Málaga is a charming port city that is a blend between historic roots and modern energy. Famous as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, it’s also home to the Alcazaba, one of the best-preserved Moorish fortresses in Spain, which connects to the hilltop Castle of Gibralfaro.
You can choose to walk down Calle Larios for shopping or pick up produce from Mercado Central de Atarazanas. Find yourself taking a walk along the port to browse market stalls, enjoy the views, and relax with a drink or meal at waterfront restaurants. In fact, I think I enjoyed Málaga more than Barcelona. You still get the city vibe, with endless activities and restaurant options, but without the overwhelming feel.
📍 Google Map Bookmark: Contains Málaga, Marbella, and Barcelona places we visited on our trip.
Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación: 10€
Málaga Cathedral located in the center city is known as “The One-Armed Lady” for its unfinished south tower. I highly recommend picking a restaurant in Fuente Plaza del Obispo during sunset/dusk. Make sure to sit facing the church, the view is beautiful to watch and see how the light shifts on the facade.
🎨 Picasso Museum, Picasso’s Birthplace House, and Statue: All three are within walking distance from each other.
- Picasso Museum €13: home to 285 works donated by Picasso’s family.
- Museo Casa Natal de Picasso €3: is Picasso’s actual birthplace.
- Picasso Statue: Located in Plaza de la Merced.
🏰Castillo de Gibralfaro and Alcazaba: Combined ticket: 10€.
Both sites are self-guided, so you can explore them at your own pace. On average, each takes about one to two hours to visit.
The hike up to Gibralfaro was definitely the most intense part, but totally worth it. There’s nothing like taking in a panoramic view with the city stretched out beneath you. We visited Gibralfaro in the morning, then enjoyed lunch before heading to the Alcazaba.
We ended up spending a bit more time at Alcazaba, mostly because we discovered a snack bar inside the fortress. We sat under a shaded patio, sipping a cold clara beer in the summer heat. So fricking cool and refreshing!
Tip: On your way in or out of Alcazaba, check out the Roman Theatre. It’s free and self-guided.
🕹️ OXO Video Game Museum: 15€
One of my personal highlights! My brother had discovered it on a previous trip and waited for us to explore it with him. The museum showcases 70 years of video game history, with interactive exhibits that let you play through the decades. The official language is Spanish, but all text is also available in English
- Bottom Floor: Gift shop with gaming merchandise.
- Level 1: Permanent exhibit organized by console makers.
- Level 2: Temporary exhibit “Made in Spain” featuring games developed locally.
- Level 3: OXO Labs – focus on virtual/mixed/augmented reality.
- Rooftop: Terrazzo Catedral Restaurant!
🌇 Terraza Catedral Restaurant:
We accidentally discovered this gem while exploring OXO Museum. Though the museum officially has three floors, there was another flight of stairs. I needed to know what was up there. We ended up at the Terrazzo Cathedral Restaurant with an incredible view of the Cathedral’s completed tower.
We liked it so much we came back the next night for dinner with our mom.
This was the bar of Málaga I’d happily visit on repeat. It’s been consistently rated as one of the city’s top cocktail spots and with good reason. The atmosphere is funky and fresh, service is top notch, and the cocktail presentation aka drink cups were fantastic! Best of all, the surprisingly reasonable prices make it even better.
🥧 De Nata: Portuguese Custard Tarts
Dessert has to be my favorite food group. We passed De Nata and I knew at some point we would stop. Each pastel is crispy with creamy custard inside. For a moment, it genuinely felt like I was back in Lisbon. A small price to pay for such a delicate delight.
🍨 Helados y Turrones Casa Mira:
What’s a trip to anywhere if you don’t experience the local ice cream? I’m super picky about my ice cream quality and Casa Mira delivered. You know it’s the real deal with deep metal containers instead of fluffy mountains on display. Then the revolving door of customers as you watch the counter number ticking away. It was absolutely worth the wait. My only regret is not going back and trying more of their flavors!
🏖️ Playa la Malagueta + Centre Pompidou Málaga:
On your way to Málaga’s city beach, Playa la Malagueta, make a stop by “The Cube” (Centre Pompidou Málaga). Sunrise or sunset would be a great time to snag a photo and catch colored rays bouncing off all the colors.
💭Final Thoughts:
Málaga completely won me over. Complete with history, museums, restaurants, beaches, art, and dessert. To me it was relaxing, educational, and lively trip.
Capsule Customs Travel 