Exploring Málaga: Neighborhoods, Museums, and Dining Experiences (3 days)

On the morning of May 5th, we hopped on a bus to Granada’s train station and caught a train to Málaga. The 1.5-hour journey cost us €23 each.

While we wouldn’t call ourselves beach bums, Málaga’s coastal vibe and vibrant energy are very charming. We love the fresh seafood and the interesting museums there.

We spent our entire 3-day stay exploring its vibrant neighborhoods on foot and never felt the need for the metro. Staying in the central of the city made us accessible to walk everywhere. Here are some of the must-see spots I’d recommend adding to your list:

Where to eat/drink in Málaga:

Restaurante Esquina Padilla: our first lunch stop in Malaga. In the Spanish cities we visited, paella is priced per person, and this priced €25 for two of us.

Helados Bico de Xeado Málaga: Wonderful gelato. I would definitely eat their pepermint chocolate gelato and passion fruit everyday! My photo doesn’t do the justice.

Delicotte: Great take away coffee

Gusto: We were lucky to get a table without reservation, but in most cases they would be full and require you to secure a table for the next day. Their pasta dishes are delicious and tiramisu is on point too!

Santa Coffee: Great coffee near Picasso Museum.

Mercado Central de Atarazanas: Great variety of seafood dishes, smoothies, olives, and fresh fruits. You could either order directly from the stalls or grab a seat at an outside table and order there.

Variety options of ready-to-drink smoothies

La Téteria Cafe: Lovely cafe near the Church of San Agustin. However, a friendly tip: if you’re not a huge fan of condensed milk coffee, maybe skip the Romeo (though I can’t blame anyone who loves it!).

We grabbed a jambon baguette at Ibéricos José Puerto. Maybe it’s not the best in Malaga, we might need another trip to find out…

Ana La Fantástica: A local lovely coffee spot in a very quiet corner of Malaga. The staffs don’t even speak English but it doesn’t matter- their coffee and pastry options are all great!

Luciano’s Ice Cream Shop: Dark chocolate and Passion fruit flavors are delicious!

Mala Leche : Great coffee. We pay same price of the whole bill for just a small size cappuccino back home.

We shopped for fresh fruit at a grocery store Supermercados MAS . I was so impressed with their fresh pressed orange juice (zumo de naranja) machine. Just 2.85 euros for a 50cL bottle.

El Gastronauta: We reserved our table 3 days in advance because they’re closed Mondays and don’t seem to take walk-ins. Their seafood dishes are quite fresh and tasty.

What to do in Málaga:

Malaga Museum/Palacio de la Aduana: We were fortunate to visit the Palacio during a time when they offered free admission tickets. The museum showcases a collection of original paintings, some on long-term loan from Madrid’s Museo del Prado.

Museo Picasso Málaga: I booked our tickets online in advance. The entrance fee is €12 per adult, and reservations with time slots are required. Even so, there was already a long line when we arrived, and skip-the-line options weren’t available.

As the birthplace of the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, the museum offers a fascinating exploration of his career, it was a truly special experience to see Picasso’s original works. While his later works embraced a more radical and abstract style, often challenging classical art theory, I found myself particularly drawn to his earlier pieces. These displayed a remarkable skill and precision that I greatly admired.

On the other hand, after reading about his personal life, the information revealed a complex and controversial individual, whose personal choices in relationships and family life were far from my ideal.

Here are some of his works that left me in awe of his distinctive technique and talent.

Malaga Catedral (Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación): I purchased the ticket from their website for 10.00 € one adult. It’s a magnificent building with a Renaissance and Baroque interior style design with the unfinished right-hand tower. For details about the building.

Alcazaba: We purchased the combined tickets (Alcazaba + Castle of Gibralfaro) directly on site for 5,50€ each person. Be sure to bring a water bottle and hat, as the uphill trek to the fortress can be tiring.

Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga: the entrance fee is 11€ for one adult. The museum showcases 19th-century Spanish paintings from the collection of Carmen Cervera, the fifth wife of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, whose family’s art collection has been on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.