Malaga, a beautiful city and capital of Costa del Sol, is a hub of multicultural architecture, beautiful landscapes, and sunny beaches. One of the best things you can find in this city is that everything you want to do touristy can be done without breaking the bank!
The city is as traditional as it could get with the essence of Andalusian can be found. While maintaining the traditional aspect, the city has managed to enhance its beauty and yet remain cheap to its visitors.
There are some amazing things to do Malaga and you won’t miss out even if you are travelling on a modest budget, because there are also plenty of free activities to choose from.
Read on to know how to spend days with your ultimate 5-day Malaga itinerary.
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Things To Do In Malaga In 5 Days
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Where to Stay in Malaga
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Malaga, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Malaga for any budget.
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Malaga, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Malaga for any budget.
Luxury –Only YOU Hotel Málaga is a luxury hotel in the city centre of Malaga. The hotel has a restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool and a bar with fantastic views. All rooms are air-conditioned with wifi and a coffee machine.
Book your stay at Only YOU Hotel Málaga here.
Mid-Range – When you visit Malaga, how about staying at AC Hotel Málaga Palacio by Marriott, a beautiful hotel in the city centre of Malaga. The hotel has a rooftop pool with views over the port, as well as a gym and free wifi.
Book your stay at AC Hotel Málaga Palacio by Marriott here.
Budget – We recently stayed at AAC Málaga – Con luz propia, amplio y nuevo! , a beautiful self-catering apartment in the city centre. The apartment is very spacious with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a large balcony, a kitchen and a washing machine. Located a 15-minute walk from the city centre.
Book your stay at AAC Málaga – Con luz propia, amplio y nuevo!here.
Day 1
Alcazaba
One of the most significant and highly lavish establishments in Malaga is definitely the Alcazaba. Built during the period of Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus, the palatial fortification saw many chapters of time and made changes accordingly. The present complex began in the 11th century but as time passed, in the 14th century it saw many modifications and rebuilding processes.
The entrance to this marvel is the Roman theatre which leads to a meandering path. This path then further leads to lush greenery which consists of crimson bougainvillaea, lofty palms, fragrant jasmine bushes and rows of orange trees, a refreshing sight after all.
The main enjoyment sights of this location are the views and gardens.
Picasso Museum Málaga
The people here are proud of the fact of Picasso was born here and to show him their respect, the city built the famous Picasso Museum Málaga. Inaugurated in 2003 by the King of Spain, the museum aims to portray the best and raw side of Piccasso and his life here.
Once you have succeeded in exploring the museum, you can head towards the Casa Natal. It is known to be the birthplace of his and draws millions of visitors every year. You can be a spectator of various exhibitions held here which showcase his early life and his pictures.
Many a time, fellow travellers find the Casa Natal first and mistake it for the museum. This happens often due to their location. These 2 marvels aren’t that far and this leads to confusion.
Caminito Del Rey
Camito Del Rey is an incredible walk a short bus ride from Malaga. This is best completed with a guide and we can highly recommend doing the trip with Get Your Guide as they share a lot of information about the site as you walk around. In total, the walk takes around 3 hours and there are plenty of amazing photo opportunities!
This can be booked as a morning or afternoon activity.
Day 2
Carmen Thyssen Museum
Designed to be located right in the heart of Malaga, the Carmen Thyssen Museum had made its mark in history. Situated in the City centre, the museum proudly showcases a fine collection of 285- 300 types of works of art. These artworks are of different genres of Spanish and Andalusian paintings of the 19th and 20th centuries.
This museum has managed to help visitors grasp enough knowledge about these artworks. Dedicated separately to exhibitions, the Malaga museum has a hall designed for the same. Due to these different exhibitions, the Carmen-Thyssen museum has successfully become one of the most important cultural spaces not only in Malaga but also Andalusia.
Inaugurated in 2011, the magnificent museum found its establishment in another marvel- Palacio de Villalón. A palace which is located in the centre of Malaga and dates back to the 16th century.
Castillo de Gibralfaro
Sitting on a high hill and overlooking Malaga city and port, the Castillo de Gibralfaro castle dates back to the 10th century.
Turning heads over the years, this castle is famous for the tale attached to it. According to historical facts, a three-month siege by the Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella took place. This chapter found its end only when hunger forced the Malagueños to surrender. Afterwards, Ferdinand occupied the site, while his queen took up residence in the town.
The castle shares a walled corridor to the Alcazaba of Málaga and hence acts as a bridge for more visitations to both locations.
With the power of attracting history buffs, the castle sees a huge footfall of visitors every year. The rising visitations were once a concern but now seem to be much enjoyed.
Day 3
La Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnacion
A Roman Catholic church ruling the city of Malaga has its own reason to attract millions every year. This beauty is a piece of art as it depicts the Renaissance architectural tradition.
As per the legends, the cathedral has a rich and interesting history associated with its establishment. The history states that the Cathedral dates back to around 1418 and is closely related to the Great Mosque on which it was built, located inside the Arab walled enclosure.
Apart from this exciting history, there is another interesting fact associated with it. Until 2012, it was the second tallest building in Andalusia and was surpassed by the Giralda of Seville.
The beauty of this cathedral lies in its architecture- inside out! Everything from the entrance towards the end feels surreal and dreamy.
Coast of the Sun
The Coast of the sun or Costa del Sol is one of the most highly visited destinations in Spain. The place gives you a glimpse of pleasant yet dreamy vibes.
Malaga is the capital of Costa de Sol and the magnificent coastline stretches 150 kilometers from Nerja at the Eastern end to Sotogrande close to Gibraltar at the far western end.
When you visit to enjoy 300 days of sunshine, you would witness the area being flooded with blue-flag beaches and nothing seems more perfect than this view. Basking under the sun with pristine waters as a view is enough to make one come down here.
Apart from the best beaches in Malaga, the Costa de Sol also is home to the most golf courses in one area in the whole of Europe, thus gaining the name of being the best-golfing region of Spain.
You may wish to spend the afternoon exploring more of what the Costa del Sol region has to offer beyond the city of Malaga.
Day 4
Nerja
Malaga’s location makes it too easy for globetrotters to explore the nearby beautiful regions and amongst that list is Nerja.
Nerja was once considered to be the sleepy fishermen’s village, this summertime hotspot has managed to regain its charm and now successfully attracts tourists every year. One of the most significant points in this magical location is the Balcony of Europe or Balcón de Europa. This area provides unobstructed views of the entire Malaga waterfront which makes it rather surreal and entices many.
According to history buffs, in 1959 many prehistoric paintings were discovered in the many caves here and signify its presence and historical essence. Today, the visitors can be a spectator of these paintings of prehistoric inhabitants in the caves and wonder about their historical presence.
Teatro Romano
Imagine you could visit a place that still gives you the vibes of Romans and makes you wonder about its importance, the Teatro Romano is such a place. Making visitors come down here in large numbers, the theatre has been fulfilling its purpose all over again.
What once might have held the audience of Romans now holds the audience for Festival Internacional de Teatro Clásico in summer particularly. The most interesting part of the theatre is the dramatic and well-preserved two-tier stage building of Corinthian columns.
According to the legends, the theatre was built in 15 BCE to entertain an audience of around 6000.
Day 5
Beaches
Las playas or the beaches of Malaga are as beautiful as they could get. Visitors just can’t get enough of them and standing out in the long list of beaches is the Playa de la Malagueta. This beach is a wonder for those who want to unleash their wild side and enjoy the pristine water to the fullest.
Playa de la Malagueta is the main beach of Malaga and the famous one too. The beach stretch from the east for several kilometres and has many restaurants and shacks along the way to entertain the fellow visitors and explorers.
Museum of Glass and Crystal
For a location that attracts a fair share of visitors every year, also houses a fair share of museums. Malaga is home to one of the most famous museums in the world- The Picasso Museum but it also houses a museum dedicated entirely to glass and crystal. This hidden marvel is located in an 18th-century casa Palacio in the centre of Malaga with several gardens and patios acting as luxurious elements in its beautification.
The museum of glass and crystals opened its gates to the public in 2009 and is an abode of around 700 pieces of glass, dating from Phoenician times to the 20th century. Supporting this massive collection is another collection of antique sofas, rugs, mirrors and paintings.
The collections include artefacts from the 16th and 17th centuries where you can see Catalan, Venetian, Dutch and Bohemian lead glass. Alongwith this you can also see the 18th-century glass made in La Granja, the 19th-century English cameo glass by Thomas Webb and the 20th-century bold Lalique and Whitefriars. All present there to entice you to visit Malaga again!
Sunset Boat Cruise
End your time in Malaga with a sunset boat cruise leaving from the port and taking you for a night remember along the Costa del Sol coastline. If you are lucky enough, you might even have some dolphins swimming alongside your boat as the sunsets as we did.
Before You Leave for Malaga
Before you set off on your way to Malaga, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip to Malaga. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Malaga
The most popular way to arrive in Malaga is by flying, however being located in the south of Spain, many people may also arrive in Malaga by bus or train.
Where to Stay in Malaga
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Malaga, so you will not be short on options. Here are our top suggestions for the best places to stay in Malaga for any budget.
Luxury –Only YOU Hotel Málaga is a luxury hotel in the city centre of Malaga. The hotel has a restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool and a bar with fantastic views. All rooms are air-conditioned with wifi and a coffee machine.
Book your stay at Only YOU Hotel Málaga here.
Mid-Range – When you visit Malaga, how about staying at AC Hotel Málaga Palacio by Marriott, a beautiful hotel in the city centre of Malaga. The hotel has a rooftop pool with views over the port, as well as a gym and free wifi.
Book your stay at AC Hotel Málaga Palacio by Marriott here.
Budget – We recently stayed at AAC Málaga – Con luz propia, amplio y nuevo! , a beautiful self-catering apartment in the city centre. The apartment is very spacious with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a large balcony, a kitchen and a washing machine. Located a 15-minute walk from the city centre.
Book your stay at AAC Málaga – Con luz propia, amplio y nuevo!here.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Malaga
What you need to pack for Malaga will rely highly on when you make your trip there. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and rainy days. During the Summer, you are pretty much guaranteed nice weather with temperatures ranging from 20-35 oC. The hottest months are July and August, so these will be the most popular for a Summer holiday.
During the winter months in Malaga, the rain will become more frequent and the temperatures will drop to between 10-20 oc. If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Malaga is very strong, especially during the summer months. Apply a lot of sun cream regularly to prevent a nasty burn from ruining your trip. We use this specific sunscreen to protect us as it is not as oily and irritating as other sunscreens.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Malaga, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Malaga
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your guide to spending the best 5 days in Malaga. If you are visiting this incredible city and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! Let us know in the comments below!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience completing this stunning walk.
If you are planning a Spain trip soon then check out our other Spanish content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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