Southern Spain has always been attracting tourists as a laid-back beach vacation destination, but it has so much more to offer than sandy beaches and sunny weather. The cities in Andalusia are a real treasure when it comes to architectural and cultural heritage and are absolutely worth of spending a couple of days there. One such a place is Málaga – the perfect destination for a city trip in Europe.
Whether specially flying to Málaga on a city trip or going on a day trip during your beach holidays, this itinerary for spending one day in Málaga will get you covered. You will be able to see the most famous attractions in Málaga and get an idea of how beautiful this Andalusian city is.
Are you still wondering whether you should give Málaga a go and visit the city? Read my post about why this beautiful Spanish city should be on your list.
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Getting to and around in Málaga
Getting to Málaga from anywhere in Europe is super easy, as Málaga has its very own international airport. Some of the airlines that currently fly to Málaga include Air France, Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Raynair, and Vueling.
Pro tip: Check out on Omio.com for all transportation options (flights, buses or trains) to Málaga.
Once at the airport, getting to the city centre is also pretty straightforward. The public transportation in Málaga is easy to navigate and quite reliable. So, just take Express bus line and in about 15 min you’ll find yourself in Málaga’s city centre ready to explore the city.
Good to know: The bus from the airport accepts only cash. In 2022/23 the ticket costs 4 EUR.
When in Málaga, I can assure you, you won’t need a car. Málaga is a walkable city and it can be best enjoyed on foot. If you still need to cover a large distance, the public transportation is very good. You can check the website of EMIT for the timetables and bus line.
When is the best time to visit Málaga
When visiting in the summer, be prepared that it will be quite hot in Málaga, despite the subtle breeze from the sea. The best time to visit Málaga would be in May or early June, when the spring is in full swing and all the flowers are in bloom. As it never gets too cold in Málaga, visiting Málaga in the winter can be also a good idea.
I visited Málaga in early June and the temperatures were about 30 degrees Celsius / 86 degrees Fahrenheit. So it was hot, but still quite pleasant.
Can you explore Málaga in a day
If you want to explore Málaga properly you should stay at least 2 days so that you have time to visit most of the museums and other tourist attractions in a relaxed pace. However, you can also see most of Málaga in one day, but you won’t have time for the beach.
Málaga can serve also as a base to discover the rest of Andalusia on day trips, as it is very well connected to the other major cities and also lots of tours depart from Málaga, thus you can visit Marbella, Granada, and Mijas, for example.
I’ve arrived in Málaga around lunch and left the next day about the same time to Marbella, so I’ve roughly spent 24 hours in Málaga, which were enough to see the main attractions. I wish I had planned to stay longer in the city, as I couldn’t visit all the museums I wanted. So, you should be planning at least 2 days for visiting Málaga.
What to see and do in one day in Málaga
Here is my perfect itinerary for 1 day in Málaga, which I more or less followed in this very same way, and succeeded to see most of Málaga’s highlights.
On this map you can see all sites that you can visit in one day in Malaga and which are recommended in this post. You can save the map on Google YourPlaces and use it even off-line.
1. Walk around the city centre
Spend some time walking around Málaga’s city centre to get a feeling of the city. Málaga has a lovely pedestrian area, so take a stroll and enjoy the beautiful architecture and the vibe of the city. Check out the Plaza de la Merced, where yo can walk under the jacaranda and royal poinciana trees and browse the artisan market for handicrafts and souvenirs. At one corner of the square is the birth house Pablo Picasso.
After Plaza de la Merced head to Plaza de la Aduana and from there to Plaza del Obispo and afterwards to Plaza de la Constitución. You are now in the heart of the city. Then continue on Calle Larios – the main street in the city. In between, just criss-cross from one street to the other, exploring Málaga on foot and taking in the sunshine reflected in the buildings.
2. Visit the Roman Theatre
Málaga is one of the oldest, still inhabited, cities in Europe and was established around 770 BC by the Phoenicians. From around 218 BC the ancient city of Malaka became part of the Roman Empire as a confederated city under the name of Malaca, and remained under Roman rule until the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 5th century AD.
From the Roman period in Málaga today we can admire the well-preserved Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano). It was built in the 1st century AD and wasn’t uncovered until the 1950s when excavations works started for the building of a new cultural centre in the city. A part of the theatre still remains under the foundations of the cultural centre.
3. Admire the Alcazaba Fortress
The Moorish presence in Málaga lasted for almost 800 years, from the early 8th century till late 15th century, and left a stamp not only on the architecture in the city, but also on its cultural heritage. A fine example from the Moorish period is the Alcazaba of Málaga – one of best preserved citadels in Spain. It dates back to the 11th century and in the 14th century it was enlarged by the Nasrids.
The Alcazaba of Málaga stands proudly on a hill in the middle of the city and offers amazing views. Walk along the fortifications, climb the towers, and visit the palaces. Wander from one courtyard to the other and soak up the atmosphere of the days gone by.
Check out Patio de los Naranjos (‘Courtyard of the Orange Trees’), Patio de la Alberca (‘Courtyard of the Pool’), and Patio del Aljibe.
Tip: On Sundays, after 2 pm, the visit is free of charge. I didn’t know that, so I was quite happily surprised to find out I could just walk in on the Sunday afternoon without a ticket.
4. Conquer Castillo del Gibralfaro
Above Alcazaba, on the top of the hill you’ll find the ruins of Castillo de Gibralfaro (The Castle of Gibralfaro). The castle and the Alcazaba were once connected by a walled corridor (Coracha) but it is not open today to the public. So you’ll need to leave Alcazaba before you go to the Castle.
The first fortifications on the hill were built by the Phoenicians, but the castle and the ramparts originate from the 10th century. They were further expanded and fortified in the 14th century and were meant to defend Alcazaba and make it impregnable.
There’s a small museum housed in the former gunpowder magazine of the castle – Gibralfaro Castle Interpretation Centre. In this museum you can learn everything about the castle and its role as a military garrison and a coastal watchtower from 1487 to 1925.
5. Visit the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Málaga (Catedral de la Encarnación) stands proudly in the centre of the old town and can be seen from almost anywhere. The construction of the cathedral started in 1528, but it wasn’t finished before1782. The beautiful Renaissance building will surprise you with its sumptuousness. I thought the choir was pretty interesting with the 42 sculptures made by Pedro de Mena, Ortiz de Vargas and Giuseppe Micael Alfaro.
The cathedral was built on the place of the former main mosque, which was initially converted into a church after Málaga was reconquered in 1487 by the Catholic Monarchs.
6. See the stunning views from the cathedral roof
My favourite thing to do in Málaga was taking the tour of the cathedral roof. I won’t hide that wherever I go, I always look for a bell tower or a clock tower to climb and enjoy a bird’s-eye-view of the city. It gives you a perspective of where the attractions are and the layout of the city. I’ve never been before on the roof of a cathedral, so I was quite excited that I could book that tour.
From the rooftop of the cathedral you have a lovely view of the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro Castle. Walk a few steps further and you can enjoy the wide vista of the westernmost part of the Mediterranean – the Alboran Sea, and the Lighthouse of Málaga (La Farola de Málaga). On the other side you can see the city spreading towards the hills of the Montes de Málaga, the local mountain range.
Important info: Due to renovation of the Cathedral, the rooftop tour won’t be available until 2027.
7. Immerse into Picasso’s world
The name of Málaga is synonymous with that of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century – Pablo Picasso. Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881 and although he lived there only 10 year, his legacy can be seen everywhere. A must-see for any fine-art aficionado is the Museo Picasso Málaga. I couldn’t miss it either. So, although I had only 24 hours in Málaga, I stopped by.
The Picasso museum in Málaga was established in 2003 and showcases 285 works of Picasso, donated by members of his family. Although this is not the biggest collection of art works by Picasso, it is well worth-visiting. If you have just a bit more time then you should visit also his birth house which has been turned into a museum, as well.
Where to stay in Málaga
When I visited Málaga, I stayed at Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano. I chose it because it was located in the heart of the city and I could walk everywhere. I was spending just a day in Málaga, so I wanted to be able to move around without thinking of transportation. I also didn’t need to think of getting a taxi late in the evening.
Besides the perfect location, Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano offered a very comfortable room, which although not quite large, was furnished tastefully and eyed bigger than it was thanks to the use of white and light colors. The hotel has also a lift, which can be handy if you are travelling with heavy luggage.
See here the reviews of the hotel:
Booking.com
There’s only one downside about the hotel, that I can think of, or at least something that you need to consider if you are travelling with a lot of luggage. If you take the express line from the airport, you will need to get off at the Park of Málaga and then walk about 500 m. On the other hand, if you take a taxi that won’t be a problem, as they can drop you off just a couple of meters from the hotel entrance. As I already mentioned above, a great deal of the city centre of Málaga is pedestrian, and the hotel is located right in the heart of the city overlooking the Roman Theatre.
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