A day in Malaga. What to do and see

You’ll find Malaga in Andalusia, on the southern coast known as the Costa del Sol. We suggest you set aside a day to wander the streets of this vibrant, maritime city with over 3,000 years of history. One of its strong points is the cultural range provided by its wide variety of museums. You can also take part in other local experiences, such as sampling typical dishes like the fried 'pescaíto' (tiny fish), sunbathing on one of its 16 beaches such as the one at La Malagueta or shopping in Calle Larios.

The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle

Weather permitting, one option is to start the day with a pleasant dip at the beach or even hire a sailing boat for a few hours and take a trip around Malaga Bay. If you prefer to leave the beach for another occasion, you can start your day off in the historic quarter, leaving from Plaza de la Constitución. Walk to the Cathedral, built on the site of the mosque in the former Arab city. The locals call it 'La Manquita' (the amputee) because the southern tower is missing. After that, you could visit the area around the Roman Theatre and the Alcazaba, which was the fortress and palace of the Muslim rulers.

Next, the must-see landmark in Malaga is Gibralfaro Castle on its hilltop, with spectacular views of the city and the coast from its walls. If you aren’t driving, the easiest way to get there is to take the 35 bus from Paseo del Parque

An afternoon of museums and shopping on Calle Larios

After lunch - we suggest local dishes like gazpacho or tiny fried fish - you could spend the afternoon in one of Malaga’s famous museums (the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the Picasso Museum… Did you know the famous painter Pablo Picasso was born here?). Another option is to go shopping in the emblematic Calle Larios, where you'll find shops belonging to top brands (some of the companies organise shopping days both in the centre and at the Factory Outlet Málaga, 20 minutes away), or to relax in one of the city's Arab baths. And if you’re travelling with the family, you might also like the idea of discovering the La Concepción Botanic-Historical Garden.

On the way to the port

Before it gets dark, this is a good time to visit the harbour area and La Farola (a 200-year-old lighthouse), a symbol of the city, which fabulous views from the top. The Centre Pompidou is close by, as is Muelle Uno, a shopping area where you can make any last-minute purchases. As night falls, what could be better than dinner in one of the restaurants and sampling typical dishes like anchovies, sardine skewers, or thin-shelled seafood, etc.? If you want to continue your night out, many choose the historic quarter to go dancing, or the Malagueta beach area, or Paseo de Sancha for something a bit more relaxed. To watch a flamenco performance, you can go to Soho Málaga, the so-called 'Arts District', less than 10 minutes’ walk from the port.