Playas del Palo

About Playas del Palo

Playas del Palo are the beaches of El Palo, the old fishing district on the eastern side of Málaga city, about 5 km from the centre. Around 1,150 metres long and 30 metres wide, the shore is broken by breakwaters into a series of small sandy coves, backed by a promenade that runs west through Pedregalejo.

Like neighbouring Pedregalejo, El Palo grew as a fishermen's quarter, and it remains one of the best places in Málaga to eat espetos: sardines threaded on canes and grilled over open fires in boats filled with sand outside the chiringuitos. The tradition has been proposed for UNESCO intangible heritage status. Local lore says sardines are best in the months without an 'r', May to August.

El Palo flies a Blue Flag and received Spain's Q tourism quality mark in 2014. It has lifeguards in season, toilets, showers, sunbed and umbrella hire, water-sports rental, a children's area and step-free access. Urban buses run along Avenida Salvador Allende, and the El Candado marina is about 1 km east.

Come between May and September for swimming and the espeto season. Swim in the morning, when the coves are quieter, and come back for dinner as the grills are lit in the evening.

Playas del Palo in pictures

What you’ll find

• Beach boatsBoat rentalRent
• 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

Just east, near the El Candado marina, Real Club de Golf El Candado (2 km) is the nearest golf course. Further east, Playa de la Araña (4 km) is a narrow 325-metre beach used mainly by residents of La Araña. Following the promenade west into the city, Playa La Malagueta (5 km) is Málaga's best-known urban beach. In the city, the Sea Museum Alborania (5 km) is closed while it is rebuilt as the Museo Alborán, and the Málaga Museum (5 km), in the Palacio de la Aduana, is the largest museum in Andalucía. City buses make it easy to pair a museum morning with an afternoon swim.