Outdoors · Málaga · Spain
5 best outdoor things to do in Málaga
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tyk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Muelle Uno and the port promenade, La Malagueta beach and La Concepción Historical-Botanical Garden. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–8 hours across 3 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–8 hours
- Areas
- La Malagueta, Northern Málaga and Centro Histórico
Outdoors in Málaga
Waterfront · La Malagueta
1.Muelle Uno and the port promenade
Walk it at sunset, then continue to La Malagueta for dinner at a beach restaurant.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Outdoors
Beach · La Malagueta
2.La Malagueta beach
Take a photo at the big MALAGUETA letters, then walk east to the quieter La Caleta stretch.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Food
Garden · Northern Málaga
3.La Concepción Historical-Botanical Garden
Visit in spring for the wisteria; take a bus or taxi, as it is about 7 km from the centre.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Kids
Historic site · La Malagueta
4.English Cemetery
Combine it with a walk along the Paseo de Reding to La Malagueta.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Park · Centro Histórico
5.Paseo del Parque
Use it as a shaded walking route on hot days between the centre and the beach.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| La Malagueta | Muelle Uno and the port promenade, La Malagueta beach and English Cemetery | 1 hour + Half a day + 45 minutes |
| Northern Málaga | La Concepción Historical-Botanical Garden | 2 hours |
| Centro Histórico | Paseo del Parque | 30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 2 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is La Malagueta beach; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (La Malagueta): Muelle Uno and the port promenade → La Malagueta beach, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (La Malagueta, Northern Málaga and Centro Histórico): English Cemetery → La Concepción Historical-Botanical Garden → Paseo del Parque, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- June: highs of 28°C (82°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Hot and dry with swimmable sea; the city celebrates midsummer on the beaches.
- May: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds. One of the best months: warm, sunny and dry, with long evenings and beach season starting.
- July: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 0 rainy days, very busy crowds. Hot and busy; beaches are packed and the terral wind can bring short bursts of extreme heat.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centro Histórico — Marble streets, tapas bars and monuments around Calle Larios and the cathedral
- La Malagueta — City beach, seafront hotels and the bullring next to the port
More of Málaga
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Málaga?
Muelle Uno and the port promenade. The redeveloped port quays run from the Palmeral de las Sorpresas, a promenade of white pergolas and palms, to Muelle Uno, with shops, restaurants and terraces facing the yachts and cruise ships.
+Which of these are free in Málaga?
Muelle Uno and the port promenade, La Malagueta beach and Paseo del Parque.