10 reasons why Málaga is the perfect destination for an extraordinary city break
I admit: when I used to plan a short holiday in Spain, I always thought of Málaga quite late (if at all). But who can blame me when its big brothers Granada and Seville have been taking all the credit for years? But now the time has come: Málaga has done it!!! Not only is Malaga the warmest city on the Spanish mainland, it’s also 100 years older than Rome (great, right?!), so you can admire fascinating Gothic buildings and historical relics everywhere. With plenty of cool hostels, a small number of tourists and some of the best tapas in Spain, there are plenty of other reasons why the harbour city is on a par with classics like Barcelona and Madrid. Plus, with flight tickets starting from just €20 return or €52 return, what are you waiting for? You can find cheap flights here. So, without further ado, here are the best things to do in Malaga:
@handluggageonly
1. Discover street art
Málaga’s art scene has made great strides in recent years. The formerly dubious Soho neighbourhood, for example, has become a veritable canvas for impressive street art, mainly thanks to MAUS, a popular movement of numerous artists. Since then, countless artworks have adorned the neighbourhood’s run-down buildings, some of them by world-renowned artists such as OBEY, D*Face and ROA, who has made a name for himself with his depictions of endangered species (see below). You can find a handy map of the artworks on the movement’s website.
@dlsaunders88
2.Enjoy the freshest food and drinks
The Mediterranean climate naturally cries out for Mediterranean cuisine, and there’s more of it than you could wish for in Málaga. The locals eat so much seafood that their nickname is “boquerones” – anchovies. For this reason, you should try the legendary Espeto de Sardinas at the harbour, huge grilled sardines that come straight from the sea onto the barbecue spit.
Malaga Ciudad Genial
Another thing you shouldn’t miss is the Mercado Atarazanas, an authentic market that is lively throughout the week. At its stalls you’ll find baskets of roasted almonds and shiny olives, as well as all the ingredients you need to make tapas. If you fancy some delicious Spanish wine, pick up a glass for just one euro at Ke Bocata and treat yourself to a bowl of Gambas Pil Pil from the Mercado Atarazanas bar – succulent prawns in sizzling hot garlic-chilli olive oil. They are one of the Spanish classics that you can never go wrong with. Of course, there is also a great party atmosphere in Málaga, but nobody goes out here before 10 pm. So start the evening with a gin and tonic fish bowl and deep house at Oasis Backpacker’s Hostel.
Petteri Halonen
Before we go any further, we need to talk about churros. Casa Randa has perhaps the best churros we’ve ever eaten: They are greasy, big, perfectly crispy and cost only 50 cents a piece. The Malagueños, the locals, particularly enjoy them as an evening treat after work. Don’t miss out on this tasty treat!
@dlsaunders88
3.Enjoy the tropical gothic flair
There are many places in Málaga where you can enjoy the tropical atmosphere, but our favourites include the Jardin Botanico La Concepcion and the English Cemetery, where lion statues greet visitors in a walled garden (also botanical) where the tombs are perched above the sea. Covering an area of 8,000 square metres, there are more than 1,000 graves, including Swedes and Spaniards as well as the 41 shipwreck victims of the German frigate Gneisenau, which sank in 1900. This cemetery, established in 1831, was the first Protestant cemetery in Spain. Legend has it that the last person to be buried here is always the “guardian of souls”.
Daniel Mera Fernandez & @alvaroooh
4.Visit summit fortresses with incredible views
If you follow the winding paths lined with orange trees to the top of the Alcazaba fortress, you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of viewpoints and Moorish archways. Admission is just €3.50 (€5.50 for a combined ticket with Gibralfaro) and is even free on Sundays from 2pm. How about a walk to the Roman theatre afterwards? To the south of Alcazaba is the equally beautiful Castillo de Gibralfaro. Here you can wander for hours through the gardens and learn more about the history of the Catholic siege, the first conflict in which both sides resorted to gunpowder.
@ulasowa & @juliaschemkes
5. Pure nature!
There are more than 40 hiking trails in the region’s hilly landscape, and rightly so: slopes, plains, rivers, ravines – Málaga has it all. Grab your best hiking boots and explore the Montes de Málaga National Park or hike along the popular . With a length of 1.7 kilometres and an elevation gain of 105 metres, this “royal path” was once considered one of the most dangerous hikes in the world, but since a thorough restoration, it is once again accessible and far safer than before. Nevertheless, the climb is nerve-wracking – but the rocky cliffs and the glistening turquoise waters of the Gualdalhorce are well worth the adrenaline rush.
In addition to climbing in gorges, the region around Málaga also has numerous beautiful beaches and coastal roads to offer. We recommend the Playa de Araña, a quiet beach where anglers catch their dinner, as well as the city beaches of Malagueta and Pedregalejo, where you will find a large selection of beach bars and fish restaurants.
@beavixen & @emma108
6. World-class contemporary art
The best place to start your artistic exploration of Málaga is the CAC, the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo, located just a few minutes from the main railway station. It’s hard to believe that this spacious gallery, where legends like Anish Kapoor and Andy Warhol as well as shooting stars like Jia Aili (below) have exhibited, doesn’t charge admission. Here you’ll find everything from Spanish sculptures to neon-coloured wall art and even a cocktail terrace where you can ponder the artworks over an Aperol Spritz in the sun. Once you’re in Spain …
@dlsaunders88
Near the Alborán Sea, on the other hand, there is a futuristic, multi-coloured cube that conceals a veritable goldmine of art. It is the Centre Pompidou Málaga, a five-year pop-up museum and the first of its kind outside the French original. It is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 9.30 am to 8 pm and admission to the exhibitions costs between €4 and €7.
Kate White Yoga
7. The mother of all museums
There are around 30 different museums in Málaga, but one that you should definitely not miss is the Picasso Museum. Yes, it’s not exactly an insider tip and therefore very popular with tourists, but where else should you admire the work of the father of modernism and creator of Cubism if not in the city of his birth? The galleries of the Palacio de Buenavista house eight decades of Pablo’s work: intimate portraits, cubist classics, posters, sculptures… After all these masterpieces, you’ll probably want to relax with a coffee in the museum’s courtyard and think about what you can bring home for your loved ones from one of the two museum shops.
@nefrapia & @piiaart
8. Mysterious churches and crypts
To soak up the exciting Gothic flair of Málaga even more, you should visit the Crypt of St Mary, which is located in a 17th century basilica. It is decorated from top to bottom in black and white baroque style and features, among other things, skeletons drumming on the altar. The crypt was once built for the Condes de Buenavista family, as a more noble family had bought up their original burial place – how unpleasant! The crypt is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm.
Rama, Wikipedia Commons
Next on the programme is Málaga Cathedral, one of the city’s most important sights, which is located right next to the Alcazaba fortress. The cathedral was built between 1528 and 1782, but was never completed due to a lack of funds. Its second tower was never built, which is why it is nicknamed “La Manquita” – the one-armed lady.
@dlsaunders88
9. Face your fears in a creepy abandoned house
Cortijo Jurado is just a short drive from the city centre and is completely abandoned. The house was built at the beginning of the 20th century by the Heredia family and, according to rumours, was soon the scene of rapes, murders and other dark machinations. It is also said that the victims of that time are buried here and that you can hear their sobs and moans at night. Goosebumps yet?
Francisco Salido Ruiz
10. And not forgetting… the incredible hostels!
Just around the corner from the CAC, this sociable hostel in the centre of the Soho district has a laid-back vibe. With spacious communal areas, paella nights and free sangria refills, you’ll soon be raving like this traveller: “This is one of the best hostels I’ve ever stayed in! The energy, the atmosphere, the music, the people – everything was FANTASTIC!”
- Rating: 9.0
- Shared room from €15 per person per night
- Single room from €63 per night
@sheepdog_designs
Looking for comfort, fun and a good night’s sleep? Then you’ve come to the right place! At Lights Out, we do everything we can to bring cool people together, for example over a delicious dinner on the roof terrace or Nutella for breakfast.
- Rating: 9.2
- Shared room from €18 per person per night
- Single room from € 87 per night
@eve1iina
“Such a great place! The terrace is wonderful and everything is modern and clean.” This renovated, over 100-year-old house obviously has a special charm for travellers and is also just a short walk from Malagueta beach, the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba fortress and practically everything else worth seeing.
- Rating: 8.9
- Shared room from €23 per person per night
- Single room from €48 per night
Joyce Noullez
A hostel with a luxurious touch! Here you can enjoy the sunset with a prosecco on the roof terrace of the batik restaurant – the perfect luxury before exploring the historic centre of the city. The 9.5 average points for the location mean that it’s not far from the numerous bars and Malagueta beach.
- Rating: 9.1
- Shared rooms from €15 per person per night
- Single room from €72 per night
Alcazaba Hostel & @viatori_gerardus
Now you know practically everything about Málaga, but if you want to know more about hostels in Spain, you can find it here.
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