La Malagueta Bullring: what to see

The La Malagueta Bullring The was inaugurated on 11 June 1876 and it is one of the most recognisable buildings on Málaga’s seafront: exposed brick, horseshoe arches and a floor plan of 16 sides which can be seen perfectly clearly from the Gibralfaro viewpoint.

Here you have What to visit today, including opening times and prices, because the tour has changed quite a lot in recent years and there is a lot of out-of-date information circulating.

Behind-the-scenes tour: La Malagueta Tour

Be careful with this section, as it’s where the most outdated information tends to circulate.

The old Antonio Ordóñez Bullfighting Museum —which was open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm and cost €1.80— has evolved to become The Malagueta Tour, an experience centre with a completely different approach.

What’s included now:

• The origins of bullfighting and the bullfighting costumes of bullfighters from Málaga, featuring Antonio Ordóñez as the central figure.
• The Picasso’s connection with bullfighting, which runs through much of his work.
• To step into the ring and an experience of virtual reality to experience a bullfight from the inside.
• Audio guide in seven languages.

Timetable: open every day from 10.00 to 18.00, y until 7.00 pm from June to September. Last admission one hour before closing time. It is only closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Price: 14 € adult admission, 12 € the reduced fare for students, people aged 65 and over, and those aged 13 to 18, 7 € for children aged 5 to 12 and free of charge up to 4. Private guided tours are available from €20. It’s best to book online.

A word of warning: Various sources, including some official ones, continue to publish the opening hours and admission price for the old museum. If you see «€1.80 from Monday to Friday», this information is out of date. Please check before you go.

History: 1876, Rucoba and the hexadecagon

Work began on 16 June 1874 and the square was opened on 11 June 1876, featuring bulls from the Murube dealt with by Rafael Molina «Lagartijo», Antonio Carmona «El Gordito» and Manuel Rodríguez «Desperdicios».

She projected it Joaquín Rucoba, and that name is linked to another building you’re probably already familiar with: it’s the same architect as the Atarazanas Market. He also worked at the Arriaga Theatre in Bilbao.

He chose the neo-Mudéjar, very much in vogue in the last third of the 19th century: red brick, horseshoe arches and a floor plan of hexadecagon, that is to say, a regular polygon with 16 sides. It is that shape that makes it unmistakable view from above, which is why it is one of the classic views from the Gibralfaro viewpoint.

The statements: 1976 and 1981

It is worth distinguishing between them, as they are often confused:

• 1976: declared Historic and Artistic Site, just as it marks the centenary of its opening.
• 1981: declared Bien de Interés Cultural.

The square during the war

A story that is rarely told: during the Civil War the site was used as makeshift prison, and during the The Second World War hosted refugees fleeing France. The very same architecture that is photographed today from Gibralfaro served those purposes less than a century ago.

The figures for the square

• Capacity: 9,032 spectators following the reform of 2010. If you see the figure 14,000, it predates that reform.
• Track: 52 metres in diameter.
• Facilities: 4 pens, 10 stalls, stables, a small pen for horse trials, a bullfighters’ lounge and an infirmary.
• Ownership: belongs to the Malaga Provincial Council, which is putting it out to public tender.
• Latest major reform: the one from 2017, which kept it closed for two years and the original brick façade was restored and its decorative features. It reopened in 2019.

The Picasso Bullfight and the August Fair

August is the month of La Malagueta. During the Malaga Fair The town is in the midst of its bullfighting festival, and that’s when its most unique event takes place: the Picasso-style bullfight.

It is a tribute to the painter from Málaga, in whose work the bull plays a major role, and it features a detail not found in any other bullring: The bullfighters wear costumes inspired by Picasso’s style and artistic vision. It’s well worth seeing, even if you’re not a fan – even if it’s just in photographs.

Concerts and cultural events

Outside the bullfighting season, the bullring serves as La Malagueta Cultural Centre and as one of the city’s most unique open-air venues.

Hosts concerts, exhibitions, lectures, dance, theatre and open-air cinema. His best-known musical quote is the 101 Music Festival, which has hosted national and international artists and turned the bullring into one of the leading venues in the south.

The programme changes every season, so it’s a good idea to check the programme before planning your visit.

How to get there

It’s in the Paseo de Reding, 8, in the La Malagueta neighbourhood, between the harbour and the beach.

• On foot: about 10 minutes from the city centre along the seafront. It’s the most pleasant route.
• By bus: Several EMT bus routes stop at Paseo de Reding and Paseo del Parque.
• By car: There are car parks in the area, but the centre is pedestrianised, so it’s usually better to leave your car and walk.

And here’s a tip: To see the whole square with its 16-sided shape, go up to the Gibralfaro Castle. From there, you can take in its geometry at a glance – something that’s impossible from the street. You’ve got more options at the best viewpoints in Málaga.

What’s nearby

• The La Malagueta beach, directly opposite, and the Pablo Ruiz Picasso seafront promenade.
• The Customs Square and the Málaga Museum, a ten-minute walk along the Paseo del Parque.
• The Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre, along the same route.
• The Baths of Carmen, following the coastline eastwards.

Other historic bullrings

If you’re interested in bullring architecture, there are two in the province that are well worth a detour:

The Bullring of Ronda, by 1785 and managed by the Real Maestranza de Caballería, is one of the oldest and most monumental in Spain. You can find it at What to see in Ronda.

The Bullring in Mijas Pueblo It’s the opposite: small and with a oval floor plan unusual, simply because there wasn’t enough space to make it round. It’s nestled between white houses and we’ll tell you about it in what to see in Mijas.

Excursions from Malaga

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising tours around Andalusia. These two tours take in the city and the coastal villages:

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to go inside La Malagueta bullring?

Yes, with the La Malagueta Tour, which has replaced the former Antonio Ordóñez Bullfighting Museum. It includes the bullfighters’ costumes, Picasso’s connection to bullfighting, a descent into the bullring, a virtual reality experience and an audio guide in seven languages. It is open every day from 10.00 to 18.00, and until 19.00 from June to September, with the last admission one hour before closing.

How much does it cost to get into La Malagueta Bullring?

Adult admission costs €14; concessions are €12 for students, over-65s and young people aged 13 to 18; and €7 for children aged 5 to 12, with free entry for children under 4. Private guided tours are available from €20. If you see a price of €1.80 listed, this refers to the former bullfighting museum and is no longer valid.

When was the La Malagueta bullring built?

Work began on 16 June 1874 and the bullring was inaugurated on 11 June 1876, featuring bulls from the Murube ranch fought by Rafael Molina «Lagartijo», Antonio Carmona «El Gordito» and Manuel Rodríguez «Desperdicios». It was designed by Joaquín Rucoba, the same architect who designed the Atarazanas Market in Málaga.

What is the capacity of La Malagueta?

9,032 spectators following the 2010 refurbishment. The figure of 14,000 quoted in some sources refers to the capacity prior to that refurbishment. The bullring measures 52 metres in diameter and the facilities include four pens, ten bull stalls, stables, a bullfighters’ lounge and an infirmary.

Why is the square shaped like a polygon?

This is because Joaquín Rucoba designed it as a hexadecagon – a regular 16-sided polygon – in the Neo-Mudejar style characteristic of the last third of the 19th century. This geometric shape cannot be seen from the street, but it can be seen from the Gibralfaro viewpoint, from where the square can be viewed in its entirety and is one of Málaga’s most recognisable sights.

What is the Corrida Picassiana?

A festival held every August at La Malagueta in honour of Picasso, in whose work the figure of the bull played a significant role. Its distinctive feature is that the bullfighters wear costumes inspired by the style and artistic vision of the Malaga-born painter – something that does not happen in any other bullring.