Playa La Malagueta

About Playa La Malagueta

Playa La Malagueta is Málaga's city-centre beach, a 1.2-kilometre urban strand running east from the port towards La Caleta, along the Paseo Marítimo Pablo Ruiz Picasso. It shares its name with the district behind it, which grew from a modest fishermen's settlement into a neighbourhood of factories, shipyards and wineries, and later of apartment blocks.

Its appeal is location. The Alcazaba, the Museo de Málaga, Muelle Uno and the Centre Pompidou are all within about a kilometre, so a swim fits easily between sights. The sand is dark, the beach is around 45 metres wide, and the swell is usually moderate. The chiringuitos along the promenade grill espetos, sardines skewered and cooked over embers and the neo-Mudéjar bullring stands just inland.

La Malagueta has held a Blue Flag. There are lifeguards in summer, toilets, showers, footbaths, children's and sports areas, step-free access, and sunbed and parasol hire from Easter to October, plus paddle surf and other water sports. The La Malagueta, Cervantes and La Farola car parks are nearby.

June and September give warm water with lighter crowds than August on this busy beach. Arrive early in the morning for space, or come in the early evening for espetos as the heat fades.

Playa La Malagueta in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach lifeguardSupervised swimmingFree
• Beach sunbedsSunbed hireRent
• Beach umbrellasUmbrella hireRent
• Public showersWash bodyFree
• Public toiletsPersonal SanitattionFree
• Sandy beachRest on beachFree
• Sea shoreSnorkellingRentSwimmingFree

Nearby places to visit

Walking back towards the port, the Sea Museum Alborania (500 m) is closed while it is rebuilt as the Museo Alborán, and the Málaga Museum (700 m) fills the old customs house below the Alcazaba with fine art and archaeology. In the old town beyond, the Flamenco Museum (1 km), run by the Peña Juan Breva, holds more than 5,000 pieces, and the Interactive Music Museum (1 km) lets you play some of its instruments. The Málaga Holy Week Museum (1 km), Málaga's Holy Week museum in the former Hospital de San Julián, shows processional thrones and robes all year.