Málaga Holiday Guide: Picasso, the Alcazaba and Beaches
Provincia de Málaga · Andalusia · Spain · 592,346 residents · on the coast
Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation
Alcazaba of Málaga
Museo Picasso Málaga
Plaza de toros de la Malagueta
Museum Jorge RandoMálaga is Andalusia's great coastal city, home to nearly 600,000 people and set just 22 metres above the Mediterranean. What makes it so easy to recommend to British travellers is how much sits within a short walk of the cathedral: the Alcazaba fortress, an ancient Roman theatre, the Museo Picasso and the house where Pablo Picasso was born. Playa de La Malagueta is barely half a mile further. Summers reach 31°C, winter days still hover around 17°C, and the airport, with direct flights from the United Kingdom, is only an 8-minute drive from the centre. It works as a city break, a beach holiday or a base for the Costa del Sol.
Why go
- The Cathedral, Alcazaba and Roman Theatre of Malaca all sit within a quarter of a mile.
- Picasso's birthplace and the Museo Picasso Málaga are a few minutes' walk apart in the old centre.
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport has direct UK flights and is just 8 minutes' drive away.
Top sights in Málaga
Museums, Fortresses and City Beaches
The Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation, a Renaissance church, stands at the very heart of the city, and the Alcazaba of Málaga, a palatial fortification, is only a quarter of a mile away. Just beside it is the Roman Theatre of Malaca, an ancient archaeological site, while the Castle of Gibralfaro sits about half a mile from the centre. The Plaza de toros de la Malagueta, the city's bullring, is around 0.6 miles away, and the Al-Andalus Mosque about a mile out.
Art lovers are spoilt for choice. The Museo Picasso Málaga is a short stroll from the cathedral, and the Casa natal de Pablo Ruiz Picasso, his birthplace, is about 0.3 miles away. The Museo de Málaga and the Carmen Thyssen Museum are each roughly 0.2 miles from the centre, with the Museum Jorge Rando and the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga both around half a mile off. Most of these suit families as well as couples.
For the sea, Playa de La Malagueta lies about 0.6 miles from the centre and Playa de la Caleta a little over a mile. Tours and tickets for many of these sights can be booked directly on this page.
- 1Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation
- 2Alcazaba of Málaga
- 3Museo Picasso Málaga
- 4Plaza de toros de la Malagueta
- 5Museum Jorge Rando
- 6Castle of Gibralfaro
- 7Museo de Málaga
- 8Al-Andalus Mosque
- 9Carmen Thyssen Museum
- 10Playa de La Malagueta
- 11Roman Theatre of Malaca
- 12Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga
1cathedralCathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation
In the centre · Photo
renaissance church in Málaga, Spain
- 2castle
- 3museum
- 4amphitheatre
- 5museum
6castle
7museum
8mosque
9museum.jpg/500px-La_Malagueta%2C_M%C3%A1laga%2C_Spain_-_panoramio_(4).jpg)
10beach
11archaeological site_1.jpg/500px-M%C3%A1laga_-_Centro_de_Arte_Contempor%C3%A1neo_de_M%C3%A1laga_(CAC)_1.jpg)
12museum
Tours & tickets in Málaga
Guided tours, day trips and tickets in and around Málaga can be booked in advance, priced in GBP.
See tours & tickets (opens GetYourGuide in a new tab)Where to stay in Málaga
Old Centre or Seafront Base
Staying in the old centre puts the cathedral, the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre and most of the museums within a few minutes' walk, which is ideal for a short city break. This is a large city of nearly 600,000 people, so expect the centre to be lively, especially in the evenings.
If the beach matters more, the streets towards Playa de La Malagueta and Playa de la Caleta keep you within roughly a mile of the sights while putting the sand on your doorstep, which suits families. The page shows live hotel prices so you can compare both areas for your dates.
Best time to visit Málaga
When to Visit Málaga
- 17°CJan46 mm
- 17°CFeb30 mm
- 19°CMar85 mm
- 21°CApr41 mm
- 24°CMay23 mm
- 28°CJun9 mm
- 31°CJul1 mm
- 31°CAug8 mm
- 28°CSept28 mm
- 24°COct68 mm
- 20°CNov66 mm
- 18°CDec39 mm
Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
The most pleasant months are May, June, August, September and October. May brings highs of around 24°C with only four rainy days, and September and October stay warm at 28°C and 24°C respectively.
July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs of 31°C and nights around 23°C; July is almost completely dry. March is the wettest month, with about 85mm of rain over ten days, and October and November also see noticeably more rain. Winter is mild for a British visitor, with January highs near 17°C, which makes Málaga a sound choice for a winter city break.
Full monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17°C | 9°C | 46 mm | 8 h |
| Feb | 17°C | 10°C | 30 mm | 9 h |
| Mar | 19°C | 11°C | 85 mm | 10 h |
| Apr | 21°C | 13°C | 41 mm | 11 h |
| May | 24°C | 16°C | 23 mm | 13 h |
| Jun | 28°C | 20°C | 9 mm | 14 h |
| Jul | 31°C | 23°C | 1 mm | 13 h |
| Aug | 31°C | 23°C | 8 mm | 13 h |
| Sept | 28°C | 20°C | 28 mm | 11 h |
| Oct | 24°C | 17°C | 68 mm | 10 h |
| Nov | 20°C | 13°C | 66 mm | 9 h |
| Dec | 18°C | 11°C | 39 mm | 8 h |
Averages 2015–2024. Highlighted months are the sweet spot for warm, dry weather.
Getting there from the UK
Flights, Ferries and the Drive
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) has direct flights from the United Kingdom and lies about 6 miles from the city, roughly an 8-minute drive. Two other airports with direct UK flights are within reach: Granada-Jaén Airport (GRX), about 48 miles away or 68 minutes by car, and Gibraltar Airport (GIB), about 65 miles away or around an hour and a half's drive.
Driving from Calais takes around 24 hours at the wheel, so most British travellers fly. Málaga also has its own ferry port with sailings to Melilla, while Motril, about 50 miles away, and Algeciras, about 70 miles away, offer further crossings to Morocco, including Tangier Med and Ceuta, should you want to extend the trip.
By air
- Málaga (AGP)6 miles, about 8 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Gibraltar (GIB)65 miles, about 1 h 32 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
- Granada (GRX)48 miles, about 1 h 8 min by roaddirect flights from the UK
By car and ferry
Driving from Calais takes roughly 23 h 58 min without stops. Nearest ferry ports: Málaga (1 mile), Motril (50 miles), Algeciras (70 miles).
Málaga is good for
Around Málaga
Easy Trips Along the Coast
Several neighbouring towns lie within a dozen miles. Torremolinos and Rincón de la Victoria are both about 8 miles away, on either side of the city along the coast. Benalmádena is about 12 miles off, with Arroyo de la Miel around 11 miles away.
Inland, Alhaurín de la Torre is roughly 9 miles away, Estación de Cártama about 11 miles and the small town of Casabermeja around 12 miles, offering a quieter contrast to the city.
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Tips from Robin
Practical Advice from Robin
In July and August the thermometer reaches 31°C and rain is almost unheard of, so plan museum visits for the middle of the day and save the beaches and fortress walks for morning or evening.
If you come in spring, pack a light waterproof: March is the wettest month, with around ten rainy days. And because Málaga is a city of nearly 600,000 people rather than a resort village, it stays lively all year, so a winter visit still finds the centre open and busy.
Questions people ask
How far is Málaga airport from the city centre?
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is about 6 miles from the city, roughly an 8-minute drive. It has direct flights from the United Kingdom, which makes Málaga one of the easiest Andalusian cities to reach for a short break.
What is the best month to visit Málaga?
May, June, August, September and October offer the most pleasant conditions. May and October bring highs around 24°C, while June and September reach about 28°C. July and August are the hottest at 31°C, and March is the wettest month.
Is Málaga warm in winter?
Mild rather than hot. January and February see daytime highs around 17°C with lows of 9 to 10°C, and about five or six rainy days a month. It suits sightseeing at the Alcazaba and the museums more than sunbathing.
Can you walk from Málaga's old town to the beach?
Yes. Playa de La Malagueta is about 0.6 miles from the centre and Playa de la Caleta a little over a mile, so you can combine the cathedral, the Museo Picasso and the beach on foot in a single day.
Where was Picasso born in Málaga?
The Casa natal de Pablo Ruiz Picasso, his birthplace, is about 0.3 miles from the cathedral and now a museum. The Museo Picasso Málaga is even closer to the centre, so both are easy to see in one morning.
Are there other airports near Málaga with UK flights?
Yes. Granada-Jaén Airport is about 48 miles away, around 68 minutes by car, and Gibraltar Airport about 65 miles away, roughly an hour and a half's drive. Both have direct flights from the United Kingdom.