Málaga with Kids: Things to Do in the City (Our Family Trip)

We spent two days in Málaga with kids at the end of June 2019, with Damian (6) and Marc (3). We arrived from Granada, where it had been 40°C. Málaga’s 24°C and the sea breeze felt like a gift. Málaga is a real working city rather than a resort, and that’s exactly why it works with children: there’s more here than sand. These are the things we did, what they cost now, and what I’d change.

Quick answers

• Best with small kids: the Automobile Museum (under-5s free) and espetos on the beach at sunset.
• Free for kids: the cathedral is free for under-13s, and the Parque de Málaga playground and the old town streets cost nothing.
• The heat: in summer, do the city in the morning, rest in the middle of the day, and go to the beach in the evening.
• How long: two days is enough for the city with small kids. Add a day for Frigiliana and Nerja.

1. Espetos on the beach: the thing to do in Málaga with kids

Our first evening, Beatriz at our hotel told us exactly where to go: the nearest beach, a chiringuito, and espetos. Sardines are speared onto a skewer, salted and grilled over an olive-wood fire on the sand. She said the timing was perfect, because in early summer the sardines are just the right size. We ate with our feet almost in the sand while the sun went down, and it’s still one of the boys’ clearest memories of the trip. It costs very little, and it’s Málaga at its best.

Tip: look for the boat-shaped grills on the sand. That’s where the espetos are cooked.

2. Museo del Automóvil y la Moda (the Automobile Museum)

We left it for our last morning, before a late flight home, and it was the surprise of the trip. We’d been to the much bigger car museum in Turin and expected Málaga’s to be a let-down. Instead, Marc, who was 3 and obsessed with cars, spent the whole visit on the interactive displays he could actually touch, and we enjoyed it more than we planned to. It also has a fashion collection alongside the cars.

• Tickets: €10 adults, €8 reduced, under-5s free.
• Hours: daily 10:00–14:30 and 16:00–19:00.
• Where: Avenida de Sor Teresa Prat 15, in the old Tabacalera building, west of the centre. Take a taxi or the bus from the old town.

It’s air-conditioned and indoors, which makes it the answer for the hottest hours of a summer day.

3. The old town and Málaga Cathedral

We wandered the old town’s narrow streets: pavement cafés, historic squares, mosaic floors, big murals and street art. Then we went into Málaga Cathedral, begun in the 16th century and never finished. One of its towers is still missing, which is why locals call it La Manquita, “the one-armed lady”. We took the audio guide, and the price was very reasonable for what you see.

• Tickets: €12 adults, €8 ages 13–17, free for under-13s (audio guide and rooftop tour not included in the free entry).
• Hours: Monday–Friday 10:00–20:00, Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 14:00–18:00.
• Rooftop tour (las Cubiertas): runs several times a day, and must be booked in advance.

4. Almonds, leather and souvenirs that are actually useful

The old town has small artisan shops selling local Marcona almonds and handmade leather. We came home with a leather purse: a practical souvenir, and better than a fridge magnet.

5. Parque de Málaga: shade and a playground

The long park between the port and the old town is full of tropical trees and shade, with a playground where the boys burned off energy while we sat down. It’s free, and it’s the best place in the centre for a break between sights.

Málaga in summer with kids: how to handle the heat

The coast is much cooler than inland Andalusia. We went from 40°C in Granada to 24°C in Málaga. But a summer afternoon in the city can still be hard on small kids. What worked for us: sights and walking in the morning, an indoor stop like the Automobile Museum or a rest at the hotel at midday, and the beach and dinner in the evening, when the locals come out too.

Where to stay in Málaga with kids

We stayed two nights at Sercotel Málaga, about five minutes’ walk from the bus station and ten from the beach. The single most useful thing they did for a family of four was give us connecting rooms with two bathrooms, and the boys got welcome packs at check-in. If you’d rather walk everywhere, book in the historic centre. If you want the beach on the doorstep, book near La Malagueta. For the rest of the coast, see where to stay on the Costa del Sol.

Day trips from Málaga with kids

On another day we drove east to Nerja and the white village of Frigiliana, one of the prettiest villages in Andalusia and an easy half-day with kids. For the rest of the coast, from Torremolinos to Marbella, see our Costa del Sol with kids guide.

Getting to and around Málaga

Málaga airport is about 12 minutes from the city centre by train. Our airport guide has the details: flying into Málaga airport. We arrived by road from Granada and flew home to Barcelona. In the centre, everything except the Automobile Museum is walkable.

Cathedrals around the world are mesmerizing pieces of architecture that deserve to be looked at and loved. The Malaga Catedral is no different and certainly worth taking the time to go and admire.

Constructed in the 15th Century, it was not completed until the 18th Century and is filled with some of the most beautiful works of art you have ever laid eyes on.

The entry prices are actually very reasonable, and they come with an audio tour that takes you on an immersive and exciting trip through history.

Málaga with kids: FAQ

Is Málaga good for kids?

Yes. It’s a walkable city with a beach, a car museum that’s free for under-5s, a free cathedral for under-13s and shady parks. We went with boys of 6 and 3 and filled two days easily.

How much is the Málaga Automobile Museum for kids?

Children under 5 go free. Adults pay €10 and reduced tickets are €8. It’s open daily from 10:00 to 14:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00.

Is Málaga Cathedral free for children?

Yes, children under 13 enter free. Adults pay €12 and ages 13–17 pay €8. The audio guide and the rooftop tour are not included in the free entry.

What are espetos in Málaga?

Sardines speared onto a skewer, salted and grilled over an olive-wood fire on the beach, usually at a chiringuito. They’re best in summer and cost very little.

How many days do you need in Málaga with kids?

Two days for the city with small children, plus a day for Nerja and Frigiliana if you have a car.