Tips for visiting Malaga with kids

Tips for visiting Malaga with kids

Malaga is a city we visited many times before we had kids however shamefully we have not been back since. This summer we aim to remedy that. Malaga is the perfect place to base yourself in Southern Spain.  It is a really family friendly location with lots to see and do as well as good food, good wines and really friendly people. It is also very close to another vibrant Spanish city – Marbella. Spain is one of those holiday designation that keeps drawing you back in, from its temperate climate to its food to its warm and welcoming local people, you really cannot go wrong with a family holiday in Spain.

When to visit Malaga 

Malaga can be visited year round which also very much adds to  its appeal. The warmest months are July and August with temperatures creeping up over 30. They are also the busiest months with tourists. Pre kids and having to work out holidays around school terms we loved September, it was quieter in terms of tourist numbers and temps in the mid 20s were ideal for us. We travelled so much pre kids and now with kids one thing we are prepared to spend on is our accommodation. There is nothing nicer than after a long day of sightseeing to come back to accommodation to relax or maybe have a drink around the pool, you will be spoilt for choice with all the beautiful fincas in Malaga that are available.

Getting around Malaga

The first consideration when we land to a new destination is how to get from the airport to your accommodation. Malaga airport is a busy airport being the gateway to a lot of the Costa del Sol however there are a multitude of options when leaving the airport and at a very reasonable price.  The train runs every 20ish minutes until almost 1am. There is also a bus service which runs until midnight again the frequency is  around every 20 minutes.  Like most airports you also have the usual transport app’s like Uber, there are also dedicated taxis outside or if like us with kids after a long flight we often book a private transfer just so we know and we aren’t trying to find bus/ train etc with tired and grumpy kids.

What to see 

Malaga is a compact city making it easy to get around especially with kids, in addition a lot of the main tourist areas are pedestrianised.  With our kids being young we often enjoy taking a hop on hop off tour in a location as both kids and adults get something from it, it also gives us a good indication of our bearings and where we might like to go back to on another day and explore more.

Malaga is a historic city laying claim to be the oldest Mediterranean seaports and its rich and diverse history permeates its landscape. I have always thought Malaga a beautiful city visually.

• Alcazaba de Málaga is an impressive ancient Moorish castle, well worth a visit, its open year round and free on a Sunday
• The old town– my favourite part! I love nothing better than meandering around the old town getting lost in narrow lanes. So much architecture, the streets are lined with cute boutiques and tapas bars, a really love way to spend a couple of hours.
• Catedral de Málaga – while in the old town you cannot miss the cathedral, the views from the rooftop are breath-taking. A not miss attraction from us. 
• Picasso Museum –  Often referred to as Malaga’s most famous son it is no surprise that there is a museum dedicated to this famous painter.
  

  Pic Credit: Pixabay

• Parks – Malaga has many beautiful parks some with playgrounds that are ideal for kids and a great respite if you do want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city especially in high tourist season.
• Beaches – no holiday to Malaga would be complete with a visit to the stunning beaches. The beaches have great facilities and you can enjoy water sports, enjoy a nice meal and simply chill. The do get busy in high tourist season. As always, do take extreme kids with kids on beaches, always follow the directors of life guards. And don’t forget the sun cream especially if like us you are blonde and fair!! Sun burn on holidays is not fun.
• Festival Fun– Malaga is know around the world for its festival so a real bonus would be to tie in your trip with one of the yearly festivals, from religious to music  to film there is likely a festival for everybody here.  Here is the link to Visit Malaga for more information on upcoming festivals.

We hope the above has equipped you to make the most out of your family trip to Malaga, in our view there really is something for everybody in this beautiful historic city.  If you do have any other comments/ recommendations pop them in the comments below.

Note: This is a collaborative post