Sculpture with rims at the Malaga Automobile Museum via Wikimedia Commons

Málaga City is best known as the capital of Costa del Sol and Pablo Picasso’s birthplace. It’s also the site of one of the oldest settlements in the world dating back to the 8th century BCE. Its rich cultural heritage has made it one of the best cities in Andalusia to go to for an enlightening romp through galleries and museums.

Under its palm-fringed promenades and tapas bars, it hides an appreciation for the cosmopolitan. Inside this city of Málaga are dozens of museums, which come alive and lead people through a journey of art, history, and culture over centuries. Whether for history enthusiasts, art lovers, or simple travellers, the city of Málaga and its museums promise a fulfilling and engaging experience, if not an unforgettable holiday.

  1. Museo Picasso Málaga: A Homage to Genius

Address: Palacio de Buenavista, Calle San Agustín, 8, 29015 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 952 12 76 00

Website: https://www.museopicassomalaga.org

Opening hours: 10:00 AM–07:00 PM, daily. Closed on public holidays

No visit to the city could be considered complete without paying homage to its most famous son, Pablo Picasso. The Museo Picasso Málaga is housed in the fine historic Buenavista Palace and presents more than 200 works that attest to the polemical creativity of the artist. From his juvenile explorations into composition to the drawings, printing, and stage design that he undertook throughout his career, the museum makes it possible to trace the development of Picasso's genius. Even more than that, the permanent collection is constantly enriched by temporary exhibitions, each exploring an aspect of the artist and his work. Revisiting is a pleasure for this reason, as something new to enjoy is always on show for the whole family.

Malaga Centre Pompidou // Wiki Commons

  1. Centre Pompidou Málaga: A Slice of Paris in Andalucía

Address: Pasaje Doctor Carrillo Casaux, s/n, Muelle Uno, Puerto de Málaga, 29001 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 951 92 62 00

Website: https://centrepompidou-malaga.eu

Hours: The Centre Pompidou Málaga opens daily from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM.

A bold splash of contemporary colour amidst the city's ancient streets, the Centre Pompidou Málaga is the first branch of the iconic Parisian Museum outside France and a fantastic addition to the range of cultural activities in Andalusia. Housed in the eye-catching 'El Cubo' (The Cube), this museum offers a carefully curated selection of modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries. With works by Francis Bacon, Frida Kahlo, and Joan Miró, the Centre Pompidou Málaga should not be missed by anyone interested in the avant-garde, in the distinctly Andalusian context.

  1. Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga: Andalucía Through the Ages

Address: Calle Compañía, 10, 29008 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 902 30 31 31

Website: https://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org

The Museo Carmen Thyssen, located in the 16th-century Palacio de Villalón, nods towards Spanish art, especially the 19th-century masterpieces of Andalucía. The museum represents the private collection of the renowned Carmen Cervera and vividly sums up Andalusian life in its landscapes, portraits, and genre scenes. From the romanticism of Mariano Fortuny to the impressionism of Joaquín Sorolla, the museum hosts quite an interesting show of the artistic patrimony of the region.

Eugenio Lucas Villaamil, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

  1. Málaga Museum: A Journey Through Time

Location: Plaza de la Aduana, s/n, 29015 Málaga, Spain

Telephone: +34 951 91 19 04

Website: https://www.museosdeandalucia.es/web/museodemalaga

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Closed on Mondays

The Museo de Málaga opens up a rich and varied past for the history lovers in the city. Set up in the beautiful Palacio de la Aduana, the museum is a fusion of the earlier existing Fine Arts and Archaeology museums. Its vast collection ranges from prehistoric remains to Renaissance paintings, giving a general idea of Málaga's cultural evolution. Highlights of the collection include Phoenician sarcophagi, Roman sculptures, and a host of baroque art, all displayed beautifully in a setting that is perhaps as old as the items on display.

Juan F. Lacomba’s exposition at the CAC via Wikimedia Commons

  1. CAC Málaga: The Latest News in the World of Contemporary Art

Address: Calle Alemania, s/n, 29001 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 952 12 00 55

Website: https://cacmalaga.eu

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 AM till 9:30 PM. Closed on Mondays

The Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC) Málaga—the leading institution for contemporary art in the city—is situated in the Soho district. Works by great names and new talents are showcased and celebrated in line with the cultural revival that Málaga is experiencing. This museum of contemporary art is fresh and alive, with dynamic works in the exhibition that change regularly— reflecting the continuous, ever-evolving and ever-changing nature of contemporary art. This museum challenges visitors to engage with the human condition and our environment through intense installations or multimedia performances.

  1. Museo del Vidrio y Cristal: Unspoken Treasury

Address: Plazuela Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre, 2, 29012 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 952 22 02 71

Website: https://www.museovidrioycristalmalaga.com

Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday open 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Closed on Mondays.

Housed within a beautiful 18th-century mansion, beneath its lovely tiled floors, is a trove of priceless artefacts: the Museo del Vidrio y Cristal, or Museum of Glass and Crystal—the first of its kind established in all of Spain. This small museum houses an impressive collection of over 3,000 pieces, ranging from ancient Roman glass vessels to splendid Venetian chandeliers. Every piece is displayed in the backdrop of a lovingly restored house with period furniture and decoration. It's such a fascinating and immersive museum that gives a great insight into a lesser-known part of Malaga's cultural heritage.

Museo Automovilistico y de la Moda via Wikimedia Commons

  1. Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda: Where Cars Meet Couture

Address: Av de Sor Teresa Prat, 15, 29003 Málaga, Spain

Phone: +34 951 13 70 01

Website: https://museoautomovilmoda.com/

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily

A delightful blend of automotive history and high fashion, the Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda is one of Málaga’s most unusual and entertaining museums. Housed inside a former tobacco factory, the museum hosts one of the world's most beloved collections of classic cars, intertwined with an exquisite display of haute couture. With pieces such as a 1921 Rolls Royce, and together with items by Chanel and Dior included in the museum collection, the exhibit pulls one along a glamorous ride through the 20th century in celebration of style and engineering.

Discover Málaga Through Its Art and Culture

The museums of Málaga are not just repositories of art and history but sites where the past and present of the city collide. So, following the brushwork of Picasso, the lines of modernist design in the Centre Pompidou, or the opulent curves of a vintage car, a visit to Málaga's museums is an immersion in a world that simply oozes culture and creativity. As you wander the aforementioned cultural havens, you'll notice that Málaga is not just a city of sun lovers; it's a place where the soul of Andalucía resonates through every gallery and exhibition hall.

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