Málaga scavenger hunt: Picasso's square, Roman stones and the harbour front
The Málaga scavenger hunt is a self-guided city game you play on your phone: you walk from the old town to the sea, solve a riddle at each landmark by looking closely at what is in front of you, and unlock the stories and legends behind it. Allow about 2 hours from Picasso's square to the palm promenade on the harbour, with only 31 minutes of easy, flat walking over 2.5 km between the 10 stops.
Highlights include Plaza de la Merced, where Picasso was born, the Roman Theatre below the Alcazaba, the one-towered cathedral known as La Manquita, the palm-lined Paseo del Parque, La Malagueta beach and the colourful cube of the Centre Pompidou. The route is short and flat, linking Roman, Moorish and modern Málaga with the port in one easy walk.
- Durationabout 2 hours
- Walkingabout 31 min · 2.5 km
- Stops10
- LanguagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch
Ten riddles between Picasso's birthplace and the Mediterranean
An obelisk, a missing tower and a glass cube
Each riddle hides in the scene in front of you: the obelisk to Torrijos and his companions, the spot where the cathedral's second tower was never built, the coloured panes of El Cubo on the quay. A patient look gives you the answer, and no Spanish is needed.
Picasso, Augustus and a one-armed lady
Every answer opens a story: the painter born on Plaza de la Merced in 1881, the Roman Theatre that lay buried and forgotten until 1951, and why locals call their cathedral La Manquita. The narration also tells the popular tale of where the money for the second tower went.
Flat streets, palm shade and a beach
Google Maps leads you 2.5 km in about 31 minutes, through the old town, along the palm-lined Paseo del Parque and out to La Malagueta before swinging back along the port. There are no hills, so the route is easy even in sandals.
Espetos on the sand
Stop whenever hunger strikes: the beach bars at La Malagueta grill sardines on skewers over fires in old boats filled with sand. The game waits on your phone until you pick it up again, the same day or the next.
See the route and attractions →
How it works
- Book online Choose the number of players. Your booking reference arrives by email straight away.
- Get the app Download the World City Trail app from the App Store or Google Play and enter your booking reference.
- Play when you like Start whenever you are ready, walk at your own pace and pause any time. No guide, no fixed schedule.
Cruise passengers, families and friends on the Costa del Sol
A day ashore in Málaga
The route finishes on the harbour front and needs only about 2 hours, so it fits easily into a day in port or a first afternoon in the city. It links Roman, Moorish and modern Málaga without a single hill to climb.
Children who like beaches and bronze painters
Sitting beside the bronze Picasso on his bench, spotting the boats full of sand at La Malagueta and counting the colours of the glass cube keep young players busy on an easy route, with an adult in every young team.
Friends on a city break
Up to 5 players share a team, each on their own phone, so a birthday group, a family reunion or a band of colleagues can split into teams and race to the Palmeral. The beach is only a short walk away once the last riddle is solved.
Good to know
- Bring a charged smartphone with mobile data; a power bank helps.
- No entry tickets needed: everything happens outside the buildings. Going inside is optional and paid separately.
- Family friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Not suitable for wheelchair users and difficult with strollers.
- Teams of up to 5 work best; bigger groups split into several teams, one ticket per player.
- Every purchase helps support stray cats and dogs in Greece.
The route: Plaza de la Merced, the Roman Theatre and the cathedral, then the park, the beach and the port
10 stops · about 31 min walking · start: Plaza de la Merced · finish: Palmeral de las Sorpresas
The hunt starts on Plaza de la Merced and heads through the old town past the Roman Theatre and the Picasso Museum to Málaga Cathedral. From there you walk to the university's rectorate and the City Hall, along the Paseo del Parque and out to La Malagueta beach, then back along the port to the Centre Pompidou and finish at the Palmeral de las Sorpresas. The Roman Theatre, the cathedral and the Pompidou cube are all read from the street or the quay, so no admission is needed, and if you are staying by the beach, the app can open the game at La Malagueta and rearrange the remaining stops around it.
Open the route map ↗
1Plaza de la MercedStart
Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 in a house on this large square, now a museum devoted to his birthplace, and a bronze Picasso sits on a bench nearby. In the centre an obelisk honours General José María Torrijos and his companions, executed in Málaga in 1831 for rising against the absolutist rule of Ferdinand VII.
Read the full story →
2Roman Theatre
Málaga's Roman Theatre was built in the 1st century BC under Emperor Augustus and lay buried and forgotten for centuries until it was rediscovered in 1951. Its tiers of seats sit at the foot of the Alcazaba, the Moorish fortress whose builders reused Roman stones and columns.
3Picasso Museum Málaga
The Museo Picasso Málaga opened in 2003 in the Palacio de Buenavista, a 16th-century palace that blends Renaissance and Mudéjar styles. Its collection, largely given by Picasso's daughter-in-law Christine and grandson Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, fulfilled the artist's own wish to see his work shown in his birthplace.
4Málaga Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Incarnation was built between 1528 and 1782 on the site of the city's former main mosque. Only its north tower was ever finished, which is why locals call the cathedral La Manquita, the one-armed lady, and a popular story says the money for the second tower went to support the American War of Independence.
5University of Málaga
The University of Málaga, founded in 1972, has its rectorate in the former main post office building beside the Paseo del Parque. Built in the 1920s in neo-Mudéjar style, it shows brickwork, ceramic decoration and horseshoe arches inspired by the city's Moorish past.
6Málaga City Hall
Málaga's City Hall, known locally as La Casona del Parque, opened in 1919 on the edge of the Paseo del Parque. Its neo-baroque façade is richly decorated with carved reliefs and allegorical figures, and gardens stretch out beside it towards the slope of the Alcazaba.
7Paseo del Parque
The Park of Málaga runs along the Paseo del Parque on land reclaimed from the sea in the late 19th century, between the old town and the port. Its avenues are shaded by palms and subtropical trees from around the world, with fountains and sculptures along the way.
8La Malagueta Beach
La Malagueta is the city beach closest to the centre, a long strip of dark sand east of the port in the neighbourhood of the same name. Along it beach restaurants keep up a local tradition, grilling espetos, sardines on skewers, over fires in old boats filled with sand.
9Centre Pompidou Málaga
The Centre Pompidou Málaga opened in 2015 on the Muelle Uno quay as the first branch of the Paris arts centre outside France. Above ground you mainly see El Cubo, a multicoloured glass cube that lets light into the galleries below the quay.
10Palmeral de las SorpresasFinish
The Palmeral de las Sorpresas is a waterfront promenade along the Muelle Dos quay, opened in 2011 when the port was redesigned and opened up to the city. A long, wavy white pergola runs beside rows of palm trees, giving shade and views across the harbour.
Read the full story →
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Alice Cooper (verified owner) –
Clever clues and an interesting trail. A most enjoyable way to navigate the city and learn about it’s most important people and places. Looking forward to exploring more destinations with World City Trail.
Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Switzerland –
Collected on GetYourGuide
It takes less than 2 hours and you walk through only main attractions, no hidden gems. Riddles are quite simple. It’s good as an introductory tour.
Alex– Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Ottima attività che ti porta a vedere tutti i punti più importante della città ad un prezzo onestissimo. Lo consiglio vivamente per passare un pomeriggio divertente
Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Gesamte Konzept
Claudia– Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
spannende und abwechslungsreicher Spaziergang, unbedingt machen. Der letzte Punkt am Palmenpark ist aktuell wegen dem Abbau des Schildes nicht durchführbar, die Lösungsbuchstaben dafür sind “palms”. Diese Touren werden wir in anderen Städten wieder machen, absolut cool, auch als Wettbewerb mit der ganzen Familie
sabrina– Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Idea carina davvero , hai modo di conoscere delle curiosità del posto e avere informazioni sui vari monumenti che il tour ti mette a disposizione.carini anche i puzzle da risolvere ,rendono la cosa più simpatica ma non ci ha coinvolto particolarmente
Pradip– United Kingdom –
Collected on GetYourGuide
some of the puzzles were a bit … unclear. i enjoyed learning about the different sites, some good history there, maybe a puzzle reward could be unlocking a special picture or a quick video
Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Die Tour führt zu den wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten der Stadt und erläutert einiges. Die “Spiele” sind allerdings sehr simpel und meiner Meinung nach eher für Kinder geeignet.
United Kingdom –
Collected on GetYourGuide
The activity was great fun and we got to interact with the locals. More time would have been helpful tbh!
Anna– Germany –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Hat echt Spaß gemacht! Die Rätsel sind nicht super schwierig, aber es macht Spaß sich dadurch die Orte genauer anzuschauen. Perfekt um sich einen ersten Überblick der Stadt zu verschaffen und die Wege zu den einzelnen Stationen sind nicht lang.
Lucia– Italy –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Ci siamo divertiti a girare e scoprire Malaga in questo modo!
Thomas– France –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Parfait pour découvrir les grands axes de Malaga en arrivant dans le secteur
Caroline– France –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Très bon moment passé en famille et qui implique ma fille de 7 ans à 100%. Explications intéressantes et énigmes faciles mais demande de la réflexion . Je recommande les yeux fermés
Rick– Netherlands –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Leuke route, vragen, feitjes en weetjes, alleen de computerstem kan beter.
Netherlands –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Was leuk, meeste opdrachten goed te doen.
Denmark –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Confusing at times, but overall fun experience
Greece –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Unique activitie to explore the best sightseeings of the city!
Netherlands –
Collected on GetYourGuide
Fantastische manier om meer te zien van de stad Málaga.
major –
very nice game