Málaga guides
Málaga museums: a guide to seeing them on foot
In just a few years Málaga has become a city of museums, and almost all of them are a short walk from each other. Here's how to group them by area so you don't waste time, which day each one closes and when you can get in for free, all checked on their official websites.
A city of museums you can walk
Central Málaga is flat and compact. Between the northernmost museum in this guide, Picasso's birthplace on Plaza de la Merced, and the one nearest the sea, the Centre Pompidou at the port, it's only about 14 minutes on foot (approx.).
So the best plan is to group them by area and see one or two a day, leaving time for lunch and a wander in between. Below are the five big museums in the centre, with their closing days and free hours.
| Museum | Open | Closed | Standard ticket (approx.) | Free for everyone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picasso Museum Málaga | Every day | 25 Dec, 1 and 6 Jan | €13 | Sundays, last 2 hours |
| Picasso's birthplace | Every day | 25 Dec and 1 Jan | €4 (museum and exhibition) | Sundays, 16:00–20:00 |
| Carmen Thyssen Museum | Tuesday to Sunday | Mondays | €12 | Sundays from 16:00 |
| Centre Pompidou Málaga | Wednesday to Monday | Tuesdays | €9 (collection and exhibition) | Sundays from 16:00 |
| Museum of Málaga | Tuesday to Sunday | Mondays | €1.50 (free for EU) | EU citizens, always |
Figures from the official websites as of 14/10/2026. There are exceptions on public holidays and special dates, so check each website before you go.
Area 1: La Merced and Calle Alcazabilla
This is the richest route for the fewest steps. Start on Plaza de la Merced, in the house where Picasso was born: today it's the Casa Natal museum, open every day from 9:30 to 20:00.
About 5 minutes away (approx.) is the Picasso Museum Málaga, in the Buenavista Palace (Calle San Agustín, 8), with work from every period of the painter's career. It opens every day: from March to June and in September and October, 10:00 to 19:00; in July and August, until 20:00; and from November to February, until 18:00.
Heading down towards the Paseo del Parque, about 3 minutes away (approx.), is the Museum of Málaga, in the Customs House Palace (Palacio de la Aduana), with fine art and archaeology. It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9:00 to 21:00, and on Sundays and public holidays from 9:00 to 15:00.
A museum morning around La Merced
Picasso's birthplace
Opens at 9:30. A short visit to start the day, on Plaza de la Merced.
Picasso Museum Málaga
About 5 minutes' walk (approx.). Opens at 10:00; the collection deserves a couple of hours.
Roman Theatre and Alcazaba
On the same street, Calle Alcazabilla, for a break in the open air.
Museum of Málaga
About 3 minutes from the Picasso Museum (approx.). Closed on Mondays; on Sundays it closes at 15:00.
Area 2: the Carmen Thyssen, by Calle Larios
The Carmen Thyssen Museum is on Calle Compañía, a stone's throw from Plaza de la Constitución, and focuses mainly on 19th-century Spanish painting. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00 and closes on Mondays.
It's about 9 minutes' walk from the Picasso Museum (approx.), so it fits nicely after the La Merced area or with a stroll down Calle Larios and through Atarazanas Market. A standard ticket costs €12 (approx.); a slightly dearer option also includes the archaeological site.
Area 3: the port and the Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou Málaga is on Muelle Uno, inside the port's colourful glass cube, about 7 minutes' walk from the Museum of Málaga (approx.). It opens from 9:30 to 20:00 every day except Tuesdays.
You can buy a ticket for the collection only, the temporary exhibition only, or both (€9, approx.). Afterwards there's the Muelle Uno promenade and, further along the port, Malagueta beach.
Sunday afternoons: free museums
If your trip includes a Sunday, keep the afternoon free. Picasso's birthplace is free from 16:00 to 20:00; the Carmen Thyssen and the Pompidou from 16:00 until closing; and the Picasso Museum for the last two hours before closing (in October, 17:00 to 19:00).
There isn't time to see them all properly, so pick two. A good pairing is the birthplace at 16:00 followed by the Picasso Museum, just 5 minutes away. Expect more visitors at these times, and note that the birthplace doesn't admit groups during its free hours.
- 16:00on Sundays, free entry to the birthplace, Thyssen and Pompidou
- 2 hfree at the end of every Sunday at the Picasso Museum
- €1.50Museum of Málaga for non-EU visitors (free for EU)
Source: Each museum's official website, 14/10/2026
Open every day
- Picasso Museum Málaga
- Picasso's birthplace
Closed on Mondays
- Carmen Thyssen Museum
- Museum of Málaga
Closed on Tuesdays
- Centre Pompidou Málaga
Some open on Monday or Tuesday bank holidays or the day before them: check their websites.
Where to stay to walk to the museums
Museums Loft lives up to its name: it's about 3 minutes from Picasso's birthplace, 6 from the Picasso Museum and 10 from the Museum of Málaga and the Carmen Thyssen (approx.). Bear in mind its double bed is on a low mezzanine.
Torre San Juan, by Calle Larios, is about 4 minutes from the Carmen Thyssen and 7 from the Picasso Museum (approx.); it's a 4th floor with no lift. And if you're driving, Trinidad has paid parking in the same building and is about 4 minutes from the Thyssen (approx.).
Frequently asked questions
Which Málaga museums are free on Sundays?
Picasso's birthplace (16:00 to 20:00), the Carmen Thyssen and the Centre Pompidou (from 16:00), and the Picasso Museum (the last two hours before closing). Check each museum's website to confirm.
Which museums in Málaga close on Mondays?
The Carmen Thyssen and the Museum of Málaga. The Centre Pompidou closes on Tuesdays, while the Picasso Museum and Picasso's birthplace open every day apart from a few holidays.
How much is the Picasso Museum Málaga?
A standard ticket is €13 and a reduced one €11 (approx.); under-17s go free. Prices change, so check the museum's website.
Is the Museum of Málaga free?
Yes for European Union citizens who show ID. Everyone else pays €1.50 (approx.), according to the Andalusian regional government.
Can I see several museums in one day?
Yes. Picasso's birthplace, the Picasso Museum and the Museum of Málaga are all within 10 minutes' walk of each other (approx.), and the Pompidou is about 7 minutes from the Museum of Málaga.
