How To Spend a Week in Malaga, Spain
Malaga is a charming city located in the south of Spain. It’s the perfect place to turn to if you’re in need of a cheap, easy-going getaway. In this post, I’ve got all the best ways for you to spend a week in Malaga.
*Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that if you buy from them – I get a commission at no extra cost to you 😉 Read the full affiliate disclosure here.
Contents:
What Malaga is Famous For:
Malaga is a very historic city, with remnants of the past in every street and alley. It is best known for being the birthplace of Picasso and where he lived for the first 10 years of his life. Due to this, you will be able to discover a lot about him when visiting as there is a very famous Picasso Museum in Malaga city centre, that showcases his art and has lots of information all about his life.
Additionally, Malaga is also famous for its golden beaches that stretch out miles and are laid with palm trees, as well as its harbour which hosts various cruise ships and boat rides.
One Week Malaga Itinerary:
Day 1 (travel day):
After you have arrived at your accommodation. Take a short walk around and find your bearings. If you’re looking for somewhere quick and easy to eat, go to Maria Zambrano Station. There you will find lots of cheap food options such as Taco Bell, Burger King and KFC (hey, I said it was cheap and quick, not essentially Spanish!), and there is also a cheap supermarket on the first floor, so you can stock up on some snacks.
Day 2:
Now the real exploring begins. You should begin with Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle. Tickets can be bought for both attractions and cost €5.50 altogether. You then have 48 hours to use them at each attraction. You can buy them at the entrance to both – don’t do what I did and walk all the way up to the castle, and see the security standing on the gates and assume you can’t buy tickets there – you can, it’s just hidden around the corner!
I recommend doing Alcazaba first, then going back down and having lunch, then doing the trek up to Gibralfaro. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the top of Gibralfaro and can be steep at some places, so be prepared. There is a bus you can take if the walk is too difficult – it is number 35.
Afterwards, you can stroll back down the hill and head to the beachfront. Here you will find lots of modern shops and restaurants that are reasonably priced. Have an ice cream and admire relax on the beach! You deserve it!
Day 3:
This may not be for everyone, but on day 3 in Malaga, I highly recommend that you go to Caminito del Rey! Caminito del Rey is known for being the most dangerous path in the world…well before it was restored. Now it is completely safe and is still as fascinating! It’s located in El Chorro, about 40 minutes away on the train.
Tickets for Caminito del Rey cost €10 per person, and it is recommended to book far in advance in peak seasons (I went in January and booked the day before). You need to book online as there are no tickets available at the entrance. It can get cancelled due to bad weather, so that’s why I suggest doing it at the start of your trip, as if worse comes to worst – you can just reschedule and switch some days around in your itinerary.
The walk takes about 3/4 hours in total to complete, but you may miss the train so be prepared to stay longer. You can find out everything you need to know about Caminito del Rey (train times, the path, etc.) here. Note: Caminito del Rey is closed on Mondays.
Day 4:
On day 4, I recommend that you explore Malaga again. However, this day you should visit the Roman Theatre which has free entry and is located near Alcazaba.
Afterwards, I suggest that you visit some museums. Malaga is blessed with plenty of museums all around the city, therefore there’s a high chance you’ll find something you’re interested in. For example, there’s the Picasso Museum, Malaga Museum, Interactive Museum, Wine Museum, and many more!
I visited the CAC Museum, which was free entry and located by the river. It had a collection of paintings and art displays. The museum took me about 40 minutes to complete.
Day 5:
I suggest that you take the bus and go to Nerja, a traditional Andalusian town, located around 1 hour away from Malaga. Tickets cost around €5, each way. You can choose to buy them in advance or on the day.
Day 6:
On your final full day in Malaga, you should spend it relaxing and soaking in the culture. There are a few boats that you can ride on in the harbour, that are fantastic!
I went on the Fly Blue Boat, and it cost €12 for a 60-minute ride – which is excellent value for money! Onboard, you can sit inside or outside, on the deck or on the roof and they even have a bar with good prices!
The waves can be rough sometimes, but if they are too rough then the boat tour will not be operating. You do not have to book in advance for the boat ride on Fly Blue.
Day 7 (travel day):
If you have a bit of free time before you sadly have to leave Malaga, then you should spend it any way you like. There will probably be luggage storage available at your accommodation, but if not, then Bagscare offers storage space from €4 and are located in the centre.
Cheap Eats in Malaga:
100 Montaditos
100 Montaditios is the perfect place for a cheap lunch in Malaga! No matter where you are in the city, there is likely to be one close to you as they have around 7 locations in Malaga. They serve mainly sandwiches and beer – but of course, do other things also! Sandwiches from 100 Montaditios cost as little as €1 and a pint of beer costs around €2. The sandwiches are quite small though, so definitely order more than one.
Taco Bell
Okay, so not very Spanish, but very cheap and delicious! If you’re nervous about speaking Spanish when ordering, then I recommend you go to a Taco Bell (or another similar chain restaurant) as they often have screens that you can order from in your language.
They often do very good promotional offers and you will definitely leave feeling full!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Breakfast at Tiffany’s Malaga, serves amazing pizzas and drinks for such a small price! It’s located near the Roman Theatre, so makes it the perfect place to stop and recharge.
Pizzas cost around €5 and alcoholic drinks cost around €2.50 – €3.
The Good Burger
The Good Burger is what it is in the name! It’s a reasonably priced burger restaurant that serves tasty burgers! The average price for a burger at TGB is about €5 and comes with chips and a drink.
They can be found all over Malaga, and the interior is really nicely decorated so definitely stop by if a good burger is what you fancy!
Transport From the Airport:
The main airport is called Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP). When we visited Malaga, our flight only cost £10 each way! So if you want to find out how to get the best flights, check out my previous post. It takes about 30 minutes on the train to get to Maria Zambrano Station, and costs around €2.30. You can use your contactless card to swipe in and out of the barriers, which is very handy and means you don’t have to purchase a ticket!
Best Photo Spots:
Almost everywhere is a photo opportunity in Malaga! However, if you want the best places, then check out my post ‘Best Photo Spots in Malaga‘.
Free Map of Malaga:
Click here for a free map of Malaga you can download!
After reading this post, you’ve hopefully been inspired by how to spend a week in Malaga, Spain! Have you ever been to Malaga? What did you do? What was your favourite thing to eat? Let me know by commenting down below. If you liked this post, then you might also like:
- How to Spend 3 Days in Palma de Mallorca
- 20+ Best Malaga Instagram Captions you NEED to know!
- 25+ BEST Palma de Mallorca Instagram Captions!
- Hostels: Everything You Need To Know!
- How To Make Friends as a Solo Traveller
*Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I get paid some commission if you buy through them – at no extra cost to you 😉
