Where to Stay in Malaga in 2023 (Best Places & Areas)

7 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Malaga

Malaga is one of those cities that makes it easy as pie for visitors and locals to get around without a car. Around the city center, it’s completely walkable. Beyond that, Malaga’s public transportation system is fantastic, cheap, and will take you anywhere you need to go. 

Centro Historico

👉 Best Area For First Time Visitors | ✨ Room Mate Valeria • Madeinterranea Suites • Soho Boutique Castillo de Santa Catalina

Whenever I’m visiting a city for the very first time, I try to suss out the ultimate neighborhood for newbies to the area. It’s a place that’s centrally located and easy to get around with tons of the city’s emblematic attractions nearby. In Malaga, that place is in Centro Historico. 

Centro Historico is the city center of Malaga, which is the best place to stay for first-time visitors. Here you’ll find the city’s top historical sites like the Alcazaba and the Malaga Cathedral. Along with some of the most intriguing museums in all of Spain, including the Picasso Museum and Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga. It’s a major cultural hub of Malaga. 

However, there is always another side to the coin. While Centro Historico is fun and filled with things to do, it also gets very crowded with tourists hoping to see all the sites. Particularly in the high season when the weather is at its peak perfection from June to August. 

Pros of Staying in Centro Historico Neighborhood:

• Central location
• Perfect place for first-time visitors
• All the city’s top sites are within walking distance
• Lots of hotels are available at varying price points

Cons of Staying in Centro Historico Neighborhood:

• Very crowded with tourists 
• Can be overwhelming

Pedregalejo

👉 Best Area For Peaceful Beach Days | ✨ Best Pedregalejo Hotels: Livemalaga Pedregalejo Suites • Apartamentos Pedregalejo • Hotel La Chancla 

At a prime oceanside location on Costa del Sol, many travelers want nothing more than endless days by the beach. If that sounds like you, deciding where to stay in Malaga is simple. 

Pedregalejo is definitely the best area to stay in Malaga for beaches.

This area should be listed next to “idyllic beach town” in the dictionary. Pedregalejo is just the definition of a cute, quiet seaside paradise that’s the perfect place to stay in Malaga for beach lovers. 

On their renowned beaches, you’ll come across spots to eat local food and tiny beach bars to grab a cocktail. When you’re not chilling on the beach and soaking up the Spanish sunshine, there are a bunch of incredible restaurants to try, such as Sapino and misuto. 

You probably saw it coming this time, but there is a caveat to all of Pedregalejo’s peacefulness. It’s located around 15 minutes outside of the Malaga city center by car. So, you’ll need to become close friends with the public transportation or the local Uber drivers to reach the bulk of Malaga’s big attractions. 

Pros of Staying in Pedregalejo Neighborhood:

• A relaxing beach town
• Less busy and noisy than other neighborhoods
• Nice mix of apartments and hotels available

Cons of Staying in Pedregalejo Neighborhood:

• Few major attractions nearby
• Outside of the city center 

El Palo

👉 Best Area For Families With Kids | ✨ Best El Palo Hotels: Aunt Antonia Beach House • Apartamento La Jabega • Apartamentos El Palo

If Pedregalejo isn’t quite your speed, the nearby coastal town of El Palo might be the right move for you. El Palo a popular choice for families with young children because the area has an overall chill aura to it. 

El Palo is a tried and true beach town. You’ll spend your days spent in the sun and evenings gorging on delicious meals at places like Gastrobar Gallarvi and Casa Manuel de la Lonja. Luckily, anywhere you decide to dine will likely serve up scrumptious seafood thanks to the city’s oceanside location. 

Similarly to its next-door neighbor, El Palo does have one major con to it – it’s located a 15-minute drive outside of Malaga city center.  It’s more than an hour-long walk. So, you’ll probably have to invest some time figuring out the bus schedule or some money in hiring a driver.

Pros of Staying in El Palo Neighborhood:

• Lots of large accommodations for big families
• Quiet and calm
• The town is right on El Palo Beach
• Nice seafood restaurants 

Cons of Staying in El Palo Neighborhood:

• 15-minute drive away from the city center
• Far from most big tourist attractions 

La Malagueta

👉 Best Area For Beachside Location | ✨ Best La Malagueta Hotels: Gran Hotel Miramar GL • Hotel MS Maestranza Málaga • California

Are you longing for a beachy slice of heaven that is still right in the center of Malaga? You don’t have to give up a central location for peaceful beach days on Costa del Sol. Let me introduce you to the seaside neighborhood of La Malagueta. 

La Malagueta is optimally situated right in the city center, but it’s still perfectly placed on the coastline. It’s within walking distance from some of Malaga’s other top neighborhoods like Centro Historico and La Merced. 

However, there is so much to do within the La Malagueta district that you may never need to leave. Playa la Malagueta has some great attractions and can keep you entertained. Plus, the district has some of the best upscale dining establishments in the entire city, namely El Refectorium Malagueta. 

This neighborhood might not have any pitfalls if it wasn’t for the fact that accommodations are few and far between. During the summer, it can be nearly impossible to find a place to stay in La Malagueta. 

Pros of Staying in La Malagueta Neighborhood:

• Perfect seaside location
• Famous urban beaches 
• Tons of restaurants at varying price points
• Direct access to other major neighborhoods

Cons of Staying in La Malagueta Neighborhood:

• Only a few hotels in this neighborhood
• Bars are scarce

La Trinidad

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers | ✨ Best La Trinidad Hotels: Rafaela Guest House • Nordik Rooms Urban • Salles Hotel • Ibis Malaga Centro

When I first started exploring the world, I was the definition of a broke traveler. Looking to get around and find accommodations as cheaply as possible, so I could see new places. If you’re searching for somewhere affordable to stay in Malaga, the answer is La Trinidad. 

Located right next to the Guadalmedina River, La Trinidad makes it simple to find a budget hotel or Airbnb that doesn’t give you the heebie-jeebies. Such as the adorable Rafaela Guest House. Beyond the cheap accommodations, La Trinidad has the benefit of being close to major neighborhoods. Centro Historico, La Merced, and Malagueta are easy to reach on public transportation or on foot. However, you’re not so close that the district is polluted with noise or crowds. 

The only issue with staying in La Trinidad is that there isn’t much of a nightlife scene. So, if you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Malaga for out-of-control parties, Trinidad isn’t it. 

Pros of Staying in La Trinidad Neighborhood:

• An abundance of affordable accommodations
• Near other major neighborhoods
• Easy access to public transportation

Cons of Staying in La Trinidad Neighborhood:

• Minimal nightlife 
• Must travel to major Malaga attractions 

Soho

👉 Best Area For Luxury Holidays & Tasty Food | ✨ Best Soho: Hotels: Soho Boutique Urban • Tandem Soho Suites • ICON Malabar

Soho is home to the best luxury hotels in Malaga, plus a nice selection of boutique hotels and lowkey stylish stays.

The other huge advantage that Soho has is its food. It’s one of the best places to visit in Spain for excellent eateries at a range of price points. 

For travelers in Europe on a budget, I recommend the delicious Picnic Soho. If your tastes are calling for something a little more elevated, try the tapas from Mesón Ibérico. You’ll also have endless places to party in the Soho district, like Café de Estraperlo and La Terraza De Valeria rooftop lounge. 

All this excitement, beauty, and opulence comes at a high price though. Soho is one of the most expensive places to stay in Malaga. If it’s in the budget though, treat yourself!

Pros of Staying in Soho Neighborhood:

• Delicious restaurants and tapas bars
• Many cute boutique hotels and luxury hotels 
• Rich nightlife

Cons of Staying in Soho Neighborhood:

• Expensive accommodations
• Gets busy

La Merced

👉 Best Area For Top-Notch Nightlife | ✨ Best La Merced Hotels: Palacio Solecio • Hotel Brö • Anahita Boutique Hotel

If you’re figuring out where to stay in Malaga for the nightlife, then head straight to the neighborhood of La Merced. This district features one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in the entire city and has a super welcoming atmosphere. With everything from no-frills dive spots like Bar Lemmy to chic gay bars like Kipfer & Love. 

La Merced also has plenty of comfortable places to turn in for the night once you’ve had your fun. Hotel Brö is a particularly nice choice for parties because it offers a nice little rooftop pool to relax off any hangovers. A bite to eat at Picasso Bar Tapas will help, too. 

If you’re visiting Malaga during the high season, it can be very difficult to find an available hotel. So, book in advance or you may be out of luck when it comes to staying in this popular neighborhood. 

Pros of Staying in La Merced Neighborhood:

• High-quality nightlife scene with a variety of bars
• LGBTQ+ friendly 
• Right near Centro Historico and many attractions 
• Easy to find a luxury or boutique hotel 

Cons of Staying in La Merced Neighborhood:

• Hotels are pricey and sell out fast in the high season
• Very busy

Tips for Staying in Malaga

Find Malaga’s Pristine Hidden Beaches

One of the biggest things that Malaga has in the pro column is its impeccable location right on Costa del Sol. That means tons of gorgeous beaches. 

You don’t want to squander the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in the Andalusian region, so lounge seaside for a good chunk of time. 

Ask For The Check At Restaurants in Spain

I will admit, much to my embarrassment, that I have sat in restaurants in Spain for over an hour waiting for a check to arrive out of thin air. It was one of those culture shocks I never saw coming because, in America, there’s this instinctual check drop that waiters seem to acquire. 

In Spain, you could sit in a restaurant for 6 hours with empty plates in front of you and they won’t bother you until you ask for the check. Lesson learned!

Check Out The City’s Famous Museums And Historical Sites

Malaga is renowned for its beaches, but it also features some of the best museums in Spain. 

As the home city of the famous Pablo Picasso, Malaga offers tons of art museums like the Picasso Museum, CAC Malaga, and Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga. Don’t forget to work some of these iconic museums into your Malaga itinerary. 

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Malaga Gets Crowded During The Summer Season

Beaches and historical attractions? Yup, you guessed it. Malaga is one of those places that’s covered in crowds during the high season. There are exciting festivals, full beaches, and lots of fun things to do in Malaga during the summer.

If you’re in Malaga from June to August, be prepared for heaps of tourists. Hotels in Malaga will fill up fast and the streets will be full of people. Be prepared for that and book in advance!

Plan to Walk or Take the Bus

Malaga has one of the highest walkability scores I’ve ever seen – a perfect 100%. If you’re staying in the city center, you definitely won’t need to rent a car to get around or even reach most of the main tourist attractions in Malaga. 

Even if you plan to make a further excursion, there are plenty of buses, trains, and rideshares to take you where you need to go. 

Take The Line A Express From Malaga Airport

Getting from Malaga Airport to the center of the city is a breeze and super cheap when you opt to take the Line A Express bus into town. 

This bus leaves from Malaga Airport every 15-25 minutes and costs 3€, which you can give directly to the driver. There are 10 stops along the journey and it ends right in Plaza del General Torrijos in the heart of Malaga. 

FAQs About Where to Stay in Malaga

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Thanks for reading my thoughts on where to stay in Malaga. I hope I’ve helped you find the best places to stay in Malaga for you. Also, Spain changes with the seasons, both weather and price-wise. So, don’t forget to read my guide to the best time to visit Spain for the full scoop. Happy travels!