Málaga boasts an annual average of 300 rain-free days a year: it’s no coincidence that it’s the capital of the Costa del Sol. Thus, exploring it by bike is one of the greatest pleasures one can enjoy when visiting; not only for practising diverse and sustainable tourism but also because the city, almost flat, has more than 44 kilometres of bike lanes. Moreover, Málaga is also a city with a vast array of museums, so how about a day of museums by bike? We propose this easy and interesting route.
Do you have a bike or need to rent one?
Perhaps you have your own bicycle. If not, Málaga has numerous rental companies offering hourly or full-day rentals (the price is around €20, excluding overnight). The museums we are going to suggest have bike parking nearby (here’s a map) and, of course, the rental company usually includes a helmet and bike lock.
Let’s get started!
We begin next to the port. On c/ Juan Peralta, 2, there’s a bike parking area and, two minutes away, the Museo de la Aduana. It opens at 9 in the morning, making it perfect to start the day. In it, you’ll find a fantastic collection of paintings, sculptures, and archaeological pieces totalling around 18,000 items. Second stop. On c/ Cervantes, 13, you can park your bike: five minutes away on foot is the Centre Pompidou Málaga. It’s worth visiting not only for its avant-garde exhibitions but also for the building itself, topped by a colourful cube. It opens at 11, so if you have some time to spare, you can enjoy a coffee in any of the magnificent nearby cafés and terraces.
Next stop: CAC Málaga
We head west, parallel to the coast. Next to the Puente del Perchel, on avenida del Comandante Benítez, you can park your bike again to visit CAC Málaga, a former wholesale market by the Guadalmedina, where lovers of the most avant-garde art will also have a great time.
But we’ll need to eat!
Obviously, a day of museums is tiring, especially if you’re cycling. The city’s gastronomic offerings are vast, so if you get hungry or thirsty, you’ll find a range of restaurants and bars near any of these museums to recharge your batteries.
Some considerations
If you enjoy the experience of staying in a Huespeding flat on calle Jinetes 2, in the historic centre, there are other really interesting museums such as the Picasso Museum and the Picasso Birthplace Museum, just 400 metres apart. You can start your route there and walk down to the Museo de la Aduana. It will take you about five minutes. If you’re coming with children, also in the centre you can visit MIMMA, an interactive music museum where the little ones will have a great time.
