5 days in Málaga

Day by day

1. Day 1: Alcazaba of Málaga and Museo Picasso Málaga

   Alcazaba of Málaga, Museo Picasso Málaga and Málaga Cathedral, then Calle Larios and Plaza de la Constitución in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alcazaba of Málaga

      Buy the combined ticket with Gibralfaro, and use the lift from Calle Guillén Sotelo behind the town hall to skip the steepest climb. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Museo Picasso Málaga

      Visit early or late in the day to avoid cruise groups, and check the temporary exhibition, which is often excellent. (1.5–2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Espetos de sardinas

      Chiringuito beach restaurants at La Malagueta, Pedregalejo and El Palo.

   4. Afternoon

      Málaga Cathedral

      Book the rooftop tour for late afternoon light, and look at the stump of the unfinished tower from Plaza del Obispo. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Calle Larios and Plaza de la Constitución

      Walk it early in the morning to see the marble gleaming before the crowds; in December, the light shows run in the evenings.

2. Day 2: Gibralfaro Castle and Roman Theatre

   Gibralfaro Castle, Roman Theatre and Mercado Central de Atarazanas, then Muelle Uno and the port promenade in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gibralfaro Castle

      Take bus 35 up and walk down the zigzag path to the Alcazaba; the Mirador de Gibralfaro just below the castle is free. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Roman Theatre

      Come after dark, when the theatre and the Alcazaba walls above are floodlit, and have a drink on the terraces opposite. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Fried fish

      Beach restaurants, freidurías in the old town and the bars inside the Atarazanas market.

   4. Afternoon

      Mercado Central de Atarazanas

      Go late morning for a plate of fried fish and a beer at one of the market bars; it does not open on Sundays. (45 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Muelle Uno and the port promenade

      Walk it at sunset, then continue to La Malagueta for dinner at a beach restaurant.

3. Day 3: La Malagueta beach and English Cemetery

   La Malagueta beach, English Cemetery and Carmen Thyssen Museum, then Centro Histórico in the evening.

   1. Morning

      La Malagueta beach

      Take a photo at the big MALAGUETA letters, then walk east to the quieter La Caleta stretch. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      English Cemetery

      Combine it with a walk along the Paseo de Reding to La Malagueta. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Boquerones

      Almost every tapas bar in the centre and the market bars at Atarazanas.

   4. Afternoon

      Carmen Thyssen Museum

      Combine it with lunch on nearby Calle Compañía or Plaza de los Mártires. (1–1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Centro Histórico

      Bars and tapas places along Calle Granada and around Plaza Uncibay and Plaza de la Constitución, busy until the early hours.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Caminito del Rey

   About 1 hour by car or train each way. Getting there: Train to El Chorro, then shuttle bus to the entrance; or car.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Caminito del Rey

      About 1 hour by car or train (Train to El Chorro, then shuttle bus to the entrance; or car); about 60 km.

   2. Day

      Caminito del Rey

      A cliff-hugging walkway pinned to the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge, rebuilt and reopened in 2015. Best for first-timers, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Málaga

      Dinner: try Ajoblanco.

5. Day 5: Museo de Málaga and Interactive Music Museum

   Museo de Málaga, Interactive Music Museum and Paseo del Parque, then Plaza de la Merced in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo de Málaga

      Start with the archaeology rooms on the top floor, then work down; the courtyard is a cool break on hot days. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Interactive Music Museum

      Allow time in the hands-on rooms, where children can try the instruments themselves. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ajoblanco

      Traditional Andalusian restaurants, mainly in summer.

   4. Afternoon

      Paseo del Parque

      Use it as a shaded walking route on hot days between the centre and the beach. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Plaza de la Merced

      A big, lively square of bar terraces with a young local crowd, especially at weekends.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Museo Picasso Málaga before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Centro Histórico keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Soho ($$) suits budget, solo travellers and culture. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–19 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.7 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Málaga
• 2 days in Málaga
• 3 days in Málaga

Questions travellers ask