Málaga is de op één na grootste stad van Andalusië, en de op vijf na grootste stad van Spanje. Het is de hoofdstad van de gelijknamige provincie Málaga. De stad ligt aan de Middellandse Zee, aan de toeristische Costa del Sol en op slechts 100 kilometer afstand van de straat van Gibraltar. Málaga wordt omgeven door bergen, de zogenaamde “Heuvels van Axarquía” en wordt doorkruist door twee rivieren, de Guadalmedina en de Guadalhorce die beide uitmonden in de Middellandse Zee. De stad heeft een zomers Mediterraan klimaat, maar heeft geen last van de extreme hitte zoals Sevilla en kent zeer milde winters met temperaturen rond de 20 graden. De inwoners van Málaga staan bekend als “Malagueños” en in de volksmond soms als “boquerones” (sardines). De burgemeester van de stad is sinds 2003 Francisco de la Torre Prados van de politiek rechtse partij “Partido Popular”. De stad staat kandidaat voor “Europese Cultuurstad 2016”. Málaga is tevens de geboorteplaats van de beroemde schilder Pablo Picasso en de acteur Antonio Banderas.

De belangrijkste bezienswaardigheden in Malaga zijn:
- Alcázaba (Arabisch fort)
 -Castillo de Gibralfaro (Het kasteel op de heuvel Gibralfaro)
 -Catedral de Málaga
 -Catedral de la Encarnación (Neoklassieke kathedraal)
 -De haven van de stad
 -Jardín de la Concepción (botanische tuin)
 -Kerk: Iglesia del Sagrario
 -Kerk: Iglesia Parroquil de Santiago
 -Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista (Kasteel van de Grafen)
 -Palacio Episcopal (Bisschopspaleis)
 -Plaza de Toros (Stierenvechtarena)

Musea:

- Museo Picasso de Málaga
- Centro de Arte
- Contemporáneo de Málaga (Moderne Kunst Museum)
- Museo de Bellas Artes (Schone Kunsten Museum)
- Museo Municipal de Málaga (Stadsmuseum)

- Museo Interactivo de la Música (MIMMA)
- Museo de Artes y Tradiciones Populares (Museum van Populaire Tradities)
- Museo Císter
- Museo Catedralicio de Málaga
- Museo Taurino Antonio Ordoñez

Top Tourist Attractions in Malaga

• La Alcazaba
  La Alcazaba is a military fortress built by the Moors in the 11th century on the remains of a Roman fortress. The fortress lies on a hilltop with a good view over the town and sea and originally consisted of 3 protecting walls (only 2 still remain), more than 100 towers and an upper section with a residential area, including 3 palaces.
• Gibralfaro
  The Gibralfaro Castle is situated just next to La Alcazaba which it is connected to by ducts from two of its towers. The place where the Gibralfaro lies is thought to have originally hosted a lighthouse built by the Phoenicians. On the remains of this lighthouse a fortress was built by Abderramán III and was later reconstructed as a castle by Yasuf I in the 14th century.
• Roman Theater
  The Roman Theater is located just below La Alcazaba. It was not discovered until 1951 in spite of its size, with a radius of 31 meters and height of 19 meters. Studies have shown that it hasn't been used since the 3rd century and that the Moors used elements from the Theater in the construction of La Alcazaba.
• Picasso Home - Museum (Fundacion Picasso)
  The early years of the life of Pablo Ruiz Picasso are closely linked to the city of Malaga, where he was born in 1881. Family tradition also played a large part in shaping his essentially malagueño character. His life and works would later see him become Malaga's most famous native.
• Tivoli World
  Tivoli World is a theme park with many exciting rides to choose from. Many of the rides are adapted for small children and babies. There are daily shows varying from Andalusian flamenco, Wild West Shows, and an open-air theatre presenting live music, ballet and children's specials. There is a wide gamut of international cuisine to choose from ranging from Texan to Russian.
• The Cathedral
  The construction of the Cathedral in Malaga began in 1528 after capturing Malaga from the Moors. It was built on the top of a former Mosque, which was destroyed when the Moors lost the town. Construction was not finished until 1782, and as a result shows many different architectural styles such as a Gothic foundation, Renaissance facades and Baroque towers.
• Sagrario Church
  This Church is situated between the Bishop's Palace and the Cathedral. It was built on the ruins of the major Arab mosque in the 15th century, gothic style. Inside the church there is a fascinating altar built by Juan de Balmaseda.
• Santiago Church
  The Santiago church, situated in calle Granada, was constructed in the 16th century in a mixture of Gothic and Mudéjar (Arab) style. This was also the church were Pablo Picasso was baptized.
• Palace Marqués de Valdeflores
  This palace was constructed in the 18th century as an exhibition hall for the Malagueños but was later acquired by a noble family in 1895 for personal premises. In 1986 it was bought back by the government and today hosts different associations.
• Bishop's Palace (Palacio Episcopal)
  This palace is situated next to the cathedral and is considered to represent the typical Malagueñean architectural style from the 18th century. Today the Museum Diocesano is hosted in the palace.
• Customs Palace (Palacio de la Aduana)
  Today this palace, built in neo-classic style in the 18th century, serves as the headquarters for the regional government. The palace also hosts a smaller exhibition hall.
• The Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)
  The town hall was built between 1912 and 1919 and is one of the most remarkable modernistic buildings in Malaga.
• The House of the Consulate
  The house of the consulate, which is situated on Plaza de la Constitución, was built in the 18th century in a neo-classic style and is today declared a national historical monument.
• Malaga Bullfighting Ring
  The bullfighting ring in Malaga dates back to 1874 and has a total capacity of about 14,000 people.

Het nachtleven in Malaga:

Tapas Bars
El Palo
Nightclubs & Discos
Muziekbars
Plaza de Merced
Flamenco Shows

Calendar of Festivals, Fiestas and Ferias in Malaga

1st of January - New year's day. National holiday.

5-6th of January - The procession of the 3 Holy Kings. In Spain this event is celebrated with big parades for children where various famous people get the "honor" to play one of the 3 kings. On the morning of the 6th of January is when the children receive their gifts.

From the 23rd of February - Carnival. The yearly carnival is celebrated all over Spain with events like parades, mask and costume parties.

28th of February - Day of Andalusia. A state holiday throughout Andalusia.

1st of May - International Labor day. A national holiday in Spain.

3rd of May - Cruces de Mayo. This day is celebrated (principally in Granada) with competitions in decorating the most beautiful cross with flowers, but is not a holiday in Malaga.

18th of June - Corpus Christi. This is a religious event celebrated with processions in the center of Malaga, but is not a holiday.

23rd of June - San Juan. San Juan is the longest day of the year and is celebrated with campfires and parties on the beach. (not a holiday)

16th of July - Virgen del Carmen. Virgen del Carmen is the patron of the sea and previously used to be a holiday in Malaga.

Middle of August - The traditional summer town festival "Feria de Agosto". La Feria is a weeklong town festival, which is celebrated during the daytime in the city center and during night in an open square in the outsides of Malaga. The main objective is to have fun and people are dancing, singing, eating, and drinking in the many tents all over the Feria square. In la Feria you can also find horse parades, flamenco concerts and locals in traditional regional dresses.

15th of August - Asunción de la Virgen. This is a national holiday celebrating one of the patrons of Spain.

19th of August - Incorporation of Malaga in the kingdom of Catilla. This is a local holiday in the province of Malaga.

8th of September - Virgen de la Victoria. Local holiday in the capital of Malaga.

12th of October - Dia del Hispanidad. This is a national holiday with official parades celebrating "being Spanish".

1st of November - All Saints day. National holiday in Spain. Halloween is celebrated in some places in Malaga but it is not a Spanish tradition.

6th of December - Constitution day in Spain. This is a National holiday, but is only celebrated with official events.

8th of December - Imaculada Concepción. This is a national holiday celebrating the patron of Spain, la Imaculada Concepción.

25th of December - Christmas day. National holiday.

28th of December - Los Santos Inocentes. Apart from being the day where people makes jokes upon each other (like 1st of April in many other countries), this is celebrated with Flamenco dancing and other festivities in Malaga.