Malaga in April: Weather, Things to Do and Local Tips

“What is it like to visit Malaga in April?” I hear you ask.

As a Malagueña, a local, I can assure you there are fantastic things to do in Malaga in spring, especially in April. 

The first reason to visit Malaga in early April is to experience Easter. Still, another main reason is the temperature, which is ideal for sightseeing and hiking, not too hot or cold.

Whether you have questions about the weather, what to do or which events you can’t miss, I have you covered. I’m covering my favourite things to do in Malaga in April below!

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Weather in Malaga in April

April is a good month to visit Malaga because it’s getting warmer week by week.

However, I must tell you that you’ll likely experience some rain. For some reason, it tends to rain one or two days during Easter week. 

Also, be aware of the temperature difference between day and night. Although it might be “quite” warm during the day, you’ll need a jacket or coat in the evening. 

For example, it can be 21 degrees Celsius (71ºF) during the day and 11 degrees Celsius (52ºF) during the night. 

But overall, the weather is lovely and much warmer than in other European countries. Plus, you can enjoy 9 hours of sunshine, which you don’t get everywhere.

Things to do in Malaga in April

1. Experience Semana Santa

One of the main things to do in Malaga at the beginning of April is to experience the famous Semana Santa (Holy Week), especially if you love learning about Spanish customs and traditions.

Depending on the year, you might want to double-check when because Easter dates change every year. 

My partner, who’s from the UK, and expat friends are fascinated by this event, yet they aren’t religious. 

It’s very unique because you won’t find it anywhere else in the world. 

Although you can experience Holy Week in other Andalusian cities, Malaga and Seville have the best processions.

This event lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. There are processions every single day from early morning to evening during these 8 days.

The processions represent various scenes from the Bible, including the famous Last Supper and the Resurrection of Jesus. Men belonging to brotherhoods carry these big and heavy processions for hours, which is something to admire.

They are also followed by live music and incense. 

Easter in Malaga is unique; you don’t want to miss it! It’s one of the biggest events of the year.

2. Eat torrijas

What’s the most typical cake for Easter? Torrija has to be the one.

You can enjoy torrijas all year round, and many restaurants now serve them as dessert alongside ice cream. 

However, this traditional Spanish-style “French Toast” is eaten on its own and is not necessary for dessert. 

Made with bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon and sugar, they’re incredibly delicious and easy to recreate at home. I remember when I used to make them with my grandma. No one beats her torrijas. The texture is spongy, and they’re full of flavour!

You can have the best torrijas in Malaga at La Canasta Bakery (there’s one in Calle Larios) or El Colmenero de Alhaurín.

3. Do some shopping at the spring market at Muelle Uno

It wasn’t until a few years ago that Muelle Uno started making the most of their space to host markets. They host many of them throughout the year and on special occasions like Halloween and Christmas.

If you visit Malaga in April, you can attend the spring market at Muelle Uno. If you wonder what’s special about it, it is the selection of local stalls selling unique gifts like pottery, ceramics, and clothing.

I love supporting small businesses, and you’ll help these independent sellers by buying something from their stall.

The market is also adorned with lovely floral displays to showcase spring. Even if you don’t like shopping, I recommend having a walk in this part of Malaga Port.

4. Make the most of the sun at La Malagueta Beach Promenade

This is probably the simplest activity, but Malaga is well-known for its beautiful sunny weather and blue skies, so if you’re around the city in April, head to the beach promenade.

You can leisurely walk or ride a bike. You won’t see many locals sunbathing, but you might want to soak up the sun on La Malagueta, the main beach in Malaga, on the hottest days.

This location is also great for enjoying the colours of sunrise and sunset.

🚲 Looking for a fun tour? Check out this Malaga bike tour that will take you to the main attractions across the city.

5. Walk along Malaga Park

El Parque de Málaga is one of the greenest parks in Malaga.

It’s often underrated, but it has a wide variety of plants and flowers, monuments and sculptures like El Fiestero, which represents the traditional dance in Malaga called verdiales. You can also see lovely fountains and tiled benches. 

I love sitting there in the hot summer months because the tall trees’ shades keep you cool from the sun. Also, it’s lovely to see many parakeets flying around the park.

In spring, it’s perfect for seeing the flowers blossom. 

6. Go to the museums on a rainy day

April always brings some rain to the city. It usually doesn’t last very long, but you might want to look at things to do indoors, like visiting the museums.

Malaga has over 40 museums with different themes – from cubism and modern art to wine, fashion and music. 

The Picasso Museum is unmissable for those who love their masterpieces, but other incredible art museums like Carmen Thyssen and Centre Pompidou exist. 

If you’re visiting Malaga with kids, museums like MIMMA, which is all about music, and OXO, which is about video games, are good options. 

📌 Local’s tip: some museums are free on Sundays, so check out their official website for the times. 

7. See wisteria at Jardín Botánico de la Concepción

Malaga Botanical Garden is among the best places to visit in Malaga in spring. La Concepcion Garden is outside the city, near the motorway, but you can access it by taking a bus, the hop-on hop-off bus or a car.

The garden is home to plants from all over the world, beautiful fountains and buildings, and a viewpoint with incredible views of Malaga.

April is a great time to visit the garden because of the wisteria season. You can take beautiful photos of these flowers.

8. Go to Montes de Malaga

If you love nature, Montes de Malaga is a fantastic day trip from Malaga. 

It isn’t far from the city, and you can enjoy a wide variety of walks, immerse yourself in nature and see wildlife.

Cherry blossoms blossom during this time of the year, so this is another reason to visit Los Montes.

I used to go to Montes de Malaga for a hike and picnic when I was a kid, and I absolutely loved it there.

My advice is to check out the hiking trails beforehand. I recommend using AllTrails or the official website.

Also, if you aren’t packing lunch, you might want to consider stopping at a venta, a restaurant located on the road, and trying the famous Plato de Los Montes. 

It’s a typical dish of Los Montes de Malaga and its surroundings. It consists of pork, chorizo and black pudding, poor man’s potatoes, fried peppers and egg.

I like going to Venta los Montes for hearty dishes like this one.

9. Make a day trip to Ronda

Ronda, located 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Malaga, is one of the best places to visit in spring. 

The mountainside town is famous for its wineries, Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) and its history of bullfighting in Spain.

On a day trip to Ronda, there are many things to do, from seeing the impressive bridge and visiting one of its many museums to tasting the local wine.

Personally, I wouldn’t miss Palacio de Mondragón. This museum is inside a former palace, and you can learn about the town and the importance of archaeology in the area. Plus, the views from its garden are spectacular.

During your day trip to Ronda, I also recommend visiting Setenil de las Bodegas, a nearby whitewashed town that is known for its buildings under overhanging cliffs. 

🚍 Check out the availability and price for this Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas tour

📌 Check out more events in Malaga in this guide

What to wear in Malaga in April

It can be a bit tricky to know exactly what to wear in Malaga in spring, but the same applies to other places like the south of Portugal.

You might want to wear T-shirts and light clothes, depending on where you are coming from. However, if you want to dress like a local, my recommendation is to take a few light long-sleeve clothes, t-shirts (for the hottest days) and a jacket for the evening.

For footwear, pack comfortable shoes for walking, like trainers or boots without heels.

Would I pack a bathing suit? No, but if you come from Nordic countries, you could think 18 or 20 degrees Celsius (64-68ºF) is great for sunbathing and swimming.

Frequently asked questions about April in Malaga

Conclusion on visiting Malaga in April

From mid-January to late March, you won’t see much going on in Malaga, but as spring comes, you’ll be able to attend events like Semana Santa, Noche en Blanco and some village fairs.

The two weeks of April tend to be busy because of Holy Week, but it’s less crowded towards the end of the month.

It’s a good month for sightseeing and going on beautiful hikes because the temperature in April is pleasant.

You won’t need to rent a car if you’re in Malaga for a day or a weekend. The city centre is very walkable and well-connected to coastal towns like Torremolinos and Benalmadena. 

But if you plan to go on hikes and visit off-the-beaten-path locations like some of the white villages in Andalucia, it’s much easier to get to these places with a car.

Enjoy your holiday in my city!

Cristina x

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