Malaga is known as a terrific family-friendly holiday destination and here we are going to show you why. The "always sunny" capital of the Costa del Sol is much more than sea, sand, "chiringuitos" on the beach and tapas. We know that all that could be enough for a great family holiday; but we are going to give you an idea of 10 different things you could do around Malaga to have a bunch of fun with the kids!
Here they are:
1. Walk along Muelle Uno and La Malagueta. The walk may take you about an hour or so if you don?t stop, but we recommend you take time to enjoy the journey. Along Muelle Uno (the new Malaga port inaugurated in 2011) there are plenty of boats, some fancy yachts and sometimes huge ferries or cruise ships that kids would love to see, a variety of coffee/bars and restaurants, as well as shops. There is a panoramic lift, a little chapel and sometime a street market and free public events for the family. After Muelle Uno starts La Malagueta, the famous beach and seafront with plenty of beach bars offering some of the area?s best "espetos" (typical dish of sardines) and seafood.
2. Alcazaba Fortress and Gibralfaro Castle. Perfect for an afternoon with the family and for taking lots of photos with amazing landscapes. Kids would love to walk around while their parents tell them how it used to be a castle and a fortress for the many kings, and how, from there, they were protected against the pirates! See our post about the Alcazaba for more information.
3. Selwo Marina Delfinarium. Located in Benalmadena (22km from Malaga city centre), this is a perfect place for lovers of all animals, especially those that live in or near the water. The family will enjoy seeing a different range of creatures like frogs, spiders, exotic birds, the always amusing penguins and dolphins, sea lions, monkeys, snakes, different types of turtles, caimans and, of course, plenty of fish. There are shows throughout the day with the animals doing tricks and if you wish, you can book an unforgettable experience with dolphins, sea lions or penguins. They have quite a complete website with all the information needed.
4. Museo Automovilistico de Malaga. (Automobile Museum) Well, this will be enjoyed for sure by the man of the house, but kids will also be amazed by the wide variety of models and types of cars, and how they evolved over the years. It is located a few minutes from the historical city centre. My recommendation would be (if the weather is nice) to walk from the centre along the seafront, stopping to let the little ones play for a while in one of the public parks on the beach or resting in the beautiful public garden in Paseo Antonio Machado. Here is the museum?s website.
5. Botanic Gardens of Malaga "La Concepcion". Created in 1955 by the Marquis and Marchioness of Loring and declared officially in 1942 as an Item of Cultural Interest. Here the family can enjoy a sunny day learning about plants. You will see fantastic species from over the world, from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Here is the garden?s website.
6. Centro de Ciencia Principia. This is an interactive science museum, therefore an interesting and fun way for a child to learn! At first it was planned as a complement to the schools. Nowadays it has two different rooms with interactive exhibits that will help them to understand science and technology, a planetarium and an astronomy observatory. Opens Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2pm and 5pm to 8pm; Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Entry costs 3?. Here is the museum?s website.
7. Tivoli. This is one of the most famous amusement parks in the south of Spain. It is located in Benalmadena and can be reached by train or car. Perfect for a full family day of fun and breathtaking rides. In addition, during summer the park offers live shows, concerts and flamenco performances. Here is the park?s website.
8. Sea Life Benalmadena. Get ready to see plenty of lovely sea creatures (and some scarier ones like huge sharks and rays). Kids will be able to interact with some of the creatures in the touch pool and learn some interesting facts about them. It could be an interesting place to learn about how to take care of the oceans and their inhabitants. Here is Sea Life?s website.
9. Malaga Interactive Music Museum. For those who love music and its history, this museum owns a collection of more than 300 instruments used throughout history in different parts of the world. A really important feature of this museum is that it allows the visitor to interact with the sounds and sensations created by instruments. It is located in the historical city centre. The website is just in Spanish but here you could find some extra information in English.
10. Bioparc Fuengirola. More attractions for animal lovers! Bioparc is located in Fuengirola (about 32km from Malaga city centre) and can be easily reached by train or car. This is an amazing zoo with a wide range of birds, mammals and reptiles and there are free guided visits with lots of information about the animals living at Bioparc. Here is the zoo?s website.
