Comparison · Málaga vs Valencia · Spain
Málaga vs Valencia
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kiban, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Choose Málaga for Picasso and Alcazaba; choose Valencia for Paella and City of Arts and Sciences. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 468 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 468 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Málaga
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Valencia
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Málaga | Valencia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Spain |
| Known for | Picasso, Alcazaba and Espetos | Paella, City of Arts and Sciences and Fallas |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $130–$220 | $130–$220 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | August, 31°C (88°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 17°C (63°F) | January, 17°C (63°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | La Malagueta | Malvarrosa |
| Airports | AGP | VLC |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Málaga for…
Picasso and Alcazaba. Málaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, a port city where a Moorish fortress, a Roman theatre and an unfinished Renaissance cathedral sit within a few minutes' walk of each other. The Museo Picasso, the Carmen Thyssen…
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Choose Valencia for…
Paella and City of Arts and Sciences. Spain's third-largest city combines a Gothic old town around the cathedral and the UNESCO-listed Lonja de la Seda with Santiago Calatrava's white City of Arts and Sciences. Linking them is the Turia Gardens, a 9-kilometre park laid out in the old riverbed…
Top sights compared
| # | Málaga | Valencia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alcazaba of Málaga | City of Arts and Sciences |
| 2 | Gibralfaro Castle | L'Oceanogràfic |
| 3 | Museo Picasso Málaga | Turia Gardens |
| 4 | Málaga Cathedral | Gulliver Park |
| 5 | Roman Theatre | Lonja de la Seda |
Food compared
| Málaga | Valencia |
|---|---|
| Espetos de sardinas | Paella valenciana |
| Fried fish | Arroz a banda |
| Boquerones | Black rice |
| Ajoblanco | Fideuà |
Which is cheaper?
Málaga and Valencia cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $130–$220 in Málaga and $130–$220 in Valencia (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Málaga on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Málaga and Valencia are about 468 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Málaga and 4 in Valencia.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Málaga or Valencia cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $130–$220 in Málaga and $130–$220 in Valencia (estimates).
+Is Málaga or Valencia better for a first trip?
Pick Málaga for Picasso and Alcazaba, or Valencia for Paella and City of Arts and Sciences.
+How far is Málaga from Valencia?
About 468 km in a straight line.