Malaga Holidays 2024/2025

What was once the home of Picasso, Malaga offers a vibrant coastal city, brimming with personality and rich history. With sandy beaches, Mediterranean cuisine and local wines, a Malaga holiday gives that sense of adventure, culture and flavour. A holiday to Malaga caters for both a sun-soaked beach getaway and a culture-fuelled city break, so it really is the destination that should be at the top of your list.

Malaga is the capital of the Costa Del Sol and certainly brings a colourful flair and an authentic Andalusian feel. You can enjoy 14km of sandy beaches – most of them set up with beautiful promenades perfect for strolling under the sun – as well as traditional beach bars and tapas restaurants, perfect to watch the world go by. Alternatively, you can head in the other direction and stroll down the cobbled streets of Malaga Old Town, discover hidden gems down side streets, and take in the impressive architecture. 

It may not be the biggest city in Spain – in fact, only the sixth biggest – but it certainly has plenty of character. Malaga holidays can be enjoyed however you like, whether you’re looking for a long weekend trip to squeeze everything in, or take a slow week and throw a few beach days in.

What’s more, Malaga boasts temperatures above 20°C from March to November, and only drops just below between December and January. The hottest temperatures are in July and August, where it can go over 30°C! 

The highlights of Malaga

The most important landmark in Malaga is the Alcazaba, and should definitely be on your Malaga holiday itinerary. Simply put, the Alcazaba is a fortified castle that was first built around 756-780AD as a strategic defence for the city. Originally, it was much bigger than it is now, although today it still stands at 15,000 square metres. 

The architecture is truly spectacular, and you can stroll in and around between the walls and through the gardens, or even get a guided tour. Being such a popular sight, the Alcazabar can get very busy, so weekdays and mornings can be your best buy for smaller crowds.

The Teatro Romano Malaga (Malaga Roman Theatre) is another sight to be seen, and holds huge importance to the city. It actually sits at the foot of the Alcazaba – so you won’t miss it. The theatre has an incredible rich history, being built in the First Century BC before being used as a quarry for settlers years later, to then almost being buried and not re-discovered until 1951. It underwent reconstruction and then held its first stage performances after many years, in 2011. The theatre still has much of the original design despite the work, making it all the more a spectacular sight.

Of course, you can’t visit the incredible city of Malaga without a tribute to Picasso – so be sure to head to Museo Picasso Malaga. It really is what it says – it’s a whole museum dedicated to Pablo Picasso, his eclectic life and amazing work. This is great for admirers of his work, general art lovers or even those just looking to learn something new. It costs 12 euros for standard entry, but you can also join guided tours to get the full experience.

Malaga’s beaches

Malaga sees over 300 days of sunshine a year, so it’s safe to say a trip to the beach is a must! There’s a variety of beaches across the 14 km coastline so you’ll find the spot you like without issue.

Playa De La Malagueta is the closest beach to the city and is probably the one you will have seen online – it has the famous Malagueta sign, a photo hot-spot. You’ll see both tourists and locals topping up their tans here, swimming in the sea and enjoying the palm tree-lined promenade. There are sunbeds and parasols here, as well as a children’s play area, so it’s perfectly designed for a family day out.

On the other hand, Playa De El Palo offers a sandy stretch where you’ll find mostly locals – and, this means the prices here are generally lower! The shallow shores here make it ideal for families, and the promenade opens up to beach bars and cafes offering delicious Spanish cuisine.

For a more stripped back feel, Playa Peñón Del Cuervo offers a huge beach with a stunning backdrop of a (very) big rock close to the shore line. There aren’t as many beach bars and restaurants here, but lots of people choose to gather to use the public BBQ spots – so it can make for a great day if you come self- equipped. Who doesn’t love a picnic on the beach?

Hit the shops in Malaga

Calle Larios is the most famous shopping street in Malaga and is definitely worth the visit. Stroll this marble walkway and browse your favourite high street brands like Primark, Mango and Body Shop, as well as designer brands like Victoria’s Secret, Swarovski and L’Occitane. Once you’ve shopped up an appetite, there’s a huge selection of restaurants and cafes serving delicious dishes, and most of them are open into the evening so you can enjoy the city’s late night atmosphere. 

A market is a must-do on holiday so hit the Mercado Central de Atarazanas for an indoor market in a stunning building with stained glass windows – this is where lots of locals will do their weekly food shop so you’ll get a real feel for authentic Malaga. You can pick up all kinds of foods here, from fruit and veg to meat and seafood, but if you’d prefer someone else to do the cooking, you’ll also find a variety of tapas bars that’ll impress. 

If it’s designer shops and luxury buys you’re after, of course Malaga has that too. Head to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Malaga for all the top brands from Armani to Guess, Moncler and Prada and many more.