Málaga Travel Guide: 24 Hours in Málaga, Spain - A Complete 1 Day Itinerary 🇪🇸
Málaga is a beautiful city in Andalucía, Spain, it is located on the Costa del Sol - The Sunshine Coast - and it is a must visit in Spain. You will fall in love with the architecture, its blue sea, and its yellow sandy beaches. You will enjoy knowing more about the history of Málaga as well as taking advantage of the beautiful weather by the beach. You can also enjoy many day trips from Málaga if you want to explore more areas and part of Andalucía such as Setenil de Las Bodegas. Málaga offers a variety of activities for tourists, so you will definitely find something you enjoy doing, while enjoying the beautiful and privilege climate Málaga has.
Check 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to Spain + Cultural Do’s & Don’ts
Chapters
1. How to Get Your Visa for Spain | 5. Best Time to Visit Málaga |
2. How to Get to Málaga | 6. Accommodations in Málaga |
3. How to Move Around Málaga | 7. Best Cafes & Restaurants in Málaga |
4. 6 Things to do in 24 Hours in Málaga | |
How to Get Your Visa for Spain
You can get the visa by going to the embassy, or visiting the official website, or getting it with an agency like iVisa. iVisa provides 100% online travel documents such as: Visas, health declaration forms, embassy registrations, passport photos, passport renewals, tourist cards, and other travel documents. It is the simplest solution to process your travel visa.
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Awesome support - Their customer support is ready to help 24/7. They want you to enjoy your travels and avoid the stress of getting a visa!
How to Get to Málaga
The best & easiest way to reach Málaga is by plane since it has an international airport, Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport which is easy to reach and you will be able to find flights but most probably you will have to take to connecting flight from either Madrid or Barcelona. If you are in Europe you can also find trains & buses depending on where you are, and of course if you are in Spain you will find multiple ways to reach Málaga. I personally took the train to get from Madrid to Málaga and it was the most comfortable way to get there.
Check Why You Should Visit Spain: 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Spain
I like to use Omio to find either buses or trains in Europe, and if I am looking for a flight I would use WayAway to find cheap flights. You can also use this promo code - TP-385219 - for WayAway Plus or you can directly visit this link! (You will get 10% off WayAway Plus subscription!)
How to Move Around Málaga
Since Málaga is a big city, then you will need to use the public transportation to move around. You can get around Málaga by walking as well since a lot of the main attractions are within walking distance, but it will be easier and less exhausting in the heat to use the metro to be able to move from one neighbourhood to the other and also to be able to reach the beaches. I used Uber sometimes since it was cheap, and you can also use Bolt. You can also get a rental bike and move around Málaga that way if you want, which a lot of people tend to do.
Check My Solo Trip to the Spanish Town: Setenil de Las Bodegas
6 Things to do in 24 Hours in Málaga
1. Castillo de Gibralfaro
The Castillo de Gibralfaro was built in the 8th century and it is even higher that Alcazaba, and it was used to protect the Alcazaba fortress and house troops. The view from the top is even better that Alcazaba so it is definitely worth it. You will also find a cafe where you can get a refreshing drink after all that before walking back down to the city. Be aware that there is no direct path between Alcazaba & the Castillo, even though you can see the Castillo from Alcazaba, you will have to follow a road outside to get there, and it is a 25 minutes walk but it is worth it. If you are unable to walk especially in the hot weather, you can always take a bus or get a rental bike.
The Castillo is open during the summer which is from April to October; from 09:00 until 20:00 and in winter which is from November to March; from 09:00 until 18:00. Tickets cost €3.50, or you can do a combined entry with Alcazaba for €5.50 EUR.
Check Why You Should Visit Málaga: 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Málaga, Spain
2. Alcazaba de Málaga
This is probably one of the first things people visit whenever they are in Málaga since it is the most popular attraction. Alcazaba is a fortress that sits in a hill which overlooks the city, so you get a beautiful view of Málaga from the top. Alcazaba was built in the 11th century as a part of the Nasrid Kingdom which was a period of Islamic rule in Spain. Alcazaba was modified & rebuilt multiple times up until the 14th century, so it is one of the most preserved alcazabas in Spain.
Alcazaba is open during the summer which is from April to October; from 09:00 until 20:00 and in winter which is from November to March; from 09:00 until 18:00. Be aware that the last entry is 45 minutes before closing, so make sure to be there before then. Tickets cost €3.50, or you can do a combined entry with the Castillo de Gibralfaro for €5.50 EUR. Tickets are not available online; you must buy them in person at the entrance. Be aware that there may be a queue on weekends and in the high season.
Fun Fact: You can enter for free on Sundays after 14:00!
Check Málaga Travel Guide: 12 Top Things to do in Málaga, Spain
3. Teatro Romano de Málaga (Málaga Roman Theatre)
This is the oldest place in Málaga, which dates back to the 1st century, and you can either see it from above or go inside and visit it. If you visit the viewing area then you can see the old Amphitheater for free. The remains of the theatre can be found at the foot of the Alcazaba.
Check Málaga Travel Guide: The Best 2 Days Travel Itinerary
4. Picasso museum
Now if you didn’t know, Málaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and because of that; they built a museum to honour him. The Picasso Museum combines modern architecture & history in an inventive way, and you will be able to see the artist’s amazing work displayed inside, which is what attracts people to the museum. You can also visit the house where Picasso was born which is now transformed into another museum called Museo Casa Natal de Picasso, and it is just a 5 minutes walk. Tickets cost €9.
Check Setenil de Las Bodegas Travel Guide: 6 Top Things to do in Setenil, Spain
5. Museo de Málaga (Málaga Museum)
This is was an art museum before but it is now combined with an archeological exhibit, so if you love art, then you will definitely love this museum. The building itself from the outside is also stunning, so you will love it. Tickets cost €1.50, but it FREE for EU citizens.
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6. Parque de Málaga (Málaga Park)
If you enjoy some quiet time and time in nature, then you will love Málaga. Málaga has a beautiful park called Parque de Málaga that is located in the city centre, and it is such a beautiful place. I stayed there for a bit and it so nice and refreshing, and it was nice to get away from the crowded city for a bit to enjoy some time in nature. The most interesting features of the park are the ornate pieces of baroque and renaissance sculptures and fountains surrounded by subtropical plants.
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Best Time to Visit Málaga
Now since Málaga has a great climate all year long, you can visit whenever you want but avoid the month of January since it is the coldest. The best time to visit is between June & September, but be aware that this is the high season so it will be crowded and it will also be more expensive that other months. The hottest time of the year is July and August, so if you don’t like too much heat then avoid these two months.
Accommodations in Málaga
The top 6 neighbourhoods in Málaga are Old town (Historic City Centre), Soho, La Merced, El Perchel, La Malagueta, Teatinos. So will be able to find a lot of hotels to stay there. You can also find many hostels if you want something that is budget friendly even though there are budget friendly hotels, and of course you will find endless Airbnbs that would suit your budget.
Best Cafes & Restaurants in Málaga
Restaurante Alyamal (Moroccan cuisine)
Casa Lola (One of the best for tapas)
Pizzamore (Italian cuisine)
El Pimpi (Andalucía dishes)
Doña Inés (Mediterranean cuisine)