It could be said that there are two types of people, those who meticulously plan the trip and normally opt for hiring a private tour and those more adventurous and impulsive who prefer join a free tours usually booked on the same day or not booked at all. Both options are good and have advantages and disadvantages. That is why today we tell you everything you need to know if you opt for a free tour and the advantages of doing a private tour.

¿What is a private tour?

Custom private tours in Málaga

The average tour length is about 2.5 hours and you can book according to your language, the most common are Spanish and English but are also available in French or Italian. The meeting points and the key points of the tour can be chosen by the traveller, although it is best to opt for one of the recommendations. For example, in our private tour of Málaga, we have several preset routes that can be adapted to the taste of the traveller.

Accessibility depends on the established route, most of our recommended routes are suitable for all ages,wheelchairs and blind people.  In short, a private tour lets you venture into Málaga at your own pace.

Comparison between a free tour or a private tour in Málaga

Each kind of tour has its advantages, everything will depend on the time you want to devote to the view, the depth with which you want to know the city and the budget you want to allocate. If you want to make a reservation for a private tour, keep in mind that you can enjoy:

Advantages of doing a private tour

• Adapted to you and your group.
• Lasts as much as you want.
• Flexible schedule.
• Privacy.
• More control if you are responsible of a group.

Advantages of doing a free tour

We recommend to plan ahead and book with us a spot in our free tours, it helps us to have enough guides at the meeting point, it really makes us sad to say No to someone who wants to know more about Málaga.

The best things of doing a free tour are:

• It is cheaper than a private tour.
• You discover  interesting things about the city thanks to other participants questions during the free tour.
• You get to meet new people.
• Flexibility to pay for the service.

In the end, the mission of free tours and private tours in Málaga is that everyone, regardless of their budget, can get to know the local culture and enjoy an experience with expert staff in the city of Málaga. So let yourself be guided by the best of Málaga and enjoy yourself!

Do you want to visit Malaga with children but do not know what you can do together? Do not worry, the capital of the Costa del Sol is one of the best places to travel as a family. Its leisure offer is almost unlimited and it does not stop growing either. If you are going to visit the capital of the Costa del Sol with your family and want to enjoy it to the fullest, we leave you the  7  best things to do in Malaga with kids.

Things to do in Malaga with children

1. Parks and playgrounds

Malaga has a large number of parks to visit that will make children enjoy themselves to the fullest. If you can move easily, do not miss the opportunity to see them all. The best known are:

Alameda Park

In the city centre we find the Alameda Park. Next to the port area, you can stroll through its gardens full of exotic tropical plants. There is a playground right in front of the Hotel AC Malaga Palacios, next to the Taxi stop in front of the Hotel.

Cinema park

Located in Teatinos, although you need a taxi or a bus to het there iit s worth visiting for its setting where you can find a representation of the walk of Hollywood fame. Its playgrounds are great for children and will make you spend a freat afternoon.

Parque del Oeste

In the West of Malaga, located in the Barriada de la Paz, we find one of the largest parks in Malaga, Parque del Oeste. This park has free sports courts, swings, ponds, picnic areas and even a mini zoo! Spending an afternoon in this park is synonymous with fun and is next to Misericordia beach.

Ruben Alcantara Skatepark

Designed by BMX champion Ruben Alcantara, let your children enjoy this 10.000 square meters park where they’ll be able to to BMX cycling (including a dirt track), skateboarding, roller skating and more. You’ll be able to hire all you need there.
What’s in it for parents? Lay back in the cafeteria while your kids take a class in their favourite sport.

2. Visit the Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro Castle

The Alcazaba and the Gibralfaro castle are monuments that you can not miss during your visit to Malaga. Children will feel like knights walking through the walls of these emblematic buildings. Its walls, its towers, are the perfect place to simulate a siege and spark children’s imagination. But if your intention is to get the most out of the visit, with the free tour through the Alcazaba you will learn all its history and why it is so special.

In Explora Málaga we have several Free Tours with which you will get to know the capital of Malaga, but we certainly encourage you to try the Free Tour of the Alcazaba of Málaga with which you will learn all about this magnificent medieval construction of the capital.

3. I want to be a pilot

If you are going to visit Malaga with children who love airplanes, what better way to visit one of the best aeronautical museum in Spain. Located in the general aviation terminal of Malaga Costa del Sol, children can use the controls of an airplane, see different models or learn about the operation of an airport, in short a fantastic plan to do with children. The sky is the limit!

4. Sweet and tasty!

After spending all day walking around Málaga, it’s time to regain strength. And what do children love? Exactly, sweet stuff! Malaga is famous for its churros, also known as “tejeringos” but if you fancy something cooler, an ice cream will delight all children.

5. The beach

It might seem obvious but if you visit Malaga don’t miss the opportunity to spend a relax day sunbathing in a beach, while your children play make a sand castle, take a bath or play beach volley.

6. ¡I want to see dolphins!

Thanks to its privileged location, near the Alboran Sea, Malaga is an ideal place to spot dolphins. There are several companies that organise boat trips to see these wonderful mammals.

7. Visit Málaga on wheels

The last plan we suggest it’s exploring the city by bike. Malaga has an incredible climate, which also adds to the number of bike lanes that connect the entire city. We recommend to cycle along the different promenades in Malaga city: Pablo Picasso, Antonio Banderas or El Pedregal. A fun and healthy way to get to know Málaga!

Today we tell you everything about the Malaga Roman Theatre . Why? Well, because it is a living testimony of Roman Hispania. Today, the Roman Theatre has changed the structure of the city, becoming a monument of high cultural and historical value.

When was the Roman Theatre in Malaga discovered?

The theatre was built in the time of Augustus, in the first century after Christ, during the Roman expansion in the Iberian Peninsula and maintained its use until the third century AD. However, many generations of Malaga and tourists have passed through the city without knowing of its existence. How could it be? In the 50`s works in the area hinted its existence but it wasn’t until the 90’s when the Palace of Archives and Libraries, placed right above these historical ruins, was demolished that the works for the restoration of the Roman Theatre and Alcazabilla street started.

What to see at the Málaga Roman Theatre

The Roman Theatre embodies classical Roman design, with seats in stands, an orchestra and a wide and magnificent entrance. Just over half of the seats in the audience are almost intact today, as is the marble slab floor of the entrance and the marble grating used to drain water from the stands when there was rain. The part of the pulpit is still in good condition, with details of its original painting, also the support structure of the wooden platform where the plays took place, are intact. As for the interpretation centre, next to the theatre, it is decorated with fragments of the Lex Flavia Malacitana using original pieces recovered from the excavations.

If you want to see the best of the Málaga Roman Theatre, we recommend to pay close attention to :

1. Cavea: We speak of the semicircular grandstand or the part of the theatre intended for the accommodation of the spectators. It is large, a 31 meters radius and 16 meters high.
2. Orchestra: Located right in front e where the authorities sat, there played the choir and an was also placed the altar in honor of Dionysus.
3. Proscaenium: This was the area were ​​performances took place, its surface was usually covered by wood, and hid the camera for the scenery and mechanisms used for each play (hyposcaenium).

Visiting the Malaga Roman Theatre

Visiting hours for the Roman Theatre of Malaga are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. except for Sundays from 10:00 to 4:00 pm and Mondays when the Theatre closes the whole day. In addition to the Theatre, there is a free interpretation centre which explains what life and customs of the time were like. You can also arrange guided tours or join a free tour in which you will discover the Roman Theatre  itself and the Alcazaba of Malaga.

Do you want to join our Free Tour and learn all the curiosities at the feet of the Roman Theatre? Book now the Free Tour Malaga and enjoy a unique experience. More than 2,500 travellers on Tripadvisor support us.

About Malaga Roman theatre

Some Romans paid for part of the decoration of the Theatre’s performance area, since this way their economic power was patent. Moreover, the names of these promoters were inscribed on the pavement of the theatre, among others, Cayo Aurelio Crito.

Did you know the theatre also served as a quarry for the construction of the citadel, as a warehouse and even as a factory of the appreciated condiment known as Garum ? Discover the Roman Theatre of Malaga with more than 2000 years of history.

Low Cost traveler? Did you spend more money than expected? Not a problem, this doesn’t have to prevent you from enjoying our wonderful city. There are many  plans to enjoy Malaga for free. Do you want to know which they are?

Best things to do in Málaga for free

Pompidou Center and Carmen Thyssen Museum

Visiting the Pompidou center is a must for visitors who come to Málaga, and the good thing is that entrance is free on Sundays in the afternoon starting at 4:00 pm. Also the Carmen Thyssen Museum has a similar  proposal, access is free every Sunday starting at 5:00 pm . So if you don’t want to give up the culture this are your best options.

Churches of Málaga

The churches in hide treasures inside worthy of being visited, and you can go in completely free. We recommend you to take a walk through the city centre and go into these temples to observe the sculptural wonders that they keep inside. We specially recommend the Church of the Holy Martyrs, the church of Santiago (baptismal Font of Pablo Picasso) or the Church of San Felipe Neri.

Museum of Málaga

The museum of Malaga inaugurated on December 12th 2016, with its huge collection of over 17.00 pieces, meant an important cultural boost for Málaga. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Málaga for free. Inside you’ll find the Museum of Fine Arts of Malaga and the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Malaga. This museum has been installed in the building that once was the customs building of Malaga sea for sea imports. Tt’s free every day for citizens of the European Union. For non europeans the entrance price is 1,50€ per person.

Free Tour in Málaga

A free tour is not for free, the name Free tour means that visitors  decide the price at the end of the tour. Free  tour guides work hard, everybody is welcome, and at the end the price will depend on your satisfaction. People choose it because the quality of the tours and  it’s the best way to get to know the city at the hands of local guides who love their city. If you want to do a free tour in Malaga, you can book yours here.

Gibralfaro lookout

The best views of the city are the ones from the Gibralfaro lookout, and the good thing is that the access is free. However, you will have to  walk up for more tan 15 minutes or take the public bus (number 35 ) which goes up to Gibralfaro.

Museum of Contemporary Art (CAC)

The CAC is after the Picasso museum, the most visited museum in the city and houses collections of contemporary art, by artists such as Obey, Louise Bourgeois, Art & Language, Olafur Eliasson, Thomas Hirschhorn, Damian Hirst, Julian Opie, Thomas Ruff or Thomas Struth. The museum is free all  year around for all its collections and is without a doubt it is one of the best museums to visit in the city for free.

By the way, If your trip doesn’t end in Malaga, our friends from Runner Bean Tours have prepared a fantastic guide about free activities in Barcelona. We hope you like it!

Málaga Film Festival

The Malaga Film Festival  was founded in 1998 with the aim of promoting Spanish cinematography. Over the years the Malaga Film Festival has become a national and international reference that has contributed to the development of Malaga as an open and cultural city.

In this line, the 22nd of the Malaga Festival wants to reach all audiences and promote education, creativity and innovation. As every year unpublished audiovisual material is projected and awards are given to the best cinematographic documentary and fiction productions.

In addition, this year The Film Festival is open to more than  30 associations with its “solidarity space”, dedicated to disabled people, which  houses numerous activities open to the public every day.

Malaga film festival schedule

If you are interested in attending the opening Gala, it will take place on March 15 at the Cervantes Theater. During the festival 210 films from a total of 2,404 that had been submitted to the contest from 59 countries will be exhibited. In addition, the following sections have been selected:

•Feature film: 41 films selected out of 380 films submitted.
•Short film:  70 films selected out of 829 submitted.
•Documentary: 48 selected out of 777 submitted.
•For women rights: 15 selected out of 418 submitted.

If you want to see the whole programme of the Malaga film Festival you can download the Spanish version in this link.

Where to watch the film festival

The 22nd edition of the Festival can be followed through various multimedia channels. The organization will be especially active in its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Also on the website of the Film Festival a WebTV will be available with interviews, connections and live broadcasts. If you want to attend the Malaga Film Festival held at the Teatro Cervantes, you can buy tickets at the usual points of sale.

On your way through Malaga to see the Malaga Film Festival? Do not miss the best tourist experience in the city and do a Free Tour with Explora Málaga, rated as the second best in the world and with more than 2,300 positive reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

¿What is a City Break??

The City Break consists of short-term trips of travellers who take advantage of holidays or weekends to make a break and visit a city. This type of tourism has been increasing in recent years thanks to the boom in cheap flights and the ease of the internet.

What formerly consisted of hundreds of kilometres and nights spent outside the final destination, today may mean a 3 hours flight from London to Malaga for € 50. That is why the City Breaks have lengthened in time and space, being able to travel beyond the borders of each country and spend more time in destination.

City Break in Málaga

For more than a decade travelling to Malaga was all sun and beach tourism, nowadays urban tourism in which museums, monuments and the history of the city are visited has more weight, that is why Malaga is a city perfect for a City Break. The international connections with Malaga airport and AVE high-speed train have enabled this tourist expansion of the city, quickly connecting the capital of the Costa del Sol with the entire national and international territory.

If you are thinking of doing a City Break in Malaga and have little time to get to know the city, book your Free Tour with Explora Málaga la segunda mejor compañía del mundo en free tours. Descubre una experiencia única a mano de guías locales enamorados de su ciudad ❤️

Reasons to do a City Break in Málaga

1. Museums: visit any of the 37 museums that are located in the city, from the Picasso Museum, to the Contemporary Art Centre located in the Soho of Malaga or the famous Pompidou Art Center.
2. Málaga’s cuisine is unique and in itself a good reason to visit the city. There is nothing better than a good portion of “pescaito” on a terrace or in one of the beach bars that are scattered along the coast of the city.
3. Connections: As we have said before, Malaga has an enviable infrastructure: Malaga airport is one of the busiest in Spain and María Zambrano train station connects Madrid with Malaga in just 3 hours. If you do not feel like taking the car, there are many other options to make your City Break in Malaga.
4. Nice weather and its people: people from Malaga are famous for their hospitality and, together with an excellent climate, will ensure you an unforgettable visit.

Malaga is known by its landscapes, climate and friendly people but also for its rich and varied gastronomy. Some of its dishes are well known by most of its visitors, for example last year a campaign was launched for the candidature of the Espeto as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Luckily, it is not the only gastronomic gem that hides the city, any tourist or visitor should not leave Malaga without trying some of the traditional dishes from Malaga that we list below.

Traditional dishes from Malaga ????

“Espeto de sardinas” or spit of sardines

Visiting Malaga and not trying a spit of sardines in a local beach bar is actually a serious punishable crime. They are delicious and there’s nothing better than “espetos” and a very cold beer on a sunny day by the sea.

Where to eat “espetos” in Malaga? If you value proximity our bet is the Playa of the  Malagueta but prices are lower and the experience is more authentic in the beach of El Palo which used to be the main fisherman’s neighbourhood in Malaga.

Porra antequerana

Similar to Cordovan salmorejo and the popular gazpacho, this cold thick soup typical of Antequera is made of bread, tomato, green pepper, garlic and vinegar. It is also seasoned with tuna, boiled egg and virgin olive oil. It is a dish that is served at any time of the year, although it is more popular in the warm summer months, as it provides a touch of freshness at lunchtime.

Malaga salad

This salad is one of the most traditional dishes among the locals. The main ingredient is potatoes, accompanied with oranges, cod, chives and olives. It is a fresh and healthy dish that does not disappoint anyone. I am now 54 and have been suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder with all the trimmings for 35 years. I kept myself well afloat for almost 30 years with psychotherapy, valerian, sports, and work. About 6 years ago it didn’t work anymore. My therapist sent me to a very responsible neurologist. We then sneaked into ultram (https://jeffreylichtman.com/ultram-online/). If you want to try this typical Malaga dish, you will not find it difficult, since it is very easy to find in the downtown bars and restaurants. Tip: some add vinegar in the dressing.

[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]Do you want to know more traditional dishes of Malaga? Do not miss the opportunity to take a private tour in Malaga where, in addition to showing you the best corners of the city, we will tell you about other gastronomic specialties that you should not miss.[/quote]

“Ajoblanco” or whitegarlic

It is considered as a variant of the Andalusian gazpacho for its main ingredients: bread, oil and garlic. Sweet and bitter, this cold soup is one of the culinary specialities of the Axarquia area. Its more prominent ingredient is almond, which gives it that bitter touch that bewitches all those who try it. If you visit this area of ​​Malaga is a dish you must definitely try.

“Plato de los montes” or dish of the mountains

A dish that will not leave you hungry and few will be able to get to dessert. This speciality has many variants in which fried potatoes and fried eggs are always present but can also be accompanied by chorizo, peppers, crumbs, lard, bacon, and blood sausage among others. It is a delicious dish but if you have cholesterol, you should think twice before ordering it.

“Rabo de toro a la rondeña” or Ronda’s oxtail

If you visit Ronda you should try the oxtail special. Not for nothing has it become one of its gastronomic emblems. Its sauce made with red wine, carrots, leeks, onions as main ingredients gives it a special flavor. If you like sauce you’ll love this dish.

“Berzas” or Malaga’s cabbage or

It’s a traditional dish of inland Málaga that you can also find in restaurants on the city centre. It consists of cabbage, beans, chickpeas and pork products such as chorizo, blood sausage, bacon and ribs. It is an ideal dish for those who love lick the plate clean.

“Fritura” or Malaga’s Fried fish

A traditional dish of the Andalusian coast and an authentic classic in any worthy chiringuito. Perfect to share, it is made up of several local fish, each bar or restaurant serves it in a different way, adding squid, anchovies, baby cuttlefish, jack mackarel, kingklip…

“Concha fina” or Big Clams on the half shell

This bivalve mollusk usually served when it is 6 cm in diameter is one of the great dishes you can find on the Costa del Sol if you love seafood. Served raw with a bit of lemon and/or pepper can be found in many chiringuitos of the city.

“Campero” or Camper sandwich

We could not say goodbye without talking about a speciality consumed daily by many in Málaga. Made with round crunchy toast, it’s stuffed with cheese, ham, chicken, lettuce and mayonnaise. It is a sandwich you can find at a good price in most bars in Málaga.

Every year, after choosing the gods of the carnival and having enjoyed a great parade of disguises in the streets of Malaga it’s time to give a heartfelt farewell to the 2019 Carnival of Malaga. However this farewell is done in a very special and joyful way. We invite you to discover the Burial of the Anchovy  or “El entierro del Boquerón”.

The Burial of the Anchovy

One of the great traditions of the Málaga carnival is the farewell of it. Each year a giant anchovy is carried in procession from the Plaza de la Constitución to the beach of La Malagueta accompanied by a funeral procession whose destination is to burn the anchovy on the beach, on the shores of the Alboran Sea.

The anchovy is designed in giant dimensions and is usually inspired by some relevant event that occurred in the city during the previous year.

This is a very beloved festival for carnival enthusiasts who each year leave in the spirit of returning even better the following year.

Piñata Sunday schedule

Pinata Sunday is the day of the burial of the anchovy, which this year will take place on March 3. The programming for this day and do not miss any detail is:

12:00 am. Parades of Gods and Animation Groups

The show will start at 12 noon, where the Gods of the Carnival will parade through the Plaza de la Constitución, Especería, Nueva, Félix Sáenz square, Puerta del Mar, Martínez, Marqués de Larios and Plaza de la Constitución.

12:30 am. Carnival Couplets Contest

A contest that lasts around one an hour and where to have a good time with the whole family.

[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]

And what can I do after the Parade? ????

If you are one of those who can not sit still and are always looking for new adventures, we recommend you to take a free tour of Málaga, a unique experience that even the people of  Málaga marvel at…[/quote]

13:00 am. Great Anchovy tasting

In the  Constitución Square there will be a space reserved for those of you who are hungry. Starting at 13:00 pm a  free tasting of fried anchovies in the Gran Boqueroná will be served by the town hall.

17:00 pm. Burial of the Anchovy

After 2 hours in which El Boquerón will be exhibited in the Plaza de la Constitución, the Burial of the Boquerón will take place, starting at Calle Larios and ending at La Malagueta Beach.

Itinerary: Larios, Marqués de Larios roundabout, Plaza de la Marina, Manuel Agustín Heredia avenue, door of the columns of the Port of Málaga, Palmeral de las Sorpresas, Vélez-Málaga, Melilla City Promenade.