Malaga Cruise Port: Everything You Need to Know For Your Cruise
Is your Western Mediterranean Cruise headed to Malaga cruise port and do you need some more info? Then you are in the right spot.
My husband and I have just returned from our cruise, and we have enjoyed our day in Malaga from the cruise terminal.
To give you a good overview of what the terminal looks like and how you can make the most of your day in Malaga, I have created this ultimate guide for you!
Let’s get to it!
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About The Malaga Cruise Port
The Málaga Cruise Port or Málaga Cruise Terminal is located about 2 km (1.2 miles) outside of the historic old town. You can walk to the historic city center in about 15 minutes.
The Malaga Cruise Terminal is pretty big, it can handle multiple bigger ships docking per day. The port has three terminals, Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal Palmeral.
All three terminals have vast amenities, such as toilets, WiFi, car parking, cafés, shops, guest services, and shuttle bus drop-offs.
You can reach the Malaga Cruise Port easily from the airport with the train (11 minutes) or the cab (about 20 minutes).
The Port is connected to the city center with a long boulevard line with cute cafés, shops, and restaurants.
Can You Walk From Malaga Cruise Port to Malaga?
Yes, you can walk from the Malaga Cruise Port to the Inner City of Malaga.
The historic city center is about 2 km (1.2 miles) away from the cruise port. The walk is pretty scenic and you can do some shopping on the way.
You can also take the shuttle bus, which runs every 15 – 20 minutes. It costs about EUR 5,00. In my opinion, the walk is quite nice, so I would not opt for the bus.
Which Cruise Lines Depart From Malaga?
From Malaga, you’ve got a bunch of cruise lines setting sail. MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Star Clippers, Ponant, Scenic Luxury Ocean, Seabourn Cruise Line, and Costa Cruises are some of the names you’ll find there.
Specific ships like MSC Sinfonia, Norwegian Epic, Azamara Pursuit, and Costa Pacifica have been mentioned for 2024 departures.
You’ll find mostly Western Mediterranean and other European Cruises departing from Málaga.
Things To Do From Malaga Cruise Terminal
Picking your activities for your day in Malaga is tricky because there are so many cool things to do. You’ll have the choice of staying in the city of Malaga or exploring some cool destinations in the close-by area.
We opted to stay in the city because we were not up for a bigger trip that day. But there are a few cool things you can do on your one day in Malaga:
- Take a scenic walk through the city of Malaga and do some sightseeing
- Explore Granada and the famous Alhambra
- Book a Malaga Catamaran Cruise
- Explore Mijas White Washed Village (supposed to be stunning)
- Explore Marbella and Puerto Banus
- Go to Gibraltar for the day
My tip: if you are more than 2 people, buying a private tour or day trip really pays off, because they are quite cheap. You’ll have a private tour for the price of a ship excursion in a bigger group.
Is There A Beach Near Malaga Cruise Port
Yes, there is a beach right next to the cruise port. The stunning Playa de Malagueta is a stunning beach stretching out endlessly – and you can reach it easily from the cruise ship.
If you have some good weather, you can spend a nice day at the beach of Malagueta. Soak up some sun, shop on the boulevard, and have delicious Spanish food in one of the cute restaurants near the beach.
The walk from the cruise port to Malagueta Beach is about 1 km and it takes about 5 minutes to reach it.
Things to See in Malaga
If you decide to stay in the city, you’ll not be disappointed. Malaga was a nice surprise for us. The city was charming, clean, and beautiful. You can nicely spend a day there without getting overwhelmed.
Here are some of the things you shouldn’t miss when visiting Malaga on a Mediterranean Cruise:
- Picasso Museum: It’s in a beautiful building and shows Picasso’s life and works.
- Alcazaba: An ancient Moorish fortress with amazing views of the city. A real piece of history. The walk up there is not too bad, and the views are totally worth it.
- Malaga Cathedral: Known as ‘La Manquita’, this stunning cathedral is a mix of Renaissance and Baroque styles. You can walk by or even see the inside. Super interesting.
- Pompidou Centre: If you’re into modern art, this is your spot. It’s got some really cool exhibitions. We are not so much into modern art, but we heard that it is quite cool.
- Mercado Central de Atarazanas: A great market where you can see (and taste!) local life.
- Gibralfaro Castle: Climb up here for the best views of Malaga. It’s a bit of a walk, but totally worth it.
- Roman Theatre: Right in the city center, this ancient theatre is super cool to see.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the Malaga cruise port is a nice and modern cruise terminal that receives many bigger cruise ships from known lines.
From the port, you can either walk to the city of Malaga for a day of sightseeing or see the surrounding area and visit cool places like Gibraltar or Mijas.
I have enjoyed our cruise stop in Malaga very much and can rate it as one of my favorite ports of call.
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About the Author
Sabrina is a passionate travel blogger and content creator, based in the Netherlands. She spends most parts of the year abroad at various destinations with her husband.
She provides slow-paced itineraries that focus on quality over quantity. Sabrina wants to help her readers to get more out of their travel experiences – while doing less. Read more.
