Malaga has over 40 museums, more per square kilometre than most cities in Spain.
It’s not the kind of place you’d expect to be a museum city, but that’s exactly what it’s become. Picasso, Pompidou, classic cars, video games, aviation. The range is genuinely surprising.
I’ve lived here for almost four years and I still haven’t been to every one. But I’m getting close.
These are the museums I recommend: the main art museums, the ones my kids love, and a few that most visitors walk straight past. If you’re planning things to do in Malaga, start here.
Best Art Museums in Malaga
Picasso Museum
This is the essential museum stop in Malaga. Located in a 16th-century palace on Calle San Agustin, just minutes from Picasso’s birthplace (and my flat), it showcases more than 200 works spanning the artist’s entire career. Ceramics, engravings, paintings, sculptures, plus rotating exhibitions.
Beneath the building, you can see archaeological remains through glass floors. Teens and curious kids do well here, and audio guides are available.
Admission is €13, but it’s free on Sundays during the last two hours (4 to 6 pm November to February, 5 to 7 pm March to June and September to October, 6 to 8 pm in July and August). The museum is on Calle San Agustin 8 in Malaga’s Old Town.
Book ahead in summer or you’ll queue. museopicassomalaga.org
Carmen Thyssen Museum
Housed in a beautifully restored 16th-century palace on Calle Compania, the Carmen Thyssen focuses on 19th-century Spanish and Andalusian painting. Think costumbrismo, romantic landscapes, and works by Sorolla and Fortuny.
It’s not tailored for kids, but it’s well organised and genuinely interesting if you enjoy art history. Allow 1 to 2 hours.
Admission is €12, free on Sundays after 4 pm, and it’s closed on Mondays. carmenthyssenmalaga.org
Malaga Museum (Museo de Malaga)
Set inside the grand neoclassical Customs Palace on Plaza de la Aduana, this is the largest museum in Andalusia. The upper floor has a rich collection of 19th and 20th century Spanish paintings. The ground floor covers Malaga’s ancient past through Roman mosaics, Phoenician relics, and Islamic ceramics.
It’s suitable for older children. There are interactive family exhibits and good signage throughout.
Free for EU citizens, €1.50 for everyone else. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. museosdeandalucia.es
Centre Pompidou Malaga
You’ll spot the multicoloured glass Cube by Daniel Buren before you even get close. Muelle Uno, on the waterfront, is home to the only Centre Pompidou outside France, with rotating contemporary art exhibitions.
Inside, the rotating exhibitions can be provocative. My daughter left feeling completely confused, so it’s not for everyone. But there’s a dedicated kids’ space and Sunday family activities.
Even if you don’t go inside, the Cube is worth a photo. Admission is €9, free on Sundays after 4 pm, and it’s closed on Tuesdays. centrepompidou-malaga.eu
Museo Jorge Rando
Spain’s only museum dedicated to expressionism. This light-filled space on Calle Cruz del Molinillo explores the emotional world of Malaga-born artist Jorge Rando, alongside rotating international expressionist exhibits.
It’s off the tourist track, free to enter, and worth the short walk from the centre. Best for older kids or art-interested teens.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour. museojorgerando.org
Best Museums in Malaga for Kids
If you’re visiting Malaga with kids, the full family plans and the kids’ museums are in that guide. The ones my kids love are the OXO Museum (oxomuseo.com), the Imagination Museum (museoimaginacion.com), MIMMA, the interactive music museum (musicaenaccion.com) and Cliche Gallery (clicheselfiemalaga.com). Opening times and prices are on their sites, and the things to do in Malaga guide covers the OXO in more detail.
Hidden Gem Museums in Malaga
These are the museums that most visitors miss.
Automobile and Fashion Museum
Over 90 classic cars sit alongside 200 designer outfits from Dior to Chanel, in themed galleries that pair fashion trends with automotive history.
It’s a short bus ride from the centre, on Avenida de Sor Teresa Prat 15.
Adults pay €10, children aged 6 to 16 pay €6, and under 6s go free. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. museoautomovilmoda.com
The Aeronautical Museum
Tucked beside Malaga Airport, this under-the-radar museum offers a hands-on look at the history of aviation in Spain. Kids and adults can climb into cockpits, explore vintage aircraft, and learn about how airports work.
It’s surprisingly big, educational, and completely free. A great stop before or after your flight.
On Avenida Comandante Garcia Morato, next to the airport terminal. aeroplaza.org
Museum of Popular Arts and Costumes
A glimpse into Andalusian rural life through traditional clothing, crafts, and domestic tools. Housed in a 17th-century inn, the exhibits range from carriages and fishing gear to folk art and religious icons.
Engaging for curious young visitors. On Plaza Enrique Garcia-Herrera 1.
Admission is €4, free on Tuesdays from 1 to 5 pm. visita.malaga.eu
Glass and Crystal Museum
A privately run museum in a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion showcasing over 1,000 glass pieces, from Phoenician antiquities to Art Nouveau vases. Guided tours weave the collection into a story of European art, furniture, and decorative traditions.
It’s intimate, elegant, and unexpectedly fascinating. Not one for kids, though. This one will put them to sleep.
Admission is €7. On Plazuela Santisimo Cristo de la Sangre 2. museovidrioycristalmalaga.com
Malaga Wine Museum
This one sits in a charming 18th-century palace on Plaza de los Vineros, and it covers the region’s wine-making tradition with antique tools, historic labels, and local character. The visit finishes with a guided tasting of two Malaga wines.
Best for adults. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
Admission is €6, which includes the tasting. museovinomalaga.com
Malaga CF Stadium Museum
Football fans will love this behind-the-scenes look at La Rosaleda Stadium, home of Malaga Club de Futbol. The museum covers over 100 years of club history with trophies, jerseys, and memorabilia. Tours include access to the locker rooms, pitch, and press zone.
Especially good for young football fans. On Paseo de Martiricos.
Admission is €10 for adults, €5 for children under 14. malagacf.com
Are Museums in Malaga Free on Sundays?
Most of them, yes, usually for the last couple of hours of the day, and a few are always free. The Malaga Museum, the Jorge Rando Museum and the Aeronautical Museum are free all the time, but check each museum’s own site before you go. Every free entry and Sunday time is listed in my guide to free things to do in Malaga.
How Many Museums Does Malaga Have?
Over 40, depending on how you count galleries and exhibition spaces. The city calls itself the “City of Museums”.
You won’t get through them all in a single trip. If you have 2 to 3 days, pick one from each section above and you’ll get a good mix of art, history, and something unexpected.
If it rains, even better. Museums are one of the best things to do in Malaga when it rains.
Is the Malaga Museum Worth Visiting?
Yes, and not just for history buffs.
It’s one of the largest museums in Spain and completely free for EU citizens. But it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The archaeology section on the ground floor is genuinely impressive, with Phoenician and Roman artefacts dug up around the city. If you’re into architecture, the 18th-century Customs Palace alone is worth a look.
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. It’s right on Plaza de la Aduana, next to the Alcazaba.
