Málaga’s privileged position on the Mediterranean and average 300 days of sun attract millions of visitors to its sandy beaches each year.  

Even though the Costa del Sol’s capital city draws scores of beachgoers, Málaga also offers more than 40 museums, hiking, shopping, a thriving arts scene and other historic monuments. These five unique places in Málaga will show you a different side of the city.

Proteo Bookstore

Step inside Málaga’s oldest bookstore, open since 1969, for a slice of local history. The independent bookstore secretly sold literature banned during Franco’s dictatorship, 

and today it’s one of the few places you can still see a piece of medieval wall. The construction of a walled city in Málaga began in the 11th century. The wall, revealed during renovations in 2004, is visible from three of the bookstore’s four floors. Proteo also has a great selection of books about the history of Málaga that make wonderful souvenirs for inquisitive travelers.

Address: Calle Puerta Buenaventura, 3 | Learn more: libreriaproteo.com

Museum of Fashion and Automobiles 

Dedicated to the evolution of luxury vehicles and designer fashion since the end of the nineteenth century, this museum is just a short walk from the beach in Málaga’s Pacifico neighborhood in an ornate former tobacco factory. The impressive private collection includes an eye-boggling 99 classic vehicles and over 500 dresses from brands like Chanel, Dior, Prada and more. One of the newer museums in Málaga opened in 2010, it’s considered one the city’s up-and-coming attractions.

Address: Avenida de Sor Teresa Prat, 15 | Hours and admission info: museoautomovilmoda.com

La Concepción Botanic Garden

Six kilometers from Malaga’s historic center, the botanic garden is a tropical oasis. The 61-acre property is a network of winding paths lined with lush ferns, towering palm trees, and trickling streams. Once a private estate, visitors can walk through the ground floor of its mansion. The garden is accessible by private car, taxi or public transportation. The City Sightseeing bus (route 91) will drop off and pick up in front of the garden’s entrance, while the last stop on Málaga’s EMT Bus #2 (toward Ciudad Jardin) is a 15-minute walk to the garden.

Address: Camino del Jardín Botánico, 3 | Hours and admission info: laconcepcion.malaga.eu/en/

Museum of Glass

The Museum of Glass is a fascinating private collection with a thousand pieces on display from antiquity through the modern day, including works from household names like Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol. The museum is set in a beautifully restored 18th-century mansion decorated with furniture and art from the same period. Guided visits (available in English) are required and last about one hour. The guides are dynamic and knowledgeable, sharing helpful context and intriguing historical facts along the way.

Address: Plazuela Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre, 2 | Hours and admission info: museovidrioycristalmalaga.com

English Cemetery 

Visiting a cemetery is unlikely to be at the top of your list, but this one reveals the city’s interesting past. As a majority Catholic country, burying non-Catholics was problematic. The English Cemetery is the first Protestant cemetery on the Spanish peninsula, inaugurated in 1831 with the burial of Englishman Robert Boyd. Boyd was executed for aiding a rebellion led by General Torrijos against the Spanish crown. The cemetery is a 20-minute walk east from the busy Calle Larios. There’s a nominal fee to enter, but visitors can go for free attending mass at St. George’s Church.

Address: Avenida de Príes, 1 | Hours and admission info: cementerioinglesmalaga.org/en/