18 Best Museums in Malaga

There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of amazing things to do in Malaga. And thankfully, given Malaga’s claim to fame that it boasts 300 days of sunshine each year, many of them are outside! However, for the city’s rare rainy days, there are a ton of great museums in Malaga to enjoy. Here are some of our favorite picks.

Best Museums in Malaga

Picasso Museum Malaga

Undoubtedly the most famous of the museums in Malaga is the Picasso Museum. First opened in 2003, this museum holds special importance as Picasso himself was born in Malaga. This museum boasts over 280 of Picasso’s finest works, including art of all media. There are oil paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, and sketches by the artist. 

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum also offers a myriad of cultural activities in which visitors can partake in conferences and seminars, additional exhibitions, musical performances, flamenco, and more. 

The museum is situated in Palacio de Buenavista in the Old Town of Malaga. 

Consider booking a guided tour, as you will be able to fully immerse yourself in Picasso’s life and work. General admission is €12.

Museo Casa Natal de Picasso Malaga

If you didn’t get your Picasso fix at the Picasso museum in Malaga, you can see even more of his work at Casa Natal. Though this isn’t an art museum per se, it is his birth house and some of his early works are on display here. Picasso was born in Malaga on October 25, 1881.

The different rooms in the museum take you through a chronological tour that emphasizes Picasso’s familial, social, and cultural ties to Malaga.

Entrance to the museum is €5,50. Guided tours are also available.

Centre Pompidou Malaga

The Centre Pompidou in Malaga was the first branch of the famed Parisian museum outside of France. The iconic rubix cube-looking structure is one of the most identifiable structures in the port area of Malaga. The collection of art housed at the Centre Pompidou museum in Malaga is mainly by 20th and 21st century artists.

You can’t miss the colorful cube as you head to Muelle Uno, Malaga’s port shopping center.

Featured artists here include the world-famous Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo, Joan Miro, Picasso, and more. 

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the temporary, rotating exhibitions are also highly worth checking out!

The Centre Pompidou museum in Malaga is free on the first Sunday of the month!

General admission is €9 per ticket.

Museo Carmen Thyssen Malaga

Among one of the most famous museums in Malaga is the Carmen Thyssen Museum. Here, you can wander around over 5,000 square meters of exhibitions. The permanent collection houses over 240 19th century works by Spanish artists. The museum has a number of temporary exhibitions throughout the year in addition to cultural and educational activities.

Like many other museums in Malaga, the Carmen Thyssen museum is closed on Mondays.

Cost of admission is €10. Entrance is free from 16:00 on Sundays.

CAC Malaga

The ‘Centro de Arte Contemporáneo de Málaga’, aka the Contemporary Art Museum of Malaga, emphasizes educational initiatives in the realm of contemporary art. With an expansive collection, spanning from the 1970s to the present day, CAC Malaga is among the top museums in Malaga to visit. Best of all? It’s free! 

Come visit CAC Malaga to see its permanent exhibitions as well as its infinite cultural and educational activities.

Automobile & Fashion Museum of Malaga

This is one of the most interesting and unique museums in Malaga – and one that caters to men and women alike (for the most part). The Automobile and Fashion Museum of Malaga showcases a gorgeous display of beautifully-restored classic cars, high fashion and haute couture, as well as contemporary art.

Featuring vehicles made by renowned makers such as Bugatti, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and more, you’ll get to see the big names of the fashion world as well – Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, etc. Some of the haute couture displayed have been worn by famous celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Lady Gaga.

Guided tours last 50 minutes and cost €10. Non-guided tours are slightly less expensive at €9,50.

Colección del Museo Ruso

This museum, despite being located in Malaga, does not showcase Spanish art. Instead, the Colección del Museo Ruso holds a vast collection of Russian works, displaying their art, history, and culture.

The museum comprises four different palaces. In each palace is work by renowned Russian artists such as Malévich, Kandinsky, Filónov, Chagall, and Kandinsky. There are also a number of exhibitions by lesser-known, though just as talented, 19th-century artists.

There are two temporary exhibitions on display per year, showcasing hand-selected work from the State Museum in St. Petersburg.

This museum is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly!

General admission costs €8. On Sundays, from 16:00-close, entrance is free.

Museo Jorge Rando

One of my personal favorites, the Jorge Rando Museum in Malaga is the sole expressionist museum in Spain dedicated to Jorge Rando. Though I’m no art connoisseur, Rando’s work is truly beautiful. This small museum is a lovely homage to the artist. 

In addition to showcasing Jorge Rando’s paintings, the museum also aims to educate the public with regard to the expressionist movement over the past three centuries. 

Both the entrance and the guided tour are free.

Museo del Vino

Another favorite! The Museum of Wine in Malaga is a great stop for any and all lovers of wine. This museum highlights the history, art, and culture of local wine production. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be a wine museum without a proper tasting – which you will absolutely love. 

Over 400 bottle labels and posters adorn the walls of the museum to show the evolution of wine marketing as well. 

If you’d like a guided visit, you should book in advance. The visit lasts 40 minutes. A group guided visit costs €50 per group.

For an independent visit, tickets are only €5, which includes two wine tastings. Additional wine tastings are €1.

Museum of Glass and Crystal Malaga

Malaga has some seriously cool museums. This is yet another! A hidden treasure among the museums in Malaga, the Museum of Glass and Crystal is located in a restored palace from the 1900s in the Old Town.

On display is a private collection with over 3,000 pieces of glass and crystal coming from all over the world. There are pieces from ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, and the ancient Islamic world as well.

The museum is super-small, and you will be taken through with a knowledgeable guide. 

The entrance fee to the museum is €7.

Museo Revello de Toro

This museum in Malaga holds a permanent exhibition by famed portrait artist Félix Revello de Toro, who hailed from Malaga. There are just under 150 works of art, including sketches and oil paintings. 

The museum is closed on Mondays and free on Sundays. From Tuesday through Saturday, the tickets cost €2.50.

Malaga Museum

This museum is among the most popular to visit in Malaga. Situated in the Palacio de la Aduana, which is the former customs building, the Museum of Malaga is home to both an archaeology and a fine arts collection. There are eight rooms, all of which span an area of over 18,000 square meters! Each room gives an entirely different experience than the last.

The fine arts collection is the largest in all of Andalusia, featuring almost 3,000 works of art. It features pieces by renowned Spanish artists such as Alonso Cano, Velazquez, Goya, and Luis de Morales. The archaeological collection holds 2,000 pieces of antiquities and relics from the ancient world. 

The museum itself is the largest in Andalusia as well as the fifth largest in the country. 

EU citizens can enter for free! For the rest of us, admission is a mere €1.5.

The museum is closed on Mondays.

Museo del Patrimonio

The Museo del Patrimonio pays homage to the historic and artistic heritage of Malaga. The collection holds over 4,000 works of art. There is art of all types, from sculptures and paintings to even graphic art. From this vast collection, 94 pieces are permanently displayed.

There are three different rooms at the Museo del Patrimonio. Room I is dedicated to the 15th-18th centuries, depicting the period of time when Malaga was integrated into the kingdom of Aragon and Castille.

In Room II, the focus is on the 19th century and its masters.

Room III is for artists from the 20th century as well as contemporary trends in the Malaguena art scene.

The museum is closed on Mondays.

Palacio Episcopal

Also known as the Cultural Center, the Palacio Episcopal is adjacent to the front facade of the Malaga Cathedral. There are a number of temporary exhibitions housed in the palace at the Diocesan Museum. 

While you’re visiting, be sure to visit the patio and gardens for a real treat.

Interactive Music Museum Malaga

Malaga’s Interactive Music Museum is an educational and fun hands-on experience great for the whole family. The museum holds a vast collection of musical instruments from cultures all around the world and all different time periods.

The interactive nature of the museum means endless entertainment for the kiddos. Participation and interaction are encouraged! 

The rooms are coded by color. White rooms are home to large-scale instruments such as pianos and the Guidonian Hand. Black rooms are home to permanent exhibitions. Red rooms are the ‘please to play’ rooms, where visitors can experiment with and learn from musical instruments in their own way.

Admission is €5.

Museo Unicaja de Artes y Costumbres Populares

This interesting museum in Malaga focuses on what life was like in 19th-century Malaga. Highlights are the authentic period furniture, agricultural items and tools, and a number of other artifacts from the period.

The museum has grown steadily since its inception, now boasting 18 exhibition halls. These showcase the ethnography of Malaga, all decorated in accordance with traditional customs. There are ceramics, textiles, religious art, printed arts, and more. 

Admission is €4. On Tuesdays from 13:00-17:00, admission is free.

Ifergan Collection

The Ifergan Collection is a lesser-known museum in Malaga. A small archaeological exhibition, the Ifergan Collection takes you back in time through Mesopotamia, the early days of Islam, ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, Persia, and finally Byzantium. 

One of the highlights of the Ifergan Collection is an Egyptian mummy that dates back to the 18th dynasty.

General admission is €10.

Flamenco Museum

The Museo de Arte Flamenco Juan Breva is a must-see museum in Malaga. Juan Breva was one of the best flamenco singers from Malaga. 

In the museum, you’ll find guitars, vinyl, as well as an impressive number of recordings. Definitely a great visit before you see a traditional flamenco show!

In addition to seeing the 5,000 pieces in the collection, the museum frequently holds concerts, seminars, informational lectures, and more. 

Read More:

How to Take a Day Trip from Malaga to Seville

How to Take a Day Trip from Malaga to Granada

pin it