The Alcazaba in Málaga: opening hours, admission prices and what to see

The Alcazaba of Malaga is the palatial fortress that the Muslim rulers built on the slopes of Mount Gibralfaro in the 11th century, and one of the best-preserved complexes of its kind in Spain. The same site is home to both the military part — walls, towers and gatehouses — and the palace district courtyards, fountains and gardens.

Here is the opening hours, current prices and what to see inside. And an important reminder: prices rose in 2025 and many guidebooks continue to publish the old ones.

Opening hours of the Alcazaba in Málaga

Open every day, comprising two series:

• Summer, from 1 April to 31 October: from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm, with the last bus at 7.00 pm.
• Winter, from 1 November to 31 March: from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, with the last bus at 17:00.

The last admission is one hour before closing time, not half an hour as you’ll see on many websites. That’s the time you need to walk around the venue without getting thrown out.

Closing days: 1 January and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Ticket price

Please take note of this section. The Town Council doubled its fares in 2025 and the old figures continue to appear in guidebooks, blogs and even on some local authority websites. These are the current figures:

• General admission to the Alcazaba: €7.
• Concessionary admission: €3. For those under 16, over 65, pensioners, the unemployed, EU students, holders of the European Youth Card, large families and people with a disability rating of 33% or higher. Proof of eligibility is required at the entrance.
• Combined ticket for the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle: €10, valid for both monuments within 48 hours.
• Free: children under the age of 6 and practising official tourist guides.

If, when you get to the ticket machine, you see a price that differs from the one in this guide or any other guide you’ve consulted, this explains why. Tickets are purchased from the vending machines at the entrance itself, on Calle Alcazabilla: There are no time-slot bookings or capacity limits, so you can’t end up without a date, but you might find yourself queuing.

When is admission free?

There are more free days than people usually realise:

• Every Sunday from 2.00 pm, right up until closing time. It’s the best-known and busiest time of day.
• 28 February, Andalusia Day.
• 18 May, International Museum Day.
• 27 September, World Tourism Day.
• The days on which the European Heritage Days.

Free entry on Sundays also applies to Gibralfaro Castle. A handy tip: each monument charges around one and a half hours, so trying to fit both in on a Sunday afternoon is a bit of a rush. Better to do one properly than two badly.

You can find the rest of the city’s free options at free things to do in Málaga.

What to see in the Alcazaba of Malaga

The route climbs from the lower entrance to the upper viewing points. Here’s what you shouldn’t miss:

• The arched doors. The Door to the Vaultthe Gate of the Columns and the Arch of Christ They form a zigzag passageway. This is not merely decorative: it forced an attacker to turn several times in a narrow space, leaving them exposed from above and preventing the use of battering rams.
• The Rooms of Granada. The residential area, with horseshoe arches, columns and the Courtyard of the Fountains. It is a foreshadowing, on a smaller scale, of what would later become the Alhambra.
• The keep and the towers of the military compound, in the upper part.
• The gardens and terraced gardens, with fountains and water channels that cooled the rooms by making use of the slope.
• The exhibition halls, featuring pottery and everyday objects from al-Andalus.
• The viewpoints, with the harbour, the cathedral and the rooftops of the old town stretching out below. They explain why the fortress was built right here.

If you’re interested in the views from above the monument, you can The 5 best viewpoints in Málaga y The best sunsets in Málaga.

The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro Castle are not connected

This is the most common misunderstanding, so it is worth clearing it up. Historically, the two fortresses were linked by the coracha, a walled passageway that protected the passage between the two. But Today, it isn’t possible to go from one to the other via the interior: both monuments have separate entrances.

To get to the Gibralfaro Castle You need to leave the Alcazaba and head up the hill, either on foot along the path up the hillside — which takes between 20 and 30 minutes — or by city bus. The combined ticket for €10 is valid for both, and is valid for 48 hours, so you don’t have to visit both on the same day.

A layout that works: the Alcazaba is home to the palaces and gardens; the castle features the walkway along the ramparts and the most sweeping views. And at the foot of the complex lies the Roman Theatre, which is free to visit and provides a comprehensive historical overview of the hill.

History of the Alcazaba

The core of the fortress was built on the 11th century, and its construction is attributed to Badis ben Habús, king of the Zirid Taifa of Granada. It was designed both as a defensive stronghold and as a residence for the governors, making the most of a location that allowed to control the city and the port at the same time.

During the Nasrid period, between the 13th and 14th centuries, the defences were reinforced and the residential quarters were renovated. This overlapping of phases is why elements from different periods coexist today within the same layout.

Málaga lost to the The Catholic Monarchs in 1487, and the fortress remained in use for some time before falling into a long period of decline. Over the centuries, houses were built up against it, eventually covering a large part of the site. The 20th-century restoration campaigns, launched following the rediscovery of the Roman Theatre in 1951, they cleared the walls and restored the palaces and gardens. It is worth noting that: Part of what visitors see is the result of that reconstruction, produced in accordance with the criteria of the time to make the fortress legible.

Interesting facts about the Alcazaba

• A city within a city. It was not merely a fortress: with palaces, gardens, baths and cisterns, it could function independently during a siege.
• The name. It comes from Arabic al-qasba, «citadel» or fortified enclosure, the very origin of all the alcazabas on the peninsula.
• Roman marble on Muslim walls. The builders reused columns, capitals and ashlars from the Roman Theatre, which lies literally at their feet. In some of the arches, 2,000-year-old elements coexist with 11th-century masonry.
• Luxury behind the walls. Despite its military purpose, it featured internal gardens, fountains and a natural cooling system based on water and air currents.
• It was buried beneath houses. The original route was not rediscovered until the excavations of the 20th century.

How to get to the Alcazaba

It’s in the 2 Alcazabilla Street, right in the heart of the historic centre, next to the Roman Theatre and just a few minutes’ walk from Plaza de la Merced, the Larios Street and the Cathedral.

• On foot: from anywhere in the old town, along Alcazabilla Street itself, where the lower entrance is located.
• Without going up the hill: There is a public lift which connects Guillén Sotelo Street with the upper part of the site.
• By city bus: the lines 1, 36 and C1 There are stops nearby. The train station and the bus station are just a short walk away.
• By car: The best thing to do is to leave it in a public car park in the city centre and walk there.

Tips for your visit

• Closed-toe footwear. There are cobblestones, ramps and lots of steps.
• Accessibility: the venue it is not adapted and the route is not wheelchair-accessible. The lift provides access to the upper level, but the interior has constant changes in level.
• In summer, early in the morning or late in the evening. There are sections with no shade, and Málaga is getting hot. Bring water; there are vending machines at the entrance and in the upper area.
• Allow an hour and a half to take your time exploring it. With Gibralfaro and the Roman Theatre, set aside the whole morning.
• Pets are not allowed on the premises.
• There are cafeteria and toilets inside, next to the café and at the top of the palace.

The Alcazaba also hosts temporary exhibitions, open-air concerts and historical re-enactments throughout the year. One of the liveliest events is Málaga’s ‘Noche en Blanco’, when it is open in the evening.

Excursions from Malaga

We are a local tour operator based in Málaga with over 50 years’ experience organising trips around Andalusia, with collection point at Avenida Andalucía 10, just a few minutes from the city centre.

If the Alcazaba has left you wanting to see more of the Al-Andalus heritage, the two nature getaways are Granada, including the Alhambra, and Cordoba, with the Mosque-Cathedral. And to explore the coast, Nerja and Frigiliana, or Ronda and the Serranía.

Frequently asked questions about the Alcazaba in Málaga

How much does it cost to visit the Alcazaba in Málaga?

Standard admission costs €7 and concessions €3, for under-16s, over-65s, pensioners, the unemployed, EU students, large families and people with a disability rating of 33% or higher. The combined ticket with Gibralfaro Castle costs €10 and is valid for 48 hours. Please note that prices rose in 2025 and many guidebooks still list the old prices.

When is entry to the Alcazaba in Málaga free?

Every Sunday from 2.00 pm until closing time, just like Gibralfaro Castle. Admission is also free on 28 February (Andalusia Day); 18 May (International Museum Day); 27 September (World Tourism Day); and during the European Heritage Days. Sunday afternoons are the busiest time.

What are the opening hours of the Alcazaba in Málaga?

It is open every day from 9.00 to 20.00 from 1 April to 31 October, and from 9.00 to 18.00 from 1 November to 31 March. The last admission is one hour before closing time, i.e. at 7.00 pm in summer and at 5.00 pm in winter. It is closed on 1 January and on 24, 25 and 31 December.

Is it possible to walk from the Alcazaba to Gibralfaro Castle?

Not inside: the two monuments have separate entrances and the passageway that used to link them is no longer a viable route. You’ll need to leave the Alcazaba and walk up the hill along the path on the hillside – a 20- to 30-minute walk – or take the city bus. The combined ticket for €10 is valid for both sites within 48 hours, so you don’t need to visit them on the same day.

How long does it take to visit the Alcazaba in Málaga?

It takes about an hour and a half to explore it at a leisurely pace, including the gates, the Cuartos de Granada and the upper viewing platforms. If you combine it with Gibralfaro Castle and the Roman Theatre, it’s best to set aside the whole morning, as each of these two walled monuments takes an hour and a half to explore.

How do you get to the Alcazaba in Málaga?

It is located at 2 Calle Alcazabilla, next to the Roman Theatre and just a few minutes’ walk from Plaza de la Merced. It is within walking distance from anywhere in the historic centre. Anyone wishing to avoid the hill can use the public lift that connects Calle Guillén Sotelo with the upper part of the site. City bus routes 1, 36 and C1 stop nearby.

Is the Alcazaba accessible to people with reduced mobility?

The site is not accessible and the route inside is not suitable for wheelchair users, due to the cobbled surface and the number of steps and uneven ground. The public lift on Calle Guillén Sotelo allows visitors to reach the upper level and enjoy the views, but it does not provide access to the entire route inside the fortress.