Malaga

Malaga is ideally explored on foot, with its compact city center inviting leisurely strolls under the Andalusian sun. Start your exploration with Calle Larios, an elegant shopping street with immaculate white facades, connecting Plaza de la Constitución to the port. This pedestrian avenue, particularly spectacular during the Christmas illuminations, is the beating heart of the city.

The historic quarter reveals its treasures along cobbled alleyways. Climb up to the Alcazaba, an 11th-century jewel of Nasrid architecture, to admire its fragrant gardens, fountain-adorned patios and panoramic views over the port and the Roman amphitheater at its feet. Just above, Gibralfaro Castle, a former Phoenician then Arab military fortress, offers the most beautiful perspectives of the city and the Mediterranean bay. A rampart walk connects these two monuments for an unforgettable historical stroll.

The Cathedral of the Incarnation, a Renaissance-Baroque masterpiece, impresses with its majestic dimensions and singular architecture. Its unfinished south tower earns it the affectionate nickname "La Manquita," or "the one-armed lady" in English. The interior reveals splendid carved wooden choir stalls and a monumental organ. Nearby, the episcopal palace and its gardens are also worth a visit.

Art lovers will find their happiness in Malaga's impressive concentration of museums. The Picasso Museum, housed in the Buenavista Palace, presents more than 200 works by the master born just a few streets away. Picasso's birthplace, on Plaza de la Merced, completes this Picasso immersion. The Centre Pompidou Malaga, recognizable by its multicolored cube on the port, displays a selection of modern and contemporary art from the Parisian collection. The Carmen Thyssen Museum celebrates 19th-century Andalusian painting, while the CAC Malaga (Contemporary Art Center) explores current artistic movements in a restored former market.

The Soho district, southwest of the city center, asserts itself as Malaga's creative district. The fruit of a citizen initiative aimed at democratizing art in all its forms, this working-class neighborhood displays facades adorned with monumental street art, alternative galleries, trendy cafés and artists' studios. All these places make it an essential artistic destination.

For a nature break, the La Concepción botanical gardens, a few kilometers from the center, offer a subtropical green haven with more than 25,000 plants from around the world. In the city, Malaga Park and its shaded avenues lined with giant ficus trees invite relaxation.

The waterfront has been beautifully redeveloped in recent years. Muelle Uno, a modern port promenade, lines up shops, restaurants and exhibition spaces with views of yachts and cruise ships. La Malagueta beach, accessible on foot from Malaga's center, allows you to combine urban culture and Mediterranean relaxation. Other family beaches stretch eastward: Pedregalejo and El Palo preserve their fishing village soul with their chiringuitos (beach restaurants) serving grilled fish and skewered sardines.

Don't miss the Mercado Central de Atarazanas, a covered market housed in former Moorish naval halls whose wrought-iron facade and colorful stained glass windows are worth seeing. It's the ideal place to discover local products: tropical fruits, freshly caught fish and Iberian charcuterie.

In the evening, the historic quarter comes alive around tapas bars. The alleyways around Plaza de la Merced, Calle Granada and the La Victoria neighborhood are full of authentic tabernas where you can taste Malaga wines and local specialties in a friendly atmosphere. For a more sophisticated evening, head to the port and its terraces facing the sea, or the rooftop bars offering spectacular views of the illuminated city.

The surroundings of Malaga also deserve exploration. The perched white villages of the Axarquía mountains, the spectacular gorges of Caminito del Rey, or the neighboring beach resorts of Torremolinos and Marbella are easily accessible for day trips.

• The Alcazaba: 11th-century Nasrid palace-fortress, magnificently preserved, dominating the city with its ramparts, watchtowers, lush gardens and fountain-adorned patios. Exceptional panoramic view of Malaga and the port from its upper terraces.
• Gibralfaro Castle: Former military fortress perched on the hill overlooking the Alcazaba, offering the most beautiful 360° panoramic views of the city, the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding mountains. The interpretation center traces the site's military history from Phoenician times.
• Picasso Museum Malaga: Exceptional collection of more than 200 works by the master housed in the Renaissance Buenavista Palace. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics and engravings trace all the creative periods of the local son, complemented by international quality temporary exhibitions.
• Roman Theater: Remarkably preserved Roman remains from the 1st century BC at the foot of the Alcazaba. This ancient theater, rediscovered in 1951, now hosts summer theatrical performances, creating a striking dialogue between past and present.
• Muelle Uno: Modern and lively port promenade lined with palm trees, designer shops, restaurants and cultural spaces. Stunning views of yachts, the lighthouse and the Pompidou cube, ideal for an evening stroll facing the sunset over the Mediterranean.
• La Concepción Botanical Gardens: Subtropical green haven of 23 hectares housing more than 25,000 plant species from around the world. Waterfalls, romantic ponds, historic greenhouses and exceptional collection of palms and tropical plants in an enchanting setting.

• Caminito del Rey: Experience the dizzying thrill of this spectacular path suspended 100 meters above the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorges, 50 km from Malaga. Once considered "the world's most dangerous path," it has been completely secured and restored.
• Night bathing in Arab baths: Immerse yourself in the sensual atmosphere of Hammam Al Ándalus Arab baths, a faithful reconstruction of a traditional Moorish hammam in the historic center.

• Espetos de sardinas: Fresh sardine skewers threaded and grilled vertically over olive wood embers, iconic specialty of Malaga's chiringuitos (beach restaurants).
• Pescaíto frito: Assortment of small fish (anchovies, squid, red mullet) and seafood coated in a light, thin batter then fried in olive oil.
• Gazpacho and ajoblanco: Two ancestral cold soups perfect for hot Andalusian days. Gazpacho, better known, mixes tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, garlic and olive oil. Ajoblanco, a Malaga specialty, is a white soup made with almonds, garlic, bread, olive oil and vinegar, traditionally served with muscat grapes and sometimes melon pieces.
• Vino dulce de Málaga: Prestigious sweet wine produced since Antiquity, available in several styles, from golden to intense black.
• Tortas locas: Typical Malaga pastry, a sort of sandwich cake composed of layers of puff pastry alternating with pastry cream, all dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon.