What to see in Málaga: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks and a beach tip

You can visit Málaga at any time of year. I think you’re better off staying by the beach than in the centre, in Benalmádena or Torremolinos, for example. Don’t miss the Picasso museum, the Atarazanas market, the Alcazaba with its Roman theatre or Gibralfaro Castle. If you have a whole day to spare, take a trip to Gibraltar.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

Where I stayed

Hotel Alay in Benalmádena, by the beach, 45 minutes from central Málaga on the C1 train

Car hire

Not needed for Málaga itself, as the C1 train links the airport, the centre and the coast; a car is only for day trips

Picasso’s birthplace

I skipped the museum because of the queues; the birthplace was €4 at the door, with no wait

Atarazanas market

Opens at 9am, so come early; I arrived later and ate standing up

Gibralfaro Castle

If you have to choose between it and the Alcazaba, go here; take the bus up and walk down

Dolphin watching

Not guaranteed from Benalmádena; I spent an hour on a boat and saw none

What should you see in Málaga? When Ryanair launched its new route from Košice to Málaga, I got a seat on the very first flight. In about four hours I went from eastern Slovakia’s biggest city straight to the Costa del Sol.

So here are my tips on what to see in Málaga: where to go, which sights not to miss, where to stay by the beach and which full-day trips to take.

How many days in Málaga?

Give the centre one day: the cathedral, the Atarazanas market and a walk down to the beach. With two days, add the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro. If you’d rather spend more time by the sea, swap the extra sights for Benalmádena. With a whole extra day, consider a trip out of the city, such as Gibraltar or the Caminito del Rey. I cover both below. This is a short selection of the places in this article, not a fixed itinerary. Adjust the order to where you’re staying, the weather and how much time you want by the sea.

• Tip from Milan This article comes from my long-running work with Košice Airport: I write about what to see in the cities you can fly to from Košice. All the articles and itineraries we’ve put together over the years are in the Z Košíc do sveta (From Košice to the World) section.

Visiting Málaga: what to know before you go

Málaga is a great destination at any time of year. Below I look at cheap flights and the best time to go. Then I cover where to stay (and why I don’t recommend the city centre) and how to get around Málaga and the area. And do you really need a hire car? I’ll get to that as well.

Cheap flights to Málaga (including from Košice)

Málaga works as a year-round destination, if only for the sunshine.

Best time to visit Málaga: weather and average temperatures

Thanks to its position on the Costa del Sol, Málaga stays pleasant even in winter. Expect around 15 to 20°C and plenty of sunny days. Spring and autumn are ideal for exploring the city and the area. Temperatures climb to between 20 and 28°C, without extreme heat. Summer, by contrast, is very hot, often above 30°C, which you’ll appreciate on the beach but less so when walking between sights.

In short, the best time to visit is spring or autumn. If you’re after sun and sea, though, Málaga won’t disappoint outside the high season either.

Weather in Málaga in spring (March to May)

Temperatures hover around 20 to 25°C, and the weather is settled, sunny and pleasant. It’s the ideal time to explore the city, take trips around the area and spend your first days by the sea without extreme heat.

Weather in Málaga in summer (June to September)

These are the hottest months, often above 30°C. Málaga turns into a classic beach destination: the sea is warm and the days are long, but sightseeing in the heat can be hard going.

Weather in Málaga in autumn (October and November)

Temperatures are still lovely, around 20 to 28°C, with fewer tourists and a warm sea. It’s the ideal compromise between a beach holiday and active sightseeing.

Weather in Málaga in winter (December to February)

Temperatures sit around 15 to 20°C, with plenty of sunny days and hardly any tourists. It isn’t beach season as such, but it’s a perfect time to escape the winter and explore Andalusia.

Where to stay in Málaga, and why I’d avoid the centre

Don’t make the mistake I (almost) made. First I found a nice place to stay in the centre of Málaga, but then I thought: ‘Isn’t this more of a beach destination?’ I still had time to cancel the booking for free.

South of Málaga there’s a long, beautiful stretch of coast with towns such as Torremolinos and Benalmádena. Both have plenty of nice hotels right on the beachfront. So why not wake up to a sea view every morning and make Málaga itself a day trip?

The transport links here are excellent, and the C1 train runs along the whole coast, stopping at the airport too. I stayed at Hotel Alay in Benalmádena, just 45 minutes from central Málaga by train. Stay on this stretch of coast and you get a beach holiday and a city break in one. Some of you recommended Fuengirola in the comments, but that felt too far from Málaga for me. And those morning runs along the promenade all the way to Castillo El Bil-Bil were well worth it.

Benalmádena or Torremolinos?

They’re two towns south of Málaga joined by a long promenade. You won’t even notice when you cross from one into the other. I picked Benalmádena for the nicer hotel and its more resort-like feel.

Torremolinos is great too, and its accommodation is often cheaper, but to me it felt more geared to partying. It’s still a lovely town, though. If you’re travelling as a family, choose Benalmádena. If you’re a group of friends out to have fun (on a stag or hen party, say), Torremolinos is the better bet.

Getting around Málaga: do you need a hire car?

Getting around Málaga is genuinely easy. In most cases you won’t need a hire car at all, unless you’re planning full-day trips further afield. You can walk around the city itself. For longer journeys there’s fairly reliable public transport or the C1 train, which links the centre with the airport and coastal towns such as Torremolinos and Benalmádena.

If you’re only staying in Málaga and its immediate surroundings, a car would be more of a hindrance. Parking in the centre is limited and often expensive. A hire car makes sense once you want to explore more of Andalusia: Ronda, Granada, Gibraltar, Marbella or Nerja, for example. Then a car saves you time and gives you more flexibility. You don’t need one for Málaga itself, but for trips around the region it pays off.

If you don’t have a credit card, see my guide to hiring a car without a credit card or deposit. The Caminito del Rey is also easier to reach by car. The train stops at El Chorro, and from there it’s a bus ride or a walk to the entrance.

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Things to do in Málaga: Milan Bez Mapy’s picks and beach tips

1. Museo Picasso Málaga and Picasso’s birthplace
2. Mercado Central de Atarazanas
3. Málaga Cathedral
4. Playa de la Malagueta
5. Parque de Málaga
6. Alcazaba and Teatro Romano de Málaga
7. Gibralfaro Castle
8. Muelle Uno and the Centre Pompidou Málaga
9. Benalmádena marina and dolphin watching

Museo Picasso Málaga and Picasso’s birthplace

If one name is tied to Málaga, it’s Pablo Picasso. He was born here, so it would be a shame to miss the Museo Picasso Málaga and his birthplace on Plaza de la Merced. The museum occupies a historic palace and holds more than 200 works that trace his career from sketches to famous paintings. Don’t expect just the greatest hits: it’s more of a cross-section of how his work developed.

Honestly?

I skipped it. It’s far too popular, and I didn’t fly to Málaga to queue in the sun on the street for two hours. Moving on. The birthplace is smaller and more personal, more for people who want some context on his life. If you’re short of time, it’s fine to see just the birthplace. When I visited in 2026, I paid €4 at the door and didn’t have to wait. I went through both floors of the exhibition, including some of his lesser-known sketches. In the square opposite there’s a statue of him sitting on a bench.

Mercado Central de Atarazanas

If you want to see Málaga away from the tourist restaurants, head for the Mercado Central de Atarazanas. This historic market isn’t just about shopping; it’s mainly about food and atmosphere. I found fresh fish, seafood, oysters and fruit, plus small bars that make simple tapas on the spot. Order some grilled sardines, prawns or a glass of local wine and watch everyday life go by.

• Tip from Milan Lots of people come here for breakfast: when I visited in 2026, the market opened as early as 9am. I arrived later and couldn’t find a free table, so I ate standing up. Go for the fresh oysters and sardines.

Come in the morning or at lunchtime, when the market is at its liveliest. In the afternoon the stalls gradually close. Prices are often lower than in the restaurants in the centre, and the quality is excellent. Just follow one simple rule: go where the locals are standing.

Málaga Cathedral, the one-armed lady

Málaga Cathedral dominates the historic centre, and locals call it La Manquita, ‘the one-armed lady’. The reason is wonderfully mundane: one of its towers was never finished because the money ran out. Yet that imperfection is exactly what gives it character. It looks monumental from outside, but it’s worth going in too, for the richly decorated interior and the high ceilings.

If you have time, I recommend going up onto the cathedral roof as well. The view over the city, the port and the surrounding mountains is one of the better ones in Málaga. Buy your tickets online and come in the morning or early evening, when there are fewer people and the light is nicer. If you don’t feel like going in, just enjoy it from outside. It’s right in the middle of everything, and you’ll run into it anyway. And the little park below it? A seriously good Instagram spot.

Playa de la Malagueta and Parque de Málaga

Just a few minutes’ walk from the centre is Playa de la Malagueta, Málaga’s best-known city beach. It isn’t the most beautiful beach you’ll find in Andalusia, but it has one big advantage: it’s easy to get to. Walk out of the historic centre and you’re by the sea. Have a drink here and try grilled sardines right on the beach. It’s an ideal spot for a short break between sights, especially in the early evening, when the temperature drops.

On the way to the beach you’re bound to walk through Parque de Málaga, a green oasis full of palms, exotic plants and shade. It’s a pleasant contrast to the baking streets and a good place to rest for a while. With luck you’ll also spot parrots here, which sometimes fly around freely and hide from the hot sun in summer. I didn’t have to hide from the sun myself: I was in Málaga in late March and early April, and the temperatures outside were really pleasant.

Alcazaba and Teatro Romano de Málaga

One of the most interesting places in Málaga packs layers of history into a single site: the Alcazaba and Teatro Romano de Málaga. The Roman Theatre is free to enter and quick to see, but the real highlight is the Alcazaba. It’s a well-preserved fortress with courtyards, gardens and views over the city and the port.

I skipped going inside and headed straight for the next stop. It took my breath away, though the steep climb had something to do with that too.

Gibralfaro Castle

If you have the energy, carry on up to Gibralfaro Castle, which towers above the Alcazaba. It’s an uphill walk, but the reward is some of the best views anywhere in Málaga: over the historic centre, the port and the bullring. The castle itself is fairly plain; its strength lies in its position and atmosphere. What did I like most? The walls, which you can walk along all the way round the castle.

• Tip from Milan If you don’t want to slog uphill in the heat, take the bus up and walk down through the Alcazaba. The best time to visit is early evening, when the sun is going down and the city feels completely different. If you have to choose between the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, pick Gibralfaro for the views and the sunset.

Muelle Uno and the Centre Pompidou Málaga

If you want a break from historic sights, head down to the port and Muelle Uno. It’s a modern promenade full of restaurants, bars and shops that comes alive mainly in the evening. It’s an ideal place for a sunset drink or a quiet stroll looking out at the boats and the sea. The atmosphere is completely different from the old town: more relaxed, more of a holiday feel.

Right next to it is the Centre Pompidou Málaga, which you’ll recognise by its colourful glass cube. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth stopping for the architecture and the photos. It really is just a colourful cube in a square, and it casts lovely shadows when the sun is out.

Puerto Marina Benalmádena and dolphin watching

If you’re staying in Benalmádena, make sure you stop at Puerto Marina Benalmádena, one of the most beautiful marinas on the Costa del Sol. It combines modern architecture, restaurants and bars with a pleasant atmosphere for an evening stroll. This is also where the dolphin-watching boats set off from. A trip on one is among the best things to do if you want more than just the beach.

Dolphins turn up here fairly often, but there’s no guarantee: it’s nature, after all. I didn’t see a single one, and I spent an hour on the boat. Trips usually last one to two hours, and conditions tend to be best in the morning, when the sea is calmer. Even if you don’t see any dolphins, the view of the coast from the water is worth it on its own. Dolphin trips often start right here in Benalmádena’s marina.

What to eat in Málaga: traditional dishes, typical sweets and my restaurant tips

• Espetos de sardinas, Málaga’s absolute signature dish: sardines grilled over an open fire right on the beach. Eat them by the sea, not in the centre. I had really good sardines with a sea view at La Mar Bonita.
• Tapas aren’t a dish but a way of eating: several small portions of different things, such as prawns, anchovies, olives, little open sandwiches and so on. I had good tapas at Taberna del Pintxo, where you pay per piece.
• Fritura malagueña, a mix of small fried fish (often species you’ve never heard of). Simple, fresh and ridiculously good.
• Boquerones fritos or en vinagre, anchovies two ways, fried or marinated in vinegar. A local classic that they do noticeably better here than elsewhere.
• Ajoblanco, a lesser-known cold soup of almonds, garlic and olive oil, often served with grapes. One of Andalusia’s most underrated dishes.
• Turrón is a traditional Spanish sweet, something like almond nougat.

Day trips from Málaga: Caminito del Rey, Marbella and Gibraltar

If you’ve hired a car (more on that above), try a full-day trip or two. If you only have time for one, make it the Caminito del Rey, which you can also do without a car.

If you’re in the mood for a bit of luxury and relaxation, head to Marbella. The historic centre is pretty, with narrow streets and flowers. Then there’s the famous harbour of Puerto Banús, full of yachts, expensive cars and designer shops. It’s an ideal place for an easy day out, a stroll and lunch by the sea.

The Caminito del Rey, a walkway cut into the rock above a gorge, offers a completely different experience. It once had a reputation as the most dangerous path in the world. Today it’s safe and accessible, but it still offers beautiful views and a mild dose of adrenaline. The route is about 7 to 8 km long and most people can manage it, but do book your tickets in advance.

If you want something out of the ordinary, go to Gibraltar. This small British territory on the south coast of Spain is known for its famous Rock, its views of Africa and its free-roaming monkeys. You also get a curious mix of cultures: English, British touches and a Spanish atmosphere. Before you go, check the entry requirements and border controls with official sources. Take a valid ID with you, too. Bear in mind that it’s a long, full-day trip, which can be tiring.

You might also like my article on visiting Casa Vicens and less touristy places in Barcelona.

Happy travels!
Milan Bez Mapy

*This article was written in collaboration with Košice Airport.