7 best tours in Malaga for first-time visitors

When you only have a few days, deciding which are the best tours in Malaga worth booking can feel impossible.

Don’t worry: I’ve done a lot of the legwork (and eating!) for you to figure out how you can have the best all-round experience.

From tapas tours to world-famous day trips, these are the experiences that’ll make your trip to Malaga unforgettable on a winter sun escape or long weekend city break.

Malaga’s Highlights by Tuk Tuk

A tuk tuk city tour is something I’d have never considered before my 3 days in Malaga, but consider me a convert – in the right circumstances.

When you’ve just landed and want to get your bearings, this is a great way to start.

Driven and guided by the super-friendly Jesus, we breezed through palm-lined boulevards – I was so happy to see El Pelo beach! – and through some of Malaga’s most famous neighbourhoods.

The highlight was definitely our trip all the way up to Gibralfaro viewpoint for an awesome view of La Malagueta bullring and the entire city beyond.

In just two hours, you’ll cover way more ground than you could have on foot, in a more relaxing way that suited us after an early morning flight.

Plus, you’ll get a sense of where the main attractions are and how to plan your next few days!

The tour I’ve linked above is the exact one we did, so you can feel confident you’re getting a trusted provider with the best tours in Malaga.

Alcazaba & Roman Theatre Tour

Whether you’re into history or want a deeper look inside one of Malaga’s oldest and most beautiful monuments, this is a must.

You’ll kick off next to the Roman Theatre with a view of ancient ruins beneath the ‘crystal pryamid’ before heading into the Alcazaba, the oldest Moorish fortress in Andalusia.

We explored with Dani, a knowledgeable (but crucially – witty) local guide who brought centries of stories to life in just 90 minutes. He really made our experience, so I’d highly recommend it if you’d like to experience one of the Alcazaba’s best tours in Malaga!

A tour gives you that additional historical insight that I’d never have realised by sightseeing alone! For example, hearing how the theatre was rediscovered in the 1950s and how the Alcazaba later became home to hundreds of families makes it so much more than just another ‘old building’.

Malaga Tapas & Wine Tour

Malaga is a foodie city and while I pride myself on a sniffing out a great restaurant on any trip, a great food and wine tour undoubtedly gives it a local flair.

Spending our final evening visiting three unreal destinations – a pre-dinner drink followed by two tapas spots – became one of my favourite memories from the trip. As well as a classic tortilla, the majority of dishes on our tour we hadn’t tried yet and we’d eaten a lot. This alone made the tour worth it and would definitely give me confidence in ordering a few new tapas next time!

Highlights in our first destination (I’ll keep it secret so not to ruin the surprise) included mini fried fish eaten in one bit and fried aubergine drizzled in cane sugar molasses. When we moved on, jamón-topped salmorejo (tomatoes blended with bread, olive oil and garlic), Malaga’s take on orange chicken and a gorgeous goats cheese and tomato-topped toast took the spotlight.

The best part is you feel like you’re visiting authentic locations that sure, still cater to tourists, but are more under the radar than many of the city’s most popular spots. That’s a sign of one of the best tours in Malaga!

Fried aubergine with sugar cane molasses

Traditional Flamenco at Teatro Flamenco Malaga

I always associate Seville with flamenco but turns out, Malaga has some great spots to enjoy a dramatic evening show too!

Of course, a great ambiance always helps too and the vintage-style Teatro Flamenco Malaga added a cosy vibe that made you happily snuggle up to watch with a tinto verano.

Not to say that this is a chilled experience: with raw, powerful and hypnotic dancers and museums, the steps were so fierce that at times you could almost feel them in your chest!

If you’ve eaten ‘early’ (by Spanish standards) a 21:30 slot is perfect to avoid the crowds as it runs for just under an hour.

Otherwise, book slightly earlier and head out to tapas afterwards!

Sail into the sunset on a catamaran cruise

For a truly relaxing few hours, why not spend an evening cruising Malaga’s beautiful coastline at sunset?

We spotted a few catamarans heading out around sunset one evening and with golden-glowing sky, it looked like a fun yet peaceful way to see the sunset from another vantage point. Plus, many include at least one drink so you can toast to an incredible trip from sea.

We didn’t choose a boat trip for our autumn visit, but I can imagine it’s a particularly great way to escape the summer heat with a bit of sea breeze! Just check the departure times for your trip as naturally, winter departures tend to be earlier in the day.

Take a day trip to Ronda & Setenil de las Bodegas

Heading inland for a day is a great decision if you have more than two days in Malaga. I was super excited to visit the iconic Ronda, but this day trip added in an extra town that really impressed me.

This tour gave us a great balance of guided sections (including interesting information to keep us entertained during the bus ride!) and free time, although an hour or so more free time in Ronda would have given us a little more chilled exploration.

It was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Malaga: from exploring whitewashed Setenil and watching Ronda’s dramatic gorge open up beneath the Puente Nuevo bridge. It was a unique combination that was easily doable in a day, without feeling too rushed.

You’ll arrive back in Malaga around 17:30, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your evening without feeling totally wiped out.

Walk the dramatic Caminito del Rey

Walking Caminito del Rey: a bucket-list activity for many and one I’d love to go back to Southern Spain for.

Once called ‘the most dangerous walkway in the world’, it’s now been restored enough for thousands of tourists to tackle it every year. Come with a head for heights – it winds along a sheer gorge – and be prepared for incredible views.

In winter season, you’ll avoid the crowds but get cooler weather. Even in summer, it could be worth bringing layers!

From tipsy tapas and sea vistas to historical wonders, Malaga has a knack for turning even short tours into memorable experiences. It’s not everywhere I’d recommend them but here, this list of best tours in Malaga all add value to your trip that make the extra investment well worth it.

If you’re planning your first trip, don’t miss my 3 day Malaga itinerary or guide to visiting Malaga in winter.

Where to stay in Malaga

I’d highly recommend the stylish Hotel Catalonia Puerta del Mar and from the central location (all our must-sees were within a 15 minute walk!) to the most comfortable beds ever, it couldn’t have been more perfect.