By air
Málaga (AGP), ~8 km
Europe · Spain
Málaga, Spain
Picasso's city on the Costa del Sol
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to June and September to November — warm and sunny
Don't miss
The Alcazaba
The Gibralfaro
The Picasso Museum
The Cathedral
Things to do
The Picasso Museum
The Alcazaba
The beaches
Day trips to Ronda and Nerja
Where to eat
What to pack
Swimwear, light clothes
A quieter corner
The Caminito del Rey's gorge walkway, an hour inland
Questions travellers ask
When is the weather best in Málaga?
March to June and September to November are warm and sunny. Bring swimwear and light clothes.
What are the main sights in Málaga?
The Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro, the Picasso Museum and the Cathedral. It is Picasso's city, after all.
What day trips can I take from Málaga?
Ronda and Nerja both make day trips, and the Caminito del Rey's gorge walkway is about an hour inland.
What's the local beach food in Málaga?
Have espetos, sardine skewers, right on the beach.
About Málaga
- Coastal
Where it is
Málaga is a port city on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, southern Spain, facing the Mediterranean with the Montes de Málaga hills behind it, and is the capital of the province of Málaga.
History
Founded by Phoenicians from Tyre as Malaka around 770 BC, Málaga is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe. The Romans built its theatre, the Moors raised the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro castle above the port, and the Catholic Monarchs took the city in 1487 after a long siege. Pablo Picasso was born here in 1881.
People
Malagueños speak Andalusian Spanish. In Holy Week huge processional floats are carried by teams of bearers, the August Feria fills the streets with music and dancing, and verdiales, a folk music played with violins, guitars and tambourines, comes from the hills around the city.
Known for
- The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro castle
- The Picasso Museum and his birthplace
- The Roman Theatre
- Espetos, sardines grilled over open fires
- Sweet Málaga wine
Did you know?
Málaga Cathedral is nicknamed La Manquita, the one-armed lady, because its south tower was never finished.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.