A perfect 3 days in Malaga itinerary – with the best things to do, stay & eat

Alcazaba, Roman theatre and Picasso’s home
Museums, castle and a cathedral with bells on its dome.
Day trips to caves, straits and beaches that shine with the sunset rays
You can add all of it to your perfect 3 days in Malaga itinerary. 

Explore the capital of Costa del Sol with this travel guide to Málaga. Discover the best things to do in Malaga in 3 days, get my insider tips on where to stay, what to eat and the ideal time to visit. 

Breezy hills, sunny beaches, thrilling adventures, great food and tons of history and culture – this in brief is what Malaga in Spain has to offer. The Andalucian city stood up to its promise over my 3 days in Malaga. From relaxing on the beach to hiking up its oldest castle and exploring the home of the famed Pablo Picasso – there was so much that I did within the city. What is more, I even ventured out on a day trip to explore more of the Costa del Sol. And all this within three days in Málaga – which is now one of my favorite places to visit in Spain.

If you are also, planning a trip and are wondering what to do in Malaga for three days, then you have landed on the right page. In this blog post, I will be sharing my own Malaga itinerary for 3 days along with handy tips on accommodation in Malaga, what to eat and how to go around the city. I am also, going to list down alternate activities in Malaga that you can substitute as per your interest when you are planning your own itinerary.

Besides the 3 day Malaga itinerary, I have included a brief section on Malaga in 1 day as well as 48 hours in Malaga. Basically, I have got you completely covered for all the possible time that you plan to spend in this amazing Costa del Sol city.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting me with this.

Where is Malaga in Spain?

Malaga is the capital of Spain’s sunshine coast (Costa del Sol) and is located in the southern part of the country. It is part of the Andalucía region that is best known for its Moorish relics and landmarks. Located along the Mediterranean sea, Malaga is just 100 km from the Gibraltar strait and 130 km from the northern coast of Africa.

A brief history of Malaga, Spain

I always add this section on the history of a place in every travel guide or itinerary resource. I believe that knowing the city’s past always help you appreciate the place better. It is quite important in case of Malaga as this city is one of the oldest inhabited cities of Western Europe.

The 2800-years old history begins with the Phoenicians in 770 BC. It is they, who named this sea city – Malaka. The rule passed on to the Carthaginians in the 6^th century from whom the Romans took over in the 2^nd century. The city still has remains of this Roman rule in the form of a Roman theatre – a visit that you should add to your list of best things to do in Malaga, Spain.

The Visigoths took over from the Romans and then lost the place to the Arabs of Africa. Malaga became a key port for the Arab Caliphate of Córdoba that ruled from 711 to 1487 when they were finally driven out by the Christian kings. The long rule of the Arabs has highly influenced the culture of Malaga – something that you will witness in all the places that you see and the traditional food that I will recommend for your Madrid itinerary.

Malaga was quite a prosperous city as witnessed by the famed traveler – Ibn Batuta in 1320s. It continued to thrive till the death of Queen Isabella. The Spanish inquisition sadly took a toll on this city. Post the period, with the Castille kings, it again picked up its trade. Today, it is one of the key cities of Spain – known for its trade, history and culture.

What is the best way to visit Malaga city?

Malaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol region. It is very well connected to the rest of Spain by road, rail and an airport. You can plan your Malaga visit using any of these means.

By Air

Traveling to Malaga by air is a very convenient option – for both international as well as domestic travelers. The city has Spain’s fourth largest airport with a good connectivity to places in Europe. It is also, conveniently located at a distance of just 8 km from the city center.

You can get to Malaga City center by any of the following means –

From Malaga airport to Malaga city by bus

There are airport buses running at regular intervals of 30 – 45 minutes that take you straight into Malaga City. These buses cost you around €4 per person. The journey to the center of the town (Calle Larios) takes around 45 minutes – which is a little longer than the other options.

The Malaga airport buses also, stop at the Malaga Maria Zambrano railway station – which is great for anyone who want to visit the other cities of Costa del Sol.

Malaga airport to city center by cab

There are numerous taxi services available at the airport. The most convenient would are the app-based ones like Uber and Cabify. If you are a family or a group doing this trip to Malaga, the cab option might work out better for you as compared to a bus. For one, you will be almost paying the same amount and two, with your luggage, you can find your way directly to the doorstep of the place that you are staying in.

Malaga airport to city center by metro/ train

You can catch the underground train at the Malaga airport arrivals section. A journey to the center of the city (Malaga Centro Alameda) will cost you €1.80 per person. The train also stops at the Malaga Maria Zambrano train station .

At the Malaga Centro Alameda, remember to exit through the Calle Alemania exit – especially if you are aiming to reach the historic center. The train option is the most economical and convenient way of traveling from Malaga airport to the historic center.

By Rail

Since I was visiting from Granada, I did not fly into Malaga. I chose the best and the most convenient option of a train for my Malaga visit. The main station – Maria Zambrano is very well connected to all the key cities of Spain.  The average journey time from some of the key cities are as below-

• Granada to Malaga – 1.5 hours
• Seville to Malaga – 2 hours
• Madrid to Malaga – 3 hours
• Barcelona to Malaga – 5 -6 hours

I booked by ticket through RENFE – AVE – the main train service in Spain. Remember to book your train tickets well in advance as the fares are dynamic and the closer you are to the date of travel, the more expensive it gets. One caveat though – the website of RENFE is notorious for being down often. In such a case, you can book using this website. Iryo is the other train option that you can use to get to Malaga.

There are numerous train departures available throughout the day. You even have the option of express trains that get you faster to Malaga. The convenience of timing and price makes trains the best option for your 3 days in Malaga (and even better for a Malaga weekend break).

By Road

You can also, choose to reach Malaga by road. There are many bus services available from all the key cities that I mentioned above. Alternately, you can rent a car and drive in yourself.  However, remember that Malaga city parking is quite limited and expensive. Also, there are a lot of traffic restrictions within the city.

Which are the best areas for accommodation in Malaga ?

There are three main areas that I considered for my 3- day Malaga itinerary. These three areas were close to most of the top attractions in Malaga. In fact, if you choose to stay here, you can just walk your way through the city.

• La Malagueta – the beach area
• Malaga Centro or Centro Historico – this is the main hub of Malaga. This is also, where I stayed.
• Soho – more popularly known for its street art. There are more hotels here than BnBs.

Each of these areas have BnBs, hotels and hostels that can meet any kind of budget that you might have.  Here are quick links to my shortlist that you can now use when visiting Malaga –

• Apartment in Centro – Apartmentos Coronado
• Boutique hotel in Centro – Molina Lario
• Hostel in Centro – Malaga Stop Hostel AB

Planning a 3 day Malaga itinerary

Malaga is not a very big city. As you can see on the map, the historic center is where the specific clusters of the top attractions in Malaga is. Over your 3 days in Malaga, you can cover these clusters leisurely. In fact, I even had time to do one of the many-day trips from Malaga.

In my recommended itinerary for Malaga, there are several suggestions of activities in Malaga that you can replace or even, add to your days in the city.

Malaga in 3 days: Day One

Key highlights: Alcazaba, Castille de Gibralfaro & Playa de la Malagueta beach

Grab breakfast at Plaza de la Constitución

Start your Day One of the Malaga 3-day itinerary at a historic square called Plaza de la Constitucion. The square was originally constructed during the Nasrid rule and was then called Plaza Pública. It was the central seat of governance with the Town hall, prisons and courts.  

Though no longer home to these offices, the square is still a significant part of Malaga where several festivals like the Malaga carnival are hosted. Like the Sol square in Madrid, the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s is still practiced here.

The most prominent thing that you will notice in this square is a fountain. This is a 16th-century Baroque fountain very strongly reminded me of the Trevi fountain in Rome. Though the designs were different, the marble sculptures somehow, had me recollecting that Rome landmark. Well, turns out that this fountain too, came from Genova in Italy and thus, was given the name – Fuente de Génova.

The fountain was originally a part of this square but was for some time moved to Malaga Park. It was moved back and restored in 2002. Besides the fountain, watch out for two other historical buildings – The San Telmo school which was built in the 1600s and the Casa de Consulado (Consulate house) which is a Baroque building dating back to the 18^th century.

You will find numerous cafes and restaurants here to grab a good breakfast. I recommend checking out La Canasta which is right opposite the square. It has limited seating but if you manage one, you can enjoy this square with a good cup of coffee and one of their delectable pastries. I loved their strawberry tarts and sandwiches. Make sure you have your Google translator handy as the staff here do not understand English.

P.S: The café is next to a historical passage called Pasaje de Chinitas which once connected a convent to the Plaza.

Head out to the Gibralfaro Castle, Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre – some of the best things to do in Malaga

Tummies full, you can now hike up to some of Malaga’s top attractions – including one of the oldest. While the access to Alcazaba and the Roman theater from Calle Larios is not too steep, the walk up from Alcazaba to the Castille de Gibralfaro is steep. This can take anything between 20 – 30 minutes. If the weather is not so great or you are not up for walking, there is a bus facility available that can take you to the peak.

Alcazaba is an 11th-century fortress that was built by the Arab caliphate. It was built over a Phoenician fort. Visiting this is one of the top things to do in Malaga – largely because it is one of the best preserved Alcazabas of Spain. With its maze of patios, gardens and passages, you will find yourself back in the Moorish era. However, if you have already visited the Alhambra of Granada or the Alcazar of Seville, then you can choose to give this one a miss. For me, these two were a little grander than the Alcazaba.

Right below the Alcazaba is the 1st-century Roman Amphitheater. Locally called El Teatro Romano – this is a miniature version of what the Roman Colosseum looks like on the inside. It is believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Malaga that links it back to its Roman days.

The Gibralfaro castle is the highest point of this trio of monuments. This was actually built as a protector fort for the Alcazaba in the 13^th century (Kind of like the Jaigarh Fort and Amer Fort in Jaipur, India). It replaced a Phoenician lighthouse that was originally on this hill. It is connected to the Alcazaba with a fortified walkway called the Coracha – something that you will pass through if you choose to hike up from Alcazaba. The castle offers spectacular views of Malaga city and for this specifically, it is worthwhile getting to the top. Of course, there are ruins of the settlements within the castle that you can explore.

You can choose to explore these three monuments on your own or with the help of this self-guided tour available on mobile. Alternatively, you can join a guided tour of these three monuments. The total time you would need for this would be around 3 hours.

The entrance tickets to the Alcazaba cost €3.50 per person while that of Gibralfaro castle are € 2.20 . You can even get combo tickets for these at the Alcazaba ticket window.

Lunch near Alcazaba

After the active morning, I was craving a good Spanish meal. As recommended by a few locals, I made my way towards Calle Santiago. Along the way, you will see many tapas bars and restaurants. I recommend El Rincon de Pepe for a good Spanish meal. Don’t miss their paella that goes best with a jar of Sangria. Vegetarian was good but if you eat non-vegetarian, you should go for the local specialty – the seafood paella. The cozy atmosphere is a perfect place to relax after all the walking you have done around Alcazaba.

The other highly recommended restaurant for seafood lovers is Cortijo de Pepe. I believe they are well known for their grilled octopus. This one is a little further down towards Plaza de la Merced.

Explore Muelle Uno – one of the fun things to do in Malaga, Spain

After a good lunch, I headed towards the famous port of Malaga. To get there, I crossed a beautiful green park called Parque de Malaga. A landmark in Malaga, this tropical garden includes refreshment kiosks, sculptures, a beautiful historical fountain and a small theatre – where I managed to catch a Flamenco performance. With a lot of shade and resting places, it is a good place to unwind after lunch.

Right across it, you will see the harbor area – with one of the famous attractions of Malaga called Pompidou Malaga. This is a colorful cube that represents a contemporary art museum. If you are an art lover, you will want to explore its exhibits – most of which belong to the 20th and 21st century. I, however, decided to skip the same and proceed down to a very lively promenade.

This is the Muelle Nuvo – which has tons of things to see, eat and do. It feels like a flea market with make-shift shops selling Malaga souvenirs, clothes and eats. You will also, find a mall with global brands like Miniso and restaurants like Burger King. I recommend you take a leisurely walk along this stretch which finally ends at a lighthouse called La Farola – a 19th-century lighthouse.

Muella Uno is a must-do in Malaga – simply because it is fun and gives you a good slice of life of the local culture.

Spend the rest of the evening at La Malagueta beach in Malaga  

Even if you are spending just one day in Malaga, you must add La Malagueta Beach to your itinerary. Right behind the La Farola lighthouse, this is the main beach of the city where you can get a dose of the Mediterranean Sea. The beach is quite well-developed with outdoor play areas, gyms, beach volleyball enclosures, changing rooms and more. This is where I recommend you end your Day One of 3-day itinerary in Malaga.

Look out for the beach shacks that are locally called Chiringuitos. Pick one of them for a chilled drink and perhaps, some dinner. These seaside shacks offer a very popular Malaga delicacy called Espetos. These are grilled sardines that are stuck onto a poker. The dish is an icon of the city – pictures of which you will find on several fridge magnets.

Three days in Malaga – Day Two

Key highlights: Malaga Cathedral, Picasso Museum, Automobile Museum and Soho art district

Grab a hearty breakfast in Plaza de la Merced

Plaza de la Merced is one of those iconic squares that you will come across when visiting Malaga. This is one of the largest public squares that is believed to be in existence since the Roman times. You will easily recognize it with a tall 19th-century monument called the Torrijos monument. This structure contains the remains of General José Torrijos and his 48 men who were shot on the orders of King Ferdinand VII.

The square is more popularly known for the home of the famous artist – Pablo Picasso. You will find it at No. 15 in the square. Called Casa Natal de Picasso, this is a foundation for all his works of art. Remember to keep an eye out for Picasso’s statue on a bench. You can pose next to him for an Instagram memory.

Grab one of the chairs at one of the many restaurants here. If you are keen on a little heavy breakfast like Spanish omelets and sandwiches, then I suggest Picasso brunch and tapas. Coffee lovers should not miss out on a popular café called Daily Coffee. It has an amazing rating for its variety of coffees and fresh bakes. 

Explore the Picasso Museum in Malaga

If you are in the birthtown of this famous artist, then you should take a peek at his work of art. The Picasso Museum is just a few meters from Plaza de la Merced and has over 285 pieces of Picasso’s art – all donated by his family. The museum is in a 16th-century building called Buenavista Palace.

You can visit the Picasso Museum between 10 am to 7 pm. The entrance tickets cost €12 per adult and are easily available at the venue. You can book one online through this link. One of the things that I wish I had done was to take a guided tour. That would have helped me understand the art better and the stories behind those creations. You can book one at the venue.

You should consider this guided tour of the Picasso Museum in Malaga that takes you beyond the museum and tells you the life story of Picasso.

Appreciate the architecture of the famous cathedral of Malaga

Not far from the Picasso Museum is the famous Malaga Cathedral. There is no missing this in your Malaga itinerary for its impressive façade is bound to entice you to step inside. I was in fact, planning to skip this till I set my eyes on it. And then there was no turning back.

This cathedral is the 2^nd highest cathedral in Spain – after the one in Seville. The façade is unmistakably baroque while the interiors sport a bit of gothic architecture. There are numerous artworks that you will find inside the Malaga Cathedral.

There is an interesting story behind the Cathedral of Malaga. The current building was started in 1528 but was finished only in 1782. The biggest reason for the same was the shortage of funds. While there was money allocated to the construction, it was diverted to support the fight against the British colonies (which later became the USA). Owing to that the cathedral remained unfinished, earning it the name  – La Manquita or the One-armed Lady.

The Malaga Cathedral entrance tickets cost €10 per adult and include an audio guide. You can visit it on all weekdays between 10 am to 8 pm. On Saturdays, the visiting hours are between 10 am to 6 pm while on Sundays, it is open only from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Fuel up at SOHO Malaga

I mentioned the SOHO district as the place where you can find good accommodation in Malaga. Well, Soho also, deserves to be on your itinerary for being one of the unusual things to do in Malaga. Termed as the art district in the birthplace of Picasso, the lanes are home to exceptional street art. Some of these are done by world-famous artists like D*face and Obey.

You can either embark on a self-guided tour using one of the Malaga street art maps that are available with the tourist offices or sign up for a guided street art tour of Malaga. The latter might work better as the guide can directly escort you to the places and also, give interesting stories connected to the art piece.

Soho is where you will find a lot of quirky shops including clothing, souvenirs, tattoo parlors and comic stores. You can spend some time looking around and then head to one of their many tapas bars for a quick lunch. I was so engrossed with my time here that I just grabbed a roll on the go.

Visiting Soho is one of those free things to do in Malaga that is not just interesting but pretty relaxing.

Get into a bus for the Automobile and Fashion museum

Exit Soho onto Alameda Principe and catch the Line 7 bus to La Tabacalera. This is where you will find the Museo Autovilistico de Malaga. I was amazed at the wide collection that they have on display in 13 different zones. From vintage Rolls Royce to Ferraris, Bentleys, Bugatti and more – the shiny cars will have an automobile enthusiast in raptures.

Try to spot a World War I car that has bullet holes in it. It was found in a ditch. The Automobile museum also, has a Fashion section that showcases very interesting materials used for outfits.

The museum entry fee is €8.50 per adult and it open on all days from 10 am to 7 pm. Right next to this museum is a Russian dolls museum that you can visit. I chose to skip this one.

End your evening at Playa de Huelin – a different Malaga beach.

Right behind the Automobile museum is another Malaga beach where you can chill and visit some of the Chiringuitos. Playa de Huelin is not so crowded as compared to the La Malagueta beach. However, on the day that I were to visit it, it was super cold and windy.

Hence, I only walked my way along it and then moved away to Huelin street for dinner. There are numerous tapas bars, specialty restaurants and cafes. I chose a Mediterranean fare at a small place called Kebab Ala Turca and totally loved their fresh Falafel pockets.

Right next to it is a lovely bakery called Panaderia Confiteria Salvador. They have the most delicious tarts to finish off your 2^nd day in Malaga. You can catch a bus back to the Malaga historic center at the bus stop right outside this bakery.

Day three of the Malaga itinerary

While there are still plenty of places to visit in Malaga city, I recommend that you sign up for one of these amazing day trips from Malaga. Depending on your interests, you can book a full-day or half-day tour of these places. Sharing my top 5 recommendations (ones that I had shortlisted) – starting with the one that I took on.

Day trip to Frigliana and Nerja caves

Just an hour or so away from Malaga is one of the prettiest Pueblo Blancos (White villages) of Spain. The Moorish village of Frigliana charmed me with its white and blue homes framed by colorful blossoms. The pedestrian-friendly village is a must-visit for cultural enthusiasts and nature lovers. As a photographer too, you will enjoy capturing the various vistas here.

I booked this guided tour that took me to this village as well as the caves of Nerja and the Nerja historic town. The caves are well-known for the biggest stalactite in the world. There are over 200 Early-man or Neanderthal paintings inside – though that area is restricted owing to conservation issues. What is open is also, quite enthralling.

Nerja town is yet another pretty town with cobblestone pathways that lead to beautiful view points called Miradors. The most famous one here is called the Balcony of Europe – which has stunning views of the Nerja beaches.

You can book this tour here.

Hiking at Caminito del Rey

Called the King’s Little Path, this is one of the most dangerous walkways in the world. There are numerous guided tours to this place which can be booked online. Remember though that you need to book them a little in advance as it gets full most of the time. I was late for it – largely because of deliberations on whether I would be able to handle the heights or not. It is not for the faint-hearted. The trek is fairly easy but the height ….gulp!

If you are keen to more and book this hike, you should check it out here.

Day trip to Ronda

Ronda is known for its eclectic culture and is considered to be one of the ideal things to do in Malaga as a couple. The romantic city has gorgeous landscapes. It is well-known for its bullring and the pretty New Bridge made from the gorge stones.

This tour takes you to Ronda from Malaga and is quite highly rated.

Day trip to Gibraltar

This is a British overseas territory with the famous Rock of Gibraltar. The strait here connects the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea. You can visit the same as well as the Apes Den where the only population of Barbary Macaques are found in Europe. You can also, visit the St. Michael’s caves. You can book this day trip from Malaga online through this link.

Day trip to Tangier (Morocco)

This is a ferry ride from Malaga where you will cross the strait of Gibraltar and get a taste of Morocco at Tangier. I was very tempted to book this tour that includes a visit to some really interesting sights and gives you a good insight into the Morocco culture, food and shopping.

This was the tour that I was considering when I was choosing what to do in Malaga on my day 3.

Most of these places to visit around Malaga get you back into the city by evening. You can spend the rest of your evening in Malaga by walking around the beaches or shopping at Calle Larios. Make the most of your last few hours in Malaga – it is a city that you will want to visit again!

Alternate things to do in Malaga that you can include or replace in the above itinerary

Here are some alternate attractions that you can consider when in Malaga for three days.

• Explore the Mercado Central de Atarazanas for its history and food.
• Discover the botanical garden of Malaga
• Add Museo Carmen Thyssen to your Malaga itinerary. This art museum is in the historic center, near the Plaza de la Constitución. It is highly rated like the Picasso museum
• Enjoy the interactive music museum in Malaga
• Hire a cycle and go biking along the Costa del Sol. There are guided tours for this too.
• Book a slot at one of the heritage hammams in the city and soak in the Arabic culture.

What to do in Malaga in 2 days?

If you just have 48 hours in Malaga, then I would recommend you stick to exploring places in the city. Follow my day one and two itinerary that I have shared and you will get a good sense of the city.

What if I just have one day in Malaga Spain?

If you just have 24 hours in Malaga, then I would suggest that in my Day One route, visit only one of the two main landmark attractions – Alcazaba or Gibralfaro Castle. Doing both will eat up your day.

If you choose one of them, then you can either add the Picasso museum or Cathedral or both to your Malaga itinerary for one day. Here is what your 1 day in Malaga City will look like –

• Visit the Alcazaba or Gibralfaro castle
• Discover the Cathedral of Malaga
• Take a tour of Picasso museum
• Head over to the Muello Uno promenade
• Spend the remaining time at the beach.

You will, of course, have to add your lunch and dinner to this list of activities in Malaga.

How to get around Malaga?

By now you would have figured that Malaga is an extremely walkable city. All the places to go to in Malaga are within 1 km of each other – except for the Huelin area for which you will have to take a bus.

Buses are the best way to get around the city. You can head to a Tabaco (tobacco) store in Malaga and purchase a bus pass called tarjeta transbordo. This will work out well for you if you are a group and are looking at multiple journeys. It will cost you 1.90€ which is a refundable deposit (you can return the card at any of the tobacco shops when done). 10 trips on the card will cost you €4.20 and you can use one card for many people. You will just need to tap it once per person (if there are two of you traveling, just tap it twice per journey).

If you do not opt for the bus pass, then one-way journey in Malaga city will cost you €1.80 per adult per journey.

At the moment, the metro in Malaga has limited connectivity. It is better to rely on buses to get around. Alternately, there are cabs like Uber and Cabify that can be used but of course, will be tad bit expensive.

Self-driving in Malaga is a little challenging. The historic centre specifically has limited parking which is expensive. Also, there are a lot of traffic restrictions in the area that you need to be familiar with.

You can also, rent bikes to get around. You can do so online through this link or use one of the many app-based cycles that are available in Malaga.

Common FAQs on the Malaga itinerary

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Ami

Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.

I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.

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