To prepare your trip to Andalusia, you are wondering which neighborhoods to avoid and the best areas to stay in Malaga.

Indeed, even if Malaga is not a dangerous city, it is better to find out in advance about the best areas in which to choose your accommodation.

This way, you will avoid unpleasant surprises. No one wants to find themselves in a red-light district of Malaga or in an area not recommended for tourists.

To help you spot the worst and best areas of Malaga, here is a guide to the city's neighborhoods.

Is Malaga a dangerous city in 2024?

NOT : As Seville ou Alicante , in 2024 Malaga is a very safe city which is ranked among the safest cities in Europe.

According to the current ranking of Numbeo, Malaga is one of the least criminal cities in Europe with a very low crime rate of 27.62.

In comparison, Malaga is much less dangerous than many Talian or French cities like Nice, Paris, Toulouse, Rome , Milan ou Naples.

However, this ranking only takes into account the opinions and feelings of Internet users.

This is why it is interesting to take a closer look at the different areas of Malaga, particularly to find out which ones are the least safe and therefore to be avoided.

Map of Malaga neighborhoods

Malaga is divided into 10 counties :

• Centro
• This
• Garden City
• Bailén - Miraflores
• Palma - Palmilla
• Cruz de Humilladero
• Cádiz Road
• Churriana
• Campanillas
• Puerto de la Torre

These districts are themselves made up of small neighborhoods (barrios). Impossible and useless to present them all to you. Below, I will only present the most interesting areas of Malaga for tourists.

And to help you locate the best places and neighborhoods to avoid in Malaga, here is a map to help you find them more easily: Google Map

Neighborhoods to avoid in Malaga

Usually there is no security issue for tourists in the center of Malaga. But there are still some less safe neighborhoods at night. Indeed, as in all major European cities, drugs and violence are gradually settling in the poor districts of Malaga.

Without being dangerous areas, here are the areas of Malaga known to be the least safe for tourists at night :

• La Palma
• insole See article: " The most dangerous neighborhoods in Spain« 
• around Cruz Verde Street
• some places in the neighborhood Trinidad.

Red light district in Malaga

Without being a dangerous area in Malaga, it is recommended to avoid the area around it at night. Calle Vendeja which is considered the red light district of the city.

Best neighborhoods to stay in Malaga

There are many good areas to stay in Malaga: Historic Center, Soho, El Palo, Malagueta, Pedregalejo, etc.

All these neighborhoods have their own atmosphere, their own identity and are nice but I am not going to present them all to you in detail.

I will simply tell you below the best areas to stay for tourists according to their desires:

• to visit Malaga,
• to enjoy the beach and the entertainment,
• and finally the best area to combine tourism and beach.

Best area to stay when visiting Malaga

For tourists who come to Malaga to visit the city, it is in the historic center that they should stay. See it location of the historic center.

Indeed, it is in this district of the old town that tourists can make the most of:

• the most beautiful historical sites in Malaga (Cathedral, Picasso Museum, Alcazaba, Plaza de la Constitución, Malaga Park),
• the real Andalusian atmosphere, its many bars and restaurants,
• to go shopping especially in the beautiful Larios street.

Among the many hotels and Airbnbs in this tourist area, here is a hotel that I recommend for its location and its typically Andalusian architecture:

Best area to stay for the beach

For vacationers who come to Malaga mainly to enjoy the beach, the Pedregalejo district is a good option.

Less than 5 kilometers from the center of Malaga (direct bus), this seaside area is very popular for its large and magnificent beach.

It is a chic area, ideal for family holidays who can enjoy seaside pleasures, shops and good restaurants. See where is this neighborhood located.

It is in this area that you will find beautiful apartments facing the beach with very good value for money:

Where to stay in Malaga (tourism and beach)

La Malagueta is the best area to stay in Malaga. The Spanish newspaper Diariosur.es ranks it among the richest neighborhoods in Andalusia.

In fact, the Malagueta district is right next to the historic center and opposite one of the most beautiful beaches in Malaga. A 15-minute walk from the most beautiful tourist sites in Malaga, this seaside district is very fashionable and very popular with tourists. See where is this neighborhood

Here is a luxurious and legendary hotel 10 meters from La Malagueta beach: the Grand Hotel Miramar. This magnificent building is a 20th century palace classified for its exceptional architecture.

This article is a summary of information collected in 2024 on the dangerousness of Malaga's neighborhoods (local newspapers, business press, rankings and statistics on the internet).