Málaga is a museum in its own right.
Read the city’s diary and you’ll find tales dating back to the Bronze Age. Everyone from the Phoenicians and Greeks to the Carthaginians and Moors scribbled their names among the pages.
If you’re planning on adding your John Hancock to the guestbook, you’ll have every opportunity to explore the city’s history in the many museums of Málaga.
From art museums featuring a certain famous Pablo to unique exhibits and venues that don’t cost a dime, these are some of the best Museums in Málaga.
Image Credit and Location: © Museo Picasso Málaga
Picasso Museum in Málaga
Picasso isn’t the only reason to come to Málaga, but the Picasso Museum is the reason to stay an extra day.
You’ve no doubt heard of the larger Picasso Museum in Barcelona, but the smaller collection in the artist’s birth city is worth the admission all the same. Tickets include an audio guide, turning your visit into an intimate date and getting to know Pablo’s process through hundreds of sculptures, drawings, paintings, graphic works, and more.
Guided tours, lectures, and interactive events tack on the hours you can spend getting lost in Picasso’s world.
Image Credit and Location: Carmen Thyssen Museum, Málaga, Spain
Other stunning art museums in Málaga
Picasso doesn’t corner the market when it comes to art museums in Málaga. Add these artsy attractions to your Málaga itinerary.
Carmen Thyssen Museum
One of the three art museums in Málaga that gallery goers cannot skip, the Carmen Thyssen Museum was extensively curated to showcase only the finest pieces of Spanish art created over the last two centuries. Words can’t describe the beauty and talent of each painting, so we’ll let them speak for themselves.
Image Credit and Location: Carmen Thyssen Museum, Málaga, Spain
Málaga’s Centre for Contemporary Art
AKA the CAC Málaga, plastic and audiovisual art reign supreme at Málaga’s Center for Contemporary Art. Don’t let the size of the former Wholesale Market building fool you; the CAC’s collection is extensive but the majority of space is dedicated to cultural events and conferences that expand upon the evolving collection displayed.
Centre Pompidou Málaga
No, we’re not sending you on a rather lengthy day trip to Paris. The Centre Pompidou also has a location in Málaga. As this museum in Málaga is hosted in partnership with its French counterpart, the exhibits showcased change every two years, granting you unique access to world-class art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Image Credit and Location: Centre Pompidou, Málaga, Spain
The best museums in Málaga–art optional
Museum of Wine Málaga
In between sips of sangría, get to know the other elixirs of Málaga. The Museum of Wine focuses on Málaga’s winemaking process, specifically its sweet dessert wine, moscatel. And yes, the gift shop does have wine you can take home.
Revell de Toro Museum
A favorite son of Málaga, the Felix Revello de Toro’s namesake museum celebrates this contemporary artist’s work. He’s nearly 100 years old and hosted his first exhibition at age 12. It's a stunning collection of his work, and even if you know nothing about him, you’ll want to know more after gazing at his Deep Slumber, a full-wall portrait of his wife painted with only white shades, kept in a pitch black room only illuminated by small lights.
Peña Juan Breva Flamenco Museum
Visited a Flamenco bar in Madrid and want to learn more about this Spanish music? The Peña Juan Breva Flamenco Museum has two floors of artwork, books, claywork, and records all dedicated to flamenco. The main floor has a bar where, after a few drinks, you’ll have the courage to dance in the basement around the lively tablao.
Free museums in Málaga to check out
The money-saving tip museum-lovers in Málaga need to know? Tons of the best museums in Málaga offer free entry on Sundays.
Including nearly every one we’ve listed above.
Ready for your culture fix?
With three dozen museums in the city, you’ll want to be well-rested when you arrive. Download the Trainline app, find cheap tickets from Madrid, Barcelona, or Cádiz to Málaga and enjoy a comfortable ride to Spain’s seaside city. And don't forget to check out our article on how to buy train tickets online in Spain.
Header Image Credit and Location: © Museo Picasso Málaga