Must Do Málaga: Discover The Top 10 Things To Do In Picasso’s Birthplace

Málaga is a beautiful beachside city and is known for being the birthplace of Picasso. It is a popular destination for many cruise ships as well as a great destination for travelers looking to discover the south of Spain. I spent a few days (and my birthday!) in this charming and relaxed city this fall and really enjoyed the beach-meets-bustling city vibe there. To help you get a feel for all that there is to do in this seaside and historic city, I compiled this list of 10 must dos in Málaga! Happy travels!

1. Explore the Alcazaba

The Alcazaba is a hilltop palace originally built by the Moors back in the 11th century. The remaining structure is visible from the sea and practically all around the town, so its safe to say that you must (and will) see it during your time in Málaga. I highly recommend a visit, particularly if you’ve been to (or plan on visiting) the Alhambra in Granada-it is fun to note the differences and similarities between these two palaces. Did I mention the entrance fee is only €2.20?!

2. Head to the Picasso Museum

One couldn’t visit the birthplace of Picasso without learning a bit about the artist! The Picasso Museum has a great collection of over 200 of Picasso’s works, and the museum itself was started by the artist’s daughter-in-law and grandson. Not only is the artwork inside incredible to behold, but the collection is housed in a beautiful 16th century palace! Pro tip: I highly recommend listening to the audioguide. Normally I dislike audioguides, but I found the one at the Picasso Museum to be informative and interesting.

3. Hit the beach

What is the point of being in a beautiful city by the sea if you don’t go there! Málaga is home to a beautiful beach. When I visited in the fall it was warm, but not exactly swimming weather, so I settled with a walk in the sand and some time exploring the city’s beautiful palm-tree lined boardwalk. There are lots of little shops and places to sit and enjoy the sea breeze. The perfect way to spend a relaxing morning or afternoon.

4. See the one-armed lady

La Manquita, or the one-armed lady is actually Málaga’s Cathedral. It got this name as it only had 1 of its 2 tours completed. Despite missing an “arm” the 16th century Baroque Cathedral is beautiful, and definitely worth a peek inside.

5. Visit the Plaza de Toros

La Malagueta is Málaga bullring, and the first bullfight was held here in 1876 and the stadium holds 14,000 people. While I personally feel too badly for the poor bulls to actually go see a bullfight, you can find a great view of the bull ring during a visit to…

6. Take in the views at Gibralfaro

A combined ticket to both the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro will cost you less than €4.00, well worth it in my opinion. Today the hilltop fortress consists of mainly architecture from the 14th century, but the site was built atop the  770 BC ruins of the Phoenicians. Talk about historic! Not only is the fortress fun to walk around-you’ll even be able to walk atop the reinforced walls surrounding the structure-but the best views of Málaga can be found here. I distinctly remember walking (and panting) my way up a large hill to get here, but I promise it is worth it!

7. Relax at the Hammam al Andalus

Though the Hammam al Andalus is modern and not historic, it does follow the historic tradition of hammam-going. What I liked most about the hammam experience (besides the gorgeous facilities, delicious tea, and candlelit ambiance) was the modern take on it. Males and females are not separated, visitors wear swimsuits, and you must make a reservation to go, so it will never feel crowded. This is the perfect way to experience a hammam for the first time. (It was definitely a good warm up for my hammam visit in Morocco…but more on that later!)

8. See the Roman Theater

Visitors can pay to walk around the historic roman theater, built in the 1st century AD, or you can simply stroll by and take a peek as I did. The visit does include a visitor center with information on roman life, but after a year living in Italy, I figured I could skip it 😉 Nonetheless, it is still pretty cool to imagine Romans walking around this Spanish town!

9. Shop ’till you drop

Málaga is such a pleasant town to walk around, and the beach vibes carry throughout the whole city. This makes for a very pleasant shopping experience all around town! The downtown are is filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, and other ways to enjoy yourself, and there are several shops you can also visit along the boardwalk.

10. Check out another museum

While the Picasso museum gets all the hype, it is by no means the only museum in town! If you love museum-going then there are plenty of other options in Málaga worth visiting as well. The Carmen Thyssen Museum, Centre Pompidou Málaga, and Fundación Picasso are just a few of the other museums Málaga has to offer!

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With these top 10 things to do in Málaga you are well on your way to having a great visit in this beautiful city! What would make it to the top of your must-see list?

Find the rest of my Spain posts here, or try reading:

• 3 Perfect Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Itinerary
• Must Do Madrid: The Top 10 Things To Do In Spain’s Capital
• 15 Things You Absolutely Must Do In Seville, Spain
• Everything You Need To Know About Visiting The Alhambra

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