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Where to Stay in Málaga: Best Areas & Hotels

Wondering about the best areas to stay in Málaga? From attraction-packed Centro Histórico to up-and-coming Soho and beachside La Malagueta, these are the best districts and hotels in the city.

Best Areas to Stay in Málaga, Spain
Best Areas to Stay in Málaga, Spain

It may not be the capital of Andalusia, but it sure packs the punch of a city several times its size. Málaga is known as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and epicentre of the Costa del Sol. But as one of the oldest cities in Spain, Málaga is no stranger to reinvention. In the past few years, shiny new museums have been added to its already extensive offer, its port has undergone a massive improvement plan, and smaller-scale cultural projects are reshaping its core. Combine all this with a vibrant nightlife and food scene, an interesting old town, and miles of urban beaches and you’ll get one of the most exciting cities in Europe.

Located in the south of the Iberian peninsula, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Málaga is the second-largest city in Andalusia. Founded by the Phoenicians some 2,800 years ago, this city is home to a wide range of Roman, Moorish and 21st-century attractions, and it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Spain. Some of its most popular sights include the Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba, the Picasso Museum and Málaga Cathedral. Considered the capital of the Costa del Sol, Málaga has a large number of hotels for all tastes and budgets. In recent years, the city has also seen a surge in boutique accommodation, especially in the old town.

It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting Málaga for the beach, the culture or the tapas, keep reading this article to learn more about our selection of the best areas to stay in Málaga for tourists.

Accommodation Options in Málaga
The Best Areas to Stay in Málaga, Spain: A Summary

If you don’t have the time or the patience to read this article in full, here is a quick summary of our recommended quarters to stay in Málaga. Keep reading to find out more information about each of these areas.


What’s the Best Area to Stay in Málaga, Spain?

With a history dating back 2,800 years, the Centro Histórico (Old Town) is the best area to stay in Málaga.
With a history dating back 2,800 years, Centro Histórico (Old Town) is the best area to stay in Málaga.

The best area to stay in Málaga is Centro Histórico, especially if you’re a first-time visitor to the city. Málaga’s Old Town, located between the Guadalmedina River and Mount Gibralfaro, contains the city’s top attractions and museums, including the Cathedral, the Roman theatre, the Moorish Alcazaba, and the Picasso and Thyssen museums. This ancient and central district is also home to some of the best-rated hotels in Málaga.

Find Available Accommodation in Málaga Centro.

Best Hotels in Málaga’s City Centre


Where to Stay in Málaga for Sightseeing

If you want to enjoy Málaga to the fullest, the best district to look for accommodation is the Historic City Centre
If you want to enjoy Málaga to the fullest, the best district to look for accommodation is the Historic City Centre. A hotel in the old town and near the beach is the Gran Hotel Miramar GL (pictured).

As we’ve mentioned before, Centro is the best location for tourists in Málaga. But Málaga’s centre is divided into different barrios, each with a different personality and attractions. These are some of the most interesting areas:


The Best Areas for Tourists in Málaga: District by District

Click here to see all Málaga hotels on a map
Click here to see all Málaga hotels on a map

1. Málaga Centro: Best Location for Sightseeing & First-Time Visitors to Málaga

Málaga Centro Accommodation Map

Home to the city’s most visited tourist attractions, Centro is the the best area to stay in Málaga to be near the action.

    Why is this the best area to stay in Málaga:
  • Heart of the city
  • Best area for sightseeing
  • Charming medieval streets
  • Catedral de Málaga
  • Picasso & Thyssen Museums
  • Calle Larios
  • Roman Theatre & Alcazaba
  • Great nightlife & food scene

With Larios Street as its main hub, Málaga Centro is by far the best area to stay in Málaga. Its small medieval streets are full of charm. Roman and Phoenician ruins, Mozarabic buildings, Baroque churches and Renaissance-style, modernist, and Art Deco palaces account for the rich and long history of this Andalusian city. Its squares, adorned by sculptures and fountains, and the imposing Málaga Cathedral complete the urban landscape in this quaint historical area.

The Historic Centre of Malaga is also home to wonders such as the Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro Castle, the Roman Theatre, and the famous “Art Mile”, which includes the Picasso Museum, the Centre Pompidou and the Carmen Thyssen Museum.

This neighbourhood is full of accommodation of all kinds, as well as tapas bars, breweries, nightlife, shops, galleries and everything you need for a perfect first visit to Málaga.

Best Hotels in Málaga Centro

Best 5-star hotel
Vincci Selección Posada del Patio

Posada del Patio is a 5-star hotel situated in the centre of Málaga. It offers a rooftop swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and an exhibition of historic objects. All rooms come with welcome products, a safe and a flat-screen TV.

Best 4-star hotel
Palacio Solecio, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World

Featuring a fitness centre, bar and city views, Palacio Solecio is located in Málaga and offers a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property.

Best 3-star hotel
Hotel Brö-Adults Only

Hotel Brö-Adults Only in Málaga provides adults-only accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge and a garden. Boasting a sun terrace, this property is set a short distance from La Malagueta Beach, Alcazaba and Picasso Museum.

Best budget hotel
Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano

Hotel Boutique Teatro Romano is located right in the heart of Malaga’s old town, opposite the Roman Theatre and 100 m from Picasso Museum. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar.

Best B&B
La Casa Azul B&B + Apartments

La Casa Azul Bed & Breakfast in Málaga features vintage-style rooms with a balcony and free Wi-Fi. It is 200 m from the beach and a 15-minute walk from the historic town centre.


2. Calle Larios: Best Location for Shopping in Málaga

Calle Larios Accommodation Map

The heart of Málaga’s Old Town, Calle Larios is an elegant and lively shopping and entertainment area.

    Why is this the best area to stay in Málaga:
  • Extremely central location
  • Pedestrian-friendly
  • Near all attractions
  • Shopping, nightlife & food
  • Interesting architecture
  • Boutique hotels

Larios Street is considered one of the most beautiful pedestrian promenades in Spain. Officially called Calle del Marqués de Larios, this nineteenth-century street, one of the most expensive and sought-after commercial thoroughfares in the country, is a monument to elegance.

Totally pedestrianised in 2002 as part of the rehabilitation works for Malaga’s Historic Center, this central street is flanked by symmetrical curved-corner buildings inspired by the late 19th century Chicago architectural style.

On Larios, you will find the largest concentration of fashion shops, restaurants, boutique hotels and cocktail bars in Málaga. Furthermore, its central location means you can easily explore the city on foot.

Best Hotels on & around Calle Larios

Best 4-star hotel
Room Mate Larios

This boutique hotel has an Art Deco design and rooms with free WiFi and an LCD TV. Room Mate Larios is just minutes from Malaga’s Picasso Museum.

Best budget hotel
Hostal Larios

Located right on Málaga’s popular Larios Street, Hostal Larios offers free WiFi, a 24-hour reception and functional air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs. La Malagueta Beach is just a 15-minute walk away.

Best tourist apartments
Holidays2Malaga Old Town

Set in Málaga’s historic centre, around 1 km from La Malagueta beach, Apartments Holidays2Malaga Premium offers apartments with free WiFi, air conditioning and heating.

Best hostel
Chinitas Urban Hostel

Chinitas Urban Hostel is located in the historic city centre of Malaga. This property is set 30 m from the famous Marques de Larios Street.


3. Soho Málaga: Best Location for Nightlife & Young Travellers

Soho Málaga Accommodation Map

Probably the coolest neighbourhood in the city, Soho is Málaga’s hipster district and new creative hub.

    Why is this the best area to stay in Málaga:
  • Best area for nightlife
  • Cool street art
  • CAC Málaga
  • Near the port & train station
  • Very central
  • Hipster bars and shops

Soho is the trendiest area in Malaga. Located south of the Old Town, between the Guadalmedina River and the sea, this alternative district was born as an initiative to rehabilitate the section south of La Alameda, a previously regal area packed with lovely buildings that had fallen into disrepair.

Now reinvented as a cultural district renamed “Soho,” this lively portion of Málaga Centro offers a wide variety of leisure, cultural, shopping, nightlife and business opportunities.

This alternative and bohemian district is also very well-connected, La Alameda has a commuter train station and is served by many bus lines, Muelle de Heredia is home to the intercity bus station (with connections to all towns on the Costa del Sol).

Best Hotels in Soho Málaga

Best 4-star hotel
ICON Malabar

Boasting a bar, terrace and views of city, ICON Malabar is situated in Málaga, 2.1 km from Misericordia Beach. With free WiFi, this 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service. The hotel has family rooms.

Best 3-star hotel
Eurostars Astoria

Eurostars Astoria has an ideal setting in the centre of Málaga, 10 minutes’ walk from the Picasso Museum and 1 km from the beach. It offers free Wi-Fi internet access.

Best budget hotel
Alameda

The hotel is well-situated in the centre of Málaga, you can get around easily on foot, and is next to the port and the main Alameda thoroughfare. Rooms feature free Wi-Fi.

Best B&B
Fan Rooms Duquesa

Located in Málaga, within 2 km of Misericordia Beach and 600 m of Atarazanas Market, Fan Rooms Duquesa provides accommodation with free WiFi throughout the property. 


4. La Malagueta: Best Location for a Beach Holiday in Málaga

La Malagueta Accommodation Map

La Malagueta is a beachside district with a typical Andalusian atmosphere.

    Why is this the best area to stay in Málaga:
  • Very central
  • Beaches
  • Paseo de La Farola
  • Beachside bars
  • Centre Pompidou Málaga

This old industrial and fishing district still retains its typical coastal essence. La Malagueta is located southeast of the city centre, on a triangular stretch of land that goes into the sea between the port and La Malagueta Beach. At the apex of this triangle lies La Farola lighthouse.

The recently renovated Paseo de la Farola, a pedestrian street with shops, recreational spaces and spectacular views of the sea, connects the lighthouse with the Centre Pompidou Málaga, a contemporary art museum.

Other than the Pompidou, the most visited attraction in this area is La Malagueta Beach. Over a kilometre long, La Malagueta is the most popular beach in Málaga and one of the most famous urban beaches in Spain. Its restaurants and chiringuitos (beach bars) are an institution, and you cannot leave the city without having tried “pescaíto frito” (fried whitefish) in one of the bars next to the beach.

Best Hotels in La Malagueta

Best 5-star hotel
Gran Hotel Miramar GL

The luxurious Gran Hotel Miramar GL is set in a listed XX century building and is located in Malaga, 10 m from La Malagueta Beach. This beachfront hotel has a spa centre and a seasonal pool.

Best 4-star hotel
Hotel MS Maestranza Málaga

MS Maestranza Málaga is in central Málaga, just 100 m from Malagueta Beach and Centre Pompidou. It offers a rooftop terrace and hot tub with panoramic city views, and rooms with free WiFi.

Best 3-star hotel
Hotel Eliseos

Offering superb views of the bullring directly opposite, Hotel Eliseos offers free Wi-Fi, rooftop terrace with a small seasonal pool and on-site parking suitable for vans and caravans.

Best budget hotel
California

Housed in an antique villa at the foot of Monte de Sancha, the California enjoys a privileged location only 50 m from the beach of Playa de la Malagueta.


5. Around Málaga María Zambrano Station: Best Location for Business Travellers

Málaga AVE Station Accommodation Map

Málaga María Zambrano Station is one of the busiest railway hubs in Spain.

    Why is this the best area to stay in Málaga:
  • Great connections
  • AVE station
  • Business-oriented hotels
  • Mid-range and budget accommodation

Málaga María Zambrano is the main railway station in the city. It is located west of the Historic City Centre and it’s the point of origin and terminus for a large number of long-distance and regional trains. In 2007 the AVE (high-speed train) service was inaugurated, connecting the Andalusian city with Madrid in 2.5 hours and Barcelona in 5.5 hours. Cercanías (commuter trains) system and the train to the airport also stop here.

The area around the station is full of accommodation options, including many business-style hotels and cheap, family-owned properties.

Best Hotels around Málaga María Zambrano Station

Best 4-star hotel
Barceló Malaga

Barceló Málaga has direct access to Malaga’s AVE high-speed train station and is a 10-minute walk from the historic city centre. This stylish hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a free gym and sauna.

Best 3-star hotel
Hotel Don Paco

Don Paco is set around an interior courtyard and is situated in the centre of Málaga. It is within walking distance of the city’s cathedral and the Picasso Museum.

Best budget hotel
Hotel Las Américas

Las Américas is located in central Málaga, just 100 m from María Zambrano Train Station and the Bus Station. It offers bright, air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, international satellite TV and a private bathroom.


Where to Stay in Málaga: Useful Info

Málaga is the sixth-largest city in Spain and the second in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. It is located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.

Bathed by the Mediterranean, the city is considered the “Capital of the Costa del Sol”.

However, Malaga is completely different from the typical beach resorts of the Costa del Sol, it is a provincial capital with a long history and amazing cultural wealth that, until not long ago, had lived in the shadow of other Andalusian cities like Granada, Cordoba and Seville.


As for accommodation, there’s a wide variety of hotels, hostels and hostels. From luxury five-stars to family pensions or boutique-style establishments.

However, in recent years the city has undergone a renaissance, gaining a reputation as a capital for culture thanks to its “Art Mile” and a newfound dynamism in the gastronomic and leisure fields.

Prices for accommodation in Malaga are usually lower than those in Madrid or Barcelona and the quality of the properties is generally quite high. For your peace of mind, all hotels mentioned on this list have a rating of 75/100 or higher.

About the best areas to stay in Malaga, the City Centre is definitely the top choice for a cultural visit with a dash of nightlife. For a business visit, you should probably have a look at the area around Malaga’s high-speed train station, where business-style accommodation is abundant.

On this list with the best areas to stay in Malaga we’ll give you all the details.

Keep in mind that Malaga’s mild Mediterranean climate makes it a year-round tourist destination, which means that rates remain relatively stable even in winter. If you can, avoid travelling to the city around Christmas, Easter or any major sporting events or concerts.


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