Top 5 best beaches in Malaga
Though Malaga has so much to offer as a city, one of its most popular selling points is its proximity to the sea.
The city boasts around a dozen beaches, as well as the fashionable Muelle Uno marina. Some are very close to the city centre, while others, such as Peñón del Cuervo, offer spectacular scenery.
Here, we give you five of the best.
1. La Malagueta
La Malagueta beach, as the closest to the city centre, is undoubtedly the most popular beach in Malaga all year round.
You can get there by passing through Muelle Uno until you reach the lighthouse, before heading east. Thanks to the famous Malagueta sign (great photo opportunity!), you can’t miss it.
Because it is so easily reached from the city centre (and also the bullring of the same name), this is a beach primarily filled with tourists.
However, if you want a bit more of a local feel, you don’t have to go too far. Keep walking along the promenade for an extra 10 minutes and you will reach La Caleta beach.
As it is slightly further away, this beach is a lot cleaner, with fewer people and is frequented by more local people.
In addition, at La Caleta beach there are a lot more chiringuito beach bars serving fresh seafood and drink all day throughout the summer months.
La Caleta beach is also a popular spot for watersports and loungers are easily available.
2. Baños del Carmen
The beach at Baños del Carmen features on so many of the postcards of Malaga.
It gets its name from an old spa built in 1918 as a popular leisure space for the bourgeoisie of the time. It had a central pavilion, a bathing area, a pier, a cinema screen and a tennis court.
Nowadays, however, this emblematic building is El Balneario bar and restaurant which is a perfect spot to enjoy the sunset in Malaga.
The accompanying beach is small and can get very busy but luckily there is an alternative very close by.
Baños del Carmen marks the starting point of Pedregalejo, a former fishing village which is now a popular spot for bathing and afternoon lunch (reservations are needed at weekends!).
The beach itself is quite long but is divided into small coves.
Here, it’s not unusual for families to be camped out all day in large gazebo-like structures, complete with barbecue and dining tables!
3. Peñón del Cuervo
Continuing out east, after passing through El Palo, you reach one of the city’s hidden gems: Peñón del Cuervo.
It’s a small, picturesque beach which is easily distinguishable thanks to the large rock formation which divides it in two.
This beach is located right on the city limits, just before La Cala del Moral, and is quite complicated to reach for those unfamiliar with the area.
That said, it’s a very popular spot with locals, especially at weekends. During summer nights it’s also not unusual to see groups of young people around bonfires or barbecues.
If you want to spend the day at Peñón del Cuervo, you have to come somewhat prepared. There’s a car park for those arriving by road, but it quickly fills up at weekends. Also, as there are no beach bars or restaurants here, you should make sure to bring a picnic or cool box with you.
If you want to do a bit of exploring, there is a very scenic walkway which runs from the El Candado nautical club practically all the way to La Cala del Moral, giving excellent views of the Mediterranean and the Bay of Malaga.
4. La Misericordia
Having explored the eastern side of Malaga, now we head west, deep into one of the old industrial areas of the city. Here there are enormous old chimneys dotted up and down the coastline, creating a unique and interesting look.
This side of the city is not often frequented by tourists, unless headed to the Automobile or Russian museums. That said, there is a lot to explore.
Coming from the city centre, Huelin beach begins shortly after the end of Malaga Port, then continues until it becomes Misericordia beach.
Here, the wide Antonio Banderas promenade is filled with bars and restaurants and a cycle lane used by many for walking, jogging or rollerblading.
The beach at La Misericordia is quite wide so even at the busiest times you shouldn’t have too many difficulties finding a spot to place your towel or a table at one of the many excellent chiringuito beach bars.
Another interesting factor that makes this beach so popular is the legendary Ola del Melillero (Wave of the ‘Melillero’).
This strange phenomenon, which seems to come out of nowhere, is caused by the Malaga-Melilla ferry as it arrives in the city each night.
5. Guadalmar
We complete our journey out west at Guadalmar beach. It is located on Malaga’s border with Torremolinos, between the Guadalmar golf course and the Guadalhorce river estuary.
This area is considered of high environmental value as it is a major transit point for several species of birds migrating between Europe and Africa.
The area closest to the estuary is family-friendly and very scenic, with small ponds and interesting rock formations.
However, Guadalmar beach is most well-known for having the only authorised nudist area in Malaga city. This part is located at the foot of the golf course and is a popular spot for the LGBT+ community.
Although Guadalmar beach is very close to Torremolinos, it doesn’t have a promenade. So, if you’re headed there and want to avoid an arduous walk through sand the whole time, it’s best to use the road that runs parallel to the coast (and the Plaza Mayor shopping and leisure complex).