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Three days is enough time to get to know Malaga at a leisurely pace: the historic centre, the museums and the seafront. And almost everything can be done walking, because the centre is compact.
This is the itinerary broken down by day, with 17 stops and the practical details for each one.
Take a look at it now and organise your days accordingly:
If you arrive on a Monday, start with the historic centre. If your only day off for visiting museums falls on a Tuesday, swap the Pompidou for the Carmen Thyssen.
Twenty centuries within a few hundred metres: an Al-Andalus fortress, a Roman theatre, a castle and a cathedral. All within walking distance.
The Muslim palace-fortress overlooking the city, with its walls, stepped courtyards and terraced gardens. Start here, as it sets the scene for the rest.
A word of warning: admission fees rose significantly in 2025, so don’t rely on old prices. You can find the details at The Alcazaba Guide.
At its feet stands Málaga’s oldest monument: 1st century, and he was kept secret until 1951. You can see the stalls, the orchestra pit and the stage, and it has a visitor centre. Admission is free.
The fact that the Roman theatre and the Arab fortress share the same hillside sums up quite well what this city is all about. More at the Roman Theatre of Malaga.
At the top of the hill, connected to the Alcazaba by the Coracha wall. You climb up on foot along the tree-lined path —a challenging climb, about 20 minutes— or on the bus 35.
From the ramparts, you can see the whole bay, the harbour and the bullring. It’s the panoramic view of Málaga. You have the following options: the Gibralfaro viewpoint.
The «Manquita», because the south tower is missing: it was left unfinished and the nickname stuck for good. A Renaissance building, with centuries of construction work behind it and a noticeable mix of styles.
If available, the tour of the rooftops It’s well worth it. Read more at Malaga Cathedral.
The city’s commercial hub and barometer. It begins at the Plaza de la Marina and head up to Plaza de la Constitución. You can read about its history at Larios Street.
With its Nasrid façade —what remains of the old shipyard— and the large stained-glass window. Here you can eat fried fish at the bar and see the produce of the land. Go in the morning, which closes in the afternoon. In the Atarazanas Market.
Two classics, both tried and tested:
More options at the typical wines of Málaga y traditional dishes.
Málaga has an unusually high concentration of museums for a city of its size. This day combines major collections with the city’s neighbourhoods.
In the Buenavista Palace, 8 Calle San Agustín. Over 200 works spanning his entire career, from his early drawings to Cubism and his later ceramics. With 36,000 reviews, is the city’s most visited museum.
Open every day from 10.00 to 20.00, Fridays from 9.00 am. Book online to avoid the queue.
In the Plaza de la Merced, where he was born in 1881. It’s small and you can see it in half an hour, but it covers his early years and family background, which the museum doesn’t cover. They’re five minutes’ walk from each other. You can find the details at Picasso's Birthplace.
The one from the colourful cube in the port, home to the Parisian museum. Modern and contemporary art.
Please note: it’s closed on Tuesdays. It’s open from 9.30 am to 8.00 pm the rest of the week. And here’s a fact that hardly anyone knows: Admission is free on Sundays from 4.00 pm.
At the Palace of Villalón, situated in the centre of 19th-century Andalusian and Spanish painting. It’s the natural counterpart to the Picasso and is usually much less crowded. You can find more at Free museums in Málaga, because several of them offer free time slots.
Between the town centre and the harbour, the arts district: an open-air urban art museum, featuring murals by national and international artists, galleries and design shops. It takes just over an hour to explore. In Málaga’s Soho.
A peaceful day, to see Málaga as it looks out over the water.
The harbour promenade, with its waterfront shops and restaurants, which links up with La Farola, the 19th-century lighthouse and one of the city’s landmarks. At dusk, with Gibralfaro visible in the background, is one of the highlights of the trip.
The most central one, ten minutes from the town centre, with dark sand and beach bars right by the promenade. This is where you can try the sardine skewer, roasted on the boat over an olive wood fire. More on the coast at the seafront promenade in Málaga.
On the outskirts, one of the few landscaped gardens in the 19th century which are located in Spain, featuring a collection of tropical and subtropical plants, waterfalls and viewing points.
Key facts: closed on Mondays, open from 9.30 am to 8.30 pm the rest of the week, and allow about three hours to take your time looking at it. You get there by bus 20 It’s just a few minutes’ walk further, and you can bring a picnic.
As well as Gibralfaro, the city has vantage points scattered throughout its neighbourhoods and terraces. You’ll find them all listed at the best viewpoints in Málaga and, if you’re looking for the golden hour, at the best sunsets.
The junction between the harbour, the Alameda and Larios. Search El Cenachero, which is behind the tourist office, which is why many people walk straight past it. That’s where the Málaga Park, a stroll through the botanical gardens to the Town Hall.
From 1876, with a plant in 16 sides which can only be seen from Gibralfaro. You can go inside it. At La Malagueta.
You can see almost all of Málaga for free: the Roman Theatre, the murals in Soho, Muelle Uno, the beach, the market and the park are all free, and several museums have free admission times. You’ll find it all listed 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 have a spare day or two, Málaga is the best base in the region.
The nearest: on Caminito del Rey, an hour’s drive away, with its footbridges suspended over the Gaitanes Gorge; and A tour of Setenil de las Bodegas, two of the most spectacular villages in the area.
The three major cities of Andalusia These day trips are available from Málaga: Granada and the Alhambra, Cordoba and the Mosque-Cathedral, and Seville.
And even to another continent: From here, you cross over to Gibraltar or to Morocco and returns the same day.
You can find the full catalogue at excursions from Malaga.
On the first day, the historic centre: the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, Gibralfaro Castle, the Cathedral, Calle Larios and the Atarazanas Market. On the second day, museums and neighbourhoods: the Picasso Museum, the Picasso Birthplace, the Centre Pompidou, the Carmen Thyssen Museum and the Soho district. And on the third day, the sea and parks: Muelle Uno, La Farola, Malagueta Beach, La Concepción Gardens and the viewpoints. You can get to almost everything on foot, apart from the botanical gardens.
The two closing days that affect a three-day itinerary are those of the Centre Pompidou, which is closed on Tuesdays, and the La Concepción Botanical Gardens, which are closed on Mondays. The Picasso Museum is open every day from 10.00 to 20.00. It’s a good idea to plan your days around these two closing days so as not to miss out on a visit.
Yes, practically the whole itinerary. The historic centre, the museums, the harbour and Malagueta Beach are all within walking distance of one another. The two exceptions are Gibralfaro Castle, which involves a twenty-minute walk uphill or a journey on the number 35 bus, and La Concepción Botanical Gardens, on the outskirts, which can be reached by the number 20 bus.
Admission to the Roman Theatre is free, and there’s no charge to see the murals in Soho, the promenade from Muelle Uno to La Farola, Malagueta Beach, the Atarazanas Market and Málaga Park. What’s more, the Centre Pompidou is free on Sundays from 4.00 pm, and several municipal museums have free admission periods.
It takes about three hours if you want to take your time exploring it, as it’s quite large and there are some slopes. It’s open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 8.30 pm and is closed on Mondays. You can get there by taking bus number 20, followed by a short walk, and you’re allowed to bring your own food, so lots of people make the most of it by having a picnic.
The most popular destinations are the Caminito del Rey, an hour’s drive from the capital; Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas; and the three major Andalusian cities: Granada with the Alhambra, Córdoba with the Mosque-Cathedral, and Seville. You can also pop over to Gibraltar or even Morocco and be back the same day.
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