Malaga is, without a doubt, a place full of charming activities. If you are thinking about a trip to Malaga, but are going with the kids, don’t worry! In Malaga there are plenty of plans for the whole family to enjoy. Read on to discover a list where we propose 30 plans to do with children!
1. Visit the Aeronautical Museum
This museum is a must for children. It is a terminal built in 1948 and refurbished as a museum in 2009. It is located next to Malaga Airport. There is no entrance fee for this museum, so you have no excuse not to visit it during your stay.
2. Free Tour of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle
Here, you’ll be able to learn history with your family in one of the most important Muslim works preserved in Spain. The Gibralfaro Castle was built in the 14th century to protect the Alcazaba and to house the troops. It also has an Interpretation Centre so that you can travel through time. Your little ones will think they’re really living through the battles!
3. Explore the Nerja caves
This is, without a doubt, one of the best things to do with children. The caves are located in Maro, a few kilometres from the centre of Nerja.
These caves were found by five Spaniards in 1959 and have the largest stalactite in the world, with 33 metres.
This visit will have a lasting impact on you – the tour can take just over an hour, but once you leave, you can enjoy some of the services offered such as children’s games, the restaurant or picnic area.
4. Bathe on the beaches
There are many beaches very close to the city centre where you can spend the day with your children. The Costa del Sol has 126 spectacular beaches spread over more than 150 kilometres. The best known and most centrally located is La Malagueta. It is a succession of three coves separated by breakwaters.
If you want quieter beaches, you can opt for those of Pedralejo and Del Palo, which are far from the hustle and bustle of the centre.
If you prefer a beach with dark sand, La Misericordia is a very good option – it is surrounded by an incredible promenade and there are many services such as toilets, showers, surfing area, beach bars, children’s play areas and tourist offices.
5. Go up the cable car in Benalmádena
Little ones love going up in the cable cars and seeing the town from above. The journey takes about 15 minutes to reach Monte Calamorro. Once at the top, you can enjoy beautiful views, bird watching, hiking or eating in the restaurant.
6. Discover the Guadalhorce River mouth
On the west side of the city centre of Malaga is the Paraje Natural de la Desembocadura del Río Guadalhorce, one of the preserved green spaces on the Costa del Sol, where you can cross its wooden pedestrian bridge and visit some of its viewpoints to observe more than 240 species of birds all year round. This area offers routes for the whole family, so don’t forget to bring comfortable clothes and shoes, a camera and good binoculars.
7. The Caminito del Rey
For children over 8 years old, this activity is perfect! These paths and walkways are one of the most important tourist attractions in the city. It is a 7.7-kilometre route that lasts between 3 and 4 hours and is only suitable for the brave! The combination of nature and its hanging bridges will make it the ideal place to spend a fun day with the family.
8. Play in the parks
Your children will thank you for being able to play in one of the many parks in the city.
We suggest several options:
- Finca de la Concepción Botanical Park: it has 52,000 plants of some 2,200 tropical, subtropical and autochthonous species. In addition to different species of aquatic plants, palm trees, ponds, wooden bridges, small lakes, greenhouses, viewpoints, pergolas, it also has the Lorigiano Museum where you will see a variety of sculptures and waterfalls.
- The Parque del Oeste: this well-known park is located near the Playa de la Misericordia. Here you can enjoy a countless number of family activities as it has a picnic area, playgrounds, sports areas, a mini-zoo and a lake, where you can see numerous ducks, turtles and swans.
- Alameda Park: located in the city centre, between the old town and the port, it is a Renaissance-baroque style park with many tropical plants that make it unique and one of the most important in Europe in terms of exotic flora.
9. Pompidou Centre
Known as the colourful cube, it is a building with colourful architecture and is inspired by the centre of the same name in Paris. It is located very close to the Port of Malaga, and there is a large esplanade around it for strolling with the kids. This centre has both temporary and permanent exhibitions and activities for families. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11:30 there is a family visit available to see the exhibitions.
10. Visit the Interactive Museum of Music
This museum has interactive rooms with red walls, where children can play and try out different instruments, white rooms where large instruments are exhibited and black rooms where you can find a permanent exhibition. The perfect way to introduce children to the world of music!
11. Immerse yourselves in a Treasure Cave
What better place to discover with your children than one of the three marine caves in the world?
It is located in Rincón de la Victoria, some 15 kilometres from the city centre. Children will be fascinated walking through its cavities, observing the curious shapes that the water has left behind for millennia, and with a bit of luck you might even find the treasure that is believed to still be in the cave!
12. Have fun in a water park
Another family plan suggestion is spending the day in one of the water parks on the Costa del Sol.
At AquaMijas, the little ones can play in labyrinths, slides, wave pools, jacuzzis… There are also restaurants and places for lunch and snacks inside the park.
13. Stroll through the village of Nerja
You can’t go to Malaga without making at least one trip to the village where the famous Spanish series, Verano Azul, is filmed. This gorgeous village is located an hour away from the capital, and once there you can enjoy one of the best views from the Balcón de Europa, a well-known square with views of the Mediterranean. You can also visit their museum, their famous cave or simply eat in one of their many spots where you can have tapas, a beer or eat a good meal.
14. The Principia Science Centre
All children like to experiment, so what better activity than the Principia Science Centre?
The museum has three main spaces; the “Tomás Hormigo Room” with over 80 interactive modules, the “Faraday Room”, where the little ones can have fun with science and the planetarium, with a digital star projector allowing you to see the sky from anywhere in the universe.
15. A trip to Fragiliana
Located in the Axarquia region, Frigiliana is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest villages in the Malaga province. This village, with its Moorish history, is characterised by its white houses, narrow streets, balconies full of flowers, and steep staircases that run through the historical centre. The four sites that are not to be missed are the town centre, the Moorish centre, the viewpoints and the Sierra de la Almijara.
It’s only a 20 minute drive from Nerja so you can visit both on the same day.
16. Stroll along Muelle Uno
This plan is perfect for the family, especially if you go on a Sunday when you can enjoy events and live music.
This walk will take you to the esplanade of the Pompidou Centre, as aforementioned, and into the more commercial area of Muelle Uno, where you’ll find little stalls for shopping, restaurants, or bike hire stops.
17. Get to know El Acebuchal
El Acebuchal is a reconstructed village that was abandoned for 50 years. This village is located 7 kilometres from Frigiliana, in the interior of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and the Natural Park of Alhama. The best thing to do in this small village is walk through its narrow streets and enjoy its authenticity, a truly magical place!
18. Tivoli World
Located in Benalmádena, Tivoli World is an amusement park offering all kinds of rides and numerous fountains and gardens.
It’s a great option to enjoy with children due to the huge variety of rides and themed restaurants. You’ll have a fantastic day out!
19. Visit the Sohail Castle
In Fuengirola, another plan is to visit the Sohail Castle. It is located at the mouth of the river Fuengirola, on an isolated hill 38 metres above sea level, making it a spectacular viewpoint.
Currently the castle of Muslim origin is used for events inside, but the exterior of the castle is worth seeing with the family, as it can be accessed free of charge.
20. Boat trip
In the port of Malaga there are different companies that organise boat trips, perfect for children so they experience the great feeling of sailing. You can seize the opportunity to stroll around the port and visit the lighthouse, and if you’re lucky, you can also see dolphins or go for a swim!
21. Fuente de Piedra Lagoon
Located in the northwest of the province of Malaga, this natural site stretches for 6 kilometres between olive groves and grain fields. This lagoon is renowned for sheltering the largest colony of flamingos in the Iberian Peninsula and the second largest in Europe.
The best time to see flamingos is from March to July – the perfect plan for any nature lover!
22. The Acequias de las Angosturas Trail
For a day out in the fresh air, a walk along this trail is perfect! The trail is approximately 4.5 kilometres long, and is located in the middle of a watershed, in Behavis. You’ll be surrounded by the river and the mountains.
Another option in Behavis is to visit the Torre de la Leonera park, where you will see many native plants, a pond and a small amphitheatre.
23. Cañada del Lobo Viewpoint
Torremolinos has a beautiful natural landscape just a few minutes from the centre. We can recommend La Cañada del Lobo, endowed with a large network of trails and typically Mediterranean tree species.
You will find the best panoramic views at its famous viewpoint, which is popular for its sculpture of a howling wolf.
24. Sea Life Benalmádena
If you like marine animals, you will love the Sea Life in Benalmádena. It is located next to the Puerto Marina. Its tanks are full of underwater life, such as sharks, the Green Turtle, the Giant Japanese Crab, rays, and all kinds of sea creatures. There’s also an interactive area in the aquarium where you can take part in balloon workshops, face painting and educational talks, and you’re free to enter and leave the aquarium at any time.
25. Júzcar, the Smurf village
Júzcar, the Smurf village of Malaga, was formerly full of white houses, very typical of Andalusia, but in 2011 they became sky blue, as a promotion of the Smurfs movie.
What was originally a promotion, ended up turning Júzcar into the first Smurf village in the world!
As soon as you suggest going to the Smurf village to your kids, they’ll be very enthusiastic about the idea.
As well as its blue aesthetics, Júzcar is full of Smurf activities. You can sign in the “pitupared”, visit the “mercapitufo” and walk through the streets looking for Smurf details on the facades – a truly magical experience!
26. Amazonia Adventure
Your children will feel like real life adventurers in one of the most popular theme parks on the Costa del Sol. Aventura Amazonia in Marbella offers highly original adventure activities and zip lines.
The park has 6 circuits and includes the longest zip line between trees in Andalusia, with a length of 240 metres!
27. Rosaleda Stadium
If you like football, a visit to the Rosaleda Stadium is an ideal plan for the whole family.
Inside the stadium there’s a museum, where you can learn more about the history of Málaga Club de Fútbol and take a tour of its most important spots.
In addition, the children will be able to walk around part of the stadium’s pitch, feeling the same excitement as if they were real players.
28. Museo de Miniaturas Carromato Mijas
Mijas is famous not only for its white houses under the mountains, but also for its museum of miniatures.
This museum has miniature works from more than 50 countries. They originate from the trips made by Professor Max, who used to be a hypnotist in the village.
Some of the miniatures you can see in this museum include a copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painted on a grain of rice, or a white man’s head, cut off by the Jibaro Indians. Incredibly original and surprising!
29. The Torcal of Antequera
Your children will love getting lost in this marvellous landscape, located in the province of Malaga, high above the town of Antequera. It’s one of the best examples of karst landscapes in Europe. It stands out for its unusual landforms, the torcas or dolinas. You can visit it on your own by means of hiking routes, or with a guided tour. Admission is free.
30. Diving on the Maro beaches
If you want to spend a day at the beach, but with the added bonus of being able to dive among the fish, Maro’s beaches will not disappoint you. Maro is only a few kilometres from Nerja, and has incredible cliffs with thousands of fish. All you need is a pair of diving goggles, or, if you prefer, you can hire diving instructors, and we can assure you that this is the perfect plan for the whole family!
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