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Málaga faces south and west towards the Mediterranean, so if you want to watch the sun set, there are three very different types of spot to choose from: by the sea, high above the bay y on the rooftops in the city centre. Each one offers a different view and you get there in a different way.
Here are the The five best places to watch the sunset in Málaga, including directions for each one, how to get there and what time it’s best to arrive, depending on the time of year.
The most beautiful in the city and the one that most people don’t know about. It is a a former spa dating from the early 20th century, to the east of the town centre, with enormous ficus trees leaning out over the sea and a terrace right by the sand. Here, the sun sets with the sea as a backdrop and no buildings in the way.
How to get there: by city bus to Paseo de Pedregalejo, or on foot along the seafront from La Malagueta, about 25 minutes. You can find more information about the site on our page at Los Baños del Carmen.
Tip: At the weekends, the terrace gets busy, so make sure you arrive once the golden hour has started, not just as the sun is setting.
The panoramic view that captures the essence of the city: the entire bay, the harbour, La Malagueta bullring and the historic centre, all seen from above. It is the highest point accessible on foot from the city centre, and the sun sets directly over the harbour, so that the fading light illuminates the entire seafront.
Important: on The outdoor viewing point is open to the public at all times and has no set opening hours, so you always have that view. The The castle grounds are closing at 8.00 pm from April to October and at 6.00 pm from November to March, with the last admission 45 minutes before closing time. In summer, therefore, the castle closes well before sunset: stay at the viewpoint.
How to get there: walking from the Alcazaba along the path up the hillside, which takes between 20 and 30 minutes, or by city bus to the site. If you want to compare high points, you’ll find them listed at The 5 best viewpoints in Málaga.
The most convenient option, at water level and just a stone’s throw from the centre. The Muelle Uno promenade links up with the Palmeral de las Sorpresas and opposite it is La Farola, with the yachts and boats in the background. It’s a flat, effortless walk.
How to get there: A five-minute walk from Plaza de la Marina or Paseo del Parque, with no need for transport.
Tip: It’s the best option if you want to round off the day with dinner nearby, and it’s also where the boat trips around the bay set off – they’re something else at sunset.
The Melilla City Promenade, right next to Malagueta Beach, is the most central option right by the beach. Its advantage is that it doesn’t force you to stand still: you can watch the sun go down as you walk, with a clear view of the horizon and the sand right beside you.
How to get there: a five-minute walk from the historic centre.
Tip: There are beach bars and restaurants all along the promenade, so it’s easy to go straight from watching the sunset to having dinner. If you want to know what to order, you’ve got traditional dishes from Málaga.
Here, the sunset isn’t over the sea, but in the historic centrewith the Cathedral, with the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro silhouetted in the background. It’s a unique view, and for many, the best in the city.
The best-known ones are in the area around Calle Larios and the Cathedral: the the terrace at the AC Hotel Málaga Palacio, the one from the Molina Larios Hotel and that of the Valeria, all with direct views of the cathedral.
Tip: it is advisable book a table during the peak season, because there aren’t many seats with a view. And stay a while afterwards: when the city lights come on, the view gets even better.
It changes a great deal throughout the year, and not just a little: in Málaga there is a five-hour time difference between the longest and shortest days.
The big leap is not a gradual one: it is taken by the time change. On the last Sunday in March, sunset is suddenly an hour later, and on the last Sunday in October, it’s an hour earlier. If you’re visiting just after the October time change, bear in mind that by seven o’clock in the evening it’s already almost dark.
The rule of thumb for any date: arrive between 30 and 45 minutes before the start. That last hour is the golden hour, when the sun is low and the light turns warm – that’s when it’s worth having had a few drinks.
Outside the capital, the Caminito del Rey, with the evening light streaming into the gorge, is something else. But it’s worth doing the maths properly: the route is one-way journey and takes between three and four hours including the shuttle, so It only coincides with sunset during the months when the days are short. In June, with the sun setting at 9.40 pm, there’s no train that’ll get you there.
If you’re visiting in autumn or winter, check the last admission times of the day when you book. You’ll find all the practical details on our Tips for visiting the Caminito del Rey, and the trip, including transport, from Málaga on the trip to the Caminito del Rey.
The sensible thing to do is to leave it until the end of the day and head to the viewpoint after you’ve explored the area. If you’re planning your day, you have what to see in Malaga in one day for a short visit and What to see in Málaga in three days if you stay a bit longer.
And as almost all of these places are free to visit, they’re ideal for those on a tight budget: more ideas at free things to do in Málaga.
We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia. If you’d like to combine a visit to the city with other destinations along the coast and inland, these are our most popular trips; you can find the rest on the excursion catalogue:
It depends on what you’re looking for. Right by the sea, the Baños del Carmen are the spot with the most character, whilst the Malagueta seafront promenade is the most central. From up high, the Gibralfaro viewpoint offers a complete panoramic view of the bay. And if you’d prefer the historic centre as a backdrop rather than the sea, the rooftop terraces in the city centre offer views of the Cathedral.
The earliest is in early December, around 6.00 pm, and the latest is in late June, around 9.40 pm. The biggest change comes with the clock change: on the last Sunday in March, sunset is pushed back by an hour in one go, and on the last Sunday in October, it is brought forward. It’s best to arrive between 30 and 45 minutes early to catch the golden hour.
The Gibralfaro outdoor viewing point, which is free to visit and open at all times, offers views of the bay, the harbour and the historic centre. Please note that the castle grounds close at 8.00 pm from April to October and at 6.00 pm from November to March, so in summer they close well before sunset and you’ll have to stay at the outdoor viewing point.
Yes. The city’s beaches face south and south-west, so the sun shines out over the water. The most convenient options are Malagueta Beach, five minutes from the city centre, and Baños del Carmen a little further east, where the old spa has a terrace right on the sand. In summer, both come alive as the sun sets.
Four of the five places featured in this guide – the Baños del Carmen, the Gibralfaro outdoor viewpoint, Muelle Uno and the Malagueta seafront promenade – are free to enter. Only the hotel terraces require you to buy something to eat or drink, and in that case it’s a good idea to book a table if you’re travelling in high season.
Only during the months when the days are short. The route is one-way and takes between three and four hours, including the shuttle bus journey, so in autumn and winter the last trips of the day may coincide with sunset, but in summer, when the sun sets at around 21:40, no trips run at that time. It’s advisable to check the timetables when booking.
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