The Old Town is a fascinating maze of winding, cobbled streets lined with chic boutiques, tapas bars and cool cafés, while the waterfront has been revitalised with a promenade, bars, restaurants and shops.
But although there’s plenty to see and do in this sun-drenched city, its greatest appeal is to simply relax and enjoy the laid-back Mediterranean vibe.
Coast with the most
Malaga has over a dozen beaches within its city boundaries and with your hire car you can explore other seaside delights along Spain’s sunshine coast.
The pick of the urban beaches is Playa de la Malagueta, a 1km-long stretch of sand nestled in a gently curved bay lined with shops and excellent fish restaurants.
Less than an hour east on the A-7 you’ll find the charming former fishing village of Nerja, dotted with a range of lovely beaches to choose from. The ever-popular Playa Burriana makes a great lunch stop with its row of chiringuitos, or beach shacks, serving fantastic seafood.
Art for all
As you would expect in the birthplace of the 20th century’s most important artist, the city’s Picasso Museum doesn’t disappoint. Exhibits chart his progress from the late 19th century until his death in 1973. You’ll find the museum on Plaza de la Merced, only a few minutes away from where Picasso was born.
A short walk from here is the superb Carmen Thyssen Malaga Museum. Most of the works on display are from the 19th century, with the emphasis on Andalucían artists, including such luminaries as Zurbarán, Sorolla and Romero de Torres.
Malaga’s CAC Contemporary Art Centre is packed full of exhibitions to explore. Marvel at works from some of the greatest Spanish artists of all time and wander the wonderful collection, from Miquel Barceló to Juan Muñoz, and Louise Bourgeois to Tony Cragg.
The city also has three new artistic attractions including part of the St Petersburg State Russian Museum, with art from the 15th to the 20th centuries; the Pompidou Centre, housed in a glamorous glass cube at Muelle Uno on the waterfront; and the Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology.
Mountain high
There are few, if any, more spectacularly sited towns in Spain than Ronda. You’ll find it perched on top of the El Tajo gorge, a deep cleft in the mountains carved out by the Río Guadalevín.
It’s a town with a dramatic and bloody history – this was the birthplace of modern bullfighting. The town’s fame was further enhanced by its close association with American writer Ernest Hemingway, as well as actor and director Orson Welles, whose ashes are buried in the town.
Sultans of bling
Just over an hour-and-a-half drive from Malaga is Granada, one of the most dramatic sights in all of Spain. Set against a backdrop of the Sierra Nevada peaks, Granada was the last stronghold of the Spanish Moors and their legacy lies all around the city.
It’s most spectacularly in evidence in the magical Alhambra, a vast complex of palaces and gardens, and one of the best examples of Islamic architecture and craftsmanship in the world.
Among the Alhambra's many highlights is the stunning Palacios Nazaríes complex and the Generalife, the sultans' beautiful summer estate, where you can stroll amid patios, pools, fountains, trees and plentiful multi-coloured flowers.
Car hire from Malaga Airport allows you to see the best of this sun-kissed Spanish city, but also head out to explore the attractions to be found in the wider region – all at your own pace.