“Ciudad del paraíso” – the paradise city. This is how the Nobel Prize winner for literature, Vicente Aleixandre, described Malaga. A city that vibrates with life and fascinates with its mixture of ancient history, folklore and modern culture. And of course, it is easy to imagine paradise in this harbour city with nearly 3.000 hours of sunshine a year and several kilometres of beach right in its centre.
Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents
Emergency: 112
Fire Brigade: 080
Doctor: 061
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El Diario Sur
El País
The shops in Malaga are normally open from 10 am to 1.30 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm on weekdays but there are exceptions. Larger shopping centres and shops stay open all day.
Approximately 600,000
Municipal Tourism Central Office
Plaza de la Marina 11, Paris
Opening Hours
1 April to 31 October: Mon-Fri 9 am-7 pm. Sat-Sun and holiday: 10 am-7 pm.
1 November to 31 March: Mon-Fri 9 am-6 pm. Sat-Sun and holidays: 10 am-6 pm.
Closed: 1 January and 25 December
+34 952 122 020
The City
In Malaga nearly everything is within walking distance in or around the “Centro Antiguo”. Wherever you look, you are reminded of the city’s rich heritage – founded in 900 B.C. and forged by Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.
Malaga’s most famous inhabitant, Pablo Picasso, was born at Plaza de la Merced in 1881. Picasso’s life and work is still present in most places and the citizens of Malaga are proud of their son. The opening of the Museo Picasso in 2003 was a hit and has made the city flourish culturally.
Next to the museum, the visitor can find both the Roman theatre, an Arab castle and, not far away, is the bull fighting ring. CAC, with its international contemporary art, is located on the other side of the old town. The Plaza Episcopal is adjacent to the Cathedral and has occasional exhibitions, often of high quality. Teatro Cervantes offers a wide range of concerts, dance and musicals.
Do & See
Malaga is in a good location for various day trips along the coast, up to the small mountain villages or to one of the larger Andalusian cities. It is approximately a two hours’ drive from Granada, Córdoba or Seville in a hired car or by bus. In Granada, you must not miss the fabulous Moorish palace Alhambra, the Gothic cathedral and the Arab quarters in the Albaicín.
In Córdoba, a walk to the old Jewish quarters and La Mezquita is recommended. In Seville, the capital of Andalucia, you should visit the Santa Cruz and Real Alcázar districts at the heart of the city. Along the entire Costa del Sol it is easy to take a bus or train to most cities such as Fuengirola, Torremolinos and Marbella. Here there are lovely beaches, nice bars and restaurants as well as good opportunities for shopping. Tips for families are Tivoli World in Benalmádena, Aqualand in Torremolinos and Selwo in Estepona.
In Puerto Banús you can view the gigantic luxury yachts, enjoy designer name shopping and mix with the rich and famous at the chic bars on the sea front. There are also yachts, discothèques, bars and restaurants in Puerto Marina in Benalmádena. Ronda is a picturesque town located on a precipitous limestone cliff. The road leading there from San Pedro de Alcántara on the coast is a dizzy mountain trip.
Picasso Museum
Museum of Glass and Crystal
Puerto de Malaga
Iglesia de Los Martires
Malaga Feria
Playas de Las Acacias
Alcazaba
The Cathedral
Jardín Botanico
Malaga Contemporary Art Centre
Roman Theatre
Malaga’s Beaches
Alborania Museum
Malaga City Park
Plaza de la Marina
Wine Museum
Bike Tours
Malaga Boat Trips
Dining
In Malaga you will not find that many restaurants with white tablecloths. This is a city full of informal bars packed with people and a wide range of tapas. In Malaga they generally eat a lot of fish and shellfish, at so-called “chiringuitos” on the beach and on the Paseo Marítimo in Pedregalejo.
Restaurante El Chinitas
Sergio Megias Gastrobar
Café de Paris
Restaurant Vino Mio
Limonar 40
Garum
Alea
Al-Yamal
Meson La Cepa
Taj Palace Malaga
Asako
Cafes
There are not many trendy, international-style cafés in Malaga but there are some genuine patisseries and cosy teashops in Arab-inspired surroundings. Not to forget the “churrerias”, shops selling churros dipped in hot chocolate or café au lait.
Lepanto
Casa Mira
Casa Aranda
El Jardín
Cafe Central
Lo Gueno Meson
Bars & Nightlife
In the centre of Malaga it is not difficult to find a bar with music and people chatting, there are many in close proximity to each other. The inhabitants of Malaga do not go out before midnight and party until dawn. In the centre, bars with smaller dance floors predominate. If you are looking for a proper discothèque, you should go to Puerto Marina in Benalmádena.
Bodega El Pimpi
Discoteca Liceo
Casa De La Antigua Guardia
Amargo
Velvet Club
La Biblioteca
Sala Gold
Sala Wengé
MalaFama
Discoteca Andén
Sala Opium
Bubbles
Bar la Campana
ZZ Pub
Morrisey's Irish Pub
Shopping
Calle Larios and Calle Nueva, the street running parallel to it, are the main shopping streets in Malaga for shoes and clothes. Shoes can be found, for example, at Antonio Parriego and Nicolas on Calle Larios. You can also find the Spanish clothes shops Mango, Massimo Dutti, Bershka and Pull & Bear there.
Calle Larios and Calle Nueva
Centro Larios Shopping Centre
El Corte Inglés
Mercado Central Atarazanas
Ultramarinos Zoilo
Souvenirs
Plaza Mayor
Mercadillo Banos del Carmen
Muelle Uno
The Smile Bank
Vialia Mall
Essential Information
Airport
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is located approximately 10 kilometres from the city centre and offers good transportation along the entire Costa del Sol. It is easy to get to Malaga by train, bus or taxi. The train takes 10 minutes and the bus 15 minutes to half an hour. Both bus and train depart every half hour.
Taxis are available at the airport:
Radiotaxi
+34 952 040 804
Unitaxi
+34 952 333 333
Address: Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, Malaga
Phone: +34 91 321 10 00
Website: www.aena.es
Passport/Visa
Spain can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
Best Time to Visit
Malaga enjoys a pleasant climate nearly all year round, with mild winters and summers that can get relatively hot in July and August. The best time to visit is spring, when temperatures are most comfortable, or the summer months for a beach-focused vacation.
Public Transport
Buses from Malaga bus station at Paseo de los Tilos go to, for example, Marbella, Estepona, Granada, Córdoba and Seville. The train station is right next door. It is easiest to catch the suburban train which runs between Malaga and Fuengirola in the centre, subway next to the post office on Avenida Principal.
You can catch city buses on Alameda Principal or Paseo Parque. Tickets are purchased on the bus.
Website: www.estabus.emtsam.es
More Information: www.renfe.es
Taxi
Taxis are booked via Unitaxi, but it is just as easy to hail one on the street. Alternatively, you can go to one of the city’s taxi ranks.
Unitaxi:
Phone: +34 952 333 333
Website: www.unitaxi.es
Post
Stamps are sold in tobacconists’ bearing the sign “Tabacos”. You can find a post office by looking for its yellow facade.
Address: Avenida de Andalucía 4 (El corte Inglés), Malaga
Website: www.correos.es
Pharmacy
Pharmacies are open from 10 am-8.30 pm with a siesta from 1.30 pm-5 pm. Pharmacy Caffarena is one of the pharmacies that are open 24 hours a day.
Address: Alameda Principal, 2, Málaga
Phone: +34 952 21 28 58
Website: www.farmaciacaffarena.net
Electricity
220 Volt/50Hz
Telephone
Country code: +34
Area code: 0952