The sea temperature at Málaga today is 19.9 °C (68 °F) – cold to refreshing water, better for a short swim. The usual October average is 19.6 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 23.2 °C to 19.9 °C. Swimmable from June to October, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C / 57.5°F | 14.5°C / 58.1°F | 14.9°C / 58.7°F |
| February | 14.1°C / 57.3°F | 14.5°C / 58.0°F | 14.7°C / 58.5°F |
| March | 14.3°C / 57.8°F | 14.8°C / 58.6°F | 15.2°C / 59.3°F |
| April | 15.4°C / 59.7°F | 16.0°C / 60.8°F | 16.5°C / 61.6°F |
| May | 17.0°C / 62.6°F | 17.8°C / 64.0°F | 18.6°C / 65.4°F |
| June | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 19.9°C / 67.9°F | 21.3°C / 70.3°F |
| July | 20.8°C / 69.5°F | 22.5°C / 72.4°F | 23.6°C / 74.5°F |
| August | 23.0°C / 73.3°F | 24.1°C / 75.3°F | 25.3°C / 77.5°F |
| September | 20.4°C / 68.7°F | 21.9°C / 71.5°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F |
| October | 19.0°C / 66.1°F | 19.6°C / 67.3°F | 20.4°C / 68.7°F |
| November | 15.2°C / 59.4°F | 16.7°C / 62.1°F | 18.2°C / 64.8°F |
| December | 14.7°C / 58.4°F | 15.3°C / 59.5°F | 16.1°C / 60.9°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.0°C / 48.1°F | 11.1°C / 52.0°F | 14.8°C / 58.6°F |
| February | 10.1°C / 50.2°F | 12.3°C / 54.1°F | 15.6°C / 60.1°F |
| March | 11.0°C / 51.8°F | 13.5°C / 56.4°F | 16.7°C / 62.1°F |
| April | 12.6°C / 54.7°F | 15.8°C / 60.5°F | 19.2°C / 66.6°F |
| May | 15.0°C / 59.1°F | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 22.6°C / 72.7°F |
| June | 19.0°C / 66.2°F | 22.9°C / 73.2°F | 26.7°C / 80.0°F |
| July | 21.7°C / 71.0°F | 25.8°C / 78.5°F | 29.8°C / 85.6°F |
| August | 22.2°C / 71.9°F | 25.9°C / 78.6°F | 29.8°C / 85.6°F |
| September | 19.2°C / 66.6°F | 22.4°C / 72.3°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F |
| October | 16.8°C / 62.2°F | 19.4°C / 66.8°F | 22.8°C / 73.0°F |
| November | 12.3°C / 54.1°F | 14.8°C / 58.6°F | 18.6°C / 65.5°F |
| December | 10.2°C / 50.4°F | 12.2°C / 53.9°F | 15.6°C / 60.0°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Málaga holidays
Málaga is the capital of the Costa del Sol and one of Spain's largest cities, a Mediterranean port in Andalusia where Pablo Picasso was born in 1881. Above the old town, the Moorish Alcazaba fortress and the hilltop castle of Gibralfaro look down on the harbour, and the city beach of La Malagueta begins a short walk from the centre.
Beaches
La Malagueta, the beach closest to the centre, is about 1.2 km of greyish sand with a promenade of chiringuitos and lifeguards in summer. East of it, the old fishing districts of Pedregalejo and El Palo have smaller beaches behind breakwaters that keep the water calmer for children, and restaurants grilling espetos: sardines on skewers over a fire in an old boat filled with sand. West of the port, La Misericordia is a long, quieter beach backed by newer apartments.
Things to do
The sights of the old town sit close together: the Roman Theatre at the foot of the Alcazaba, the cathedral, nicknamed La Manquita ("the one-armed lady") because its second tower was never finished, and the marble-paved Calle Larios. The Picasso Museum shows his paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics from across his career, and his birthplace on Plaza de la Merced is also a museum. By the Roman Theatre, the old El Pimpi bodega is a local institution. Popular day trips lead to the Caminito del Rey gorge walk (booking required), the cliff-top town of Ronda and the Caves of Nerja.
Weather and best time to visit
At Málaga the sea stays above 20 °C / 68 °F from July to September.
Málaga works as a city break all year thanks to mild winters. In summer the terral, a hot, dry wind from inland, can push the heat up sharply for a day or two, and early in the season the sea can still feel fresh.
Hotels and where to stay
The historic centre and the Soho arts district put museums, tapas bars and the port within walking distance, while La Malagueta and Pedregalejo suit a stay by the sea. Torremolinos and Benalmádena to the west are the classic package-holiday resorts of the Costa del Sol.
Signature hotels: Barceló Málaga · Only YOU Hotel Málaga
Airport and getting there
Málaga-Costa del Sol airport (AGP) is about 8 km from the centre; the C1 suburban train reaches Málaga Centro-Alameda in around 12 minutes. High-speed AVE trains link María Zambrano station with Madrid in under three hours, and Nerja is about an hour east by car.