Three days is just about the perfect amount of time to really get to know the beautiful city of Malaga, capital city of both the Andalucian province of Málaga and the Costa del Sol. When we think of Malaga we tend to think of beaches and crowds of tourists but this ancient city also has an incredible array of museums and monuments to discover and its delicious food and the restaurant scene will blow you away. Malaga’s city center is a great place to spend a long weekend. Let’s take a look, now, at my favourite Malaga itinerary (3 days).

Malaga, of course, is one of the most famous and important cities in all of Spain. It’s one of the first places many people ever visit in Spain.

⭐️ Malaga is also known to be a great place to take kids on vacation – not just for the beaches but for access to the culture, history and nature of Andalucía.

⭐️ If, like many, you’re wondering whether to go to Malaga or Seville for a vacation, you’ll do well to read my article on this subject. Both are excellent cities to visit.

⭐️ If you only have 1 day in Malaga it’s also possible to see a lot of the city, if you plan your time well.

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Malaga Itinerary: 3 Days

Day 1 in Málaga

Morning

Begin your day with a guided tour of the old town. It’s possible to book a variety of interesting tours in advance or to hope to find a free walking tour when you’re in Malaga

📍 Walking tour around the historic centre of Málaga

📍 Bike tours – historic centre and beach

📍 Segway tours – these can even go up as far as the castle

This will help you get your bearings upon arrival in Málaga. Malaga’s historic centre can pretty winding and confusing until you’ve been there a few days.

Don’t miss Calle Larios, the main shopping street but also be sure to let yourself get lost in the maze of narrow streets around the center of Malaga.

TOP TIP: I highly recommend visiting the excellent City of Málaga Museum in the morning of your first day in Málaga. This is a small museum – one floor is dedicated to the art and one to the region’s archaeology. It’s an excellent way to learn more about the history of the region. Did you know, for example, that Málaga was named Malacca by the Phoenicians when they established the city?

Lunch on the Beach

🏝 Head to the beach to enjoy a relaxing lunch in a chiringuito. Be sure to order espedín (grilled sardines), a plate of grilled fish for the table and a good bottle of wine. If you’re not into fish, then head back into town to eat in any one of the many incredible restaurants in Málaga.

Recommended: Chiringuito El Cachalote on Malagueta Beach

What is a chiringuito? This is something of a Spanish institution – it’s a beachside cafe or restaurant. The Spanish love to take long, lazy lunches on the beach in these places.

Afternoon / Evening

Take a stroll on the beach before heading to the Pompidou Malaga (closes at 8 pm) to see some art. 

After leaving the Pompidou, stroll around Muelle Uno, enjoying the ambiance of this beautiful and modern port of Malaga. You’ll find plenty of places to stop for a drink or a meal if you’re peckish. Don’t forget to notice the Palacio de la Aduana and the gorgeous Parque de Málaga, which is lined with palm trees. 

⭐️ Pick up “Skip the Line” Pompidou tickets in advance

Note on Where to Find the Best Beaches: Head out of town if you’re looking for some serious beach time. The city beaches are fine but they’re not astoundingly beautiful. I’d recommend going to Cádiz or Huelva beaches if you’re really looking for beach time. The easiest beach, though is of course La Malagueta.

Day 2 in Málaga

Morning 

Begin the morning with a visit to the Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro. If you only have the energy/interest/time for one, I recommend the castle over the Alcazaba.

➡️ While the steep walk up to the castle was harder work than I expected, the views from the top over the entire city are just breathtaking. 

➡️ If you have the energy, take a few minutes to admire the Roman theatre too. 

⭐️ Pick up Guided Tour of the Alcazaba in advance

Top Tip: To the left of the Roman theater as you look at it you will see a flight of steps. Head up these for a nice viewing point over the theatre as well as the Malaga sign. 

⭐️ If you’ve seen the Alcazaba at Antequera, the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Córdoba or the Alcazar in Sevilla, Malaga’s Alacazaba won’t utterly wow you. I did enjoy visiting but if your time is short, my personal opinion is that it’s the least interesting of the Moorish sites I’ve visited in Andalucía. 

Note: whether you want to visit one or both of these historical buildings it is recommended to book in advance otherwise you may well be waiting in a long line just to get in. If you have pre-booked tickets you can go straight to the front of the lines at both places.

Lunch: Tapas Time

Try some delicious tapas – El Pimpi is extremely famous and gets rave reviews (I did not try it) but I did speak to a local guide about. He told me that all famous people like to eat here and it’s a good idea to book.

Afternoon/Evening

🌳 Head to the world famous Botanical Gardens right up in the hills around Málaga to surround yourself with a tropical garden paradise. 

🏝 If you’re less into plants and trees than me, you could use this time to enjoy the beaches around Malaga or even to go shopping in Malaga.

⭐️ Book the last slot to visit the Cathedral roof – the views are beautiful and the guide is very interesting (although you’ll need to ask questions as he doesn’t volunteer information). Did you know that the Malaga Cathedral is nicknamed, “La Manquita”, “the one armed lady”? because it look unfinished?

Note, you can only buy tickets to the roof via the Cathedral website or in the cathedral – be aware that in Spanish the roofs are called “Las Cubiertas”

Spend your evening strolling the Alameda before heading back into the centro historico for a drink or two and some more tapas, perhaps on the famous Plaza de la Merced.

Day 3 in Málaga

Morning

Let’s begin with some culture. Choose between either the excellent Pablo Picasso Museum or the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga (an off-shoot of Madrid’s Thyssen).

⭐️ Pick up a “Skip the Line” ticket to the Picasso Museum in advance

⭐️ Pick up a “Skip the Line” ticket to the Thyssen Málaga in advance

Afternoon Trip

This is a good time to organise a trip. You could take a trip out to see the sun set on the Mediterranean or to Mijas Pueblo, one of Málaga’s famous pueblos blancos for lunch. Consider the incredible Antequera, home to the neolithic dolmens you’ll see mentioned in the Malaga Museum, the caves at Nerja or the famous beach town of Marbella depending on your preferences. 

Notes on Visiting Málaga

📌 There is rarely a time when Málaga City is quiet, or empty of tourists. In the summer months it’s busy with cruise ships and foreign visitors and in the winter months, locals love to head to Málaga, particularly in the run up to Christmas as Malaga is famous for its amazing Christmas lights and markets. You just need to accept it’s going to be busy and enjoy it for what it is. Despite its crowds, I still adore the city of Malaga and will absolutely visit more.

Where to Stay in Málaga

How to Get to Malaga on Public Transport

🚂 The train station, María Zambrano is located on Calle Esplanada de Estación.

Ⓜ️ Málaga has a metro service that since 2023 actually serves the centro historico as well as more modern areas of the city.

🚌 The bus station is located on Paseo de los Tilos right next to the train station, which is very handy for travellers.

✈️ Malaga’s airport is delightfully close to both town and to the beach. There’s also a museum at the airport! This is the main airport for the whole of the Costa del Sol region.

⭐️ If you’re landing in Malaga and heading to Marbella, it’s a perfectly easy journey too.

Driving and Parking in Málaga

🚗 Málaga is served by coastal roads and by the A45 if you’re visiting from Seville or Córdoba. Maybe you’re even visiting Malaga as part of a road trip around Andalucia.

Be aware that, like in many Spanish towns, the historic centre is pedestrianised and where it isn’t, roads can be very narrow and winding. Choose a car park destination before you arrive in Málaga that’s close to your hotel or apartment. Don’t imagine you’ll be parking on the side of the road as free parking is extremely limited in Málaga.

➡️ Check rental car prices and availability now

Final Word on this Malaga Itinerary (3 Days)

I hope you find this 3 days in Malaga itinerary helpful. It was borne out of many days exploring as much of Malaga and the environs as possible. Living in Sevilla makes it very easy to head on over to Malaga whenever we feel like it. 3 Days in Malaga is enough to get a really good taste of the city, its culture and incredible food.

Further Travel Inspiration: Porto, in northern Portugal is another coastal city that everyone should visit at least once.