Things to Do in Málaga: Sights, Museums and City Beaches

If you only have a day, start with the big three Málaga attractions, all in the historic centre. The Cathedral Basilica of the Virgin of Incarnation is the city's great renaissance church, and the Palacio Episcopal stands close by. A few minutes' walk away, the Alcazaba of Málaga is a palatial fortification climbing the hillside, with the Roman Theatre of Malaca laid out at its foot, so you can see ancient Malaca and Moorish Málaga in a single stop.

Above them both, the Castle of Gibralfaro sits about half a mile from the centre and makes a natural follow-on for anyone happy to keep climbing. Then there is Picasso: the Museo Picasso Málaga is the art museum most visitors come for, and the Casa natal de Pablo Ruiz Picasso, his birth house, is a short walk away. Together they answer most of the question of Málaga what to see on a first visit.

The old centre holds most things to do in Málaga city. Besides the cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre, it is where you find the Museo Picasso Málaga, the Carmen Thyssen Museum and the Museo de Málaga, all within a few streets. Art lovers can fill a whole day here, and add the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga and the Museum Jorge Rando, each roughly half a mile out from the core.

Head east towards the sea and you reach La Malagueta, home to the Plaza de toros de la Malagueta, the city's historic bullring, and to Playa de La Malagueta, the beach closest to the centre. Carry on a little further and Playa de la Caleta sits about a mile and a quarter from the centre; these two are the beaches in Málaga city that most visitors use, and they pair easily with a morning of sightseeing.

Further out, the Al-Andalus Mosque is a little over a mile from the centre, and the Jardín Botánico La Concepción, a historic botanical garden, lies around 3 miles away. It is worth a taxi or a short drive if you want greenery and shade after the stone and heat of the old town.

Children tend to enjoy the castles more than the galleries. The Alcazaba and the Castle of Gibralfaro give them walls, towers and hillside paths to explore, and the Roman Theatre is an open-air site you can see without a long indoor visit. Plan these for the morning in summer, when Málaga reaches around 31°C in July and August.

Afterwards, the beaches Málaga families use most are the closest ones: Playa de La Malagueta is roughly half a mile from the centre, so a swim needs no transport at all, and Playa de la Caleta is only a little further. The Jardín Botánico La Concepción makes a calmer half day for younger children who need space to run.

You can see tours and tickets for the city's sights on this page, alongside hotel prices and car hire, so it is easy to line up a guided walk of the old centre or entry to the main museums before you travel. Booking ahead saves time in the queue during the busy months.

May to October is the main season, with almost no rain from June to August. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking between Málaga Spain attractions: May averages 24°C and October 24°C, while March is the wettest month, with around 10 rain days. Winter stays mild, at about 17°C by day in January.

Most British travellers arrive via Málaga airport, around 8 minutes from the city, or Granada, about 68 minutes away, both with direct flights from the UK. If you are booking a package to the Costa del Sol and want Málaga as a day out, you can compare package deals here too.