Coming to Malaga for a few days and want to see all the best sights? We give you our favourite places to visit. The best part is that all these attractions are within walking distance of each other, so it won’t take you much time to see the best of Malaga.
Alcazaba
The Alcazaba must be one of the most beautiful monuments to visit in the city. Built by the Moors, this centuries-old fortress has Arab influences. Beautifully symmetrical courtyards, horseshoe arches and beautifully detailed decorations, this impressive building is a must-see when visiting Malaga.
The opening hours of the Alcazaba vary depending on the season:
Wintertime (1 November – 31 March):
Open 09:00 – 18:00 (last entrance until 17:15)
Summer time (1 April – 31 October):
Open 09:00 – 20:00 (last entrance until 19:15)
Every Sunday afternoon after 14:00, admission is free.
Address: Calle Alcazabilla 2
Tickets can be bought at the entrance or online atthe official website and prices are between €1.50 and €3.50 per person. You can also buy a combination ticket for between €2.50 and €5.50 per person that allows you to visit both the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle on the same day. Read on if you want to know what the Gibralfaro is.
Gibralfaro Castle
After the Moors built the Alcazaba, they started building the Gibralfaro castle. In those days, the sea reached the foot of the hill with the same name Gibralfaro and the Moors had a perfect view from the top to protect the city. Today, we can still enjoy this 360-degree view and see the sea on one side, and the city with the mountains surrounding it on the other.
Gibralfaro Castle’s opening hours and prices are the same as the Alcazaba. Note that it is a separate entrance, and you have to climb the hill from the Alcazaba for this, which takes about half an hour on foot.
Luckily, there is also a bus (bus 35) that takes you from Paseo del Parque to the Gibralfaro entrance.
Cathedral
A very important building for the Malagueños is, of course, the cathedral. Because the population is Catholic, the cathedral is used for church services on Sundays.
Viewing the cathedral from the outside is already beautiful because it contains different architectural styles, Gothic style, Baroque style and Renaissance style. This is because over 250 years were spent building the complex before it came to the building we can see today. And even after all these years, one of the towers is still missing, popularly calling the cathedral ‘La Manquita’, ‘The One-armed Lady’.
The Cathedral’s opening hours are:
Monday until Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday: 14:00 – 18:00
A ticket to the cathedral costs €6 per person.
Address: Calle Molina Lario 9
Roman Theatre
The Roman Theatre in Malaga is one of the oldest in Spain, but it was only discovered about 70 years ago. When the Moors came to Malaga after the Romans were here, they used some of the building blocks to construct the Alcazaba and the theatre disappeared underground. In the 20th century, a library was even built on top. It was to be renovated in the 1950s and it was only during this renovation that the Roman Theatre emerged.
You can see the theatre from Calle Alcazabilla square, and this is also where the entrance is to see everything up close and learn more about it here. Also in the evening, this is a nice square to sit in and see the theatre and the Alcazaba beautifully lit up.
Admission to the Roman Theater is free and these are the opening hours:
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday and holidays: 10:00 – 16:00
Mercado Atarazanas food market
For the tastiest, fresh produce, visit the fresh market Atarazanas, but it’s also nice to go here for the beautiful building. The main entrance is the old gate built by the Moors for their shipyard and at the back is a stained-glass window where you can see different aspects of Malaga.
On the left side of the market you will find all the meat products, in the middle section is the fish section and on the right side all the fruit and vegetables are sold. As Sunday is a rest day, and no fishing takes place, no fresh fish is available on Monday and the fish department is also closed that day. Around the building you will find all kinds of terraces serving produce from the fresh market.
Mercado Atarazanas is open every day except for Sundays from 08:00 till 15:00. On the terraces, you can stay a little longer after closing time.
Address: Calle Atarazanas 10
The port Muelle Uno
After all these historical sights, do you want to check out the modern side of Malaga? Then visit Muelle Uno, the part of the port that was renovated and reopened in 2011. Lots of white, modern shapes and materials and luxury superyachts along the quayside give a very different impression than the city centre. The shops here are also open every day, including Sundays. Furthermore, you can enjoy eating or drinking at one of the terraces of the many restaurants along the quay with a nice view of the Malaga skyline. Especially highly recommended during sunset!
