Málaga Basics: Things to know before visiting

more than a year ago

Weather/Climate: When is the best time to visit Málaga?

Seeing as ‘Costa del Sol’ literally means ‘Sun Coast’, you can trust your assumptions when it comes to the weather in Málaga. The city has a subtropical Mediterranean climate, which means plenty of days of sunshine (around 300 every year) and only about 40 days of precipitation across the 12 months. It gets hot, but the influence of the Med and its needed breeze make the temperatures more than manageable, even at the height of summer. Just don’t forget that sun cream. Supposedly there is also a winter in Málaga.

Crime & Safety: Is Málaga safe?

Tourists wouldn’t have been coming to Málaga in their droves for centuries if it was a crime-ridden place, so bring your common sense and you’ll have no problems here. Pickpockets are a thing but this is easily avoided, and there is sense in avoiding neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city at night. The area has a reputation for harbouring many European criminals, but the whole ‘in hiding’ thing means they aren’t exactly prowling the streets looking for pockets to pick. If you do encounter an issue, 112 is the emergency number with 091 being the specific police dial.

Hospitals & Pharmacies

The quality of medical care on the Costa del Sol is decent, and the abundance of tourism means English is generally spoken in hospitals and pharmacies. The general hospital in Málaga is located on Avenida Carlos Haya, while the children’s hospital can be found on Avenida Arroyo de los Ángeles. Pharmacies are found all over the city — just look out for ‘Farmacia’.

Public Toilets

We’ve all been there. Desperate for the salvation of the toilet, but with no WC in sight. Don’t wee in the sea, be prepared, and you’ll be fine. Toilets on the seafront are open from 10:00 until 20:00, although the cleanliness deteriorates dramatically as the day goes on. Public toilets are hard to find in the city centre, so make the most of the cafes, order a café solo and use the facilities while you wait for your delicious drink.

Where to find WiFi in Málaga?

WiFi is theoretically available across the centre of Málaga, but good luck getting a consistent signal. There is a WiFi point behind the tourist office on Plaza de la Marina, but who wants to stand by a post using the internet? Most hotels have free WiFi, but don’t make the assumption that all bars, cafes and restaurants do as well. What’s more, you usually need a code to access the internet, so be sure to ask the waiter for that once you’ve made your order (never before).

Can you drink the tap water in Málaga?

Can you drink the tap water in Málaga? Yes, you can drink the tap water in Málaga. You might even enjoy it.

Málaga Pass Tourist Card

The Málaga Pass comes in 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour and one week varieties, each offering discounts to museums along with savings in a number of hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. The pass is worth picking up if you plan on visiting a wide range of museums and galleries in Málaga (and you should be planning on that), so head to malagapass.com and pick yours up ahead of time.

Malaga