The Marbesol Report 2018 – Most visited places in Málaga

Málaga has become a well-known place for visiting art galleries, historical sites and monuments in the south of Europe. Indeed, art and culture have helped the city develop and attract a high number of visitors and also new “malagueños”.

As genuine fans of the Malaga region, we know those special spots that you shouldn’t miss during your stay. From the earliest Palaeolithic constructions to the last reminiscences of contemporary art, practically all ages of history have left a special trace in Malaga, which makes it so unique. For all these reasons, we have decided to celebrate the diversity of Malaga’s artistic landscape with a 2018 Report on the Most Visited Places in Málaga (also including the province).

How Malaga became an artistic and cultural hub in southern Europe

In the last decade, Malaga has earned a place among the most popular cultural travel destinations in Europe. Indeed, the variety of museums and historical sites has contributed significantly to the growth of the Malaga region. Besides their positive impact on the local economy, art and museums are known to increase the symbolic value of a city. As a result, Malaga has appeared in the international press as the new ‘unsung cultural capital’ (National Geographic) and ‘Spain’s most underrated city break’ (The Mirror).

But not all that glitters is gold: despite heavy investment from the City Council and the Junta de Andalucía, not all of them are being equally successful. Visitor numbers reveal important differences between these cultural sites, raising doubts about the profitability of the local investments.

The goal of the Marbesol Report 2018 is to compare and analyse the evolution of some of the most important art galleries and monuments in Malaga city and province. Our editorial team contacted each of these museums and historical sites to collect their most recent figures. Here is an overview of them.

Visitors to the most visited places in Malaga, 2015 to 2017

Visitors per year, from January to December:

The 10 most visited places in Malaga from 2015 to 2017

In order to attract the highest possible number of visitors, each monument and art centre highlights its unique features. From historical sites to contemporary galleries, they all offer something different and special.

1. Alcazaba

Since 2015, the number of visitors to the Moorish palace has grown by 29.5%, making it the most visited monument in all of Malaga: 650,320 visitors in 2017.

2. Picasso Museum

The Picasso Museum also shows consolidated growth (almost 30%), standing out as the most successful gallery in the entire region of Andalusia: 635,891 visitors in 2017.

3. Malaga Cathedral

In 2015, Malaga Cathedral started to allow access to its roofs. This has boosted the number of visitors by 46%, making it the fastest-growing monument in terms of visitors: 469,106 visitors in 2017.

4. Gibralfaro Castle

One of the best views over the city can be enjoyed from Gibralfaro Castle. Probably for this reason and its artistic value, it has become the 4th most visited place in Malaga: 515,322 visitors in 2017.

5. CAC Málaga

The Contemporary Art Centre of Malaga was the early precursor of a new artistic movement in Malaga. The exhibitions in 2017 managed to overcome a severe drop in 2016: 505,022 visitors in 2017.

6. Nerja Caves

Despite the beauty of these marble rock caverns, containing unique paintings from the Palaeolithic, the number of visitors has consistently dropped during the last 3 years: 386,811 visitors in 2017.

7. Caminito del Rey

Since its reopening in 2015, the ‘King’s Pathway’ has been booked out year after year. Thanks to its breathtaking views it has become a real highlight among international audiences: 300,000 visitors in 2017.

8. Torcal de Antequera

This impressive natural park displays a rocky landscape of limestone from the Jurassic era. After the necessary maintenance works it has managed to grow by 175%. El Torcal is recognised as part of UNESCO World Heritage: 245,199 visitors in 2017.

9. Centre Pompidou Málaga

The Centre Pompidou enjoys a perfect location, right at Muelle Uno near the city centre. Moreover, it receives significant support from the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Nonetheless, the number of visitors has been dropping since its opening in 2015: 168,143 visitors in 2017.

10. Picasso Birthplace Museum

Picasso remains an important figure both for the identity of the city and for promotional purposes. Although the visitors to the Picasso Birthplace Museum have diminished in this last period, it remains one of the most profitable ones: 128,599 visitors in 2017.

According to the Tourism Tracker Project in Malaga (Observatorio Turístico), visits to museums and art centres accounted for 17.19% of all tourist activities, ranking third only after gastronomic activities (also 17.19%) and strolling through the streets (25.17%).

About Marbesol

Marbesol is a car rental company based at Malaga Airport (opposite the terminal, open 24 hours) and in Marbella, allowing you to rent a car throughout the Costa del Sol, whether you live in Andalusia, are spending your long-awaited holidays here or simply need a vehicle for a quick trip.

A special thanks goes to the managing teams of all the monuments and museums who kindly shared their figures and cooperated with our editorial team.

This article contains the full report published in 2018. You can download it as a PDF: The Most Visited Places in Malaga – Marbesol Report 2018 [PDF].