Where to stay in Malaga
If you have decided to spend the night in Malaga, it is a great choice, no doubt. Both sunsets and sunrises are impressive in the city.
There are many areas to find your perfect place to stay and a wide variety of hotels and apartments. Although I would also recommend some areas to stay in Malaga outside the center (like Pedregalejo), as this itinerary is to get to know the center of the city, I will recommend hotels in this area:
- AC Hotel Malaga Palacio by Marriott. If you are a movie buff, this hotel is where all the actors and actresses stay during the Malaga Film Festival and is in a privileged location. If you choose it, make sure you get a room overlooking the harbor. You will never forget that awakening.
- Don Curro Hotel. It is one of the most emblematic of the city.
- Debambú Atarazanas. This is a very good option if you are looking for a studio or apartment for several people.
- Roommate Valeria. A 4-star hotel located in Soho. It has very good facilities.
Things to do in Malaga in one day
Now, without further ado, let’s start the tour of what to see in Malaga in one day with a complete itinerary. Let’s discover the city that saw the birth of Picasso and that, today, continues to generate incredible artists from all areas (I love that Malaga is so artistic).
💡 As always, before departing on a tour, I advise you to book a a free tour of the city. They will not only highlight the interesting information but also help you discover the fun facts and curiosities of each location. Another option is to go with this slightly more extensive tour of Malaga.
The Main Alameda
We will start our tour here because it is the meeting point for all bus stops in the city. That is why it is one of the most important arteries, both for pedestrians and vehicles (everything passes through there, and from there you can go downtown, as well as to Pier 1: Port, Soho, and other parts of the city).
It is a beautiful promenade that has become even more beautiful since the sides have been pedestrianized (not so long ago). Its leafy grove and flower stalls make it even more beautiful, with a unique aroma of floral mixture and sea.
Larios Street – Constitution Square
This is the most famous street in Malaga, Calle Larios (officially called Calle Marqués de Larios), which is reached from the Alameda Principal and through the Plaza del Marqués de Larios, which is well-known in these parts. These days, it is pedestrian and hosts the world’s largest fashion labels. “Everything happens” and “everything is found” on Larios Street. She is ideal for all of the city’s events, including Easter, the Malaga Fair, and the Malaga Film Festival.
You must stop at Casa Mira for the world’s best nougat ice cream (or black and white coffee and ice cream) while strolling around it.
You may get to the Plaza de la Constitución by walking up it. This square serves as one of our other gathering places. A big, lit tree lightens it throughout the Christmas season, and the main tribune acts as a box of honor during Easter. This is where the path to the Jewish quarter and the old portion of the city begins, heading up on the right.
Jewish quarter of Malaga
I admit that until making this post, I had never noticed that this area of Malaga is the Jewish quarter (things of being from Malaga). This neighborhood is the most charming in the center, and in it there are numerous spaces that will surprise you.
You can reach it either from the Plaza de la Constitución, going up Granada Street to the Plaza del Carbón, or through the perpendicular streets that come from the right side of Larios Street towards the Cathedral (one of these small streets is Paseo Chinitas, which is really beautiful).
When you finish your complete route, you can always come back here, especially to have a delicious and very “malagueño” dinner. Surely during your dinner you will find a biznaga seller (in spring or summer), which is the flower “created” from the orange blossom, and that will envelop you with its aroma.
The Cathedral, a must-see in Malaga in one day
From Calle Larios, Plaza la Constitución, and Calle Molina Larios, you will arrive at the Plaza del Carbón (a small square that today is a hot spot for bars, restaurants, and entertainment, especially in the evening).
Continue walking to your right, and you will arrive at the most special enclave of Malaga: its cathedral (La Manquita, because it is missing one of its towers). The Cathedral of Malaga is surrounded by the streets Santa Maria, Cistercian, and Plaza del Obispo (do not get lost because the temple has several entrances and is a large rectangular complex in the middle of the city center).
From the Cathedral, I would highlight, of course, its main facade, which is impressive with its staircase (from the Plaza del Obispo, also very nice to visit and where you will find the Episcopal Palace), the entrance and courtyard of the Sagrario, and the back, the Patio de los Naranjos (where is the entrance to the Cathedral). In fact, if it helps you even more, go to the entrance on Santa Maria Street, visit it inside, and exit through the Sagrario.
If you have time, sit for a while in the Patio de los Naranjos and enjoy the smell of orange blossoms and the calm that you can breathe there.
- Hours: open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- General entrance fee: $6. The visit to the roofs has another price and schedule.
San Agustín Street – San Agustín Church – Picasso Museum
Once the visit to the cathedral is over, go up San Agustin Street (a small street in front of the entrance of the great temple). On this street is the best tea shop in Malaga, La Tetería San Agustín. Their teas are impressive (the Moorish tea is a classic), and their crepes are on another level. The best thing is to be able to take a seat at a small table outside overlooking the Church of San Agustín (the former school of the Augustinians, where I studied).
On this same street, a few steps away, is the Picasso Museum, one of the great treasures of the city. The Picasso Museum is a very ambitious project from 2003 that houses important paintings by the Malaga artist. The building itself is a great work of art, and I highly recommend a visit.
- Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (or 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., depending on the season). Given the influx and queues, I recommend buying the ticket online and avoiding waiting.
- General admission is $12. You can also book this guided tour of the museum.
Plaza de la Merced – Picasso’s Birth House
When you finish San Agustín Street (which goes a long way), head down Granada Street towards Plaza de la Merced. On this street, you will find the most emblematic bodega in Malaga, El Pimpi (50% owned by Antonio Banderas). This bodega, “de toda la vida,” is the meeting point for artists in Malaga and the place where I invite you to take a sweet wine of Malaga and contemplate the purest essence that is cooked there (better to book).
Once in the Plaza de la Merced, go to the northwest part of the square where the Casa Natal de Picasso (the other art gallery in the city dedicated to the artist) is located. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the general admission price is $4.
The Plaza de la Merced is a very Malaga spot that has been transformed over the years. Now it has much more splendor; it hosts concerts and very interesting cultural events.
This is a good place to have lunch or dinner in a very pleasant way on one of the terraces of the square. As remarkable restaurants, I recommend Lechuga (a very tasty vegetarian) or Spain (a very traditional tavern).
Alcazaba, Roman Theater and Gibralfaro Castle – Museum of Malaga
Having finished the tour through the life of the great artist, Picasso, we leave the Plaza de la Merced behind to walk along Alcazabilla Street (one of the most magical streets in Malaga). It is a large pedestrian boulevard open to a great treasure, the Roman Theater, which is still impressively well preserved.
It has been conditioned in such a way that visiting it and contemplating it from the street is very comfortable and pleasant. At night, it is tastefully illuminated, and in the summer, there are very interesting art and cultural shows. You don’t need a ticket for this; you can see it from the street.
In this street, in Alcazabilla Street, you will find the Crystal Pyramid, under which there are Roman remains, and the houses of the Brotherhoods of Students and Sepulchre (which are very interesting buildings), plus a nice little park perfect for sitting and watching the Alcazaba.
At the end of the street is the entrance to the complex of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castles. We recommend that you dedicate some time to this visit because it is very nice and you will be surprised at how nice it is inside. By the way, you can also book this guided tour.
Of course, you cannot miss the breathtaking views from the top of Gibralfaro Castle (I am from there, and I have visited it again this year, and it has fascinated me). Seeing Malaga, the center, the port, and the sea from above is a real treat.
- Hours: Winter from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; summer from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Price: General admission to Alcazaba or Castle: $3.50.
- General ticket for Alcazaba + Castle: $5.50.
The climb up to the castle is a bit intense, so be well prepared with water. Otherwise, you can always take the elevator up and walk down.
Museum of Malaga, in Palacio de la Aduana
Just in front of the entrance to the Alcazaba is a large rectangular building, the “Palacio de la Aduana.” First, in the past, it was the place where all the merchandise that entered through the port was managed; then, it was closed for a long time, and today, it houses the Museum of Malaga. I love the building, and it reminds me of my childhood.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mondays are closed (open all holidays).
- Admission is free for EU citizens (for the rest, $1.50).
This concludes our tour of the best things to see in Malaga in one day. We hope you enjoy this complete itinerary through the city.
If you still have time and desire, from the Palacio de la Aduana, you are within walking distance of other wonderful places in Malaga, such as Paseo del Parque, Muelle 1, and the port. They are perfect to end the day with a cocktail and a dinner of pescaito, contemplating the sunset with the sea breeze. Anything better? Maybe, but this is a spectacular end to your day in Malaga.
Other places to see in Malaga in one day
Many of the most significant locations in Malaga are on the path or itinerary I have outlined above, and I don’t think one day is long enough to see much more. However, if you’ve been to Malaga before or have more time, there are additional noteworthy things to mention, like:
- Atarazanas Market.
- Thyssen Museum.
- Soho.
- Bridge of the Germans.
- The Paseo del Parque.
- El Muelle 1: La Farola (the lighthouse of Malaga).
- La Malagueta: Bullring.
- Pedragalejo: The Baths of Carmen.
If you are also going to visit other places in the province of Malaga, do not miss this compilation of the most beautiful villages of Malaga, among which are Ronda or Frigiliana.
You can also opt for an organized excursion. One of the most typical and popular is the tour to Caminito del Rey.
Map of Malaga in one day itinerary
If you want to follow and complete this one-day itinerary, you have no time to waste. You can avoid any distraction by following this map, in which we leave you all the key points that we have outlined in this post.
So far this post with everything you can see in one day in Malaga with itinerary included. If you are going to spend more days in the city, I leave you this other post with a complete list of the key points of Malaga city.
I’m from Malaga, and although I’ve been living abroad for years, from time to time I go back to the city, and I feel very much at home there. If you go and are guided by this post, I will love to read your comments. And if you need any more recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask me.
If you are visiting other areas of the country, take a look at this Spain travel guide.
