10 Best Family Things to Do in Malaga

Parque de la Paloma is a stunning and picturesque park with plenty of green space perfect for adventure and relaxation. The tranquil surroundings are typically enough for adults, but if your kids are a bit more active, you may want to play some sports in the open spaces or visit with the animals.

Quite a few native animals live in this park such as friendly ducks, chickens, rabbits and parrots. The ducks are particularly common around the lake with its shining waters and walking paths around the perimeter. See it for yourself a short distance south of Malaga's city centre around Benalmádena.

Castillo de Gibralfaro is a 10th-century castle still standing tall today that offers a look into Malaga's fascinating history along with scenic views from the ramparts. A lot of the ramparts have been restored after falling to ruin, so you can count on them being safe enough for you and your kids to walk around them all.

This castle additionally offers bird's eye views of the La Malagueta bullring where you can see a bullfight for free. The castle itself shows off historic architecture with buildings similar to what you'd find in Alhambra. It's located just east of the city centre.

Selwo Marina is a marine park that features performances and showcases of different animals that make their home in the water divided into 4 areas. One of the most popular areas is the Antillas section, which is where the dolphins and sea lions are located.

When you and your family visit this marine park, you can enjoy special activities like swimming with the sea lions. Additionally, you'll find bird and snake shows in another area, with aviaries in the 3rd. Finally, the 4th area features penguins in an icy area. It's located in Benalmádena just south of Malaga.

Mariposario de Benalmádena is a butterfly garden where you and your family can enjoy being surrounded by nearly 2,000 butterflies including some exotic species. In total, there are about 150 different butterfly species here including some exotic ones that hail from far from Spain.

In addition to butterflies, this garden also features birds, fish, several reptiles and even a tammar wallaby. You and your kids can get up close and personal with these creatures for a fascinating experience. It's located just south of Malaga in Benalmádena.

Malaga beaches along the Costa del Sol offer plenty of sea and sand with some parts that are laid-back and isolated and others that are high-end and fancy. In fact, some beaches along the 'Coast of the Sun' are frequented by the wealthy and celebrities, so it's common to see yachts just offshore.

Your family can also check out some of the less frequented beaches in town for a more relaxing experience. Given the prominence of these beaches, convenient facilities are almost always nearby, along with delicious seafood restaurants. They're located along the southeastern coast.

Aqualand Torremolinos is a thrilling water park with a collection of fun water slides of different shapes and sizes ensuring that there's something for everyone. Whether you have young children or older kids, there's sure to be a suitable water slide for them to enjoy.

In addition to the water slides, visitors can also enjoy an 18-hole mini-golf course. Still, the water slides tend to be the most popular, especially the Kamikaze, which is one of the highest on the continent boasting a 22-metre descent. It's located in Torremolinos just south of Malaga.

Sea Life Benalmádena is a lovely aquarium full of incredible and occasionally rare creatures such as sharks, rays and turtles. Some of the sharks are quite famous, including Lola, and their green turtle swims with the sharks and is massive in size weighing over 100 kilograms.

The aquarium hosts live feedings that you and your family won't want to miss, including feedings for rays, sharks, seahorses and otters. Check it out for yourself in the marina of Benalmádena about 15 miles south of Malaga's city centre.

Aquavelis Water Park is a fun destination for families looking to enjoy the fun of various water slides both relaxing and thrilling. The slides are adorned in bright colours and are wide, allowing plenty of room for fun. Plus, many have humps that allow some riders to get a bit of airtime.

The slides vary quite a bit in their intensity, with easy slides alongside high-speed slides. You can slide down some on your back or take a rubber ring or toboggan mat if you like. Your family can enjoy seemingly endless fun at this park in Torre del Mar about 22 miles east of Malaga.

Aquatropic Water Park is a unique saltwater park with rides and slides suitable for all ages without having as many chemicals in the water. The saltwater makeup here is a major alluring factor for visitors with chemical sensitivities, so keep that in mind if anyone in your family doesn't do well with chlorine.

At the park, visitors can enjoy a variety of slides and designated children's areas with shady spots nearby for parents to keep watch. It's located in Almuñécar about an hour east of Malaga.

The Interactive Music Museum is a private museum that houses hundreds of musical instruments from across history with high-tech interactive exhibits. More than 400 instruments are housed here, and they're sourced from all around the world and history.

Interactive technology lets you and your children play some of these instruments to hear their unique sounds. Plus, the museum hosts several children's activities on the weekends and holidays. It's located just a short walk north of Picasso Museum Málaga on the north side of the city centre.