When going on a city break to Malaga it can be nice to step into one of the city’s green spaces to sit down or go for a stroll. Luckily, there are plenty of lush parks in Malaga Spain where you can breathe in a piece of nature.
After living in and around Malaga for over 10 years, I’ve learned to appreciate these green spaces and I’m here to share my favorites with you.
Without any further ado, let’s uncover some of the most beautiful Malaga parks!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase through one of those links, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Amused by Andalucia! I’ve been based in Andalucia, Spain for the last 10+ years, mainly in Seville and Costa del Sol while exploring the region extensively. Since 2022, I’ve slow-traveled in my van with my fiancee and dog, spending significant time in each place to truly get to know all the hidden corners of this exciting and diverse region. I’m here to help you uncover Andalucia too!
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Table of Contents
Parks in Malaga Spain
Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso
I actually consider Jardines de Pedro Luis Alonso one of Malaga’s hidden gems even though it’s located very centrally right below the Gibralfaro viewpoint.
If you’ve visited the Alcazaba of Malaga, I’m sure you’ve seen it right behind the city’s Town Hall. It’s one of the most ornate parks in Malaga, yet it’s not on most people’s list of top things to do in Malaga.
The Latin-style garden dates back to 1945 and was named after the mayor at the time. It covers 6,500 square meters and is a lovely retreat filled with groomed plants, benches, and fountains (and even frogs!)
It’s also home to a rose garden with 75 different species from all across the globe. If you visit Malaga in winter you might get there a day after the rain when the roses will leave a particularly sweet scent in the air.
When walking down from Gibralfaro viewpoint, there’s a set of stairs taking you down a romantic alley of steps with flowers and cute benches to sit on. It leads straight down to this magnificent garden. It’s hard to find better free things to do in Malaga than strolling in a park like this.
Parque de Malaga
Between Muelle Uno and the old town, there’s a long and frequented park, Parque de Malaga, translated to Malaga Park. Most people cross it when coming from the marina to Malaga Old Town, yet I don’t think that many tourists take note of it.
Slow down and look around you, and this park is full of lush plants, palm trees, fountains, and benches to sit down and take it all in.
Since the park is right next to my favorite places for free parking in Malaga, and we often park the van at night and sleep there to get up early in the morning to explore the city, it’s safe to say I’ve spent quite some time there.
It’s an exceptional outdoor space that the locals use a lot to walk their dogs, go for a stroll with family, or relax on a bench. The first plants were planted over 100 years ago and can be seen as a fluffy green area protecting the city from the sea breeze.
If you visit Malaga in December, you’ll also find the Malaga Christmas Market there where you can find anything you’ll need for a nativity scene, different ornaments, handmade trinkets, and toys.
Patio de Los Naranjos
If you’ve climbed to Malaga Cathedral‘s rooftop, you’ve stepped inside the Patio de Los Naranjos. In fact, it was that way I stumbled across it for the first time too.
But it’s actually a lovely garden to take a time-out when sightseeing and since climbing to the top of the cathedral probably is already on your Malaga itinerary, you have a great excuse to sit there for a bit before or after your rooftop experience.
This orange garden is the only part that survived the Moorish mosque that stood at the place of the cathedral before it was demolished after the Christian reconquest, making it one of the oldest gardens in Malaga.
It used to be free to enter the Patio de Los Naranjos, but recently, they only made it accessible for people with Malaga Cathedral tickets. You’ll get to it when you go out of the cathedral turning left instead of to the right to exit the complex.
Malaga Botanical Garden
Malaga Botanical Garden is located a bit off the beaten path and doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it deserves.
If there’s one park in Malaga that stands out it’s this. The English-style English garden hosts over 50.000 plants whereof 3000 species are tropical or subtropical making this a true green lung of the city.
People have been entertained by ponds, waterfalls, statues, and fountains as they’ve meandered through the gardens since the mid-1800s.
They open at 09:30 in the morning and closing hours vary with the season being 19:30 in the summer months and 16:30 in the winter season. Public Holidays might affect the opening hours and they’re closed on Mondays.
Alcazaba gardens
The gardens of the Alcazaba are some of the oldest and most ornate in all of Malaga. Located inside the castle, you’ll need to book tickets to Malaga Alcazaba to visit them. However, if you’re there on a Sunday, you can enter for free after 14:00.
The perfectly groomed Moorish-style gardens give you peace of mind even though there will be other tourists around (I suggest visiting off-season and early morning for a better experience.)
Trickling fountains and columns draped in lush, green leaves meet you as you enter and besides, the views of the city from there are phenomenal!
Conclusion: Malaga parks
As you can tell, Malaga has some great parks and gardens you can enjoy with a lot of history. Whether you travel with children or dogs or just want to step back from the hustle of bustle of a city vacation, Malaga’s gardens deliver.
There are other parks in the city but with these, you’re guaranteed to see the best of the best, both touristy and local experiences.
Happy travels!