15 Best Things to Do in Malaga With Kids

You’ll find endless family fun in Málaga with its stunning La Malagueta Beach offering shallow toddler pools and golden sand stretches. Explore the ancient Alcazaba fortress with kids through shaded courtyards and lookout towers, then visit Picasso’s birthplace with interactive displays. Don’t miss the underwater tunnels at Sea Life Benalmádena, the futuristic OXO Video Game Museum, and the dramatic El Torcal rock formations that’ll make your little ones feel like they’re on an alien planet. These highlights barely scratch the surface of what awaits your family.

Splash and Play at La Malagueta Beach

When you’re looking for the perfect family beach day in Malaga, La Malagueta Beach delivers everything you need in one stunning 1,200-meter stretch of golden sand.

Your kids will love splashing in the calm, clear blue waters while you relax knowing lifeguards are on duty during season. The beach features three picturesque coves separated by small rocky areas, creating natural play zones for children.

You’ll find scattered children’s play areas, shallow toddler pools, and playgrounds near the beach bars. Palm trees provide essential shade for nap time or feeding breaks. Rent sunbeds and umbrellas for €10 daily, or simply spread out on the wide sandy strips.

The beach connects to a promenade filled with family-friendly restaurants, and you’re just 15 minutes from Malaga’s city center. Don’t forget to snap a family photo at the iconic Malagueta sign made of large sculptural letters that serves as a recognizable symbol of this beloved beach.

Explore the Historic Alcazaba Fortress

Rising majestically above Malaga’s port, the 11th-century Alcazaba fortress transforms history lessons into an epic castle adventure your kids will never forget. You’ll navigate through five successive gates with dramatic bends and angles, turning each entrance into a thrilling medieval quest.

The double-walled maze encourages exploration while teaching defensive tactics—kids love discovering how bent gates slowed attackers and towers served as lookout points.

The hilltop location offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean and harbor, perfect for family photos. Garden courtyards provide shaded rest spots during warmer weather. Deep within the fortress, the Pozo Airón well cuts 30 meters into solid bedrock, showcasing the impressive engineering skills needed to sustain castle life.

Since it’s located right above the Roman Theatre, you can easily combine both monuments in one exciting historical journey. The fortress’s recycled Roman columns create fascinating “time travel” moments that bring ancient civilizations to life.

Discover Picasso’s Birthplace and Legacy

After exploring medieval fortresses, you’ll find another piece of Malaga’s fascinating history just steps away in the historic center. Visit the house where Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881, at number 15 Plaza de la Merced. This 19th century building has been transformed into a museum showcasing the artist’s early life and family connections to Malaga.

Your kids will love exploring the recreated family environment with original furniture and personal belongings. The first floor displays works by both young Picasso and his father, an art teacher who inspired his son’s creativity.

Interactive exhibits feature family photographs and documents that bring the artist’s childhood to life. The museum’s graphics and ceramics demonstrate Picasso’s precocious talent, making art history accessible and engaging for young visitors. Morning visits are recommended to avoid crowds and allow your family to explore the exhibits at a leisurely pace.

Adventure Through Parque De Málaga’s Gardens

Just five minutes from Picasso’s birthplace, you’ll discover Parque de Málaga‘s sprawling 30,000 square meters of Mediterranean-tropical gardens that feel like stepping into a mini urban jungle. Your kids will love hunting for colorful parrots screeching overhead while you stroll the shaded, stroller-friendly paths lined with palms, orange trees, and exotic flowering plants.

The park’s three main walkways create perfect loops for exploring with children, while dense tree canopy provides cool relief from Costa del Sol heat. Let your kids loose in the dedicated playground, then challenge them to spot statues of famous Andalusian figures scattered throughout the gardens.

Kiosks offer snacks and drinks, making this the ideal spot for extended family adventures without leaving the greenspace. Don’t miss the Casita del Jardinero Mayor, a charming historic house from 1912 that adds cultural charm to your family exploration.

Experience Marine Life at Sea Life Benalmádena

When you’re ready to plunge into underwater adventures without getting wet, Sea Life Benalmádena delivers an incredible marine experience that’ll captivate kids of all ages. You’ll walk through an immersive underwater tunnel surrounded by blacktip reef sharks, rays, and tropical fish swimming overhead.

Your children can touch starfish and sea urchins in interactive rock pools while watching feeding sessions throughout the day.

Don’t miss Yellow, the resident green sea turtle, during health checks, or the fascinating frogfish that camouflages as rocks and corals.

The bioluminescent beach simulates glowing ocean creatures, creating magical moments. Kids can collect species passports while learning about marine conservation efforts throughout their visit.

With otters fed four times daily and special Animal Crossing themed activities, you’ll easily spend 60-90 minutes exploring over 3,000 sea creatures in this family-friendly aquarium.

Conquer the Floating WaterFun Obstacle Course

Moving from underwater adventures to water-based thrills, WaterFun Malagueta brings the excitement above sea level with a massive floating obstacle course that’ll challenge your kids’ agility and endurance.

Anchored just 50 meters off Playa de la Malagueta, this inflatable playground features slides, climbing walls, balance beams, and trampolines spread across interconnected modules.

Your family can tackle timed 45-60 minute sessions together, with kids aged 6 and up welcome (younger ones need adult supervision).

Everyone wears mandatory life jackets while professional lifeguards monitor the action.

The course demands climbing, crawling, jumping, and sliding—expect your kids to be thoroughly exhausted afterward!

Sessions run throughout summer months with fixed start times, so you’ll want to book ahead for this physically demanding but incredibly rewarding water adventure. These floating water parks are also available at other Costa del Sol locations including Benalmádena Costa, Fuengirola, and Puerto Banús for families exploring different beach areas.

Journey Through Time at Málaga Cathedral

Stepping into Málaga Cathedral feels like entering a massive stone storybook where your kids can discover 500 years of architectural evolution spanning Gothic arches, Renaissance sculptures, and Baroque flourishes. Your children will immediately notice the towering 84-meter north tower while asking about the missing south tower – perfect for sharing the cathedral’s nickname “La Manquita” (the one-armed lady).

The intricate choir stalls carved by Andrés de Vandelvira captivate young explorers with detailed wooden sculptures. Built on the site of a former mosque after Málaga’s reconquest in 1487, the cathedral represents the fascinating transformation from Islamic to Christian religious architecture. Don’t miss the rooftop terrace accessible via stairs or ramps, offering panoramic city views that’ll keep kids engaged.

Plan 5-10 minutes initially, as the cathedral’s central location makes it easy to combine with nearby attractions while teaching architectural history through interactive spotting games.

Meet Exotic Animals at Bioparc Fuengirola

Just 25 minutes southwest of Málaga’s historic center, Bioparc Fuengirola transforms your family adventure into an immersive wildlife expedition where kids can observe over 200 animal species in recreated natural habitats.

You’ll encounter majestic Komodo dragons, playful chimpanzees, and colorful Panther Chameleons in Africa Equatorial’s lush environments. Your children will be mesmerized watching six lemur species roam freely in Madagascar’s recreated tsingy formations, including rare red-collared and ring-tailed varieties.

Don’t miss the African flamingo colony where 10 pairs hatch eggs annually, or the impressive flying foxes with their one-meter wingspan soaring overhead during summer evenings.

The park’s conservation focus adds educational value – you’re supporting Europe’s most successful mouse deer breeding program and Sri Lankan leopard preservation efforts while creating unforgettable family memories. With school children as the primary target visitors, the park especially excels at engaging young minds through educational conservation programming.

Climb to Castillo De Gibralfaro

Perched 130 meters above Málaga’s bustling streets, Castillo de Gibralfaro offers your family an epic fortress adventure where kids can explore 14th-century towers, walk along ancient ramparts, and discover panoramic views that’ll make them feel like medieval royalty.

Your children will love climbing the 17-meter Great Tower and peering through the fortress walls where soldiers once defended against invaders. The climb’s challenging but manageable for most kids, and they’ll be fascinated learning how this mighty fortress protected the Alcazaba below.

Pack water and comfortable shoes for exploring the 1,310 meters of walls and eight towers. The panoramic views of Málaga’s port and city are breathtaking rewards for the climb. Don’t miss exploring the remarkable Well of Airón, carved 40 meters deep through solid rock, which will amaze kids with its impressive depth and medieval engineering.

Kids enjoy imagining themselves as medieval defenders while parents appreciate the remarkable military engineering spanning centuries.

Play Among Butterflies at Mariposario De Benalmádena

Over 1,500 colorful butterflies flutter freely around your family at Mariposario de Benalmádena, where kids can walk through a magical tropical greenhouse and watch these delicate creatures land right on their shoulders.

This enchanting butterfly park opens daily from 10 AM to 7:30 PM, making it perfect for afternoon adventures.

You’ll spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours exploring the tropical nursery, where butterflies hatch every 30 minutes – timing your visit around these moments creates extra excitement for children. Beyond the butterflies, your family can also encounter exotic wildlife including colorful birds, turtles, and wallabies that roam throughout the park.

The entire facility is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with adapted paths throughout.

Located just 20 minutes from Málaga’s city center, you’ll find free parking right at the entrance.

Adult tickets cost €10, while children (3-12) pay €8.50.

Buy online for cheaper rates and skip the entrance lines.

Enjoy Modern Art at Centre Pompidou Málaga

When you’re looking for an indoor escape from Málaga’s heat, Centre Pompidou Málaga transforms modern art into an adventure your kids will actually enjoy. The museum’s star attraction is “It’s playtime!” – seven textile play sculptures designed for children aged 14 months to 7 years. Your little ones can climb, hide, crawl through tunnels, and experiment with shapes and textures through open-ended play.

The manageable size means you’ll cover everything in one to two hours without overwhelming young attention spans. You’ll find works by Picasso, Miró, and Chagall that school-age kids recognize, plus family-friendly guided tours. The installation also includes colorful costumes with geometric designs that children can wear while exploring the interactive exhibits.

Located under the colorful glass cube on Muelle Uno, it’s perfectly positioned near restaurants and harbor walks for extending your family day out.

Game On at OXO Video Game Museum

From appreciating fine art, your kids can jump straight into gaming history at OXO Video Game Museum, where three floors of interactive exhibits turn screen time into quality family time.

Located in Málaga’s historic center at Plaza del Siglo, this museum takes you through video game evolution from the 1950s to virtual reality. Your children can actually play classic arcade games like Pac-Man on original systems, try Japanese rhythm games, and explore an immersive 3D reality room.

The self-guided experience typically lasts 1-3 hours, perfect for keeping kids engaged without overwhelming them. The museum welcomes visitors of all ages, making it an ideal family destination with no restrictions for younger children.

At €21 for adults and €16 for children, it’s surprisingly affordable. The fourth-floor terrace offers stunning city views where you can grab snacks while discussing your favorite games.

It’s open daily 11 AM-10 PM.

Ride the Benalmádena Cable Car

While your kids might think they’re boarding a regular ride, the Benalmádena Cable Car delivers an unforgettable 15-minute aerial adventure that transforms nervous giggles into excited cheers as you ascend 769 meters to the highest point on the Málaga coast.

Your family will squeeze into four-person cabins with audio guides, watching clouds drift past as panoramic views unfold below.

At the summit, hiking trails with safety railings lead to spectacular lookout points where you’ll spot Gibraltar and Morocco on clear days.

The falconry displays featuring golden eagles and peregrine falcons absolutely captivate children. The accessible cable car cabins ensure a comfortable experience for families with varying mobility needs.

Return tickets cost €20 per person, and you’ll find the cable car opposite Tivoli World in Arroyo de la Miel.

Book afternoon rides for ideal visibility and magical sunset experiences.

Hike the Dramatic El Torcal Rock Formations

Just 45 kilometers from Málaga, the otherworldly limestone towers and sculpted rock formations of El Torcal transform an ordinary family hike into an adventure through what feels like an alien planet. These 150-million-year-old karst formations create natural sculptures resembling stacked pancakes, towering spires, and mysterious labyrinths.

Choose from three marked trails—the easy Green route takes just 45 minutes, perfect for younger kids. Turn rock-spotting into a game by finding famous formations like “El Tornillo” (The Screw) or “El Camello” (The Camel). Kids love discovering ancient ammonite fossils embedded in the limestone.

The free visitor center provides maps, restrooms, and a café. Wear sturdy shoes for the rocky terrain, and bring water. Mountain goats often appear along trails, adding wildlife excitement to your geological adventure. Since there’s no public transport available to reach El Torcal, driving from Málaga takes about an hour with free parking at the visitors center.

Stroll the Family-Friendly Muelle Uno Harbor

When you need a break from Málaga’s historic streets, the modern Muelle Uno harbor transforms waterfront strolling into family entertainment with its palm-lined promenade, dedicated kids’ play areas, and stunning views of the Alcazaba fortress.

Your children will love the climbing frames and swings in dedicated kids’ parks, plus special games areas designed specifically for them. Catch Muppet shows on various days or rent bicycles and scooters for harbor exploration.

The Museo Aula del Mar offers hands-on marine experiences with Mediterranean sea life exhibits and interactive workshops.

Galaxy Park Bowling features arcade games including basketball, air hockey, and dancing games where kids can redeem tickets for prizes.

You’ll find over 50 shops, family-friendly restaurants serving everything from Michelin-star cuisine to ice cream, and convenient parking for stress-free family outings. The shops stay open until midnight during summer months, giving families flexible timing for their harbor visits.

The Sum Up

You’ve got an incredible adventure waiting in Málaga! From building sandcastles at La Malagueta Beach to exploring ancient fortresses, there’s something magical around every corner. Your kids’ll love meeting sea creatures, gaming at OXO Museum, and soaring on cable cars. Pack comfortable shoes, bring your camera, and don’t forget sunscreen. Málaga’s perfect blend of history, nature, and fun activities means you’ll create unforgettable family memories that’ll last a lifetime!