Insiders Tips To Explore and Enjoy Malaga City

Malaga city is a fantastic blend of both modern and traditional, from the 11^th century Alcazaba Fortress standing proud above the city; to the impressive new marina complete with its trendy bars, restaurants and shops.

Whatever you like to do, Malaga has something for everyone and all ages, read on for a complete guide to some of the best things to see and do in the cosmopolitan capital of the Costa del Sol.

 1.  Best for Shopping

Calle Larios

This is probably the most famous street in Malaga and is full of fantastic clothes, shoe and boutique style shops, some high street and some designer with prices to match.

The main pedestrian walkway takes you from Avenida Principal to the old town and you know you have arrived in Calle Larios because of the beautiful marble pavement and stunning architecture, for the main shopping drag, the place is immaculate.

Even if you don’t want to buy, have a wander down Calle Larios anyway for a spot of window shopping as there are plenty of other things to see including many of the talented street performers and the lovely square at the end where a huge Christmas tree stands from 1^st December.

Take a walk down one of the many side streets and on every corner you will find an individual little shop or a cosy bar offering some delicious Spanish delicacies.

When you are tired of shopping grab a table at one of the many pavement cafes and watch the mix of tourists and locals go about their day while enjoying a cafe con leche or a glass of local vino.

During Feria time, Calle Larios is the place to be, the street is decorated in traditional Andalucian style and the Flamenco clad women and children parade the street in their hundreds while live bands perform and craft stalls line the street.

The Malaga Christmas lights which are turned on around 30^th November on Calle Larios show the street its true glory, people come from miles around to see the annual lights which are different every year and to take in the magical atmosphere.

 2.  Best Hotel

Hotel Larios Malaga

If you like to have shops on your doorstep, then book a room in the Hotel Larios. Located on Calle Larios you are literally a stones throw from the shops and many of the other attractions Malaga has to offer are just a few minutes walk.

The beauty about this city is that everything is pretty much in walking distance and the 4 star Hotel Larios is a great base.  It does a great breakfast and the roof top terrace offers lovely views of the Malaga skyline and the cathedral in the distance.

 3.  Best Beach

Playa de la Malagueta

Malaga according to the authorities has 15 beaches within its city, none of which are going to win any ‘best beaches’ awards but great city beaches all the same.

The best is Playa de la Malagueta which is around 1.3 km long and is just a few minutes walk from the city centre, it has loads of reasonably priced places to eat and drink along the beach and the ‘chiringuitos’ (beach restaurants) offer some excellent locally caught seafood.

A couple of beds and a parasol are just €8 or if you prefer to lie on the sand or one of the grass areas on your towel, there is plenty of natural shade under the palm trees.  The beach is good for kids as the sea is never rough due to the breakwater and there’s a good kids play area too.

Even if you come out of season, its a nice place to have a stroll and a coffee and enjoy the views of the mountains in the distance.

 4.  Best for Culture

Museo Picasso

The museum of Pablo Picasso is in a beautiful 16^th century building called ‘Palacio de Buenavista’ just a few minutes walk from the cathedral.

Malaga was Picasso’s birth place and the museum houses over 200 pieces of his revolutionary  art work donated by Picasso’s family members as well as some temporary exhibits of one of the greatest artists of the 20^th century.

The can also include a guided tour if you wish, mostly in Spanish but there is at least 1 tour a week in English.

 5.  Best for History

Malaga Cathedral

Before you go inside just take a few minutes to look at the fabulous intricate details of Malaga’s 15^th century cathedral walls.  Although not the oldest of its kind as Malaga belonged to the moors until the 1400’s it is still beautifully ornate and easy to see why locals are so proud to have such an original cathedral.

Free to enter although if you pay €5 you get entrance into the museum too.  the little square opposite the cathedral is a wonderful place to sit and gaze up at the architecture while enjoying a drink or a bit to eat in one of the cafes here.

Gibralfaro Castle and the Alcazaba Fortress

Simply a must-see, this 14^th century building is often compared less favorably to the Alhambra in nearby Granada city.  It is certainly not as big or grand as the Alhambra.

However the Gibralfaro and Alcazaba are the most lovingly preserved Fortresses in Spain with the best views of the city, out to sea and to the mountains beyond.

There are beautiful little gardens and fountains around and inside and you can take a lovely stroll along the wall from the Castle to the fortress.  Admission is extremely cheap at €2.20 and on Sundays after 2pm it is free.

 6.  Best Restaurants

El Meson de Cervantes

El Meson de Cervantes is one of the most established and respected restaurants in the city.  Only open in the evenings this place is super popular among locals, not only for the quality of food but because of the cosy atmosphere it provides.  The menu is traditional Spanish meat and fish, with some veggie options too, many of the menu choices come with a half or full portion option which is a great way of trying different things. For wine lovers, the selection is extensive and not badly priced either.

El Pimpi

El Pimpi is an institution in Malaga, one of the oldest bars in the city dating back to 1971.  Recently extended with an addition of a wine bar (La Sole) but the jewel in the crown here is the traditional old Bodega with its fascinating architecture, decorated with hundreds of wine barrels, some with signatures of past famous customers of El Pimpi.

If you want to spend your afternoon or evening feeling like one of the locals come to El Pimpi order a few tapas and definitely try the famous sweet Malaga wine.

7.  Best Nightlife

Pubs and Bars

Malaga city has a great nightlife and unlike other coastal towns nearby it is busy all year round and offers a seriously stylish choice of bars and clubs.

Bear in mind that clubs don’t really start getting busy until around 12am and go on until 6am, locals buy alcohol from shops and drink in controlled zones called ‘botellodromas’ before heading to the club at 12 or 1am.

The bars around pretty Plaza de la Merced are a popular spot after dark, you may have come across this area already if you visited Picasso’s birthplace which is located in Plaza de al Merced. In fact one of the most popular bars is called Picasso’s bar tapas, known for it’s huge choice of tapas and great cocktails. The bars and restaurants in the Plaza are unpretentious and plentiful and most are open early for coffee and breakfast until the early hours.

8.  Best way to see the sights

Sunset Catamaran Trip

The highlight of your trip will be watching the sunset while sailing along the coastline of Malaga from a luxurious Catamaran. Board the Catamaran from Malaga port and once onboard enjoy your favourite drink from the bar while listening to relaxing chill out tunes.

The trips are around 1.5 hours and the Catamaran will even stop while you take in the sun setting over the Med. All this for just €15 per person.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Malaga

Whenever I go to a new city I make a point of buying a ticket for the Hop-on Hop-off bus, almost every city has them and for good reason.  Malaga is no exception, grab a seat on the top deck to get the best view, whilst giving you an excellent grounding of the city and a feel for what you want to explore in more detail.

Tour Malaga

There are two routes, red and green line and your ticket will give you 24 hour access to both, see the beautiful Botanical Gardens, Picasso’s birthplace and learn about why the cathedral is called ‘La Manguita’ (the one armed lady).

For a taste of nightlife in nearby Puerto Banus, check out our article on the hippest places to go ranging from the famous beach parties to the best club on the port.