This is part of our 8-day trip to the Andalusia region of Spain in July 2019. You can find the overall itinerary and links to other stops on this trip in our Andalusia post.
Malaga is a port city in Andalusia and a likely home base for those traveling through the Costa del Sol region. The Malaga-Costa del Sol airport is just south of the city and is the busiest airport in Andalusia. And while there are plenty of day trips from Malaga, it’s a nice town itself for exploring. Here are some of the activities we enjoyed in Malaga with kids. They are all within easy walking distance of each other or just a short drive from downtown.
Roman Theater
Seeing the Teatro Romano de Malaga feels a bit like being in Rome. You are just walking down the street surrounded by modern buildings and cars and then bam, there’s a piece of ancient history right in front of you. Discovered in 1951, the ancient Roman theater was built in the 1st century and used until the 3rd century. You can walk amongst its three parts: a stage, orchestra pit and stands built along the hillside. It’s open to the public at no cost from Tuesday through Sunday.
Alcazaba de Malaga
One thing that makes the Roman theater extra interesting is the placement of a Moorish palace on the hill behind it. The Alcazaba, meaning citadel in Arabic, dates back to the 11th century and was the palace fortress of the city’s rulers. It was restored in 1930 and is in very good shape today.
The Moorish architecture and paintings throughout are beautiful, as are the mix of fortress walls and gardens full of flowers and fountains. It’s easy to spend at least an hour wandering through its various pathways. It also offers great views of Malaga and the harbor. You can visit it in combination with the Castle of Gibralfaro, which are connected together by a walled corridor.
After visiting the Roman theater and Alcazaba, we stopped to eat at El Pimpi. The restaurant is located very close by and has great outdoor seating and decent food.
Port of Malaga
The port of Malaga is a lovely area to stroll along the Mediterranean and enjoy the palm trees and boats in the harbor. You can also stop by Muelle Uno, or Pier One, which features a long stretch of shops and restaurants along the water. It’s a really nice place to sit outside for a meal or to grab some ice cream and relax.
Malaga Cathedral
The Malaga Cathedral is formally known as Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación de Málaga. It was built on a mosque over hundreds of years, opening its doors to worship in 1768. It’s an ornate Renaissance-Baroque structure, featuring two levels, balconies, arched doorways and windows and a north tower that reaches 87 meters tall. You can tour the Cathedral and visit the rooftop for views of the city.
Historical and Botanical Gardens
A 15-minute drive from downtown Malaga is the Jardin Botánico Histórico La Concepción. The gardens were created by a couple in 1855 and then expanded upon by their next owners in 1911. The Malaga City Council bought them in 1990 and opened them to the public in 1994. At the center is the historical garden, which features thousands of species of plants along with streams, waterfalls, fountains and greenhouses, as well as a massive iron pergola covered in wisteria. You can also see here the mansion belonging to the original owners. The historical garden is a gorgeous, secluded and peaceful walk amongst the flora.
From there you can venture to the surrounding botanical garden, which is more out in the open. This garden includes collections of plants such as aquatic plants, African plants and bamboos, fruit trees, cacti and succulents and more. You can take the path through the botanical garden up to the historical gazebo, which has great panoramic views.
Our kids loved wandering through the garden paths, admiring the flowers and having plenty of space to move around freely. We combined this with a beach day so that we were at the gardens during the hottest time of day and then at the beach once the heat was more tolerable.
Treasure Cave
In the town of Rincon de la Victoria, a 20-minute drive east of Malaga, you’ll find Cueva del Tesoro, or Treasure Cave. It is part of an underground network of caves and is Europe’s only cave of marine geological origin that can be visited. Paintings and pottery from the Neolithic period have been found in the cave, along with other ancient artifacts. There is also a legend of a buried Arab treasure that is yet to be found in the cave. We spent around an hour exploring the cave passageways, which end in a spacious hall with three lakes. There are audio guides available to explain the historic and cultural significance of the cave. It’s another kid-friendly way to take a break from the sun on a hot summer day.