72 Hours In Malaga: What To See & Do

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This post will be sharing how to spend 72 hours in Malaga.

After spending the first half of the Summer in Venice and Rome under scorching temperatures, I was finally looking forward to the beach holiday I had planned for July.

Yes, Summer is lovely, but exploring a city in anything above 30 degrees is torture.

It is not cute, and I do not recommend it.

Instead, find a coastal city where you can spend your days on the beach and your evenings exploring the city.

It is so much better that way.

This was my first time planning a proper Summer holiday as an adult, so I’m learning all the lessons for the future.

It was also my first time in Spain, and I was looking forward to it.

I was curious about why British people ran to Spain at any inconvenience, and I was not disappointed.

Spain has a vibe I can get behind.

Before settling in Malaga, I picked up my map of Spain to find coastal cities to visit in Spain.

I initially picked Santander, but I had a few days that I wanted to use to kill multiple birds with one stone by exploring nearby cities.

So, I chose Malaga.

This way, I could explore Seville, Granada and Marbella.

I eventually settled for the first two and will return to Seville in November for some winter sun.

If you’re curious about how I planned this cheap Summer beach holiday, this post is for you.

Malaga Travel Guide: How To Plan An Affordable Beach Holiday

Here’s How To Spend 72 Hours In Malaga For Solo Travellers

Malaga is one of the major cities in the Andalusia region of Southern Spain.

Based on the crowds I saw across all three cities I visited, the Andalusia region is quite famous in Spain, so keep that in mind, especially if you’re coming during the Summer.

As expected, the temperatures were relatively high, reaching 35 degrees while I was there.

However, as a result of the Playa la Malagueta beach it was less humid and generally calm, so I recommend the city.

Flights

Cost: £86.48/€101.70 – Ryanair Return

I bought my return tickets in April, which was my best decision, seeing as all the flight prices tripled overnight.

Although I was scared about all the delays and cancellations, I ran to the airport immediately after work with less than two hours to spare.

Thankfully, Manchester Airport got their act right, and I went through security in 30 minutes.

I flew to the main airport, the Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport, and arriving just after midnight was the worst time to fly in.

Airport Transfer

Cost: £20.39/€23.97 – Uber from the Airport

£36.26/€42.62 – Uber to the Airport

I had already planned to take the Airport Shuttle Bus from the Airport to the city centre.

I made sure I withdrew cash from Manchester just in case the buses didn’t take cards, which most didn’t.

But arriving after midnight meant that all the buses to and fro the airport had stopped.

So I waited thirty minutes at the arrivals just before finally booking an overpriced Uber for €23.97 to my hostel.

I was livid, to say the least.

Imagine spending over €20 for an Uber when the bus cost €1.40.

On returning to the airport, I had to spend another €42.62 because I had a 6.45 am flight.

In hindsight, if you’re on a budget, these morning flights are not worth it if there’s no early morning transportation in the city because you’ll have to spend a lot more to get to the airport.

I usually get 20-25% discounts from Uber in the UK, so I don’t mind taking a morning flight to the airport.

But these discounts don’t apply within Mainland Europe, so I must pay the full fare out of pocket.

Accommodation

Cost: £137.84/€162 – for four nights

Usually, when I book my flights, I immediately make reservations for my hostels without paying.

I never leave it till the last minute because you never can tell.

I struggled to find a decent hostel until I stumbled on the reasonably new TOCHostel Malaga.

It ticked all the boxes I usually look out for in hostels, and I immediately made a reservation, explicitly requesting a lower bunk.

Tell me why the pictures from the hostel were utterly deceiving.

Yes, it was nice and clean with all the modern hostel facilities, but why was it so cramped?

I was just mad the whole time because, after my first night, the hostel was fully booked till I left.

I had hoped they would partially secure the beds because of COVID, but the six beds were all booked, and we were breathing into each other.

I believe I gave them a piece of my mind in my Google Reviews.

If you arrive after midnight, the night shift attendant Luca will welcome you with some Chamomile or Peppermint tea before heading to your room.

But that doesn’t negate that it was one of my most uncomfortable hostels.

If you decide to stay in this hostel for any reason, please don’t stay for more than one or two nights.

Transportation

Cost: £1.19/€1.40 for a single journey

Moving around Malaga by public transport was pretty easy.

I initially decided to walk around like I typically do during my trips, but after the first full day of walking, I developed some blisters on my foot.

Every subsequent journey, particularly to and from the Bus Station, was via bus.

It is essential to remember that these buses only accept cash, so make sure you have enough for your entire journey.

Besides, face masks are still mandatory on public transport, so bring enough.

Meals

I’m very picky when going on trips, so I rarely eat out.

But between McDonald’s and supermarket meals, I had just about enough to keep me.

The menu at McCafe and McDonald’s in Spain is terrible, so avoid it if you can.

The rest of the menu is not too bad and cheaper than anything you’ll get in the U.K.

Instead of eating so much, I realized I spent more time hydrating myself.

From all sorts of ice creams to Gelatos, Smoothies, Frozen yoghurt, Acai bowls and lots and lots of water.

I found that the weather was too hot for constant hot meals, so cold refreshments were my go-to.

Again, most things are very cheap, significantly if you limit certain purchases to grocery stores.

Attractions

During the Summer, the last thing you want to do is explore a city’s attractions when you can be on the beach instead.

On my first day, I spent the mornings exploring the city before heading down to the Playa la Malagueta beach.

It was a great decision while it lasted, but it was simply too hot to walk around.

The only good thing is that many people are usually on the beach during the day, so the attractions are less busy.

Then again, it depends on where you go.

If you decide to visit some of the attractions in Malaga, here are some of the must-see ones:

Picasso Museum Malaga: Malaga is the birthplace of the famous Spanish artist Picasso. Here , you’ll find a collection of about 285 works donated by Picasso’s family.
Teatro Romano de Málaga: A contemporary museum at the ruins of a Roman theatre.
Catedral de la Encarnación de Málaga: A Roman Catholic church with stunning Renaissance architecture.
Alcazaba of Malaga: An 11th Century Medieval palace.
Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga: An art museum showcasing 19th-century Spanish paintings.
Centre Pompidou Malaga: A Paris contemporary art museum displaying works with a glass cube. It’s so stunning!
Malaga Museum: A fine art museum in a former 17th-century palace.
Málaga Park: an urban park with a collection of botanical gardens.
Centro Cultural La Malagueta: 18th-century bullring with a museum.