Mercado de Atarazanas
Market · centre
The central market under a stained-glass window, with tapas bars inside.
Best for: a market lunch
Best time: lunch
Where to actually go in Malaga
Where to eat, drink and go out in Malaga: 20 picks for study-abroad students, with student-vetted picks marked and prices in dollars.
Eat & drink in Malaga
El Pimpi
Restaurant · next to the Roman Theatre
A rambling Andalusian bodega with barrels signed by celebrities.
Best for: sweet wine and tapas
Best time: evening
Casa Lola
Restaurant · centre
A popular tapas bar with pinchos and a lively crowd.
Best for: a cheap tapas dinner
Best time: dinner
El Palo and espetos
Restaurant · El Palo
A fishermen's beach neighbourhood where sardines are grilled on skewers over driftwood fires in old boats.
Best for: the classic Malaga lunch
Best time: lunch
El Tintero
Restaurant · El Palo
A beach restaurant where waiters walk around shouting dishes and you grab what you want.
Best for: a loud, fun seafood lunch
Best time: lunch
Sights & days out in Malaga
Alcazaba
Sight · centre
A Moorish fortress-palace of courtyards and fountains climbing the hill above the city.
Best for: history, garden courtyards
Best time: morning
Gibralfaro Castle
Viewpoint · above the Alcazaba
Castle walls at the top of the hill with the best view over the port and bullring.
Best for: the city view
Best time: late afternoon
Roman Theatre
Sight · below the Alcazaba
A 1st-century Roman theatre at the foot of the fortress.
Best for: a quick free look
Best time: any time
Malaga Cathedral
Sight · centre
"La Manquita" (the one-armed lady), a cathedral with one unfinished tower; roof tours available.
Best for: architecture, a rooftop tour
Best time: morning
Museo Picasso Málaga
Museum · centre
A museum of Picasso's work in the city where he was born.
Best for: art
Best time: afternoon
Centre Pompidou Málaga
Museum · Muelle Uno
Modern art under a colourful glass cube on the port.
Best for: modern art
Best time: afternoon
Calle Larios
Walk · centre
The marble-paved main shopping street, lit up spectacularly at Christmas.
Best for: an evening stroll
Best time: evening
Muelle Uno
Walk · port
A palm-lined port promenade of shops and restaurants.
Best for: a sunset walk
Best time: sunset
Soho street art district
Area · Soho
A neighbourhood of huge murals by international street artists.
Best for: free street art
Price: free
Best time: afternoon
La Malagueta beach
Beach · east of the port
The city beach a short walk from the centre, with chiringuitos.
Best for: a beach after sightseeing
Best time: afternoon
Caminito del Rey
Walk · El Chorro (about 1 hour)
A boardwalk bolted to the walls of a deep gorge, once called the most dangerous path in the world.
Best for: the big day trip
Price: $ — roughly $12 entry
Booking: Book on the official site; dates sell out.
Best time: morning
Ronda
Area · about 1.5 hours inland
A white town split by a deep gorge and the famous Puente Nuevo bridge.
Best for: a day trip
Best time: full day
Nerja and Frigiliana
Area · about 1 hour east
A cliff-top seaside town with huge caves, near Frigiliana, a pretty white hill village.
Best for: a coast day trip
Best time: full day
Nights out in Malaga
Antigua Casa de Guardia
Bar · Alameda Principal
The oldest bar in Malaga (1840), pouring sweet Malaga wine from barrels and chalking your tab on the counter.
Best for: a cheap, historic drink
Best time: evening
Plaza de la Merced bars
Area · Plaza de la Merced
The square by Picasso's birthplace and the lanes around it fill with bars late at night.
Best for: starting a night out
Best time: after 10 PM