How many days in Malaga should you spend? (+ Top local tips)
Are you planning a trip to Malaga? Then you probably wonder how many days in Malaga you should spend.
It’s a question that many friends from around the world ask me as a local.
Although a weekend is enough to see the city, I always recommend spending longer exploring its nearby towns and villages worth visiting.
In this guide, you’ll discover how many days in Malaga are enough for you, as well as a one- to three-day itinerary with hotel recommendations and other local tips.
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1-day itinerary for Malaga
If you’re visiting Malaga in less than 24 hours, you’ll want to follow this itinerary.
- Have churros for breakfast at Tejeringo’s Coffee
- Visit Malaga Cathedral
- Learn about cubism and see impressive pieces of art at Picasso Museum Malaga
- Discover the beautiful Moorish fortress palace of Alcazaba de Malaga
- Have lunch at El Pimpi
- Take a photo from Gibralfaro’s viewpoint
- Visit Gibralfaro Castle
- Relax at Malagueta Beach
Extra activities
See street art at Soho, visit Centre Pompidou Malaga or go to a rooftop terrace at sunset.
2-day itinerary for Malaga
Day 1
- Have churros for breakfast at Tejeringo’s Coffee
- Visit Malaga Cathedral
- Learn about cubism and see impressive pieces of art at Picasso Museum Malaga
- Discover the beautiful Moorish fortress palace of Alcazaba de Malaga
- Have lunch at El Pimpi
- Take a photo from Gibralfaro’s viewpoint
- Visit Gibralfaro Castle
- Relax at Malagueta Beach
Day 2
- Have breakfast at La Bella Julieta
- Visit Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga
- Explore Calle Larios and its alleys
- Go to Atarazanas Market
- Go to Malaga Museum
- Enjoy a walk through Malaga Park
- Watch the sunset at Muelle Uno
Extra activities
Treat yourself to a massage in Hammam Al Ándalus Arab Baths or go to the Botanical Garden located outside Malaga.
3-day itinerary for Malaga
Follow days 1 and 2 from the previous itinerary and add one of the following options for your 3rd day in Malaga.
Option 1: Day trip to Nerja and Frigiliana
Located on the east of Malaga, Nerja and Frigiliana are two of the most beautiful towns in Malaga,
Nerja offers incredible beaches with turquoise waters and impressive coves. If you love water activities, head to Maro Beach, where you can snorkel or kayak.
But Nerja isn’t only about the beaches; you can visit its museum and Nerja Caves and wander its old town, home to many independent shops where you can buy souvenirs.
Unless you spend a big part of your day at one of the beaches in Nerja, you can also visit Frigiliana, as it’s only a 10 minute drive.
Frigiliana is my favourite village in Malaga for many reasons: its picturesque whitewashed buildings and cute doors, its breathtaking views of the sea and mountains and its atmosphere.
When going to Frigiliana, go straight to the historic centre, where you’ll find all the points of interest.
Option 2: Day trip to Marbella
Whether you love beaches, food, shopping, or all of them, Marbella is the perfect day trip from Malaga.
In less than an hour, you can explore the beauty of Marbella, one of the most popular towns in Costa del Sol.
While Marbella doesn’t have many attractions, the historic centre is a good place to go sightseeing.
Wandering the old town of Marbella is an experience. Get lost in its little alleys, discover monuments and historic buildings like Marbella Castle, and don’t forget to stop for a coffee or refreshing juice at Plaza de los Naranjos.
If shopping is your thing when travelling, the old town is home to bohemian and chic clothing shops owned by locals.
Do you prefer luxury shopping? Then go to Puerto Banús, Marbella’s port.
And let’s not forget about Marbella beaches. There’s no better place to be than the beach on a hot summer day.
Playa El Faro is a short walk from the centre, but I recommend visiting Cabopino Beach for anyone who wants a more secluded and less busy atmosphere.
Option 3: Day trip to Gibraltar
My last option has to be Gibraltar. It’s such a fun and beautiful day trip from Malaga for all types of travellers.
By visiting Gibraltar, you’re exploring a new “country”. Despite being located on the Spanish peninsula, Gibraltar is officially a British territory.
Gibraltar isn’t big, but you’ll be surprised by all the things you can do in Gibraltar in a day or two.
An unmissable attraction is the Rock of Gibraltar. I mean, it’s the first image that comes to everyone when Gibraltar is mentioned.
You can easily spend 3 hours exploring the Rock of Gibraltar and the Upper Nature Reserve.
Here, you’ll see the famous monkeys, visit St Michael’s Cave, walk on the skyline, take in the stunning views (you can see Africa from Gibraltar!), and more.
If you prefer to stay in Malaga rather than go on a day trip, here are other activities to do in the city: take a tapas and wine tour, explore the neighbourhood of El Palo, visit La Rosaleda Stadium or go on a sunset cruise.
Recommended tours and hotels
I love discovering a place on my own, but I sometimes opt for guided tours when I don’t have much time, or it’s difficult to access locations with public transport.
A guided tour can be a good option for discovering Malaga if you want to learn more about the city’s history or if you plan to travel solo, as tours give you the opportunity to meet other people.
Here are some recommended guided tours and activities:
- Sunset Sailing Catamaran Trip. This is the perfect activity to end the day. There’s nothing better than watching the beautiful sunset colours in a catamaran with good company.
- Malaga Tapas Tasting Tour. If you love food as much as me, booking a food tour is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the gastronomy of Malaga. You’ll hit some local favourites and try authentic dishes.
- Arab Baths Entry Ticket with Massage. Whether you want to have a relaxing day or simply treat yourself to something different, the Arab Baths is always a good option. Enjoy the hot and cold baths, sip delicious Moroccan mint tea and have a massage.
Regarding accommodation in Malaga, I highly recommend staying central if you only come for a day or two or if this is your first time in Malaga.
This way you’ll be able to see much more than if you stayed somewhere further and had to take public transport.
These are some fantastic options to suit your budget:
🛏️ Luxury: Gran Hotel Miramar GL (5-star)
🛏️ Mid-range: Room Mate Valeria Hotel (4-star)
🛏️ Budget: Dulces Dreams Boutique Hostel (3-star)
Where to eat in Malaga
Wondering where to eat in Malaga? These are the tried and tested restaurants I love in my hometown.
- El Pimpi. It’s the most popular restaurant in Malaga. You’ll see tourists and locals eating in this place. Here, you can eat traditional dishes like fritura malagueña (Malaga-style fried fish), taste some of the best wines in the province and eat with a view of La Alcazaba.
- Casa Lola Strachan. I recently discovered this place and loved the food. You can order main courses or tapas. I really recommend rosada a la plancha (see picture above).
- La Pechá Taberna. For cheap and delicious tapas, head to La Pechá. Their Russian Salad is amazing!
How to get to Malaga
If you fly to Malaga-Costa del Sol (AGP) Airport, it’ll be easy for you to travel from the airport to the city centre.
There are options for all budgets and comfort.
The fastest way to travel to Malaga is taking the RENFE Cercanías train that leaves you in the Vialia Shopping Centre.
Another affordable option is to take the bus, but it can be slower if there’s traffic.
You can also take a taxi or book a private transfer if you want a more comfortable journey.
What about renting a car? If you’re only going to spend a weekend in Malaga exploring the city, it isn’t worth renting a car as parking isn’t easy in the city centre.
However, if you plan to stay longer and would love to visit the towns near Malaga, it’s worth renting a car.
🚗 Check out rental cars with Discover Cars
How to get around Malaga
Most attractions are in the city centre, so the chances of using public transport are low. Malaga is a very walkable city, and it’s a fantastic way to discover beautiful streets and hidden gems.
However, there are many options available if you want to use public transport. You can take buses, underground or by taxi.
Another efficient way to get around Malaga is to take the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. The bus stops at Malaga’s top attractions, such as Gibralfaro Castle and Centre Pompidou Malaga, and others beyond the city centre.
🚍 Get your hop-on hop-off sightseeing tickets online
Is Malaga expensive?
Having travelled to other Spanish destinations, I think Malaga isn’t expensive.
Ok, Malaga was cheaper a few years ago, and even my family and friends admit it, but I think prices have increased everywhere in Spain. I’ve seen a considerable price increase in flights to Malaga.
However, overall, Malaga isn’t expensive compared to Madrid, Barcelona or Bilbao.
If you want to visit Malaga on a budget, here are my top tips:
- Travel to Malaga in the shoulder season. Avoid summer (June to September), Christmas and Easter, as this is when flights and accommodation are more expensive.
- Opt for eating “menú del día”, a set menu that usually includes starter, main and dessert. The price varies depending on the restaurant, but you can find this menu from 10 euros.
- Visit Malaga’s attractions on Sundays. Museums and historic buildings like Alcazaba de Málaga and Picasso Museum offer free entry on Sunday afternoons. Take advantage of this to save some euros.
How to plan your Malaga itinerary
There are no rules when creating your Malaga itinerary. I’ve provided you with some itineraries at the beginning of this post, but you can tweak them according to your interests and time.
Some important things to consider when planning your itinerary are time, budget and interests. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How much money do you want to spend in Malaga?
- How many days in Malaga will you spend?
- What activities do you enjoy on your travels (visiting museums, eating the local food, etc.)?
Frequently asked questions about visiting Malaga, Spain
Is 2 days in Malaga enough?
Yes, two days in Malaga is enough to see the city’s main attractions.
Is 3 days in Malaga enough?
Yes. Three days allow you to visit the main points of interest in the city and go on a day trip to a nearby town like Nerja.
Is a week too long for Malaga?
Yes, if you only plan to stay in the city. However, a week isn’t long if you explore the Costa del Sol towns or go on day trips.
Conclusion: How many days do you need in Malaga?
So, how many days in Malaga should you spend? My answer is 2 days in Malaga is perfect for visiting the main attractions.
If you prefer to skip the main attractions and go off the beaten track, spend at least 4 days and explore Malaga’s towns and villages.
Do you have any questions? Leave them in the comments below, or if you need further help planning your trip, have a look at my itineraries and calls, and I’ll be happy to give you further recommendations for visiting my hometown and its surroundings.
Enjoy your holidays in Malaga!
Cristina x
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Essential things to do before visiting Malaga
- Book cheap flights to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport with Skyscanner.
- Check out these tours and activities in Malaga with Get Your Guide.
- Book a free walking tour in Malaga with GuruWalk.
- Travelling around Costa del Sol? Check and compare car rentals with Discover Cars.
- Buy travel insurance for your trip. This is a must for any trip!
