Malaga or Valencia: Which City Should You Visit?
Malaga or Valencia, which destination is better for a city break?
If you’re asking yourself this question, I totally understand you. It isn’t easy to pick one.
Comparing Malaga vs. Valencia is even more challenging for me.
Malaga is where I was born and raised, it’s my hometown, and I know it very well, whereas Valencia is one of my favourite Spanish cities.
Both cities are similar in many ways. They have important historic buildings, mouthwatering food and beautiful beaches.
However, there are some differences too.
In this blog, I’m going to compare key aspects, including attractions, food, and affordability, so picking your next city break will be easier.
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Malaga or Valencia: Quick Guide
🖼️ Best city for art lovers and museums: Malaga
⛱️ Best city for beaches: Valencia
💶 Best city for travellers on a budget: Malaga
🥘 Best city for foodies: Malaga and Valencia
🌳 Best city for green spaces and parks: Valencia
🚗 Best city for day trips: Malaga
Attractions
Malaga
Many travellers skip Malaga on their Southern Spain trip and only travel from its airport, but I can assure you that Malaga has many things to do and see, from renowned museums and Moorish fortresses to beaches.
If you come to my city, these are some of the unmissable sights:
Alcazaba de Málaga. It’s one of the most unique buildings in Malaga. This palace-fortress is a creation of the Moors, who settled in Southern Spain from the early 8th to the late 15th century. Wander its pretty gardens and admire its Nasrid architecture and panoramic city views.
Teatro Romano. Located next to the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre is another sight you can easily visit during your trip. Don’t miss out on its Interpretation centre and viewpoint.
Castillo de Gibralfaro. Gibralfaro Castle is the most emblematic castle in the Malaga province. Although I personally think it isn’t as impressive as the Alcazaba, it does have the best city views. Whether you walk to the castle or get there by bus, go to Gibralfaro Viewpoint. You’ll enjoy a stunning view of Malaga’s bullring, port and sea.
Catedral de Málaga. Malaga Cathedral, or La Manquita (as we locals call it), is another historical building not to miss. Your tickets include an audioguide so you’ll learn from its history to its architecture. I highly recommend getting the tickets with access to the rooftop.
Museo Picasso Málaga. If you’re into museums, there’s one you can’t miss in Malaga, and that’s Picasso Museum. The well-known painter was born and grew up in the city despite spending most of his adult life in France. You can some of its cubism paintings, like The Young Ladies of Avignon, in the museum.
⭐ Best activities and tours in Malaga
Valencia
Valencia is an underrated city. Despite being the third largest city in Spain, it doesn’t feel like a touristy destination—at least, that’s the feeling I got. Plus, it has lots of historical and cultural sights to enjoy.
Having visited Valencia, these are the attractions I wouldn’t miss if I were you:
Catedral de Valencia. Valencia Cathedral, known as La Seu, is a must-see building. Situated in Plaza de la Reina, this impressive building is home to one of the most important pieces of art from the Spanish Renaissance. You can also climb its tower, El Miguelete, but be prepared to climb 207 steps (the views are worth it, though!).
Torres de Serranos. Built in the 14th century, these towers were part of Valencia’s medieval wall and used to protect the city as well as a triumphal arch. Climb up to the top to enjoy beautiful views of the Turia Gardens. You can visit it for free on Sundays.
Lonja de la Seda. The Silk Exchange is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Valencia. This Gothic-style building is worth adding to your itinerary. I absolutely love its courtyard, surrounded by scented orange trees and rooms.
La Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències de València. The City of Arts and Sciences is one of the most impressive scientific and cultural complexes in Spain. The architecture makes you feel like you’re in the future. You can spend a couple of hours visiting the museums. Also, don’t miss L’Umbracle, a gorgeous garden with sculptures.
⭐ Best activities and tours in Valencia
Accommodation
Malaga
Accommodation in Malaga starts from 35 pounds per night, and you have a wide variety of options – from hostels to boutique and beachfront hotels.
If this is your first time in Malaga, I recommend staying in the city centre or Soho neighbourhood. This way, you can maximise your time and walk everywhere.
These are some of my hotel recommendations:
- Only YOU Hotel Málaga (5-star hotel)
- Room Mate Valeria Hotel (4-star hotel)
- Hotel Del Pintor (3-star hotel)
Valencia
Accommodation in Valencia starts from 37 pounds per night. My preferred place to stay in Valencia is next to the historic centre, so you’re within walking distance of the main attractions, restaurants and shops.
I stayed at MYR Marqués House Hotel on my last trip to Valencia and really enjoyed it. The staff was very attentive and friendly. They even sent us a WhatsApp before we arrived to welcome us to the hotel! When we got there, they gave us a voucher for a welcoming drink (agua de Valencia, Valencia’s traditional boozy drink!) and our room had a little card with a message. I loved the attention to detail!
Other suggested accommodations in Ciutat Vella (Valencia Historic Centre) are:
- Only YOU Hotel Valencia (5-star hotel)
- Petit Palace Plaza de la Reina (3-star hotel)
- Cosmo Hotel Boutique (3-star hotel)
Affordability
You won’t notice a big difference in price between Malaga and Valencia. Attractions, transport and food in Malaga are slightly cheaper than in Valencia.
Regarding hotels, Malaga is more expensive than Valencia, and you need to bear in mind that prices go up considerably during the high season (June to September), so you might want to pick another time of the year.
Here are some examples of prices in each city.
Malaga
- Meal at an inexpensive bar or restaurant: 12 euros per person
- A cup of coffee: 1.60 euros
- A bus ticket: 1.40 euros
- A night at a 4-star hotel: from 120 euros
Valencia
- Meal at an inexpensive bar or restaurant: 15 euros per person
- A cup of coffee: 1.80 euros
- A bus ticket: 1.50 euros
- A night at a 4-star hotel: from 100 euros
Beaches
Malaga
The beaches in Malaga are perfect for all ages. The ones near the city centre might not be the most idyllic beaches you might come across, but they have great facilities and are accessible for those with reduced mobility.
La Malagueta Beach is the closest to the historic centre and, therefore, the most visited beach in summer.
However, if you want to visit beaches beyond Malaga City, these are my favourites:
- Playa de Burriana (Nerja)
- Playa de Maro (Nerja)
- Playa de la Carihuela (Torremolinos)
- Playa de Puerto Banús (Marbella)
Valencia
Valencia city centre is far from the beach, but you can still visit the city’s beaches like Malvarrosa Beach and Las Arenas Beach.
What I love about these beaches is their golden fine sand.
Other beaches near Valencia are:
- Playa de Canet
- Playa Vega de Mar
- Playa de San Antonio
Food
Malaga
Fish and seafood are the star ingredients of Malaga cuisine. However, our gastronomy is much more than fish, and we have a great selection of traditional dishes that incorporate ingredients such as meat, pulses and fruits.
Ready to eat your way through Malaga? These are some of the dishes you might want to try:
- Espetos. This is the most traditional dish in Malaga. It consists of grilled sardines seasoned with sea salt. They are meaty and packed with flavour. I love adding a splash of lemon. You can find them on any beach restaurant menu.
- Boquerones al limón. Another delicious fish dish is boquerones, fried anchovies with lemon.
- Plato de los Montes. It’s the heartiest dish you’ll find in Malaga cuisine. This dish consists of marinated pork loin, chips, fried egg, fried peppers, chorizo and black pudding.
- Ensalada malagueña. A salad made with potatoes, olives, oranges and salted cod.
- Ajoblanco. A refreshing soup made with almonds, bread, water and garlic. It’s a vegetarian and vegan-friendly meal.
In addition, I recommend trying some of our local products at a market like Atarazanas Market. Try raisins from the Axarquia region, Malaga sweet wine, olives and tomatoes called huevo de toro.
Valencia
Valencia is snynonym for paella. That’s the first dish that comes to your mind, and after all, it’s one of the most popular dishes in Spain, so you can’t visit Valencia without trying one of its paellas because there isn’t only one type of paella. Valencia has many rice dishes!
- Paella. The traditional Valencian paella is made with rice, rabbit, snails, and flat green beans, among other ingredients. Of course, eating rabbit and snails isn’t for everyone (including me!), so you can opt for other variations like seafood or vegetarian paella.
- Esgarraet. A salad made with red roasted peppers, salted cod, garlic and olive oil.
- Horchata and fartons. If you love all things sweet, you must try this one! Horchata is a drink made with tiger nuts, water and sugar, whereas fartons are sweets made with flour, milk, and sugar. The Valencian way to have this sweet is by dipping in the horchata.
Transportation
Malaga
Moving around Malaga is straightforward. Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) isn’t far from the city; you can get a train or bus. Once in Malaga city centre, you don’t need to use public transport; you can walk to most attractions.
However, if you want to visit La Concepcion Botanic Garden, you can take a bus from Alameda or the hop-on hop-off bus that takes you to other places like Gibralfaro Castle.
Malaga also has an underground, but you won’t need to use it to visit the top attractions or La Malagueta Beach.
Valencia
Valencia is well-connected via the underground. If you fly to Valencia Airport, you can take the underground to the city. It’s affordable and straightforward. Walking in the historic centre of Valencia is ideal because of the beautiful architecture.
Valencia historic centre is far from the beach. I mean you don’t want to walk over 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the beach. The easiest way is to take the underground.
Day trips
Malaga
One thing I love about my home town is the fact that it is surrounded by pretty Andalusian whitewashed villages and lively coastal towns. Malaga City is beautiful, but if you only plan to visit the city, you’re missing out on other fantastic destinations.
I love taking day trips from Malaga, and you don’t need a car to travel to many of these destinations!
These are some of my favourite days out from Malaga:
Valencia
I haven’t explored much beyond Valencia city centre, but it’s on my list for the next trip. I did have a look at excursions when I was there, but we needed to either rent a car or book a tour. I don’t feel Valencia is that well-connected to other smaller towns by public transport compared to Malaga.
These are some of the best day trips from Valencia recommended by my uncle (who is originally from Valencia) and friends who stayed longer there:
- Parque Natural de la Albufera
- Xàtiva
- Altea
- Peñíscola
Frequently asked questions about Malaga vs Valencia
Is Malaga or Valencia bigger?
Valencia is a bigger city than Malaga, and it’s actually the fourth biggest city in Spain.
Is Valencia near Malaga?
No. Valencia is in the eastern part of Spain, whilst Malaga is in Southern Spain. Malaga is 6 hours by car and 1 hour and 10 minutes by plane from Valencia.
Is Valencia warmer than Malaga?
No, Malaga is warmer than Valencia.
Which Spanish city is better to live in, Malaga or Valencia?
Both are among the best expat cities in Spain. However, Malaga has a bigger expat community.
Conclusion on Malaga or Valencia
Both cities are fantastic destinations, and I’d recommend visiting both if possible. If you need to pick one, I’d choose Malaga over Valencia for its walkability, wide variety of museums and amazing day trips.
I’d choose Valencia over Malaga for its architecture, paella and city beaches.
Do you have any questions about visiting Valencia or Malaga? Drop them in the comments below.
Cristina xx
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Things to do before travelling to Spain
- Compare and book the cheapest flights to Spain with Skyscanner
- Book accommodation with Booking.com
- Check out fantastic day trips and excursions with Get Your Guide
- Rent a car in Spain. This is the best way to discover hidden gems.
- Get travel insurance for your trip. SafetyWing offers flexible and affordable health and travel insurance.
Read more about Spain
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- Best City Breaks in Spain You Should Add to Your List
