Malaga is counted among Europe’s finest port cities big on culture, food and art. When you walk through the colorful streets of t6his beautiful hip city, you will find the traces of its glorious past around every corner. It is really exciting to see that you simply can never understand where the past merges with the present as the same city boasts modern hotels, cafes, shopping areas and of course great roads. To give you a wholesome experience of Malaga in a day, we are covering a bit of everything.
Malaga is a great city to explore on foot, but since we only have a day, it is better to rent a car. It will turn out to be a great decision because the distance between the attractions becomes really short when driving and the city has lots of parking spaces. So, moving around Malaga in a rental car will make the day more comfortable and efficient.
Make your day trip to Málaga memorable with this amazing itinerary
01 Start your itinerary at Castillo de Gibralfaro
The Castillo is really old and a must visit destination of Malaga. It dates back to the 10th Century; however some of its portions were added and renovated in the 14th Century. It sits atop Mount Gibralfaro and once you are inside you can take the detour of the castle using the walk able walls and enjoy the splendid views the
The Castillo is really old and a must visit destination of Malaga. It dates back to the 10th Century; however some of its portions were added and renovated in the 14th Century. It sits atop Mount Gibralfaro and once you are inside you can take the detour of the castle using the walk able walls and enjoy the splendid views the
The castle can be visited any day of the week between 9 AM and 8 PM. There is also a car park at the top of the castle.
02 Head towards Cathedral de la Encarnación de Málaga
10 minutes drive by car from Castillo de Gibralfaro, Cathedral de la Encarnación de Málaga is a Roman Catholic Church which sits proudly at the center of medieval Moorish walls parts of which are now missing.
The Cathedral and the cathedral’s roof remains open to the public Monday to Sunday, though the timings change. Check the official website of the cathedral (malagacatedral.com) for the timings. We suggest you park your rental car at the Parking Saba Malaga Train Station which is just a small walk away from the Cathedral.
03 See the best of international art at Museo Picasso Málaga
Malaga is the cute little city more aptly known as the art and cultural capital of Spain. Museo Picasso Málaga is the center of art at Malaga – it is the place where you can put your eyes on 285 works of Picasso!!
Almost all the paintings by Picasso are exhibited here and why not, Malaga was the city where Picasso was born in 1881. It is interesting to note that when they started renovating the building, they found an old Roman fish factory, remains of an old palace and parts of the old city walls. Plaza de la Marina and Alcazaba are the closest parking places.
04 Take a coffee break at Cafe Central
The café offers valet parking, so hand your keys and be ready for a refreshing coffee break at Café Central. It is located on the corner of Fuente de Génova square and offers 10 unique ways of serving coffee – it was first introduced by the owner in the late 50s after the war.
If you don’t want to have coffee, you ask for ‘No Me Lo Ponga’ – and you will be handed a frothy glass of milk. And, if you are in the mood for a high dose of caffeine, go for ‘Solo Tantum’. These are just the extremes, there are 7 other ways of having a coffee you will find on the menu at café central.
05 Take a walk down Malaga’s port promenade
15 minutes drive from Café Central; Malaga Port is the next stop. Stroll down Malaga’s port promenade and work out some appetite before heading to Atarazanas market.
It is great for a peaceful walk; unlike other Malaga attractions, it is peaceful and will give you time to ponder and digest all that you have seen until now. Moreover, the place offers a great view of the sea’s blue waters & the greenery that surrounds you is really pacifying.
Park your car at Plaza de la Marina’s underground park – it is right across from the entrance gate of the port.
06 Enjoy your afternoon meal (s) as you explore Atarazanas market
Atarazanas market is best known for Spanish food, especially the way they cook fish – it is said that the fish you eat in Malaga’s Atarazanas market is the best you will ever eat. It is cooked to perfection and is known to be on the meaty side than the fishy one.
The best part of Atarazanas market is known as ‘Mercado Central’ – a place where you can savor everything from wines to cheese, fish, and meats and of course fresh fruits & vegetables. Another interesting thing about the place is that the place where the market is situated was once a shipbuilding yard that dates back to the 14th century.
You can part your rental car at Plaza de Cama – it is really close to Atarazanas market.
07 Spend the evening roaming about Soho & shopping in Calle Marqués de Larios
If you love art which also includes street art, then you will love exploring the Soho neighborhood hunting for the gorgeous street art it is so famous for. After that visit Calle Marqués de Larios – it is a 4 minutes drive from Atarazanas market and 6 minutes drive from Soho neighborhood.
Calle Marqués de Larios is a shopping street in Malaga which is home to well-known brands. If you want to find all things under one roof, make way to El Corte Inglés. For people who want to buy some souvenirs or want to take something useful back home, we suggest you buy either hand painted beautiful Andalusian ceramics or Malaga wine.
08 Dine at Bodega Bar El Pimpi
There are numerous places where you can dine for the night, but we suggest Bodega Bar El Pimpi. It sits between the Roman Theatre and the Museo Picasso Málaga and in addition to a big menu, also offers outdoor seating.
And on top of everything, at Bodega Bar El Pimpi, you get the chance to make your trip even more memorable by witnessing a flamenco show.
Where to stay the night in Malaga?
Vincci Posada Del Patio is one of the top hotels in Malaga. If you are looking for budget stay options, Hotel Malaga Centro and Hotel Posadas de España have good reviews.