Málaga in 7 Days on a Budget (Daily Costs)
Heads up: some links here are affiliate links. Book or buy through them and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only point you to things we would actually use.
7 days: the full Andalusia week from one base
A week from Málaga is the whole package: two days for the city, the full golden triangle of Granada, Córdoba and Seville, the Caminito del Rey, and a slow coastal day at Nerja to recover. You never change hotels. Book the Alhambra, the Seville Alcázar and the walkway before you leave. Budget roughly 30-85 euros a day beyond your room. Shorter on time? The 6-day plan drops the coast day.
Book before you go:
- A Málaga hotel on Booking.com
- Golden-triangle and Caminito trips on GetYourGuide
- Alhambra, Seville Alcázar and Caminito del Rey sell out, book them first (verify prices)
| Day | Focus | Rough cost (solo, no hotel) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Alcazaba, Gibralfaro, Roman Theatre, Cathedral | 15-30 euros |
| Day 2 | Picasso, Soho, espeto beach | 25-40 euros |
| Day 3 | Granada and the Alhambra | 45-70 euros |
| Day 4 | Córdoba and the Mezquita | 55-85 euros |
| Day 5 | Seville | 70-100 euros |
| Day 6 | The Caminito del Rey | 25-45 euros |
| Day 7 | Nerja and Frigiliana | 25-45 euros |
Day 1: The Moorish and Roman core
Free Roman Theatre, the combined Alcazaba and Gibralfaro ticket (about 5.50 euros, verify), the wall walk up to the castle terrace, and the Cathedral, “La Manquita.” Tapas in the old town. Tip: take the free footpath up beside the Alcazaba rather than paying for both fortress and castle.
Day 2: Picasso, Soho and the beach
The Casa Natal birthplace and the Museo Picasso Málaga (about 12 euros, verify), then the free Soho murals and Banderas’s Teatro del Soho, and an espeto at Pedregalejo. Tip: bank the rest today, the next four days are day trips, so eat well at a late beach lunch and turn in early.
Day 3: Granada and the Alhambra
The Alhambra, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours away (verify), timed ticket around 19 euros booked ahead on the official Patronato site (verify), plus the free Albaicín. Tip: the Nasrid Palaces entry time on your ticket is fixed, get there early.
Day 4: Córdoba and the Mezquita
Córdoba, about 50 minutes on the AVE (verify), for the Mezquita (about 13 euros, verify) and the free Roman bridge. Tip: go in first thing, mornings are cooler and often cheaper inside (verify current policy).
Day 5: Seville
Seville, roughly 2 hours by AVE with one change (verify). Prebook the Alcázar (about 15 euros, verify); the Plaza de España is free. Tip: take the earliest train and a late one back, it is a long day and the light on the Plaza de España is best late afternoon.
Day 6: The Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey, about an hour by road, a 2.9-kilometre cliff walkway (around 10 euros, timed online only, verify). Tip: book an early slot and wear grippy shoes, the boardwalk is exposed and hot by midday.
Day 7: Nerja and Frigiliana
Wind down east on the coast: Nerja, about 45 minutes by bus (verify), for the Cuevas de Nerja caves and the Balcón de Europa, then the white village of Frigiliana inland. Tip: this is the cheap, easy day to end on, no timed tickets, so leave it loose and let the last afternoon run on beach time.
How much does 7 days in Málaga cost?
Figure roughly 280-420 euros across the week for tickets, transport and meals, plus your room. The three AVE day trips carry most of it; the city core, the Caminito and the Nerja coast day keep the weekly average low, and one base for seven nights saves on the moving-around most Andalusia trips waste money on.
Read more: Málaga on a Budget: Free Sights and Real Costs covers the home base, or Málaga Day Trips on a Budget breaks down every trip in this week with costs.