FREE THINGS TO DO IN Malaga

This charming port has recently undergone a major redevelopment and now it’s a pleasure to wander around, admiring the yachts, taking in some lunch at one of the many waterfront restaurants and checking out the sculptures that are dotted around.

One of the best places to spend a relaxing afternoon, with the sun shining on the crystal clear water. It’s easy to get to as well, with the promenade leading from the city centre, past the lighthouse and onto La Malagueta beach (link). The port is also one of the best shopping areas and even hosts a small market on Sunday mornings. You can watch the cruise ships coming in and out. It’s great for people watching in general and there is a vibrant, friendly atmosphere. If you’re feeling more active, you can hire bikes and segways. You can also go on a boat trip or even the small solar powered train.

The CAC (Centro de Arte Contemporaneo) is one of the newest and most exciting of Malaga’s galleries, opened in 2003. It showcases a wide range of modern art from across Spain and beyond, with constantly changing temporary exhibitions, so each visit will be different. Among the big stars who have been featured are Anish Kapoor, Damien Hirst and Jake and Dinos Chapman. The emphasis is on the best of contemporary art from the 1950s to the present, inspired by the German Kunsthauses (Houses of Art).

The museum has a floor space of 6000m², with over 400 works in the permanent collection. Entrance is free, and it enjoys the comparatively rare advantage among Spanish galleries of having a cafe. It’s situated on the bank of the dry river Guadalmedina.

Housed in the old Wholesalers’ Market which was built after the war, the building is in fact well suited to its current purpose, as it was designed by one of Spain’s leading architects in a functional, Cubist style.

The Museum of Malaga is a newly re-opened museum that has been relocated, after a 20 year wait, to the historic Palacio de la Aduana which was once the customs house. This 4 storey building is quite simply a treasure trove of archaeological finds and artwork with some 2,000 works of art and 15,000 archaeological finds from in and around Malaga on display.

Must see items include Picasso's 'Old man with blanket' and Simonet's 'And she had a heart!' along with an ancient Corinthian style helmet from 600BC and some unique Roman sculptures of the Casa-Loring collection. Amongst these key pieces, you can also see religious icons, 16th century ceiling corbels, modern art, and so much more.

Situated on a naturally formed island where the Guadalhorce river meets the Mediterranean sea, the Guadalhorce Nature Reserve (Paraje Natural Desembocadura del Guadalhorce) is a paradise for twitchers (bird watchers) as it's one of the most important breeding and migration sites in the country being on the direct route between Europe and Africa.

260 species have been recorded here which include ospreys, marbled teals, booted eagles, northern gannets, redshanks, crested larks, reed warblers, flamingos, monk parakeets and so much more. Comprising of marshlands, palm trees, willows, and poplars with a mix of fresh water and salt water it's certainly a unique environment and a tranquil green oasis for those who love spending time in nature, follow the trails, get comfy in a hide with binoculars, and see what you find.

Get the best view of the city from the 130 metre high Gibralfaro viewpoint, it's one of those top-spots for photography, especially at sunset and through blue hour as the city lights come on. Get there early to ensure you can get the best spot to look down on the bullring and Paseo del Parque Avenue whilst watching the cruise ships come in and out of port.

If you're walking up, allow enough time as it's quite a steep treck, if that sounds too strenuous grab the bus to the top of Mount Gibralfaro. Other viewpoints in Malaga include Noria de Málaga (Mirador Princess) and the viewpoint of ‘El Falcón’ but Gibralfaro has to be the best of them.

Address: Calle Campos Elíseos, 16, 29016 Málaga, Spain

The Roman Theatre is an archaeological treasure in the city, built in the 1st century BC but only unearthed again in 1951. The restoration is still ongoing, but nevertheless there is much to enjoy when visiting the theatre.

A small museum before you enter the theatre really puts you in the context of the arena’s heyday, with interactive exhibits, a short movie and information boards. This helps you imagine the splendour that once existed once you get inside. You can sit on the portion of original Roman seating that still survives and let your mind drift to the days of gladiatorial combat and classical drama.

In fact, it is possible to book tickets to see a production in the theatre, which would certainly be a unique experience. It’s free to visit at any other time, making this one of Malaga’s most enticing attractions. It’s at the foot of the Alcazaba (link), so is well worth checking out at the same time.

As you’d expect for a popular seaside resort, Malaga has its fair share of beaches. You have a few options if you want to spend a lazy day swimming and soaking up the rays - some are a little distance away from the centre, but are well worth the effort.

The most easily accessible beach is La Malagueta, adjacent to the newly redeveloped port (link). It features dark sand, some palm trees, sunloungers, and plenty of restaurants along the seafront. You can also take a good long walk along its promenade.

A little way along the coast you can find Playa Palo beach. It’s next to El Candado marina, which offers sailing and diving facilities, and there’s a golf club. In the other direction (west rather than east), there’s Playa Huellin, which you can reach by bus.

Finally, there’s the highly popular Playa Las Acacias, located off Av. Juan Sebastián Elcano. Get there early for a good spot. 1200 metres long, it’s divided into a series of sandy coves by rocky breakwaters.

The directions in this article relate to La Malagueta beach.

Malaga boasts a wealth of stunning outdoor spaces, with a rich variety of plantlife which is aided by the favourable Mediterranean climate. Undoubtedly the most important in the city is the Parque de Malaga located parallel to the Paseo del Parque with beautiful views out to the harbour. In fact, the park sits on land which was reclaimed from the sea.

The Parque has an array of tropical flowering trees and shrubs, which were imported from as far afield as Cuba. It’s an ideal place to unwind on a sunny afternoon and perhaps enjoy a picnic. The free concerts given each Sunday at noon by the Malaga Municipal Band are a special treat.

Nearby, you can find the Pedro Luis Alonso Gardens, laid out in geometric patterns and featuring fruit trees including oranges and mandarins. There’s also the Puerto Oscura Gardens, located on the southern slopes of the Gibralfaro (link), with a charming layout over several levels featuring fountains, paths and pergolas.

The directions on this page refer to the Parque de Malaga.

A very popular food market with an extensive range of high quality fresh produce including fruit, meat, cheeses, fish, spices and many more. It’s all set in a beautiful iron structure that has an interesting history of its own.

Originally the town’s shipyard at the time when the majority of the present city was underwater, the Moorish building’s name translates from the Arabic as “a place where ships are repaired”.

The market’s impressive entrance arch is the only one of the original seven which is still in place. Inside you will find an iron arch with an attractive stained glass window portraying the maritime association. The 14th century building was resurrected in the 19th century after falling into disrepair. The iron framework was introduced and it has served as a market ever since. It was renovated again in 2008-10.

This bustling centre of commerce is highly popular with locals as well as tourists and is a true slice of Malagan life.

This museum which focuses on Malaga’s civic and artistic history is relatively small but that works in its favour as you get an idea of the figures and events that have shaped the city over the years without an information overload. It’s also one of Malaga’s newest museums, founded in 2007 by Mayor Prados, who also came up with the idea.

The exhibits trace the city’s timeline from the Catholic Kings up to the era of Picasso. You follow events chronologically through the three rooms, starting with the 15th to 18th centuries and explaining how Malaga changed from a Moorish to a Spanish city. In the third room, there are some important works from Picasso with Malaga as their subject.

The history is explained through paintings, sculptures, furniture and documents and there is a large library of books. The museum also holds temporary exhibitions which focus on one specific artist.