Malaga in 1 day is our most ambitious itinerary in Malaga. It is not easy to visit in only 24 hours (one day) the main points of interest of Malaga, so I have decided to design a visit structured in 3 parts:
- Muslim occupation
- Historic center
- Tapas and wine tour
This itinerary through Malaga will allow us to obtain a global vision of the city and be able to see Malaga in one day, even knowing that we miss a lot and will force us to return..
Itinerary to visit Malaga in one day.
One of the advantages of Malaga is that almost all places are accessible by foot as the best option, so be prepared with a good footwear.
10 Highlights to see Malaga in one day.
The first thing is to locate ourselves, so I leave you the map and summary of all the places to visit and see in Malaga in one day.
For each place, you have information on the route and, by clicking on the link, specific information about each site.
- Gibralfaro Castle.
- La Alcazaba (The Citadel).
- Roman theatre.
- Viewpoints: Alcazaba and Gibralfaro.
- The Central Market of Atarazanas.
- Picasso Museum and Malaga Museum.
- Pier One
- Malaga Cathedral.
- Larios Street.
- Tapas in the center of Malaga.
If you are not staying in the center of Malaga, check all the public transport options in Malaga to get to the starting point.
Map-Málaga-in-1-day-itinerary
Gibralfaro Castle.
We will start at the Castillo de Gibralfaro (Gibralfaro castle), from where you can get the best views of the city, so we can observe the Muelle Uno (Pier 1), la Farola, the park, the Malagueta bullring or the cathedral of Malaga.
Another good option (and free) is to go up to the Mirador de Gibralfaro, halfway to the Castle, from where you can see the curious boat-shaped gardens next to the Town Hall.
How to get to the Gibralfaro Castle in Malaga
- The recommended option is to walk up to Gibralfaro.
- It is a 1km walk (20 min) along the Paseo de Don Juan Temboury, with access just to the right of the entrance to the Alcazaba of Malaga.
- This is a path suitable for all audiences, but on days of intense heat you should avoid the peak hours of the sun.
An easy option to get to Gibralfaro is the bus, being line 35 the one that will take us to the door, although it is important to know that its frequency is about 30 minutes.
La Alcazaba de Málaga.
We will continue towards the Alcazaba, the old Arab fortress that gave character and importance to Malaga. Then we will walk through its adjacent streets, highlighting Alcazabilla street, with several bars where you can take something and even the back of the famous Pimpi, perfect place to make a stop before walking further towards the historic center.
Do not forget to go up to the viewpoint of the Alcazaba, free and that will offer us a different view of the historic center.
In Alcazabilla street you can see all the historical character of the city, contemplating 3 levels of history:
- The Roman Theater in the foreground, from the 1st century.
- The Alcazaba, from the 10th-10th century.
- The Gibralfaro Castle, which served as protection for the Muslims.
If you want to delve into the history of Malaga, you should look for the time (60-90 min) and visit the Museum of Malaga, which is also free.
El-teatro-romano-y-la-Alcazaba-de-Málaga
Then we will walk through its adjacent streets, with several bars where you can have a drink and even the back of the famous Pimpi bar, the perfect place to make a stop before continuing walking towards the historic center.
Right in front of the entrance to the Alcazaba there are some large doors that correspond to two of the most important Holy Week brotherhoods in the city: Students and the Holy Sepulchre.
In the vicinity of Granada street, there are numerous bars and restaurants where you can eat or take a break with a beer or wine.
Malaga Central Market (Atarazanas)
Visiting the markets of the city has become something traditional to see how the city breathes and feels, and the Central Market of Malaga was not going to be less. Here we can see from the fresh fish from the fish market, to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, going through having a drink or eating inside (in the link you have all the details) or on the outside terraces.
As is traditional, the market is closed on Sundays.
Picasso environment.
The second part of the day will begin at Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso’s birthplace is located, next to the new market, another good place to grab some delicatessen. On the side you will find el Teatro Cervantes, the focal point of the Malaga film festival and the cultural landmark of the city. Continue along the small streets until you reach the Plaza de la Merced and down Granada Street, where you will find la iglesia of Santiago, one of the most important in the city. Halfway down the street, you will find Calle San Agustín where the Picasso Museum is located.
Perhaps for a day trip, it seems complicated to enter the Picasso museum and enjoy it, but it is a matter of priorities and you can eliminate some part by visiting it. An essential for art lovers.
Malaga Cathedral
Our one-day tour will continue towards the area of the Cathedral of Malaga, which we will be able to observe from different perspectives, along Císter Street where we will see the entrance used to visit it, its gardens, the Patio de los Naranjos and from the Plaza del Obispo. .
Malaga Cathedral is known as La Manquita, because it only has one tower. You have more information in the link about the Cathedral.
The interior of the Cathedral is beautiful, but it will be a matter of time and priorities to decide whether to visit it or not.
Views from Muelle Uno (Pier one)
Sunset at Muelle Uno (Pier One)
I have not forgotten the Mediterranean Sea, so important in Malaga, so let’s set out to see it. Keeping the path towards the sea we will arrive at the Plaza de la Marina and the new area of Muelle Uno, where the Pompidou Malaga Museum is located, recognized for its famous cube of colors, and the palm grove of surprises. A good place to enjoy the sunset and the sea breeze.
If what you are looking for is to contemplate Malaga from the sea, you have several options for boat trips through the bay of Malaga.
End of Malaga in one day.
We will finish the day in the most important street of the city, Calle Marqués de Larios, commercial epicenter of the historic center. Being pedestrian, it is a delight to walk through it until you reach the Plaza de la Constitución, from there we can get lost in its little streets (Especería, Compañía, Santa María, etc.) until we find a place that you like to have dinner or have a drink. , although I propose a small tapas gastronomic tour of my favorite places.
If you feel like an ice cream, be sure to enter Casa Mira in the middle of Calle Larios and try its famous nougat ice cream.
Tapas route through the Center of Malaga
We could start at the Quitapenas (Calle Sánchez Pastor, 2), where you can enjoy some fried fish and the secret champagne cocktail. The next place, would be one of reference in the city, La Farola De Orellana (Calle Moreno Monroy, 5). For the last stop I leave you two places and you can choose either to visit both: Mesón Lo Güeno (Calle Marín García, 12) and Merchanas (Calle Mosquera).
Don´t forget to check our article about bars, tapas and restaurants in Malaga.
Views from Chinitas Terrace
The last touch to Malaga in one day: a terrace with views.
With this, the day would be ending with a good dose of Malaga culture, so the only thing left would be to put the finishing touch if the body and the desire allow it.
If you are looking to have a drink on a terrace, both the Málaga Palacio and Molina Lario hotels have excellent views of the city. Here are 8 terraces with views in Málaga that you should not miss.
You have a quieter place to sit in Plaza del Obispo, Plaza del Siglo or Muelle Uno.
If, on the other hand, you want more atmosphere, the surroundings of the Mitjana square (Marqués del Vado del Maestre square) should be your choice.
Check the personalized map with Google Maps with the whole day tour of Malaga.
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