Planning Your Days in Málaga

October 31, 2026

Planning Your Days in Málaga

The sights of Málaga sit close together, but each has its own closing day and its own free hour. That makes the day of the week a better planning tool than the map. The notes below follow the week, with 2026 prices in euros, and finish with food, transport and a few cautions.

Monday

The Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga and the Jardín Botánico-Histórico La Concepción are both shut on Mondays, so spend the day elsewhere. The Alcazaba, Gibralfaro, the Museo Picasso Málaga and the Centre Pompidou all open, and the Roman Theatre below the fortress is free to enter. A Monday also suits the waterfront and the old streets around the cathedral.

Tuesday

The Centre Pompidou Málaga closes on Tuesdays, unless the Tuesday is a public holiday or the day before one. This is the day for the Carmen Thyssen, which shows 19th-century Spanish painting, mostly from Andalusia, and is open from 10:00 to 20:00. La Concepción also reopens, so a Tuesday morning in the garden and an afternoon among the paintings works well.

Sunday

Sunday is the day for saving money, as long as you line the free windows up in order of the clock.

From 14:00: Alcazaba and Gibralfaro are free for everyone.
From 14:00 to 17:30 (October to March) or 16:30 to 20:30 (April to September): La Concepción garden is free.
From 16:00: the Pompidou, the Carmen Thyssen and the Casa Natal de Picasso (until 20:00) are free.
The last two hours before closing: the Museo Picasso Málaga.

The Atarazanas market hall is closed on Sundays, so do your market browsing on another day.

The fixed points on any day

The Alcazaba is an 11th-century palace-fortress, and Gibralfaro is the castle above it, from the 14th century. A single ticket costs EUR 7, the combined ticket EUR 10, and children under 6 go in free. The site runs from 09:00 to 20:00 between 1 April and 31 October, with last entry at 19:00. From 1 November it closes at 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. See the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro price list .

The Museo Picasso Málaga is in the Palacio de Buenavista at Calle San Agustín 8. Adults pay EUR 13 and visitors under 17 pay nothing. Allow up to two hours, and look at the museum’s visit page for the season’s hours.

The Centre Pompidou Málaga on Muelle Uno charges EUR 9 for the combined ticket and nothing for under-18s. Its permanent link with the Paris museum has been renewed to 2035. Check the Pompidou visit page before you go.

The cathedral charges EUR 10 including an audio guide. The Calle Alemania contemporary-art centre has been closed for refurbishment since September 2024 and is planned to return as MuCAC, so look for news before you head there.

Eating

Espetos are sardines grilled on a cane skewer over wood, usually cooked in a boat filled with sand. The best-known row of beach restaurants is at Pedregalejo and El Palo. Maricuchi and Miguelito El Cariñoso at Pedregalejo, and El Tintero near El Palo, are names that come up often. Skewers cost roughly EUR 2 to 4.50 each, and a full meal runs about EUR 15 to 30 a head. For a drink in town, Antigua Casa de Guardia on Alameda Principal 18 has poured sweet wine since 1840.

Getting around and staying safe

The airport train, line C1, reaches Málaga Centro-Alameda in about 12 minutes. A city bus ride costs about EUR 1.40 to 1.50 and takes contactless payment. The old town is walkable end to end.

Midsummer afternoons can pass 40 C when the terral wind blows, so put the hill sights in the morning.
Keep bags shut near Calle Larios, the port and the beaches, where pickpockets operate.
Cover up away from the beach.
Swim only where a lifeguard is on duty and follow the posted flag.

Guided tickets and tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .