12 Things to Do in Malaga with Kids
Visiting Malaga with the little ones can be a challenge, but I assure you that the city offers a wide range of family activities that you will love. Discover them!

Malaga Cathedral | ©Emilio
Take a bike ride, explore the interior of the palaces, or visit the most beautiful monuments of Al-Andalus in Malaga. This Andalusian city offers endless activities that children will love.
Here are some ideas for you to choose from, so you can see for yourself that taking the little ones along is definitely an unforgettable experience. Especially if you want to take some photos to remember the trip.
1. Test your creativity at the Museum of Imagination
Booking tickets for the Museum of Imagination is a must if you are going to Malaga with children, as they will be able to test their creativity in a place full of magic.
Don't hesitate, enjoy an unforgettable experience as you explore the different themed rooms. What's more, you'll get unique, magical photos for your photo album in a unique and different museum that combines art and technology. Immerse yourself in a world of fantasy and let your imagination run wild.
Details of interest
- Price: €10 for children aged 15 and over and adults, and €5 for children under 14.
- How to get there: It is located on Calle Martínez Campos, in the center of Malaga, so you can get there easily and comfortably.
- Opening hours: open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
2. Visit the Parque de la Batería and Crocodile Park in Torremolinos
This is a great park for the little ones, and in fact, for the whole family. One of the things I like most about this place is that it has different outdoor areas for children of all ages, with the necessary safety measures in place to prevent accidents.
Parque de la Batería also has different areas for picnics, cycling, and even an artificial lake where you can rent boats on weekends to go sailing. A great place to visit with the family in summer.
But this is not the only option, as you can also book tickets for Crocodile Park, a place that will impress the little ones, as it has more than 300 crocodiles.
Details of interest
- Price: Admission to the park is free.
- How to get there: One of the best ways to get there is by train, as there is a stop right next to the park called Montemar Alto. If you go by car, whether rented or your own, you can park in the designated parking areas.
- Opening hours: Open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3. Don't miss the wild animals in Malaga's aquariums and zoos
And without a doubt, the ideal plan for the little ones is to visit the main amusement parks and aquariums in the province of Malaga, such as Bioparc Fuengirola, the Benalmádena Butterfly Park, Selwo Marina also in Benalmádena, or Sea Life Benalmádena.
As you can see, there are options for all tastes: both for those who love marine animals and those who love land animals. So, the difficult part in this case will be agreeing on which one to visit.
- Benalmadena Selwo Marina Tickets
- From $19
- Includes skip-the-line access
- Recommended if... You don't want to miss out on one of the best zoos in Spain
- Book now
- Benalmadena Mariposario Butterfly Park Tickets
- From $16
- Includes skip-the-line access
- Recommended if... You want to see an authentic tropical butterfly paradise
- Book now
- Fuengirola Bioparc Tickets
- From $34
- Includes skip-the-line access
- Recommended if... You like to enjoy the wild side of life just a stone's throw from Malaga
- Book now
4. Discover the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, and the Roman Theater with children
The Alcazaba, the Cathedral, and the Roman Theater are three of the most interesting monuments to visit in the city of Malaga, especially if you are visiting with children. These are three incredible places that they will love. You can also time your visit to coincide with a dramatized tour for children.
You can also visit on your own, but I recommend booking a guided tour of the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, and the Roman Theater, which will take you to each of the monuments and allow you to learn about the history and culture they hold.
To visit these magical places with the little ones, I recommend doing so on days when the elevator to the Alcazaba is working and visiting the Gibralfaro Castle.
Details of interest
- Price: the guided tour costs from €34 for adults, €19 for young people aged 10 to 14, and €9 for younger children, but I recommend checking the prices for entering the Alcazaba if you decide to visit on your own.
- How to get there: by public transport or by car (your own or a rental). You can then take the elevator or a bus route that takes you very close to the Alcazaba.
- Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the time of year. For more information, I recommend reading more about the Alcazaba's opening hours.
5. Tour Malaga comfortably on a tourist bus
The Malaga tourist bus is one of those activities that you can't miss if you're traveling with children. It's a fun and economical way to get to know the city of Malaga. On this tour, you'll have the opportunity to travel comfortably between the city's most interesting sights.
Please note that the tour does not include admission to any of the attractions, but the advantage is that you can hop on and off the route as many times as you like, paying for a single ticket.
Children love this tour because they can see all the sights from the top of the bus, and it also includes an audio guide with a narration specially designed for the little ones.
Details of interest
- Price: book your 24-hour sightseeing bus tour of Malaga for €13 for children and €26 for adults.
- How to get there: you can board the bus at any of the stations to take the entire tour.
- Timetable: the route usually runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., although this depends on the company and the time of year.
6. Take a trip to Nerja
If you were a fan of the legendary TV series Verano Azul, you can't miss a visit to the town of Nerja, where you can tell your little ones about the adventures of this group of friends who traveled around on bicycles. What's more, this coastal town is full of beaches and interesting places to visit, such as the Balcón de Europa and the Nerja caves.
I recommend booking an excursion to Nerja, as it is located about 55 kilometers east of Malaga. Once there, you have the option of going up the Chillar River, although I recommend doing this activity if you are traveling with children over the age of 6 so that they can enjoy the ride and the panoramic views.
You can also do many other activities in this town near Malaga, from visiting its beaches to kayaking.
Details of interest
- Price: the price to visit this area depends on whether you do it on your own or if you travel on a guided tour, which costs around €48 for adults and €36 for children.
- How to get there: You can travel by bus, train, or rental car. The excursion is by bus.
- Timetable: if you go on your own, I recommend leaving for Nerja early in the morning. If you go on a guided tour, the starting time is usually 9:40 a.m.
7. Walk the Caminito del Rey
It used to be considered the most dangerous hiking trail in the world, but today it is one of the most visited by tourists from all over Europe. It has been reinforced with safety measures and you can book an excursion to Caminito del Rey.
Without a doubt, it is one of the best options for having fun with children who love extreme adventures. Although it is a fairly safe route, children enjoy the adrenaline rush of completing the entire trail. I recommend this walk if you are traveling with children over the age of 6.
Once you start the Caminito del Rey, you must finish it and you cannot turn back. I recommend bringing a snack because completing this trail can take between 3 and 4 hours, so it is important to bring enough water and snacks for the little ones.
Details of interest
- Price: you can book an excursion from Malaga that costs from €74 for adults and €54 for children, and not worry about how to get there.
- How to get there: One of the best ways to get to Caminito del Rey is by train from Malaga, which takes you to El Chorro station, very close to the entrance to Caminito del Rey.
- Opening hours: it generally opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3:30 p.m. or 5:20 p.m., depending on the season. The excursion from Malaga starts at around 9 a.m.
8. Play an instrument at the Music Museum
The Music Museum is one of those places that children will love to visit because it is an interactive space where they will have the opportunity to learn about each of the instruments and, above all, interact with them, as they can play each of the instruments in the museum.
An interactive space with areas for the whole family where you can let your imagination run wild and find out if you or your children have musical talent. You can learn about the different musical notes and, of course, you can't leave without learning something about music history inside the museum.
Details of interest
- Price: Children can enter for free, while tickets for adults cost between €3 and €5 per person.
- How to get there: if you are traveling by car, you can park near La Alcazaba. If you are traveling by public transport, you should get off at the Paseo del Parque or Calle Victoria EMT bus stop. If you are traveling by train, the nearest stop is Málaga Centro Alameda. Finally, you also have the option of taking the tourist bus (Plaza La Merced stop).
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
9. Visit the La Concepción Botanical Gardens
La Concepción Botanical Gardens are one of the best things to see and do in Malaga. They bring together a large number of species whose natural habitats are located in different parts of the world. They also offer different activities at night, making them one of the best things to do in Malaga at night.
If you're traveling to Malaga in December, I recommend visiting the Botanical Garden and not missing the nightly light show. Inside the grounds, the plants are organized according to the climate they belong to, making it a truly enriching experience for children and adults alike.
Details of interest
- Price: tickets cost €5.20, while reduced tickets cost approximately €3.40.
- How to get there: you can get there by public transport, using EMT line 2; by private car; or by tourist bus, which will drop you off very close by if you take the green line.
- Opening hours: from April to September it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and from October to March from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On December 24 and 31 it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
10. Enter the Aeronautical Museum
If you are looking for an interactive and participatory activity for children to enjoy from the moment they arrive until they leave, then the place to visit is the Aeronautical Museum, located right next to the airport. One advantage is that if you don't have time to visit the museum during your vacation, you can do so before catching your flight home.
It is ranked as one of the 10 best museums in Malaga because it is an open and interactive space where children can learn many things about airplanes and their history.
Inside the museum, you will have the opportunity to learn what boarding was like in your grandparents' day. You can also climb aboard a historic airplane. In addition, you can move the propellers and do many other fun things. It is a place where you can find different outdoor spaces to share a picnic.
Details of interest
- Price: Admission is free for everyone.
- How to get there: you can take the train and get off at the airport station, from where it is about a 10-minute walk to the museum. You can also take the EMT bus line A, in which case you will need to get off at the last stop.
- Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Wednesday to Saturday.
11. Visit the Cueva del Tesoro
About 15 kilometers from the city of Malaga is a picturesque village called El Rincón de la Victoria, home to one of the three most famous sea caves in the world. The other two caves are located in Asia and Central America.
This cave is a must-see for anyone visiting Malaga, especially if you are traveling with children. One of the things I like most about this place is the interesting contrast between history, culture, and popular legends, as it is said that a hidden treasure is kept inside. It's the perfect story for the little ones, making it undoubtedly one of the best activities to do with children in Malaga.
On the one hand, they will have the opportunity to visit an interesting archaeological site and also experience an incredible adventure walking through the narrow cave and seeing the shapes that water has created over thousands of years. Inside, there are different paths, lakes, and corridors that will take you from the largest to the smallest spaces in the cave. It is definitely an experience to enjoy with the whole family.
Details of interest
- Price: Children under 3 years old enter free of charge. Children aged 4 to 14 pay approximately €2.75, as do retirees and seniors over 65. Adults aged 15 to 64 pay around €4.65 for admission.
- How to get there: it is located on Avenida Picasso in Rincón de la Victoria.
- Opening hours: in winter, it is open in the morning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and in the afternoon from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In summer, it is open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and in the afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
12. Visit the village of Acebuchal
I like to include this place among the activities to do with children, but it is also one of the best excursions from Malaga because it is a tour where you will discover a village that was abandoned for approximately 50 years. It has now been restored and is an incredible tourist attraction.
It is a kind of ghost town that is ideal to visit with children because, although it is a remote place with few houses, most of them are rented out during the holiday seasons. But regardless of when you go, it is always an interesting place to visit.
Children enjoy learning about the village's legends and, above all, they love seeing how the different houses are so close to each other, just like in other whitewashed villages in Europe.
Interesting details
- Price: Admission is free, but if you want to stay in one of the rental houses, you will need to contact the owners directly to find out the rental price.
- How to get there: It is located in the town of Cómpeta and is not very easy to get to. In fact, since it is located between mountains, it can be a little difficult to find at first glance. The best way to get there is by rental car.
- Hours: The village is open at all hours, but I recommend visiting this area during the day, and if you can go in the morning, even better.
