5 Free Things to do in Malaga, Spain

Blessed with nearly perfect year-round weather and accessible from all of Europe’s major cities by low-cost airlines, Malaga is the hub of Spain’s popular Costa del Sol.

Despite being a working city, Malaga is a tourist destination in its own right with some of the best urban beaches you will find anywhere in the world. The city is also full of parks and pedestrianized shopping streets awash with designer boutiques.

Malaga’s main attractions are family-friendly too with many of the museums waiving the entrance fee for children providing they are accompanied by an adult. For certain hours on Sundays, the museums are free to enter for all which is perfect for families on a tight budget.

No matter where you are on holiday it is often difficult to keep the children entertained while not breaking the bank. With that in mind, we decided to put together a list of five things you can do with children in Malaga that are absolutely free.

1. Amazing Beaches

Of all the free activities for children in Malaga, a day at the beach has to be top of the list. Both of the city’s main beaches are within walking distance of the centre and boast coveted “Blue Flag” status.

Lifeguards are on duty from the middle of June until the second week in September. For families with young children, we recommend Playa de La Misericordia, where you will find shallow water rather than a steep drop-off leading out to sea. If you want cold drinks or artisan ice cream, there are plenty on offer along the promenade to choose from.

Within the Malaga province is a wonderful little town called Nerja, a small coastal village within easy reach of Malaga. As an alternative to hiring a car, you can catch a direct bus or get a transfer from Malaga airport to Nerja depending on how you prefer to travel.

This once fishing village has some of the most attractive beaches that Malaga offers. Burriana beach is popular one because of its clean golden sand and unspoiled surroundings. Young and older children enjoy hours of fun paddling here under the careful eyes of the lifeguards.

2. Children’s Playgrounds 

One of the most unique playgrounds in Malaga is located in the Teatinos neighbourhood and is called Parque del Cine (Cinema Park), with paths painted to resemble rolls of film and a star-studded walk of fame copied from Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angelos. There is a lot to do here including zip lines, slides, trampoline, table tennis, basketball court and walkways.

Treasure Island Park is another themed playground that uses Robert Louis Stevenson’s book for its inspiration. Opened in 2013, the park is located in the Puerto de la Torre district and is known by its official name of Victor Hugo Park because of the name of the square where it is located. In the park, you will find a tower on a hill with slides and a replica pirate ship complete with climbing nets and ropes for swinging.

3. Atarazanas Market

Spanish cities are famous for their indoor food markets and Malaga’s Atarazanas Market is about as good as you get. Built on the site of a Moorish shipyard close to the harbour, Malaga’s favourite foodie destination has been serving mouth-watering, seasonal delights since 1879.

Spend a couple of hours walking around the market to see what the stalls are selling. If you are holidaying or self-catering why not let the kids help you pick out that evening’s dinner. The sights and smells of the wide array of spices and fresh & dried fruit are a memorable experience.

Why not invite your child to try the Cherimoya fruit which is now widely available in Malaga. This delicious fruit has been described as tasting of a combination of flavours such as bananas, coconut, and mangoes. Some people also taste apple and custard! This may be why it is also fondly known as the custard apple.

Many children learning the Spanish language and culture at school. They are fascinated to tell the class when they return home all that they experienced at this lively market.

The market is open Monday to Saturday, 8am to around 2-3pm, depending on the stall holder. On Monday, all the fish stalls are closed due to the fact that the fishing boats don’t go out to sea on Sunday.

4. Castillo de Gibralfaro

Step back in time and learn about Malaga’s rich history by wandering around the old town where you will discover a Roman amphitheatre built by Caesar Augustus in the first century BC. From there, visit the Alcazaba fortress one of the best-preserved buildings of its type in Spain before walking up the hill to the Castillo de Gibralfaro.

Built in the 14th century to protect the Alcazaba, the Castillo de Gibralfaro offers spectacular views of the Malaga skyline and on a clear day the Rif Mountains in Morocco. Both the Alcazaba fortress and the Castillo de Gibralfaro offer free entrance after 2pm on Sundays!

5. Guadalhorce River Estuary Natural Area

Just 20 miles west of Malaga near the airport is the Rio Guadalhorce Nature Reserve. It is a 67 hectare protected wetland that is home to hundreds of migrating birds. If you enjoy a picnic by water, opportunities to observe wildlife in their natural habitats and to relax, then this could be an unspoiled setting that you will enjoy.

The reserve has well-marked trails and hides where you can go for a gentle hike with older children and photograph some of Europe’s rarest birds as they stop over on their annual migrations to and from Africa.

To get there take the N340 towards Torremolinos turning off at the exit for Guadalmar. You can also take the Malaga – Guadalmar #10 bus from the city centre.

Bonus Free Attraction

A wonderful park that is not be missed is called La Paloma Park in Benalmadena. This beautiful park is approximately 200,000 square metres and has quite a large lake in the centre. Many enjoy cycling or walking around the lake’s circuit or even steering a segway around to add to the adventure. The lake itself is home to a good variety of birds, but it’s the baby turtles here that are in the limelight, bringing excitement to young and old.

The park is carefully divided off by attractive sections of trees, walkways and water features. There is a garden walk with many species of cactus that offers a spectacle backdrop for photos. Just around the corner, a large area of bamboo divides the next walkway from a small stretch of water, a bridge and a delightful waterfall turning a simple walk into an exciting adventure for children.

Small animals are everywhere you look, wandering freely around the park. Little ones are so excited to observe that even wild rabbits approach them for a gentle stroke.

Although this beautiful park is popular and without charge, a more isolated spot is easy to be found for a family picnic within its spacious grounds. 

*Have you visited Malaga, Spain?

Originally from the UK, Nicola Griffin now lives in Southern Spain with her family. She loves to share her experiences of expat life in Spain and her adventures discovering its culture, food and what makes it a wonderful place to live. 

-Thank you for this wonderful post, Nicola!

This is a part of a series called Five Free Family Friday which is a collective guide of free family-friendly attractions from places all over the world.  If you’d like to contribute with the free attractions in your home city, I would love your guest posts. Thanks!

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