Just got back from Málaga, and while the memories are still fresh, I wanted to share the actual costs from this Málaga trip. As someone living an ordinary life in Spain, this winter visit to Málaga was my most anticipated short trip of the year.
Accommodation and Transportation Costs
Let’s start with accommodation. I booked an apartment in Málaga’s old town with an absolutely perfect location—just a 10-minute walk to the Picasso Museum. The week-long stay cost around 420 euros, averaging 60 euros per night. If you book your Málaga travel two months in advance, you can find even better deals. For transportation, I took the train from Barcelona with round-trip tickets costing 180 euros. Within the city, I mainly walked and occasionally took taxis, spending about 50 euros on local transport for the week.
Daily Food Budget
Dining was the biggest expense on this trip. The seafood in Málaga is incredibly fresh, and I had to eat at a beachfront restaurant at least once a day. Breakfast was usually at a café near the apartment—coffee and pastries for about 4-6 euros. Lunch would be at local tapas bars, where a set menu costs 15-20 euros and leaves you completely satisfied. Dinner was a bit more indulgent, with seafood platters and sangria averaging 30-40 euros per person. One evening I went to Restaurante El Tintero at the port—a bit pricey but absolutely worth it.
Here’s my weekly dining expense breakdown:
| Meal | Average Cost | Weekly Total |
|---|
| Breakfast | 5€ | 35€ |
| Lunch | 18€ | 126€ |
| Dinner | 35€ | 245€ |
| Drinks & Snacks | 8€ | 56€ |
Attractions and Entertainment
For admission fees, the Alcazaba cost 8 euros, the Picasso Museum 12 euros, and I originally planned to visit Gibralfaro Castle but skipped it because of the heat. I also signed up for a half-day whale watching tour, which cost 60 euros but was an amazing experience—highly recommended. Additionally, I rented beach umbrellas and loungers twice at 15 euros each time. Overall, attractions and entertainment came to around 130 euros.
Shopping and Other Expenses
Since I was in Málaga, I had to bring back some local products. I browsed several shops on Calle Larios and bought local olive oil, spices, and a few bottles of sweet wine, spending about 80 euros. I also picked up some handmade fridge magnets from an old town craft shop as souvenirs, which cost 20 euros. There were other miscellaneous expenses like buying fruit and sunscreen at the supermarket, totaling around 40 euros.
Summary
Adding everything up, this week-long Málaga trip cost approximately 1,347 euros. While not exactly cheap, considering the convenience of staying in the old town and enjoying fresh seafood daily, I think the price was quite reasonable. If you’re on a tighter budget, you could choose accommodation a bit further out and eat more at local spots rather than beachfront restaurants to save considerably. Overall, Málaga is truly a city worth experiencing slowly, and I’d love to return given the chance.
