Málaga City Guide

Málaga is the sun-drenched capital of the Costa del Sol and Andalusia's second city (~592,000 residents; ~1.3M metro), a Mediterranean port that has transformed from a beach gateway into one of southern Europe's most dynamic urban centres. Birthplace of Picasso, it is a museum powerhouse, the Museo Picasso, Centre Pompidou (El Cubo on Muelle Uno), Carmen Thyssen and CAC, alongside the Moorish Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, the Gibralfaro castle and the Cathedral ('La Manquita'). A modernised cruise port, the Muelle Uno promenade and city beaches (La Malagueta, Pedregalejo) sit beside the fast-growing 'Málaga Valley' tech economy (Google, Vodafone, 600+ firms at Málaga TechPark). Foreigners can buy property freely with no nationality restriction, but Spain ABOLISHED its Golden Visa (residency-by-property-investment), which closed to new applicants on 3 April 2025, a purchase no longer grants residency. Short-term tourist-rental (licencia turística) rules are tightening across Spain, and a January 2025 government proposal of an up-to-100% surcharge on second-hand homes bought by non-EU non-residents remains a contested proposal, not law.