection of Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza, a wealthy art collector. The museum, which occupies the converted 16th century Palacio de Villalón and an adjoining modern annexe, rewards visitors with a wealth of magnificent works.
The Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga’s permanent collection houses an extraordinary survey of Spanish painting from the 19th and early 20th centuries, with Andalusian landscape painting and genre scenes taking centre stage. These works form part of Baroness Carmen Thyssen’s most personal collection and make up a group of more than 200 pieces that also includes a carefully chosen selection of Old Masters from the 13th to 18th centuries.
Opened in March 2011, the Museo Carmen Thyssen in Malaga has an exhibition itinerary divided into three floors dedicated to Romantic landscape and genre painting, Precious Art and naturalist painting, and fin-de-siècle art.
The old 16th century stately building, the Palacio de Villalón, is the central nucleus of the museum, into which new adjoining buildings have been integrated, resulting in a fabulous complex, home to the art gallery.
As in other ancient buildings to see in Malaga, Roman remains have been found in its subsoil after the remodelling works, corresponding to a suburban villa located outside the city walls, to the northwest of the Roman city of Malaca, in an industrial area dedicated to the production of canned fish.
8. Wine Museum
In Malaga we can find an 18th century building located in the Plaza de los Viñeros which corresponds to the wine museum in which is special for spreading the values to our society of the wine culture and its prestige.
The Wine Museum of Malaga is a historical centre as we have mentioned before in which you can taste the best wines of the province going through different types of grapes, sultanas, climatology and the geography of the wine culture.
Visitors from Malaga and abroad are transported to its wine cellars during the 19th and 20th centuries
The Wine Museum is owned by the Regulating Council of the Designation of Origin “Malaga”, “Sierras de Malaga” and “Raisins of Malaga” and aims to disseminate, promote and promote all activities related to these designations.
9. Glass and Crystal Museum
The Collection is housed in a carefully restored 18th century mansion, where we can trace the history of humanity through glass.
It is a private collection to see in Malaga, made up of more than 3,000 pieces of glass from different periods, accompanied by an important representation of paintings, furniture and decorative objects that correspond faithfully to each historical period they represent, creating an atmosphere that immerses us in the real domestic context in which the first owners lived.
A museum of decorative arts that aims to be a living entity that serves as an incentive to rehabilitate the old artisan quarter of San Felipe Neri, and a nucleus of reference and study for modern artisans.
The Museum of Glass and Crystal to see in Malaga is housed in a three-storey 18th century building. The frescoes on the façade date from the middle of the 18th century and have the peculiarity of containing paintings of the continents in cartouches, in the Italian manner. The importance of the building lies in the fact that it is one of the few preserved 18th century houses belonging to the wealthy middle class to be seen in Malaga.
It is fundamentally a collection of decorative arts, which also includes paintings, furniture, decorative objects, etc., where glass and crystal serve as a guiding thread to learn about European domestic life, from 6th century BC Greece to the present day. It also has an important representation of English stained glass from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The exhibition consists of 16 rooms where the glass collection is exhibited, accompanied by an important representation of paintings, furniture and decorative objects, with each period, from the 18th century to the present day, distributed in a different room.
The glass collection, the most extensive and representative of the institution, presents excellent examples of some exquisite pieces from the Roman, Greek and Byzantine cultures, as well as pieces from the main European centres: Bohemia, Venice, Holland, London, La Granja, etc.
The period furniture includes celebrated examples of the most diverse origins. Lamps, mirrors, carpets and tapestries, all of them repositories of a long history, complete each of the rooms.
10. Plaza de la Merced
Also known by other names such as Plaza del Mercado or Plaza de Riego, this is one of the most beautiful squares to see in Malaga. In its centre is the Monument to Torrijos, represented by a large obelisk that characterises this square.
It is also known for being the place where Picasso took his first steps, as the Picasso Foundation is located in the Casa de Campo, the houses that make up one of the sides of the square. Politicians such as General Riego, sculptors such as Fernando Ortiz, writers such as Juan José Relosillas, architects such as Gerónimo Cuervo and painters such as Bernardo Ferrándiz also lived here.
Paveros, milk sellers with their herds of goats, sellers of sweets, biznagas and jams, guitar players, maids and soldiers, revolved around the monolith which, since 1842, has stood in the tree-lined centre of the Plaza in homage to General Torrijos, whose slogans of freedom and justice were the reference point for that child called Pablo Ruiz Picasso.
And we cannot forget that in this setting, even today, as then, pigeons fly as the symbol of the paradigms announced on the cenotaph of the fallen soldier. They are the doves that Picasso, from his childhood until his death, painted – from the hands of his father – as the perennial and mythical emblem of his extensive work and which you have to see in Malaga.
11. Gibralfaro Castle
The Gibralfaro Castle was erected in the 14th century to guard the Alcazaba and its troops. Today it is one of the main attractions to see in Malaga and from its walls you can see breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Visitors can explore the castle or go inside the Interpretation Centre to discover its history.
Once considered the most impregnable fortress on the Iberian Peninsula, it has two lines of walls and eight towers. The outer wall is connected to the Coracha, zig-zag walls that climb up to the hill. The inner wall, on the other hand, allows a complete tour of the perimeter of the fortress.
Divided into two sections, the main courtyard houses the Interpretation Centre, where you can immerse yourself in the history of the castle through its inhabitants, highlighting the main tower, the Phoenician well and the baths. The Airón well, sculpted in living rock, is 40 metres deep.
The lower part, or parade ground, used to house troop barracks and stables. The most outstanding feature is the albarrana tower or white tower, visible from the northeast, which has a cistern, outbuildings and storerooms inside.
Its name, Jabal-Faruk or Lighthouse Mountain, comes from an ancient lighthouse located on its summit. Although it had a Phoenician and Roman presence, it was a Nasrid king who transformed it into an imposing fortress in 1340. During the Christian Reconquest, it was converted into a temporary residence by Ferdinand the Catholic after the victory and designated as a key element in the city’s coat of arms.
12. Picasso Museum
This centre responds to a wish of Pablo Picasso himself: that his work should be present in the city where he was born.
The Picasso Museum is located in the Palacio de Buenavista, a building representative of the Renaissance civil architecture of Andalusia. The permanent exhibition is made up of a selection of pieces from the private collection of two of his relatives, Christine Ruiz-Picasso and Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. The more than 200 works in the collection cover the different styles, materials and techniques developed by the brilliant painter. There are also temporary exhibitions, educational and cultural activities on subjects related to Picasso.
The collection to see in Malaga, dedicated entirely to the work of Picasso, comprises more than 230 works of art including paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphic works and ceramics that show the revolutionary innovations of his career, as well as the wide variety of styles, materials and techniques that the artist renewed.
In the historic heart of the city, very close to the Cathedral and the Roman Theatre, the museum offers temporary exhibitions and organises various activities such as workshops, concerts, film seasons and guided tours.
13. Alcazaba of Malaga
The Alcazaba is a fortress of great historical importance to see in Malaga. It stands as a tourist attraction that combines history and beauty. This Muslim citadel is strategically located at the foot of Mount Gibralfaro, adjacent to the Moorish defensive castle, connected by the sheltered corridor of walls known as La Coracha.
Situated in close proximity to the Roman Theatre and opposite the Customs building, the Alcazaba represents a fusion of Roman, Moorish and Renaissance cultures in a compact space, making this site an exceptional place to see in Malaga.
The Alcazaba was built between 1057 and 1063 by order of the King of Granada, Badis. Throughout its history, the Alcazaba witnessed the rule of various dynasties, from the Almoravids to the Almohads, until its incorporation into the Nasrid kingdom in 1279 under Muhammad II.
Its Nasrid architecture fuses defence and aesthetics through rectangular courtyards, gardens and ponds, displaying the mastery of the Arab master builders in the manipulation of light and shadow in its interior spaces.
This Muslim military emblem to see in Malaga, preserved as one of the most significant works in Spain, integrates defensive elements such as machicolations, watchtowers with arrow slits and crenellated walls, taking advantage of its strategic location to visually dominate the city.
Over the centuries, it has undergone multiple reconstructions, some as late as the 20th century, and can now be visited, displaying archaeological exhibits. During the initial excavations for its restoration, remains of Roman walls covered with reddish stucco and small pools dug in slate, used for the preparation of Garum, a fish paste made by the Romans, were found. A dungeon was also discovered where Christian female captives who worked during the day were kept.
14. Roman Theatre
The Roman Theatre to see in Malaga is the main preserved vestige of the Roman presence in the city. It was built in the early years of the 1st century AD, that is, at the beginning of the Empire, at a time when numerous public buildings were being constructed in order to turn the city into the image of the new political, economic and religious life.
Prior to the theatre, this space was the site of a baths from the Republican period, of which part of an opus spicatum floor has survived. The theatre was built, in part, over the structures of these baths, which at this time were moved to a nearby site.
The Roman Theatre to be seen in Malaga is a medium-sized theatre that conserves a large part of the tiers, the orchestra richly decorated with large marble slabs, and the scaena, in which today the floor has been reproduced with a wooden floorboard.
The scenic apparatus closed at the back with an ornamental façade decorated with openings, columns and sculptures.
From a constructive point of view, it is a mixed construction as it uses part of the hillside to build a large section of the cavea (seating tiers), in the style of the Greek theatres, and the rest of the building is built on artificial foundations.
The Roman Theatre of Malaga was in use for two centuries, until it was abandoned in the 3rd century AD. After its despoilment, it was used for the salting industry and as a necropolis. It remained hidden for centuries until its rediscovery in 1951 during the construction of the Casa de la Cultura. After excavations and discussions, the Casa de la Cultura was demolished in order to excavate and enhance the theatre. It is now an archaeological site with an interpretation centre.
15. Museum of Malaga
The Museum is a state institution managed by the Junta de Andalucía, the result of the administrative union in 1972 of two former museums: the Museum of Fine Arts and the Archaeological Museum. It has more than 15,000 archaeological collections and an extensive art collection of 2,000 works from the 15th century to contemporary art. It is one of the largest provincial museums in Spain and Andalusia.
It is housed in the Palacio de la Aduana, a neoclassical building designed in 1788, reminiscent of Italian Renaissance palaces. In addition to being the Maritime Customs House, it was also the Tobacco Factory and administrative headquarters, housing the Subdelegation of the Provincial Government.
In recent decades, pieces from the excavations carried out by the University of Malaga have been added. In the same way, various batches have been deposited from preventive and emergency archaeological interventions that have been carried out in Malaga over the last 20 years. The Museum exhibits a succession of themes from prehistory to contemporary art, giving the Customs House itself an important role.
The archaeological collection, organised into seven thematic blocks, stands out for its unique pieces to see in Malaga, such as the Lorinigiana collection, the Neanderthal bone remains from Zafarraya, the lithic collections from Nerja, the grave goods from the Dolmens, the Phoenician tombs from Chorreras or Calle Refino, the Roman mosaic of the Birth of Venus from Cártama or the ceramic and medieval woodwork from the Alcazaba.
The historical avant-garde also has a reference point in the collection of José Moreno Villa, Joaquín Peinado and the graphic work of Picasso.
16. Malaga Park
The Park is located in the centre of Malaga and stands out for its great historical value, as it is directly related to the history of the 19th century, having its origin in a law of 1896 inspired by Cánovas del Castillo.
Its plantation has been enriched over time with species of different origins and for its construction land was reclaimed from the sea at the end of the 19th century, with an extension of 3.3 hectares in which a great diversity of vegetation can be observed in which tropical and subtropical species stand out, as well as palm trees, dragon trees, plane trees and ficus.
Visitors can enjoy its numerous fountains and monuments. Its proximity to the “Palmeral de las Sorpresas”, makes it an emblematic place, as well as being classified as one of the best open subtropical gardens in Europe and a must see in Malaga.
17. Malaga Street Lamp.
La Farola de Málaga is one of the oldest lighthouses in Spain, surpassed only by the 2nd century Tower of Hercules (A Coruña), 14th century Porto Pí (Mallorca), 16th century Cabo Roche (Cádiz), Carbonera and Punta Carnero in the 17th century (Cádiz)
The absence of a reliable lighting system at the entrance to the port that could guide ships at night was one of the major problems that dragged these infrastructures down for many years.
The arrival of the 18th century enabled engineers to design a much-needed stone lighthouse, although it is true that nothing was done at that time: at most, some very handcrafted cranes supported a lantern with oil lamps that advanced towards the head of the quay as far as the eastern jetty did.
It was in the following century when, after the end of the War of Independence, the engineer Joaquín María Pery began the construction of the current Malaga street lamp in a very professional manner.
18. Malagueta Beach
The Malagueta beach, what to see in Malaga, is located between the port and the beach of La Caleta. This beach is named after its namesake neighbourhood, La Malagueta, which is located in the centre of the city. During the 19th century it was occupied by sugar factories, wine cellars, shipyards and other types of industrial production. At the end of the century the Hospital Noble and the Plaza de Toros were built, and the transformation to the current district of La Malagueta began.
This beach is one of the many that were regenerated along the coast of Malaga. With dark sand, it is 1,200 metres long and 45 metres wide on average, and usually has a moderate swell. This beach has been awarded the Blue Flag 2021.
When the hot season begins, you can hire sun loungers and parasols, as well as nautical equipment. It also has a children’s play area, making it an ideal beach to enjoy with the family and what to see in Malaga.
Excursions and things to see in Malaga: Exploring Andalusian Treasures.
Discover what to see in Malaga, because it not only offers you the beauty of its beaches and the vibrant life of the city. Just a few kilometres from the capital, there are countless charming villages that will win you over with their beauty, history and traditions. Other places to see in Malaga:
TORREMOLINOS
BENALMÁDENA
MIJAS
ANTEQUERA
FUENGIROLA
Remember that with DareMapp you can make a multitude of guided tours in an interactive way, a fun tourism for the main destinations.
Remember that with DareMapp you can take a multitude of interactive guided tours, including many of these “Spain’s most famous routes”, a fun tour of the main destinations.
what better way than travelling and discovering while learning in a fun way? Visit our blog to discover lots of tourism tips.
