Alcazaba
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Built between 1057 and 1063, this is probably the most important military fortification remaining from the Hispanic-Arabic period.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Alcazaba
The area
See what travellers are saying
  • Olive M
    Dumfries, United Kingdom31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing!
    We thought we would spend half a day visiting the Alcazaba and Castillo - leave a full day to really appreciate it. It’s stunning. The architecture leaves you wondering how on earth they could manage to build such a thing!
    Visited March 2023
    Written March 25, 2023
  • Malissa H
    Leduc, Canada74 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Nice for a Good Price
    We had a nice visit. The fortress is beautiful. The gardens inside, very refreshing. There is a small café at the top which is a beautiful place for a sangria or an ice cream. Would have given it 5 * but there were multiple school groups visiting at the same time as us, so it was quite crowded in some points.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written March 30, 2023
  • Adrian
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful!
    On the day we visited entry was completely free. Despite its age, the place is well-maintained and the plants are beautiful. There are many lookout points to enjoy the panoramic views both of the port of Malaga and the city itself. Its a must if you visit Malaga.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written April 2, 2023
  • Alexandra D
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highly recommened!
    I had an excellent tour of Alcazaba with Kevin (tour guide Malaga adventures). He is an entusiastic guy with good humor and in-depth historical knowledge. I recommend doing the tour on Sunday when entry is free and you only pay for the guide, which is definitely worthwhile!
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 3, 2023
  • Itinerary Goddess
    London, Canada104 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rich history but lacking accessibility
    The ease of getting into the Alcazaba and self guiding is very nice. The view is lovely from above and the outside garden but is not wheelchair accessible which is unfortunate and could be solved with a foldout ramp. You can tour most of the interior though bumpy ride with a wheelchair. Lovely tile work and rich history. Priced very reasonable.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written April 7, 2023
  • Sally W
    Beaconsfield, United Kingdom21 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth a visit
    Very interesting location. Free audio guide that was down loadable onto your smart phone was a great asset. The buildings are beautiful with amazing views over the harbour. We bought a ticket to include the castle which was valid for 48 hours so we did the castle the following day
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written April 12, 2023
  • Sadie1
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great visit
    Excellent visit very enjoyable better we than expected Really enjoyed Alcazaba really recommend it .The cafe is a great spot to relax and enjoy the view. The castle is also great a very steep walk need good shoes a drink and a hat on a hot day. We stayed in the shopping area which was good but a bit short on places to eat but it was early season. We used public transport to get to the beach and harbour very good and cheap £1.80 euro pay on bus with coins . We also used the train from the airport lots of English speaking help to buy tickets so easy right across the concorse from the airport very cheap and convenient. Again a couple of Euro compared to 25 euro for a taxi. Shopping is good the store El Cortes de Ingles is like a big House of Frazer and the other shopping centre was next to our hotel Centro by Melia and had a massive supermarket and lots of recognisable shops Zara, H&M Primark. Hotel breakfast was very good there is a small outside terrace.All the staff were lovely and helpful.If we stayed again we would like to be nearer the beach. The Margareta beach was lovely sun beds and parasols available 15 euros for 2.The beach toilets are not recommended find a cafe!! We went the end of March the weather was much hotter than we had anticipated which was great 27/28 c in day 17/19 in evening. We would definitely return it was a perfect 5 day break.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written April 15, 2023
  • G6189JQkevino
    Ypsilanti, Michigan132 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great historical visit in Malaga
    The Alcazaba is bit on a hillside, with the bottom being defensive fortifications, but the top being an Arab palace. The site has great antiquity, with a Roman theater excavated below. It is physically demanding with a lot of steps, but well worth a couple of hours to visit.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 18, 2023
  • Eaton_Out
    Greenville, South Carolina622 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great old palace / fortification
    Another old fortress of Malagna and built in perhaps the 11th century CE. Smaller and more elaborate than its cousin Gibralfaro up the hill. It is connected to the Gibralfaro Castle uphill by a walking path and you can purchase admission to both on one ticket. Moorish architecture.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 21, 2023
  • Anand P
    Ireland4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Alcazaba malaga
    It is a historical monument which transports you into the past. It was a perfect day to indulge in the history of the place. Visiting the place with two young kids, I was relieved to know that there is a lift that takes you straight up to the top and then you can explore and walk down the lanes. Ask for the lifts entrance and buy the tickets there for a quick access. As it was a lovely day we thoroughly enjoyed the clear views of the nearby marina and the city. There is also a cafe/bar on the premises to refresh yourself. We had a great time exploring the various alcoves and gardens.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written April 24, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles11,322 reviews
Excellent
5,829
Very good
4,460
Average
904
Poor
87
Terrible
43

chilton
Fife, UK179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Gave a great feel for the Moorish past of Malaga. Beautiful courtyards archways and mural decorations. Views over the old town were excellent. If you're fit its worth walking on to Gibralfaro but there is a bus option if you aren't
Written March 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amjbath
Bath, UK.117 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Friends
Visit on a Sunday afternoon after 2pm for free entry. Busy but lovely walk around with good views of the city and sea. Doesn't need ages, no interpretation provided - just wander and take in the sights
Written March 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Justusduo
Newnan, GA106 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Absolute must do in Malaga. It was a very picturesque and easy tour. We purchased both tours, the lower and the upper level, in hindsight the lower level is enough. You can go at your own pace, and explore as little or as much as you’d like. There are lots of stairs, but again you can do things at your own pace.
Written March 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tim S
Leeds, UK18 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
Views of the city are great and lots of history. Take care as barriers not available everywhere when up high. Café halfway up.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

susaq12
Pencoed, UK804 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We had a lovely time walking around the castle.
I wish we’d noticed the guide QR codes at the beginning as it would have been nice to know a bit more about the place.
It’s quite steep in places with steps up to many viewpoints but these can be missed if you don’t want to look across the port.
We paid the higher €5.50 per person but I have no idea what extra we got from it as no-one checked our tickets once we were inside.
We spent over 90 minutes walking around.
There’s a cafe and toilets too if needed.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Werner W
Zurich, Switzerland871 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We visited this place during a trip around Andalusia. We booked a tour to the Acazaba and the Roman theater. The fortress is impressive and nicely renovated. The view over Malaga from the top ist impressive.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

vicjt13
Swindon, UK27 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Put your good shoes/trainers on, the walk is long and steep in places but if you take your time and stop often take In the views its well worth it. There is a Wonderfull view of the bull ring and out to sea.
There is a caffe/bar within the Alcazaba lovely spot and normal pricing.
Entrance pricing very reasonable.
Written March 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

peter j
Gloucester, UK199 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Solo
Its a spectacular fortification with many beautiful rooms with architecture dating back centuries. It's a bit of a steep climb up and there are some uneven footways but the sights and the panorama are worth it.
Written February 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Filip
Alba Iulia, Romania1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
It was incredible, I've never saw such astonishing views in my entire life !!!
I recomande visiting Alcazaba around Lunch Time (if you visit it in winter as I did)
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lukasz
Warsaw, Poland3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Great to have a walk in Malaga, especially if considered together with Gibralfaro. Not as impressive as Alhambra nor Alcazar but still very nice.
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 4,030
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Alcazaba - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Alcazaba

According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Alcazaba: