Ultimate Guide To A Weekend In Malaga, Spain

The beach, the sights, the weather, the food – Malaga is perfect for a quick weekend getaway trip. It is a cute, little city in southern Spain’s Costa Del Sol (lowkey reminds me of Venice, Italy) and I recommend adding it to your travel bucket list after you read this ultimate guide to a weekend in Malaga, Spain.

I went there after Christmas, for a few days before New Years and it was amazing. The weather was nice and warm and the city was so vibrant! There are a ton of restaurants, bars, shops, and things to do.

How to Get There

I rode on a bus for about 6 hours from Madrid to Malaga and it wasn’t bad at all. It was on a semi–comfortable coach bus, that made one pit stop, had some scenic views and I honestly don’t remember the entire ride since I was sleeping. This is a good option if you’re coming from Madrid and want to save a little money. The ticket cost around 30 euro roundtrip.

Malaga also has an airport so, you can fly in from majority of airlines.

How To Get Around

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The city is definitely a walking city so you don’t need to worry about transportation. The downtown area (where all of the main attractions are) are all basically in a large circle. Transportation is available but walking is more fun and explorable. You get to properly see all the sights and take plenty of photos.

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Where To Stay

Since the city is a big tourist spot, there are a ton of accommodations! From hostels, to hotels to Airbnbs and resorts – you are covered! I stayed at the Urban Jungle Rooftop and absolutely loved it. It was totally my vibe, with plants, graphics and, a nicely decorated rooftop deck. I loved the decor so much, I would definitely decorate my home in the same style.

Other than the decor, it was clean, spacious and respected your privacy. I loved the fact that the bunks had a privacy cover and that the bathrooms had stalls and one for males, females and a mixed one.

I recommend using HostelWorld to find some of the best hostels. I like to go with ones that have around a 8.0+ rating, great reviews and great photos. I also prefer hostels with privacy covers because sleeping in a room with 12 people that can look over and see you is a little weird.

If you’re not into hostels, some of the top hotels and resorts are Gran Hotel Miramar, Madeinterranea Suites, Apartamentos Nono, Villa Lorena Málaga, Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano.

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What To Do

Nothing. By nothing I mean simply just walk around, enjoy the city, the sights, eat some street food and take some photos. Sometimes the best thing to do on vacations are to just go with the flow, take in the city and see what it has to offer.

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Alcazaba: The Alcazaba is right next to the Roman Theater and is a nice historical and architectural sight with great views, orange trees, and other things inside to see.

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Picasso Museum Málaga: This museum is to honor the life and career of Malaga born artist Pablo Picasso, showcasing over 200 pieces!

Costa del Sol: This is where the beach is and basically is the main point for all of the cities in this area. There are theme parks, cafes, shops and so much more.

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Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga: This is the cathedral in the city center, where you’re allowed to enter and tour. The architecture is beautiful and it is a nice, historical sight to see.

Gibralfaro: This is where the Castle of Malaga is. People love to hike up the hill, see the city views and tour the castle!

Roman Theatre: It is now more of a monument, showcasing the artifacts and history of what once was the Roman Theatre. Its a cool and educational sight.

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Where To Eat

Tuk Tuk Noodles: Its a noodles and pasta restaurant that was amazing! Pasta is my favorite dish and I enjoyed my meal at this place. Also. the vibe is pretty chill and cute.

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The Great India: I love Indian food and when I passed by this restaurant on my way to the hostel, I made a note to eat there and I’m happy I did. It was like every good Indian food restaurant.

Costa Coffee: If you’re looking for a cute, little cafe, this is the spot. They had multiple types of coffees, hot chocolates, sandwiches, sweets and so much more! Theres also one in Madrid.

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Nonna: This is a cute little ice cream shop with cool and untraditional flavors! Loved it.

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Seafood is pretty popular so, if you’re a fan, a ton of restaurants have seafood options but, there are also other good restaurants, with menus outside so you can check out what they have before going in. Or, just google the top places to eat in Malaga and you’ll find a good place!

Info & Tips

Almost every worker in a shop or restaurant spoke English so I didn’t have to feel embarrassed speaking “broken-Spanish.” You’re welcome.

The city is up all night! People are out and about passed 1 am and most places to eat and party are opened as well. So, go out and enjoy!

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That’s it for this guide! Read more of my travel posts here! Definitely visit this cute little city if you haven’t and if you have, let me know how your experience was in the comments!

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