Malaga

The capital of the Costa del Sol is reinventing itself

Málaga

Max 22ºC / Min 15ºC

/ Andalusia

Beyond its 16 sunny beaches, this Andalusian city on the shores of the Mediterranean has a fascinating cultural side. And the birthplace of Pablo Picasso has reinvented itself in recent year, inaugurating museums for all tastes.

If we take the combination of culture and the sea and add a lively atmosphere, numerous tapas served in bars, cutting-edge neighbourhoods like Soho, areas like the port that have transformed and become more modern and monuments with centuries of history, the result is a city full of passion that anyone would want to explore. Because if everyone says that Malaga is prettier than ever then it must be true.

A journey in time

Malaga is a city full of historic spots, like the Alcazaba, one of the largest Arab fortresses in Andalusia, or Gibralfaro Castle, which offers the best views over the whole city. At the foot of the castle there is a Roman theatre and an old town to stroll around. As you walk through its streets you'll find spots like the Atarazanas Market, where you can try a vermouth, and monuments like the Cathedral, which is known as “The One-Armed” (la manquita) due to its unfinished south tower. You can’t miss visiting its roof; a unique experience. Here in the city of Picasso, you can visit the excellent Picasso Museum in the centre, and the home where he was born.But Malaga doesn’t only live on its past. In recent years it has inaugurated the Carmen Thyssen Museum, the only Pompidou Centre outside France -its coloured cubes have become an icon- or the Saint Petersburg Russian Museum Collection.And if you prefer a more underground culture, look out for the Centre for Contemporary Art, the street art on the city’s buildings, and the alternative establishments in the Soho neighbourhood.

Essence of Malaga

Several things make Malaga a unique place. To start, beyond its monuments, a sunny day spent on the legendary La Malagueta urban beach is a must. Anyone who wants to delve into traditional flavours should visit the seaside neighbourhood of Pedregalejo and try the typical grilled sardines on skewers.Back to La Malagueta, nearby you can find Muelle 1, a port promenade full of shops and restaurants that is perfect for a sunset stroll to La Farola, a lighthouse that is a symbol of the city.Another emblem of Malaga? Without a doubt its pedestrian street Marqués de Larios, a busy thoroughfare decorated with flowers and which you must visit at least once on a trip to Malaga. At night, this area and its nearby streets become the perfect spot for tapas at establishments that have become an institution, such as Bodega El Pimpi; and for trying the ajoblanco chilled garlic soup.Malaga is also known for its Film Festival, its Holy Week, its innovative restaurants... But above all, Malaga is joy. And it's catching.

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Practical information

How to get there - transport information

Select the means of transport to see how to get there or how to get around at your destination.

How to get to aeroplane

Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is located 8 kilometres from the city.
The airport bus, “A Express Aeropuerto”, runs to and from Malaga city centre in about 15 minutes, and is available day and night.
A local train line takes you to Torremolinos or Malaga in under 15 minutes, and to the Málaga María Zambrano station. It also connects to other places on the Costa del Sol, such as Fuengirola and Benalmádena.
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How to get to train

The María Zambrano station connects to Madrid via the AVE high-speed train network and the journey takes less than three hours. Other AVE lines run to Cordoba, Zaragoza and Barcelona.
In the city centre, just 2 kilometres from the port and 9 from the airport.
You can easily leave the station by public transport: city bus lines (1, 3, 4, 10, 16, 20, 27, A, Circular 1 and Circular 2) and the N1 night bus line.
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How to get to boat

The port is very close to the centre of the city.
One of the main cruise ports on the Peninsula. The cruise terminal is about 3 kilometres from the port entrance, and when cruise ships are in harbour there are regular bus services.
You can easily leave the port by public transport: bus lines (8, 10, 20, 25 and M-160) and the C-1 and C-2 train lines.
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How to get to bus

The bus and coach station is next to María Zambrano railway station, in central Malaga.
The airport bus, “A Express Aeropuerto”, takes about 15 minutes to reach the airport.
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How to get there by road

From the north on the A-45 road.
The A-7 Mediterranean motorway runs along the province’s coastline.

Practical information

Most tourist points of interest are concentrated within the city centre, which makes it easy to explore them on foot.
The Málaga Pass card can be for 24, 48 or 72 hour, or a week. It gives free entrance to many museums and monuments, and offers discounts at other establishments.

How to get around in metro/tram

There are two Metro lines linking the centre to the university area and the western part of the city.
It operates between 6:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., except for Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays, when it runs until 1:30 a.m. On Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, services start at 7 a.m.
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How to get around in bus

The regular service covers every neighbourhood in the city and usually runs from 06:20 to 00:00.
There are four night metro lines which operate regular services between around 00:00 and 06:00. More information
The tourist bus allows you to visit all the monuments in Malaga. You can hop on and off as many times as you like. More Information

How to get around in other means of transport

Taxi: easily identifiable white vehicles with a blue stripe. A green light on the roof shows they are available.
Horse and carriage: routes of around 45 minutes taking in the main sights.
There are more unusual and environmentally friendly ways to get around Malaga, such as electric vehicles, bicycles, or the Puerto de Málaga sightseeing train.
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