Malaga Travelers Recommend

Essential to any Malaga trip is a visit to Granada and its stunning Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Luckily, this stunning Andalucian city is just an easy day trip away. To help you find the right tour for you, here are your options.

Full-Day Tours

The easiest way to visit Granada is on a full-day group tour, traveling by bus from Malaga. For the best value, choose a tour that includes skip-the-line entry to the Alhambra and a guided tour of the palace complex to see the Alcazaba, Nasrid Palace, and the Generalife Gardens. Many tours also include hotel pickup and drop-off, a walking tour of Granada’s highlights, and free time to explore independently or shop for souvenirs.

Shore Excursions

Cruise visitors can make the most of their time in Malaga’s port with a full-day shore excursion to Granada. Most tours include skip-the-line entrance to the Alhambra, pickup and drop-off from Malaga cruise port, and round-trip transport. For extra peace of mind, opt for a tour covered by Viator's worry-free policy, which guarantees on-time return to your ship.

Things to Know

• Granada is about 78 miles (125 km) northeast of Malaga, a 1.5-hour drive by road.

• Day tours from Malaga typically last between 9 and 10 hours, so prepare for a long trip.

• Be sure to bring your camera, comfortable walking shoes, and water and snacks for the journey.

• Most tours include hotel pickup and entrance fees to the Alhambra Palace.

The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Malaga is a destination in southern Spain for history and culture. During a visit, explore the Old Town by bike, soak in the baths of a hammam, and see a Flamenco show. Here are a few ways to spend three days in Malaga. 

Day 1: Castles, Cathedrals, and Paintings

Discover the classic landmarks of Malaga’s historic city center on the first day of your visit. Cover ground quickly with a Segway tour that zips through the streets past top attractions such as Alcazaba Citadel, Malaga Cathedral, and the seafront promenade. Another option is the hop-on hop-off bus with stops to see Plaza de Toros, Castillo de Gibralfaro, and Malagueta Beach. A bike tour or e-bike tour also offers a comprehensive itinerary and the chance to learn about the city’s history, culture, and architecture. Finish the day at the Picasso Museum. Visit the building where artist Pablo Picasso was born and browse his masterpieces

Day 2: All Things Culture

Devote a day to learning about the vibrant culture of Malaga. Start with a soak in the Arabian baths, Hammam Al Andalus, including its thermal baths, icy plunge pools, and steam rooms. In the afternoon, discover the cuisine of Andalucia. Sign up for a tapas crawl that includes tastes of traditional foods and wine, or opt for a hands-on cooking class. Some classes include a market visit for the chance to shop for ingredients with a local. Continue the cultural immersion with tickets to a live flamenco show. Combination tours are also available that bring together a tapas crawl with tickets to a flamenco show. 

Day 3: Discover Andalucia and Beyond

Utilize Malaga as a jumping-off point to explore southern Spain and beyond. Options for a guided day trip—which usually include round-trip transport for ease—are plentiful. Book a journey to Granada to see the Alhambra, visit Seville to explore its cathedral and bull ring, or take a trip to Cordoba to see its historic mosque. Travelers interested in wine and sherry may want to join a day trip to Jerez and Cadiz, while those intrigued by Andalusia’s tradition of white villages head to the narrow streets of Frigiliana. From Malaga, it’s easy to visit the rock of Gibraltar or hop aboard a ferry to explore Tangier in Morocco. Take in the views from the mountaintop city of Ronda, set on a deep gorge, El Tajo. 

With North Africa only 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Spain’s southern coast, taking a intercontinental tour from Malaga to Morocco is surprisingly easy. From day trips to longer stays, here’s a roundup of your options for Morocco tours from Malaga.

Full-Day Tours

If you’re based in Malaga, a full-day tour will allow you to explore the Moroccan city of Tangier, then return to Spain’s Costa del Sol in time to bed down at your hotel for the night. After taking an air-conditioned bus to the Port at Tarifa and then a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar, you’ll embark on a city tour of Tangier. See the spice-piled souk, wander the medina (walled city) and the kasbah (old citadel), and treat your taste buds to Moroccan specialties such as tagine (slow-cooked stew) and mint tea. Some tours include an optional camel ride across the cliffs of Cape Spartel, which overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar. 

Multi-Day Tours

Multi-day tours from Malaga allow for a more thorough exploration of Morocco. Dig deeper into Moroccan culture during a 3-night trip that ticks off major northern Morocco highlights including Fez, with its atmospheric UNESCO World Heritage–listed medina and royal palace; the imperial city of Rabat; Meknes, a historic hilltop city with a monument- and mausoleum-packed medina; and Tangier. If you have more time, opt for a 5- or 6-day tour to incorporate other Moroccan hot spots such as vibrant Marrakech and Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city. 

Things to Know

• Day tours from Malaga to Morocco last around 15 hours and include hotel pickup and drop-off. 

• You must have a valid passport to enter Morocco, and many country’s citizens do not need a visa for short stays. 

• Wear comfortable shoes. Many streets are hilly and cobbled, and walking is a must in the car-free medieval medinas. 

• Bring some local currency so you can purchase souvenirs and food. 

• Day tours often include lunch, while multi-day tours typically include breakfast and dinner, with free time for lunch at your own expense.

Visit the city of Malaga for a day and explore its history, wander the Pablo Picasso museum, and take a coastal sunset cruise. Plus, get in touch with Andalucia's traditional cuisine, flamenco performances, and historic coast. Here are a few ways to spend 24 hours in Malaga.

Morning: Welcome to Malaga

Get your bearings on an introductory city tour. Choose among a variety of options including  a Segway tour or a ride on the hop-on hop-off bus, which offers quick transportation between major landmarks including the Malaga Cathedral and Plaza de Toros. Travelers who would rather explore the city by foot can join a history-focused walking tour that usually includes sites such as the Roman Theater and Alcazaba Castle. Maximize time with a bike or e-bike tour that might stop at the historical city center, Malagueta Beach, and the lighthouse in the Malaga port.

Afternoon: Classic Cuisine and Picasso Paintings

Experience the classic cuisine of southern Spain in Malaga in the afternoon. Choices include hands-on cooking classes with themes such as paella or a tapas tour in which a local guide leads you in the Spanish tradition of hopping among tapas bars. To cover more ground, bike tours focused on tapas and wine are also available. Finish the afternoon with a dose of culture. Check out the Malaga Picasso Museum and see the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, plus several of the artist’s masterpieces on display. 

Night: Sunsets and Flamenco

Discover the vibrant dance of flamenco with an evening show. Book tickets to a live Flamenco show or choose a combination tour that might include evening tapas and a Flamenco performance. Learn about this traditional dance that is native to Andalucia. Alternatively, climb aboard a catamaran for a sunset cruise from the Port of Malaga that often includes a glass of Champagne. Catch a glimpse of the coastline of Malaga while the sun sets and the city lights glow. 

On a 2-day trip to Malaga, you have time to explore the city by bike, go for a tapas crawl, and sail along the coast on a sunset cruise. Travelers can also experience Andalucia's famous flamenco performances and food scene. Here are a few ways to spend 48 hours in Malaga. 

Day 1: History, Hands-on Cooking Classes, and Flamenco

**Morning:**Maximize your time in Malaga with an introductory tour that covers ground quickly. Options include a ride on the hop-on hop-off double-decker bus to move among landmarks with ease or a Segway tour that glides through the streets, passing Old Town attractions such as the Alcazaba Citadel.

**Afternoon:**Explore Malaga’s food scene with a tour that includes visiting multiple tapas restaurants. Snack as you go and taste traditional tapas and wine at several places. Alternatively sign up for a hands-on cooking class or a tour that might include both a market visit and a cooking workshop.

**Night:**Continue your immersion into the culture of Andalucia after dark with tickets to a live Flamenco show. Learn about the history of this traditional dance and see local dancers take the stage in a showcase of this art form.

Day 2: Bikes, Baths, and Bars

**Morning:**Discover hidden corners of Malaga on a bike tour or e-bike tour. Such trips might cycle beyond the historical city center to see the lighthouse at the Port of Malaga and Malagueta Beach. Learn about Malaga's history and architecture from your guide as you explore. 

**Afternoon:**Visit Malaga’s Arabian baths, Hammam al Andalus, for an afternoon of relaxation. Sip mint tea and move from thermal pools and icy plunge pools to steam rooms and hot tubs. Book ahead to secure your spot and take advantage of upgrades, including options such as massages and exfoliating scrubs.

**Night:**Experience Malaga after dark with a pub crawl. Join a local guide for a crawl to several different bars in Malaga. Alternatively, board a catamaran in the Malaga Port for a sunset cruise that might end with Champagne. Sail along the coastline and watch the city lights flicker to life.

Though hardly the end of earth, Gibraltar, located at the southernmost tip of Iberia, offers visitors the chance to encounter a completely different culture and country without having to venture far from southern Spain. Here’s what you need to know to experience Gibraltar from Malaga on the Costa del Sol. 

Things to Know

• Get to Gibraltar by land in air-conditioned comfort or aboard a small dolphin-watching cruise boat.

• Don’t forget your passport, as you’ll be leaving Spain and entering British territory.

• Day tours from Malaga can last upwards of 12 hours depending on the option chosen.

• Spend a day on a sightseeing tour of Gibraltar’s top attractions, like St. Michael’s Cave and the famous Rock of Gibraltar (and its equally famous Barbary apes and Mediterranean views).

• During your free time in town, enjoy a meal at a pub or shop tax-free for English specialties on Main Street.

• Gaze at the coast of Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. 

• Most tours include hotel pickup and drop-off in Malaga.

A culinary capital of southern Spain, warm and sunny Malaga serves up a combination of traditional Andalusian classics and local favorites made from some of the freshest Mediterranean ingredients. Don’t miss these iconic dishes and tasty food experiences during your visit to Malaga.

Must-Try Dishes

Malaga, along with the rest of Andalusia (Andalucía), is best known for its tapas, with options like albóndigas (spicy meatballs in tomato sauce), jamón (cured ham), cheeses, Spanish tortilla (a potato omelet), and patatas bravas (potatoes fried with chili and garlic). While these items feature on menus across Spain, Malaga visitors will find some local specialties as well. Ajo blanco, a Moorish-influenced version of gazpacho, is made from almonds, garlic, crusty bread, and olive oil. Another local favorite is espetos de sardinas, a wooden stake of sardines grilled over a wood fire and best eaten by the beach. Seafood lovers should also sample boquerones, deep-fried or marinated anchovies caught in the Bay of Malaga.

Must-Do Experiences

• Lace up your shoes and hit the pavement to discover Malaga’s best tapas bars on a walking tapas tour through the heart of the city.

• Peddle away some excess calories on a local wine and tapas bike tour of Malaga.

• Learn to cook traditional tapas or paella with the help of a local chef in a hands-on cooking class.

• Combine a traditional dinner of Andalusian cuisine with an evening of live jazz music or fiery flamenco dancing.

• Become an expert in local ingredients with a guided visit to the local Atarazanas Market.