Málaga is beautiful. Like, full on beautiful. My visit to the Andalucían city was as a result of my cruise-ship-working life, and although ideally I’d have had more than one day in Málaga- this Spanish city of DREAMS- it’s still possible to have a great time with less than eight hours to spare.
A port city on the Costa Del Sol, I was mostly expecting to see high-rise hotels and souvenir shops, mainly as a result of the fact these things both featured highly in photos of the city in my year 10 Spanish textbooks. But the sight that actually met my eyes was something a whole lot lovelier: Málaga is full of historic buildings, and tree-lined roads. The first day I visited Málaga was in late Autumn and although the weather was still warm, the leaves were turning into glorious warm shades of orange and red, proving that this isn’t just a high summer destination.
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My itinerary for one day in Málaga
The short version of my one day in Málaga itinerary goes something like this:
- Eat food
- Stroll along the beach
- See the Paseo del Parque and all its glorious parrots
- Visit the Roman ruins
- Head up to the Alcazaba
For a longer, far more detailed explanation of my one day in Málaga itinerary, click the links or simply scroll on down.
You’re gonna love it here.
What to eat in Málaga
It goes without saying that tapas and sangria should most certainly be on the menu for you when in Spain. I mean, both of the aforementioned items are DELICIOUS.
But a true speciality unique to this city is Ensalada Malagueña; and as a strong salad fan I BIG TIME recommend it, pals. Seafood in general is all the rage around these parts- thanks to the good old bountiful Mediterranean right on Málaga’s doorstep. Ensalada Malagueña features salted cod, potatoes, oranges, spring onions, parsley and olive oil. (Sometimes maybe a boiled egg or two and some olives thrown in for luck.)
We visited a restaurant in the port to try a whole selection of Málagan dishes, and were not disappointed in the slightest; particularly as the owner gave us an entire bottle of very cheap sparkling rosé wine free of charge. I mean, what more could you wish for? Classy birds, we most certainly are.
Related: A Roadtrip in Rural Mallorca
Hit the Beach
The beach here is so pretty. And to get from Málaga’s port to the city and subsequent seaside, it takes mere minutes. Mere minutes I tell you!!
They don’t call it the Costa Del Sol for nothing, and as soon as you leave the port you’ll be met with the awesome view of the beach, pastel coloured hotels and apartment blocks, with a backdrop of sun-flecked mountains. And hopefully you’ll be lucky enough to visit on one of the 320 sunny days per year that the Costa del Sol gets. Basically you’re almost guaranteed to get some sunshine, and in October when I visited the city, there were plenty of people sunbathing and swimming to their heart’s content.
Stroll through the parks of the city
Málaga is home to several green spaces, which in turn are home to a great many cackling parakeets. The Paseo Del Parque is super close to the port- in fact it’s almost parallel with it, meaning it’s really not hard to miss. This beaut is filled with all manner of tropical plants and trees, as well as fountains and statues galore, and every Sunday the Málaga Municipal Band gives a little concert in the bandstand for all who fancy a listen.
Jolly good job, band.
Back to the topic of parakeets, awkwardly there was recently talk of a cull of these brightly coloured chaps as they’re widely considered to be a very threatening species. Málaga has one of the biggest parakeet populations in Spain, and these little guys have become very skilled at driving away native birds after they began escaping from birdcages in the 1970s. Poor old things.
Visit the Roman ruins
Málaga is one of the most continuously inhabited cities in the whole of Europe. It has been around for DONKEYS YEARS, you guys. Right in the centre of the city is evidence of its Roman past, in the form of a big old theatre built in the 1st Century BC.
(Those Romans really did get all over the place, didn’t they?)
An Ancient Roman City…in Croatia
By the AD700s, the Romans were gone and the Moors ruled the roost in Andalucía, so they decided to use the abandoned Roman theatre as a quarry in order to get the stone needed to build their fortress on top of the hill (more on that later, folks). It wasn’t until the 1950s that the remains of the theatre were rediscovered and fully dug up for all to see, and nowadays it’s one of the only remaining ancient monuments in the whole city. Back during the days of the Civil War, Málaga was an unashamedly Republican kind of a place, so Nationalist sympathisers bombed it like there was no tomorrow and subsequently destroyed a lot in the process.
It’s easy to admire the theatre from the city square that it sits next to, but it’s also possible to enter the site via a visitors centre to one side if you fancy a proper nose around.
Teatro Romano, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sundays 10am-4pm. Closed on Mondays. Entrance is free.
Exploring the Port City of Ferrol
My must-see if you only have one day in Málaga- the Alcazaba
I’m a right geek and I know it, pals. But the Alcazaba was what I was really excited to see in Málaga.
There are two fortresses in the city, located very close together, and this one is also one of the most well-preserved Moorish palaces in the whole of Spain. The Moors lived in this area for hundreds of years, and they originally built the Alcazaba as a form of defence from pirates and other raging enemies who might attack via the sea.
Sitting high above the city and with a vantage point looking out across the Mediterranean to Africa, the atmosphere inside the Alcazaba is quite the peaceful one. More than 100 towers still exist, and within the fortress’ walls are gardens, courtyards, and rooms, filled with elegantly carved wooden ceilings and alcoves, beautifully patterned tiles and amazing tranquil pools of water.
English Medieval castles are great and everything, but the Moors who were building their own style of castles at the same time really understood the art of interior design, know what I’m saying!? When I visited the Alcazaba I felt as if I’d been transported across the ocean to Morocco, and I was altogether astonished by how extensive and beautiful this palace is.
In 1487 the Catholic Royals of Aragon held the Moorish city under siege, which lasted a mammoth four months. And after 700 years of rule from their beautiful fortress, the Muslims were forced out.
Alcazaba, open 9am-8pm April to October, 9am-6pm November to March. Entrance fee €3.50, or a joint ticket including entry to the Alcazaba and the fortress of Gibralfaro €5. After 2pm on Sundays, entry is free.
I might have only had one day in Málaga, but that was enough to realise that this city has so much to offer. Not only are the beaches here on the Costa Del Sol absolutely glorious, but Málaga is full of history, and there are so many more places of interest that I would visit if I only had the time!
Málaga, I cannot wait to be back.
LOGISTICAL STATISTICALS
- To walk from Málaga port to the city centre takes around 15-20 minutes. I.e. nothing whatsoever!!
- To get from Málaga airport to the city also takes a mere 15 minutes but taxi or train. Brilliant.
- Whilst it’s definitely better to have some knowledge of Spanish under your belt, it’s completely possible to get by without.
- When I visited in October I got sunburnt and also wished I hadn’t worn jeans because I was a sweaty mess. So. It still gets rather toasty in Autumn, although obviously by Winter things do cool down a bit.
- In case you’re interested- it’s fully possible to get a ferry from Málaga to Morocco. It takes around 5 hours, currently operates once a week, and heads over to the city of Tangiers on the North coast of Africa.
Malaga looks and sounds amazing, would love to visit one day 😀
It’s beautiful and such an interesting city, I was so surprised! Thanks for reading.
Lovely photos. We were in Spain last year but didn’t visit Malaga so I especially enjoyed seeing your post.
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for your comment Karen!
What a gorgeous city! I’ve been to Spain but it was a long time ago. I think it’s time to return and make some new memories.
Yes, it’s so worth a visit!! Every city I’ve visited there is just intriguing, love this country.