Malaga is a city located in Andalusia, in the south of Spain on the Mediterranean coast. For a long time in the shadow of other famous Andalusian cities such as Seville, Granada, or Cordoba, the capital of the Costa del Sol is now a popular seaside resort, with a beautiful historical center, must-see monuments, about thirty museums, and beautiful beaches.

But did you know that Malaga is the birthplace of the famous artist Picasso? Or that it’s the 6th most important city of Spain? 

Discover more thanks to these 32 interesting facts about Malaga, Spain!

 

Facts on Malaga to Learn All About It

Ready to learn all about Malaga?

Facts are one of the best ways to learn more about something, and I personally love to read them! I’ve put together for you quite a bit of facts on Malaga; I’ve split them into 3 categories:

  • The best Malaga facts
  • Malaga fun facts
  • General facts of Malaga

Let’s dive in straight away with our first category!

 

The Best Malaga Facts

Here, you will learn more about the general most interesting facts about Malaga:

 

1. Malaga is one of the oldest cities in the world

Malaga has a truly glorious past. You can find multiple signs of it in the city, with fantastic ruins like the Roman Theater.

It is considered to be one of the oldest civilized cities in the whole world! Malaga was founded in 770 BC by the Phoenicians because it was greatly located between Phoenicia and Gibraltar. Its first name was Málaka.

 

2. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and has his work displayed there

Pablo Picasso is known all around the globe for having introduced cubism.

He was born in Malaga in 1881 and has a museum to his name today. You can visit Museo Picasso Malaga any time of the year and admire his masterpieces.

Another famous person born in Malaga, in 1960, is Spanish actor Antonio Banderas.

 

3. The port of Malaga hasn’t stopped operating since at least 600 BC

The port of Malaga gazes at the Mediterranean Sea. It currently has several purposes, since it is a fishing port, a cruise port, a commercial port, and a marina.

It is today one of the busiest seaports on the Mediterranean, and has never stopped operating since at least 600 BC! This is probably due to its fantastic location and general intense activity. In the 21st century, the port of Malaga is being modernized and incorporated into the city.

 

3 - facts on malaga port

 

4. Malaga is an extremely sunny city

If you are visiting Malaga, it is very unlikely for you to see any rainy day at all, since there are only 50 days of rain throughout the whole year… and 300 days of sun!

The annual rainfall is 59.7 cm / 1.9 ft, making it an ideal vacation destination in Europe.

 

5. Malaga is an important economic city, coming 4th in Spain

On top of being a historical, beautiful, and touristic city, Malaga is very important economically.

It is the biggest economy in Andalusia and the 4th one in Spain. The most important business and economic sectors in Malaga are tourism, construction, and technology. Some other sectors like transportation and logistics are also rapidly growing.

 

6. Malaga is the second most populated city in Andalusia

Andalusia is the southernmost region of Spain, and one of the 17 autonomous communities. Its capital is Seville, it is the second largest community and it is the most populated one.

Malaga is a very important city in Andalusia, and is the second most populated one, right after Seville.

 

6 - malaga fun facts about tourism

 

7. You won’t see a whole minute going around in Malaga subway stations

This is a very specific fact about Malaga, yet you can also find such peculiarities in the United Kingdom.

Indeed, in the subway stations, you can see the clocks displaying 59 and not 60 seconds per minute. This is the British style, where the clock stops for a second at 59 seconds instead of going around the full 60-second circle.

 

8. The first Spanish person to walk around the whole globe came was a Malagan citizen

There are people who like walking, there are veterans of walking, and then there are literal globetrotters. Though it seems unbelievable, some incredibly courageous travelers have walked around the whole globe!

This trip took years, and for Spain, the first person to successfully walk around the globe was a Malagueño, Nacho Dean Mouliaa. His journey took 3 whole years.

 

9. Malaga is the sixth largest city in Spain

While Spain as a whole is a sizable country, with 47 million inhabitants and a unique culture that brings millions of visitors every year, its 10 largest cities gather almost a fourth of the whole population.

Among them, Madrid is by far the most populated one, with more than 3.2 million inhabitants. Malaga is the sixth largest one, with 569 000 inhabitants.

 

10. Bullfighting is popular in Malaga, the annual season usually runs from April to September

Bullfighting is a controversial and sometimes illegal physical contest, very famous in Spain, Portugal, and most Spanish-influenced countries like Mexico, in which a bullfighter (“matador”) evades a bull according to certain rules or cultural expectations. The classic Spanish fighting bull is especially trained to be aggressive for such a “show”.

In Malaga, you can find bullfighting from April to September.

 

malaga bullring

La Malagueta Bullring

11. Malaga Airport is the third largest in Spain

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) is the busiest airport in Andalusia, and is very important for Spanish tourism since it is the main international airport for “Costa del Sol” (a very attractive and sunny coast in the South of Andalusia) visitors.

Almost 20 million passengers pass through AGP every year. It is the third largest airport in Spain.

 

12. The province of Malaga is very popular among tourists

Because of its ideal climate, fantastic history and – let’s be honest – amazing food, Andalusia is a huge point of interest from tourists all around the world. Malaga and its province are a central piece of the region, with their unique culture, history, and beauty. They attract millions of visitors every year.

 

view from gibralfaro castle malaga

 

13. The first protestant cemetery in Spain was built in Malaga

You can find an English Cemetery in Malaga, which is the most important Protestant cemetery of the country, and also the very first one.

It was built in 1831, thanks to William Mark, a British Consul in Malaga from 1824 to 1836, who was utterly shocked by the way protestants were buried on the seashore at night.

 

14. The Battle of Malaga took place South of Malaga

The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) started after the death of King Charles II of Spain (November 1700), who had no child.

Among the most important conflicts, the Battle of Vélez-Malaga was the largest naval battle of the whole war. It took place in the sea, South of Malaga.

 

15. The original name of Malaga is “Malaka”, meaning “factory”

As I have already told you, the Phoenicians founded Malaga back in 770 BC. They were a sea-faring civilization from the Middle East.

When they arrived in what is called today Malaga, they named the area Malaka, which means “factory”. Later, industries came there, and now the city as a whole has deep factory roots.

 

16. The city used to be called “Malaqah” and to be ruled by Muslims for 800 years

For 800 years, the city was known as “Malaqah”. As you probably know, this is because Spain, especially the southern part, was in permanent conflict with the Muslims, or Moors and a lot of battles took place in Andalusia.

However, the Islamic rule of the city came to an end when the Roman Empire conquered it back.

Read more: Discover more about religions in Spain

 

17. Malaga is the main financial and economic center of Southern Spain

The strategic position in which Malaga lies has much to do with its economic and financial importance in Spain. It is even the center of Southern Spain when it comes to wealth.

Its port is always busy, and its ideal location in the Costa del Sol attracts millions of tourists every year.

 

18. In 1487, the “Reconquista” by Christian forces happened in Malaga

During 780 long years, Christian forces expanded their kingdoms through the Iberian Peninsula, hunting down the well-established Arabic people in a huge operation called the “Reconquista”, which is Spanish for reconquest.

In 1487, it reached Malaga, and it was conquered by the Christian armies.

 

18 - cathedral de la encarnacion

Cathedral of Malaga

19. Malaga has gained a lot of land from the sea

The Paseo del Parque, Plaza de la Marina, and a large part of the port area are new additions to Malaga. Those are all places quite near the sea, but they are now part of the city. Back in the Moorish era, when the Muslims ruled the area, the sea was at today’s main fresh food market.

 

20. The main beach in Malaga is considered to be one of the most visited beaches in the world

Malagueta Beach is the main beach in Malaga. It is simply splendid, with perfect weather, but it also offers great facilities, spacious hotel rooms, tons of restaurants with amazing food, a huge nightlife, and a clean environment. Because of all of this,  it’s one of the best areas to stay in Malaga, and one of the most visited beaches in the world.

 

malagueta beach

 

21. Castillo de Gibralfaro is the castle of Malaga, and it is very ancient

Castillo de Gibralfaro was built in the 14th century. It was dedicated to protecting troops and protecting the Alcazaba, Malaga’s fortress. You can find spectacular views of the city from its walls.

For some time, it was said to be one of the most impregnable fortresses on the Iberian Peninsula.

 

21 - malaga spain facts about gibralfaro castle

 

22. The countryside around Malaga is also splendid

While most travelers visit the center of Malaga and its historical monuments, they are missing out on the amazing countryside, right outside the city.

It is scenic, has many groves of fruit trees and olive trees and farms, and is overall very beautiful. Most importantly, the Serrania de Ronda, the mountain range, is something you should see.

 

22 - fun facts about malaga ronda

 

So there you have them, the best 22 Malaga Spain facts!

But wait, there’s more, let’s learn a bit more about the funny and unusual side of the city:

 

Malaga Fun Facts

Though Malaga is a very beautiful, historical, and cultural city, there are still some unsettling facts you probably don’t know about. Here are 10 more facts for this second category:

 

23. Some of the most expensive rents in Spain are in Malaga

You can find the street of Calle Larios in Malaga. It was built in 1891 and was considered the most elegant street of the whole country back then.

Nowadays, it is one of the most expensive streets regarding rent. It has become so unaffordable that there are mostly international brands now, and many traditional shops had to close or move out.

 

23 - calle larios

Calle Larios

24. Malagueños love coffee and have some precise preferences

Coffee is a worldwide interest. In almost every country, you can find some, and some cities even have a special reputation regarding coffee.

Well, in Malaga, the inhabitants are huge coffee lovers. They are so picky that they even have names for the amount of milk they add in the coffee (50/50, 66/33, 80/20, …).

 

25. The symbol of Malaga lasts one night only

Flowers are beautiful, usually smell good, and are symbols to many cities around the world. In Malaga, it is the “biznaga”, a creation of jasmine flowers and thistle, that represents the city. You can find them sold during summer in most streets, and they are amazing.

However, though they smell very good, they barely last one day!

 

26. The Spanish Civil War delayed Malaga FC stadium

The first game of football ever happening in Malaga took place in 1904, when two local teams improvised a game… in front of 3,000 spectators!

20 years after the creation of Malaga FC, in 1921, a stadium began to be built. But not for long, since the Spanish Civil War started two months later, and delayed the whole construction.

 

27. Malagueños are nicknamed as… anchovies

Malaga Bay is very famous for its anchovies or “boquerón” in Spanish. They are often eaten fried or with vinegar in most beach bars.

However, if you are a Malagueño, there is a local nickname for you: you will be named boquerón, or boquerona if you are female.

 

28. Malaga has the warmest winters of all sizable European cities

Mostly because of the influence of the Malaga Mountains in the North, which block the cold weather, among all European cities with half a million inhabitants or more, Malaga has the warmest winters of them all!

It usually ranges from 17.2 to 17.7 °C / 63 to 64 °F, from December to February.

 

29. People eat a lot throughout the day in Malaga

Spanish food has an amazing reputation, and there is no exception in Malaga. The food is a gourmet delight, with fruits and vegetables that grew in the local sun, and fresh seafood variety right out of the ocean.

On top of that, Malagueños eat 5 to 6 times a day! With such quality cuisine, you can easily understand why.

Read more: Discover more about Spanish food

 

30. Like in Madrid, siestas are very important in Malaga

In Madrid, most stores are closed from 2 to 5 PM, because everyone in the city is taking a siesta. It is too hot anyway to do anything, so people would rather rest a bit, and then work later on until 9 to 10 PM.

In Malaga, the same is happening, where the lunch is very heavy, immediately followed by a nap, and the whole city shuts down for a few hours.

 

31. Don’t forget to taste some wine in Malaga

You might not know that, but the city has one of the oldest wine histories in the world! The Antigua Casa de Guardia is one of the most ancient wineries there.

If you are planning on traveling to Malaga, you should definitely taste some Malagan wine, which is very sweet.

 

32. Be prepared to schedule your meals, those are late!

You know it, people generally eat many times in Malaga, but they also eat very late compared to most countries in the world.

Malagueños like to have their meals late: lunch is at 2 PM, and dinner is served post 10 PM in most restaurants!

 

plaza of malaga

 

And that’s it for the fun facts about Malaga!

If you want more general information about the city, feel free to keep reading down below:

 

General Facts of Malaga

You’ll find below a few general facts of Malaga, to learn more about this Spanish city:

  • Name: Malaga
  • Province: Malaga
  • Region: Andalusia
  • Land area: 398.2 km² / 153.6 sq mi
  • Population: 569 000
  • Name of inhabitants: Malagueños
  • Website: Malaga

 

Malaga Flag

malaga flag

 

More Facts!

Do you want even more facts about Spain?

Well, I have more facts about Spain, I’m sure you’ll love reading them! 

Here’s the main guide of the best Spain facts 👉 All the Facts about Spain 

Check out these facts by city/region:

Or these Spain facts by topic: 

Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

 

The Full List of 32 Malaga Facts

  1. Malaga is one of the oldest cities in the world
  2. Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga and has his work displayed there
  3. The port of Malaga hasn’t stopped operating since at least 600 BC
  4. Malaga is an extremely sunny city
  5. Malaga is an important economic city, coming 4th in Spain
  6. Malaga is the second most populated city in Andalusia
  7. You won’t see a whole minute going around in Malaga subway stations
  8. The first Spanish person to walk around the whole globe came was a Malagan citizen
  9. Malaga is the sixth largest city in Spain
  10. Bullfighting is popular in Malaga, the annual season usually runs from April to September
  11. Malaga Airport is the third largest in Spain
  12. The province of Malaga is very popular among tourists
  13. The first protestant cemetery in Spain was built in Malaga
  14. The Battle of Malaga took place South of Malaga
  15. The original name of Malaga is “Malaka”, meaning “factory”
  16. The city used to be called “Malaqah” and to be ruled by Muslims for 800 years
  17. Malaga is the main financial and economic center of Southern Spain
  18. In 1487, the “Reconquista” by Christian forces happened in Malaga
  19. Malaga has gained a lot of land from the sea
  20. The main beach in Malaga is considered to be one of the most visited beaches in the world
  21. Castillo de Gibralfaro is the castle of Malaga, and it is very ancient
  22. The countryside around Malaga is also splendid
  23. Some of the most expensive rents in Spain are in Malaga
  24. Malagueños love coffee and have some precise preferences
  25. The symbol of Malaga lasts one night only
  26. The Spanish Civil War delayed Malaga FC stadium
  27. Malagueños are nicknamed as… anchovies
  28. Malaga has the warmest winters of all sizable European cities
  29. People eat a lot throughout the day in Malaga
  30. Like in Madrid, siestas are very important in Malaga
  31. Don’t forget to taste some wine in Malaga
  32. Be prepared to schedule your meals, those are late!

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