Malaga is one of Spain’s most popular southern cities and boasts pleasant weather year round. Here’s everything you need to know if you only have 48-hours in Malaga.
Malaga lies on the Costa del Sol, a long stretch of sandy shores on the Mediterranean. It’s home to impressive Spanish attractions like Andalusian forts, the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and luxurious high-rise hotels. If those aren’t enough reasons why you should visit Malaga, its 320 annual days of sunshine should be enticing enough!
I had only two days in Malaga to explore the best of the city, but found it was just enough time. So, if you also only have two days to spare, I share recommendations for the best way to spend a weekend in Malaga. And don’t forget to check out my Spain travel tips for even more travel insight before you go!
The Best Things to Do in Málaga
Before you venture off to southern Spain, check out some of the best things to do in Malaga to ensure you don’t miss a thing!
The Beach
Málaga is a beautiful oceanside city with fabulous beaches. Unfortunately, because it was the beginning of February, it was too chilly to truly enjoy the beach while we were there. However we didn’t let the cold stop us from taking a late-night, moonlit stroll beside the ocean – there’s just something about long walks on the beach under the moonlight with your best friend. So romantic!
El Caminito del Rey
If you’re ever in Málaga or anywhere nearby, you should definitely put El Caminito del Rey on your itinerary. An hour’s train ride from the city, this hike is GORGEOUS and has some cool history behind it too! The trail is made up of mountainous countryside, boardwalks built into the sides of steep cliff walls and bright blue water below. Read more about it here!
My friend and I enjoying the views of Caminito del Rey
Hamman al Andalus Baños Árabes Málaga
After our long day of hiking, we decided to treat ourselves with a trip to the local Arabian styled spa. For 59 Euros each, (they offer a discount with student ID) we enjoyed 15-minute massages, free delicious peppermint tea, saunas, hot stones, and pools of all different temperatures.
The décor of the Hamman is absolutely stunning and makes the experience all the more luxurious. Filled with mosaic tiles that are native to the Andalusian region, it was a great experience that I’m happy we treated ourselves to. These baths are quite common throughout Spain!
Plaza Constitución Málaga
A plaza smack dab in the middle of the bustling area of the city, it’s surrounded by palm trees, beautiful architecture and cute cafes. It was a nice place to sit and enjoy breakfast as well as watch all of the people passing by.
The Plaza Constitución Málaga
Visit a castle
There are many beautiful castles in Malaga to explore that’ll add a touch of fairytale to your trip. The most popular castle to visit is Castillo de Gibralfaro, a well-preserved part of history that offers a great view of the entire city.
Other noteworthy castles to visit include the Alcazaba de Málaga, as well as many that lie outside of the city bounds.
Málaga Catedral
There was a special service going on while we were visiting so we weren’t allowed to enter the cathedral. We did roam around the outside however and the surrounding area was filled with giant orange trees, well-kept gardens, and really pretty buildings. It was cool to see!
Orange trees dot the streets of Malaga and the front of the Cathedral
Mirador de Gibralfaro
Reaching this lookout point proved to be a bit of a hike! The trail is steep and slippery and since we had our giant backpacks with us, it only made it more exhausting. Oh and we nearly lost Hannah down a flight of stairs (typical) – but luckily she only sustained a minor ankle injury.
After everything we had been through to get to the top, the view of the city made it all worthwhile! It was a particularly sunny morning and the city was bathed in light, making for an awesome view.
Málaga’s Mirador de Gibralfaro
Mercado Central Atarazanas
We walked through this beautiful market on our way to the bus station and couldn’t help but wander through it. Filled with tons of fresh fruit, veggies, meat and more – this market would be my go to place for groceries if I lived there.
To top it off, the market is housed in a building with a spectacular stained-glass facade. Markets are such a huge part of Spanish culture and it was awesome to see a particularly pretty one in action.
Málaga was fantastic and my first real experience of Andalusia. After seeing as much of Málaga as possible in 48 hours, we bused off to our next destination – Granada! Stay tuned for my next post sharing my adventures abroad!
After reading above, we sure did have a romantic weekend in Malaga together.. 😉 xox
Everything we do together is romantic! #Han+Brit4Eva