The scent of Andalusian jasmine and fried sardines drifts from the Atarazanas market stalls, salt baking on warm stone, the distant clang of a cathedral bell. Malaga sits on the Costa del Sol with a history that stretches back 2,800 years. The city was founded by the Phoenicians around 770 BC. It was an important Roman port and a thriving Moorish city. Pablo Picasso was born here on October 25, 1881. The city has 14 museums, making it one of the most museum-dense cities in Spain. The Alcazaba fortress dominates the hill above the city. The cathedral rises from the old town. The beaches stretch for kilometres along the coast. Malaga offers the culture of a capital city with the relaxed pace of a Mediterranean town. This guide covers the must-see attractions in Malaga.

Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre

The Alcazaba is a Moorish fortress built between 1057 and 1063 with 3 walls and 8 towers. The outer wall was added in the 12th century. The palace inside features 3 courtyards with fountains and gardens. The Torre del Homenaje is the tallest tower at 30 metres. The Gibralfaro Castle sits 130 metres above the city, built in 929 AD. A 1-kilometre wall, the Coracha, connects the two fortifications. The climb from the city centre takes 15 minutes and is steep but rewarding. The Roman Theatre at the foot of the Alcazaba was built in the 1st century BC and discovered in 1951 during construction work. The theatre seats 220 spectators and hosts performances during the summer festival. The Alcazaba entry costs 3.50 euros as of 2026. The combined ticket with Gibralfaro Castle costs 5.50 euros. The Roman Theatre is free to visit. Arrive at 9am to have the fortress almost to yourself before the tour groups arrive.

Picasso Museum and the Artist’s Malaga

The Museo Picasso Malaga opened in 2003 in the Buenavista Palace, built in 1530, a building that combines Renaissance and Moorish architecture. The museum holds 285 works donated by Picasso’s family, spanning from 1892 to 1972. It includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics across 12 galleries covering 2,500 square metres. The garden has a 100-year-old palm tree and an original Roman mosaic from the 2nd century. A general entry ticket costs 9 euros as of 2026. Free entry is available Sunday from 5pm to closing. The museum receives 700,000 visitors per year. The neighbouring Museo Casa Natal, Picasso’s birthplace at Plaza de la Merced 15, holds early works and personal effects and costs 3 euros. The square outside is where the young Picasso first drew in the sand, watching the pigeons and the Andalusian light. The statue of Picasso sitting on a bench in the square is the most photographed spot in the city.

Malaga Cathedral: La Manquita

Malaga Cathedral was built on the site of a Moorish mosque. Construction began in 1528 and finished in 1783, a span of 265 years. The north tower was completed in 1588 and reaches 84 metres. The south tower was never finished, giving the cathedral its nickname La Manquita, meaning the one-armed lady. The interior measures 100 metres long and 50 metres wide. The choir stalls were carved between 1630 and 1640 from mahogany and cedar. The organ has 4,000 pipes. The main altarpiece features 21 panels depicting the life of Christ. Entry costs 6 euros for adults as of 2026. A roof tour costs 15 euros and gives panoramic views over the entire city and harbour. The rooftop walk takes 45 minutes and includes the opportunity to walk between the domes and see the unfinished south tower up close.

Atarazanas Market: A Feast for the Senses

The Atarazanas Market was originally a Nasrid shipyard, built in the 14th century, and converted into a food market in 1879. The iron structure was designed by architect Joaquin Rucoba. The main entrance is a Moorish arch from the original shipyard. The stained glass window above the main entrance measures 5 metres across and depicts the history of Malaga. The market has 250 stalls. Seafood is the highlight. Local fishermen supply the market daily. A portion of fried fish, pescaito frito, costs 5 to 8 euros. Espeto de sardinas, sardines grilled on a stick over an open fire, cost 3 euros and are the essential Malaga street food. The market is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 2pm. Go hungry and order a selection of fried fish, a plate of jamon iberico, and a glass of local sweet Malaga wine, a rich dessert wine made from Moscatel grapes that has been produced in the region since Phoenician times.

Beaches and the Malagueta Promenade

The city beach, La Malagueta, is a 1.2-kilometre stretch of dark sand just east of the port. It is not the most beautiful beach in Spain but it is the most convenient, with chiringuitos serving grilled sardines and cold beer to bathers. The promenade, the Paseo Maritimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso, runs for 4 kilometres along the coast. The Palmeral de las Sorpresas, the renovated port area, has modern restaurants, a cinema, and the Centre Pompidou Malaga, a cube-shaped glass building that is the first overseas outpost of the famous Paris museum. Entry costs 9 euros. The port also hosts the Malaga Ferris Wheel, a 70-metre observation wheel with views across the bay. For a proper beach day, drive 15 minutes east to El Palo, a former fishing village with some of the best fried fish in the province.

Malaga’s Museums and Cultural Scene

Beyond Picasso, Malaga has a rich museum scene. The Museo de Malaga in the Palacio de la Aduana covers fine arts and archaeology and is free for EU citizens. The Museo del Vino Malaga in the old town traces the history of the local wine industry with tastings from 10 euros. The Carmen Thyssen Museum holds 230 19th-century Spanish paintings in a 16th-century palace, entry at 10 euros. The Centre Pompidou Malaga, the Museo Ruso (Russian Museum), and the Coleccion del Museo Ruso give the city an international cultural reach unusual for a city of its size. The Soho district, between the Alameda and the port, is covered in street art murals including works by Obey and D*Face on buildings up to eight storeys high.

Would you explore Picasso’s art first or climb the Alcazaba for the views over the Mediterranean?

Explore more Spain guides. Updated June 11 2026.