Is Malaga Worth Visiting? Local Guide [2024]

Is Malaga Worth Visiting? Local Guide [2024]

Are you thinking about visiting Malaga?

Do you wonder if it’s worth a visit, whether for a day trip or a holiday?

The short answer is YES.

Malaga is a well-known holiday destination on Costa del Sol and for a good reason – it offers the perfect mix of sandy beaches, culture, history, and a lively night scene with exciting culinary experiences.

It’s a city with rich history, but also a modern metropolis by the sea which is developing and changing quickly.

If you’re considering visiting Malaga, this article will answer all your questions!

Is it Worth Going to Malaga, Spain?

I live right next to Malaga and have travelled to all of the big cities in Andalusia. If your time is limited and you want to see the highlights of Southern Spain, I would personally choose Granada or Seville over Malaga.

If you’re staying somewhere on Costa del Sol and have more time, then a day trip to Malaga makes perfect sense!

It also depends on your preferences – if you’re a fan of art, you would enjoy visiting the Picasso Museum in Malaga, along with the Centre Pompidou (sister museum of the more famous one in Paris).

Malaga is also very pretty and a lovely destination for the winter – especially at Christmas time when they go all-in with the Christmas lights.

The city is still very warm even in the winter months, making it the perfect destination for winter holidays.

How Hot is Malaga?

One of the most frequent questions is of course weather-related.

‘How hot is Malaga in November or January?’

Below I listed average temperatures for each month of the year, which are pretty realistic.

I live in Fuengirola, not far from Malaga, and the temperatures don’t swing to any extremes from the ones listed below.

MonthTemperature
JanuaryBetween 17C – 8C, some rainy days and more clouds
FebruaryBetween 18C and 8C, rainy with clouds
March15C – 19C, nights very cold, less rain, more sunny days
AprilLow twenties, unpredictable, random cold spells
May15C to 25C, lots of sunny days, rare rain
June18C to 28C, temperatures hitting 30s
July20C to 33C, one of the hottest months
August25C to 35C, hottest month
September25C to 30C, cooling off
October20C to 25C, pleasant temperatures
November18C to 25C, still relatively warm
December15C to 20C, cooling off
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malaga spain 1 of 1 28

How Many Days Do I Need in Malaga?

I personally think that one day is plenty of time to explore the main sights in Malaga.

In one day, you get to see the Alcazaba, climb the stairs to the Gibralfaro Castle, and even squeeze time to see the Picasso Museum.

Anything beyond that is a bonus, but one day would cover the main historic sights.

If you would love to spend time on the beach, do a boat trip and explore a bit of the culinary scene, 2-3 days will be plenty of time to do all of that, on top of visiting the main sights.

Is Malaga Touristy?

I’ve seen Malaga at its best and worst.

The best was right after the pandemic when the travel restrictions were lifted and Malaga was absolutely peaceful. The only people you would meet were locals living here, and all of the historic sights were empty with nobody waiting up to buy the tickets and waiting to get in.

The worst is probably in the middle of the summer.

If you get unlucky with the timing, you might arrive at the same time as a bus full of tourists is unloaded in the old town. Worse even, if a cruise ship arrives in the port and everyone on board takes off to the old town.

In that case, it’s almost impossible to walk through the old town as it’s clogged up with thousands of people, and visiting any of the monuments becomes a challenge too.

That also means it’s almost impossible to find a place for lunch as everything is packed.

I would advise having realistic expectations if you’re visiting Malaga in the summer and being prepared for the crowds.

So short answer – YES, it can be very touristy if you visit in the summer months.

Castillo de Gibralfaro, Malaga
Hotel Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro

What to Do in Malaga?

There is plenty to do in Malaga, for full list check my article here.

Which is Better: Seville or Malaga?

It depends on personal preferences, but I believe that there is much more to see in the capital of Andalusia – Seville.

Which is Better: Malaga or Marbella?

Again, it depends on your personal preferences, but I find Marbella much more enjoyable than Malaga. There are no historic sights though, and it can feel pretty crowded in the summer as its much smaller than Malaga.

Explore More in Malaga

Best Day Trips from Malaga by Bus: Travel Tips from a Local Expat

Best Day Trips from Malaga by Train

Malaga Cathedral: The Unfinished Masterpiece

13+ Brilliant Things to do in Malaga, Spain

Immerse Yourself in Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou, Malaga

La Conception Botanical Gardens in Malaga

Car Museum in Malaga: Fashion & Vintage Cars Under One Roof

How to Get from Malaga to Granada: Your Detailed Transport Guide

Picasso Museum, Malaga

The Alcazaba of Malaga: All You Need to Know for Your Visit

Castillo de Gibralfaro, Malaga

Malaga to Seville: Your Detailed Transport Guide

Southern Spain Travel Tips

Find Best Hotels

Find Hotels

I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.

Find Car Rental

Find Car Rental

To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award-winning price comparison site for car rentals.

Book Your Tour

Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.

Book Local Transport

To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.

Find Cheap Flights

Get the best flight deals when you book early via Skyscanner.com

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.

Hi, I'm Lucia

At Viva La Vita, I will help you to discover Southern Spain like a local!

I've been living on Costa del Sol since 2020, and fill these pages with first-hand insights, personal experience and practical tips that will help you plan a wonderful trip to Spain.

Make yourself at home and find the best places to explore in Andalusia and beyond.

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