Best Districts To Stay In Malaga
- January 12, 2025
If you’re planning a trip to Malaga, you may be curious to know which are the best districts to stay in Malaga. There are several good areas in Malaga to stay for a weekend or short break. In this article, I will share some of the best districts to stay in Malaga, and why I think they will be perfect for a short break.
Malaga Historic Centre District
The ideal district to stay in Malaga, undoubtedly, would be the historic centre of the city. I would personally try to aim to be as close to the cathedral, Alcazaba or Calle Larios as possible. This would put you in the heart of the city and a few minutes walk from most attractions. Another advantage is that the historic centre of Malaga is pedestrianized. While they may be somw noise, it won’t be from traffic.
There are many hotels, tourist apartments and Airbnb’s to choose from around this district. A great hotel to pick is the Don Curro Hotel. This hotel is situated between Calle Larios and the Cathedral. It is also opposite in the Soho district, 2 minutes from the tourist office and 10 minutes from the Alcazaba. It makes a great base to explore most of Malagas attractions without never being too far away.
There are many apartments to rent around the historic centre of Malaga. The prices can be quite high, as there is always constant demand to be in the heart of Malaga. Another bonus to selecting this district to stay in is that they are plenty of good restaurants to dine out. Overall, this district is the best option; however, it may come at an elevated price.
What we like: One of the best districts in Malaga to stay in thanks to proximity to all the historic attractions. Great restaurants and busy atmosphere puts you at the centre of Malaga life.
What we don’t like: Expensive, no surprise here as it is within the heart of the main tourist area of Malaga.
Plaza de la Merced & Calle Granada Districts
The districts of Plaza de la Merced and Calle Granada are located at the top of the historic centre. The Plaza de la Merced was the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and his house is now a museum. The Plaza de la Merced is a large and busy square and is just a 5 minute walk down to the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre. The Picasso museum and cathedral can be reached within a 10-minute walk from Plaza de la Merced.
Calle Granada, one of the oldest main streets in Malaga, starts from Plaza de la Merced and heads towards Plaza del Siglo. It is a busy, interesting street with many shops and restaurants. The district around Calle Granada is very historic and there are plenty of smaller narrow streets and alleys that lead of the Calle Granada. As you would expect, there are a handful of apartments to rent on or around Calle Granada. You can expect to be about 5 minutes from Malaga Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, Plaza de la Constitucion and Calle Larios. Its historical character and proximity to most attractions, makes Calle Granada an ideal district to stay.
What we like: One of the nicest and most historic parts of Malaga. Plenty of restaurants to enjoy. Close to the Picasso Museum, Alcazaba and Roman Theatre.
What we don’t like: Expensive hotels and accommodation. A bit far from the Malaga Centro Alameda train station.
Soho District Of Malaga
Another one of the best districts to stay in Malaga is Soho. This is often described as the street art neighborhood, as there are many art murals around Soho. In general, it’s a more vibrant that has an urban vibe, mainly due to younger habitants. Enjoy trendy coffee shops, lively bars and great restaurants such as Bresca Italian restaurant. Soho is a great district to enjoy a meal and watch some live bands in La Fabrica bar.
The location of the Soho district is also worth considering. Just a few minutes from Malaga Centro Alameda train station, the historic centre a and Malaga Port. It makes an ideal base to explore almost all the most interesting attractions of Malaga. There are a handful of good hotels within the district, such as the Mariposa boutique hotel or the Hotel Castilla Guerrero. As like most of Malaga, there are also plenty of apartments to rent throughout this district.
What we like: Less busy than other areas of Malaga. Some great hotels in Soho. Close to almost everything!
What we don’t like: Not as nice as other parts of Malaga’s, more historic areas.
East Side Of The Historic Centre
The eastern part of the historic centre stretches from the Plaza de la Constitucion down to the Atarazanas Market. It is typically east of Calle Larios. Although an excellent district to stay, I prefer the west side of Calle Larios. In this area of Malaga, you will find Carmen Thyssen Museum, the traditional arts museum and the Atarazanas market. You will also be near Calle Larios and Plaza de la Constitucion. There are also many restaurants to enjoy, including Lo Güeno, which is great for tapas or their great paellas.
If you are looking for a place to stay in this district, you could try the Exe Museums hotel. If you are on a budget, a great option is the TOC Hostel, a trendy upmarket hostel with dorms or private rooms. Another option is the Hotel Atarazanas, in front of the historic Atarazanas market. This hotel has been modernised in an art deco style and is stylish as well as centrally located.
What we like: Close to most attractions. Lots of shops and restaurants. Not to far from the Malaga Centro Alameda train station.
What we don’t like: Not as vibrant as the cathedral area of Malaga. Some streets look a bit neglected.
La Malagueta Beach District Of Malaga
One of the best things about visiting Malaga is you get a city and a beach resort in one destination. La Malagueta is the district that has the beach of the same name. It is primarily a residential area, but there are a few hotels and an ample choice of Airbnb’s. This is one of the best districts in Malaga for those that want to combine a beach with a city break. The beach of La Malagagueta is as good as any of the beaches along the Costa del Sol without being overcrowded. The the best time of year for those wanting to enjoy relaxing on the beach would be between June and September.
The drawback of staying in this area is that it is a good 20-minute walk to the Alcazaba and historic centre. La Malagueta district is close to Muelle Uno leisure complex and the Alegria Flamenco show. It is important to remember that while you may enjoy the beach during hot weather, it can be challenging to walk to the centre of Malaga. Overall, the best district in Malaga to combine a beach holiday with a city break.
What we like: Nice residential feel, great beach and a viable option to combine a beach holiday with a city break.
What we don’t like: You will be a considerable distance from the historic centre of Malaga.
Which Is The Best District To Stay In Malaga?
As a summary of the best districts to stay in Malaga, I would recommend being as close to the cathedral, Calle Larios and Plaza de la Marina as possible. So, in theory, the best districts to stay in would be Alcababa and cathedral districts, Soho district and East of Calle Larios. It is also a good idea if you are arriving from Malaga airport by train that your accommodation is reasonably close to Malaga Centro Alameda train station. This would make Soho, Ataranzanas and Calle Larios excellent areas in Malaga to stay. La Malagueta district is a nice area of Malaga to stay. However, unless you are planning time on the beach, I would aim to stay within the historic centre of Malaga.
Another option to consider for cheaper options to stay in Malaga is to consider areas away from the centre. You can look at line 1 of the Malaga metro and consider hotels or apartments along this metro line. There may be a few cheaper hotels just 4 or 5 metro stops from Atarazanas metro station, which is at the bottom of Calle Larios. This is a trick I use when visiting Barcelona. If you go back from the centre a few metro stations, you may pick up a great nightly saving on a hotel room. If there is a metro station outside the hotel, well, you are just 10 minutes from the centre, and what you save could go towards a meal out each night!
