Malaga Travel Guide
In December 2021 / January 2022 we made a 10-day trip to Andalusia. Malaga was our third and last stop in South of Spain right after Seville, a 1-day trip to Cordoba and Granada.
Malaga is the capital of the province of Malaga and is located on coast of the Mediterranean Sea in an area called Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun). The city with a population of 578 500 inhabitants is the second-most populous city in Andalusia after Seville and the sixth most populous in Spain
Historically, Malaga history dates back 2800 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It was apparently founded by the Phoenicians in 770 BC, it was then under the Ancient Carthage rules, then the Romans, follow by the Visigoth, the Muslim and then the Christians.
So, let’s discover this unbelievable city with this 2-day Malaga Travel Guide.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
There are many ways to get to Malaga:
- There are lots of ALSA bus running the line. We came from Granada and the journey took 1h45. You can buy your ticket here
- If you prefer the train that may be more comfortable and just a bit faster but has less option, check out The Spanish railway company website: RENFE
- By Plane, you can directly fly from and to Malaga. Malaga has one of the biggest international airports in south of Spain. We flew from there back home.
Moving Around
Once in Malaga, you can do almost everything on foot. And if you need transportation, Malaga has an extended network of city buses. A ticket is 1.4€ for regular buses and 4€ for the airport buses.
When to Visit
Malaga, like Seville can be visited year-round. We visited it in winter and the weather was amazing for Europe with temperature up to 20°C. Yet the peak season are around near year and during the summer holidays.
Even in winter it is amazing to chill on the beach and if you are courageous, you can even go swim 😊
Where to Stay
We personally stayed at Be Mate Málaga Centro, the apartment was super spacious and comfortable. We strongly recommend it.
What to Eat
As we are plant-based diet, Spain is not the best option for food for us, but some of the nice things to try are:
- Sangria
- Spanish omelette
- Smoked Ham/Prosciutto
- Paella
But Malaga has really cool plant-based diet or vegan restaurant. We tried MIMO Vegan Bistrot and BYOKO and both were super nice.
Things to do In Malaga in 2 Days
Teatro Romano de Málaga
Let’s start this guide with one nice ruin to see. The old Roman theatre that stands in front of the Alcazaba is the oldest site in town, built in the 1st century AD by Augustus as a theatre, it was later used as a cemetery before being abandoned.
You can simply admire it from the main square in front.
Alcazaba
Right behind the Roman theatre is the Alcazaba, an 11th century Moors Palace that was both the residence of the Muslim rulers as well as a fortress to defend the city. The entry ticket is 5.5€ for the Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro making it one of the cheapest attractions in Andalusia.
While visiting it, you have access to an audio guide on your phone and can access to its ramparts, courtyards, gardens, patios, and fountains.
Once inside the main area, you first go on the right side and then back to visit the left part of the palace.
Castillo de Gibralfaro
You then have to exist the Alcazaba and go on its right side to start walking up to the Gibralfaro castle. You will pass by a stunning viewpoint on your way and then arrive at the castle. If you want, you can also take the bus 35 to get up there.
The castle was built in the 14th century to protect the Alcazaba and was soldier were in garrison there. There also was a lighthouse in it as the name suggest, Gibralfaro means “mountain of light”
You can first walk all around the ramparts and then enjoy a small walk between them.
Museo Casa Natal de Picasso
This museum is actually the house where Picasso was born, we are not specially fan of museum, but we put this one here as we would recommend having lunch in BYOKO which is in the same square as the museum. After lunch you can simply walk by the museum of admire its architecture (no need to visit it)
Pérgolas de la Victoria
On your way to the Malaga beach, you can walk along the Pérgolas de la Victoria. A modern landmark with lots of shops and restaurants on the coast of Malaga.
Playa la Malagueta
And then, you can enjoy the warm sun and fresh air from the sea by laying of the Malagueta beach. If you like beaches, we also added other beaches on the map but there are more accessible if you are by car.
Málaga Park
To return to the city, instead of using the same way, walk through the Malaga Park that stands right in the middle of the main roads but that is somehow not that noisy.
Jardín Botánico - Histórico La Concepción
Located on the northern part of the city, you can take the bus 2 to get there. You will then have to walk 15min to reach the entrance. The garden is one of the largest tropical and subtropical gardens in Spain and even Europe. You can see more than 2000 species of trees and plants over 250 000 m².
The only inconvenient is that the highway nearby is quite noisy.
Mercado Central de Atarazanas
From the botanical garden, you can take the bus N°2 back to the Central market. Which is probably the best place to get some local products such as fruits, vegies, olive oils, beans, dry fruits, meats, fishes… The market is open from Monday to Saturday from 8h to 15h.
Soho
Next would be a small walk in Soho. Once a Once a decaying neighbourhood, it has been totally transformed by street artists. So, you can hang around trying to find the graffiti. And later have lunch on Mimo Vegan bistrot an amazing place to eat (open from 13h30 and making a reservation is recommended as it is quite small).
Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga
You can visit the cathedral of Malaga for a 6€ ticket or 10€ combined ticket with its rooftop. The cathedral is trully breath-taking in and out.
It was erected in 16th century on the foundation of an old mosque and due to lack of funding, the cathedral was never finished and only has one bell tower.
Museums
There are tons of museum in town. We put the more popular on the map, so if you like such attractions, you can get by them 😉
2-Day Malaga Itinerary
Day 1:
- Teatro Romano de Málaga
- Alcazaba
- Castillo de Gibralfaro
- Museo Casa Natal de Picasso
- Pérgolas de la Victoria.
- Playa la Malagueta
- Málaga Park
Day 2 :
- Jardín Botánico – Histórico La Concepción
- Mercado Central de Atarazanas
- Soho
- Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga
A donde te quieran mucho, no vayas a menudo – Where people love you very much, don’t go often
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1 thought on “The Genuine Malaga Travel Guide 2 Days”
Last month I visited Malaga and decided to indulge in an Arab bath experience. It transported me to a realm of relaxation – the ambiance, adorned with intricate tiles and soft lantern light, set the tone for serenity.
It was more than a bath — it was a cultural immersion. Highly recommend!
David