The Centre Pompidou Málaga brings works from one of the world’s great modern art collections to the Costa del Sol. It opened in 2015 in El Cubo, a low building on the Muelle Uno waterfront crowned by a cube of multicoloured glass that has become one of the city’s landmarks, and the agreement between the city and the Paris museum has been renewed to keep it open through 2034. The galleries sit mostly underground beneath the cube, flooded with coloured light from above. A semi-permanent display draws on the Pompidou’s holdings of twentieth- and twenty-first-century art, with names such as Picasso, Miró, Kahlo, Bacon and Magritte among the artists who have featured, and it is renewed every few years. Alongside it runs a lively programme of temporary exhibitions and family workshops. Recent and current shows have included Hors Pistes, the Pompidou’s festival of the moving image, and a family exhibition built around games of volume. It is a compact museum that suits an hour or two, and its harbourside setting makes it easy to combine with a walk along the port and the Malagueta beach.
How to see it: enter beside the glass cube and head down into the main galleries, starting with the semi-permanent collection before the temporary exhibitions. The displays are well spaced and clearly labelled, and the coloured light from the cube changes through the day. Families should check the programme for children’s workshops and activity sheets, which make the art accessible for younger visitors.
What to expect: the museum is generally closed on Tuesdays and on a few holidays, so check before planning your day around it. It is rarely crowded, and it is air-conditioned and accessible, a comfortable choice for a hot afternoon. Exhibitions change regularly, so the works on display depend on the date of your visit.
Making the most of it: combine the Pompidou with a walk along the Muelle Uno promenade, with its shops, cafés and boats, and on to the Malagueta beach and lighthouse. Tiqets sells combination tickets with the Roman Theatre and Alcazaba tour, an easy way to plan a culture day. A sunset catamaran cruise leaves from the same quay, which makes a natural end to the afternoon.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit to underground galleries beneath a glass cube, with a semi-permanent collection and changing exhibitions.
Best time
Late morning or afternoon, followed by a walk along the port at sunset.
How long
One to two hours, depending on the temporary shows.
Tips
Check the day before, since the museum is generally closed on Tuesdays, and look out for combined tickets with the Alcazaba tour.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Lovers of modern art, and anyone who has already seen the Picasso Museum.
- Families
- Workshops and family exhibitions make it one of the more child-friendly art museums in Spain.
- Couples
- Pair it with drinks on the Muelle Uno waterfront and a sunset sail from the same quay.
- Pair with
- The Muelle Uno promenade, the Malagueta beach and the sunset catamaran.
- Time needed
- About an hour and a half.
Good questions
Is the Centre Pompidou Málaga staying open?+
Yes, the agreement between Málaga and the Centre Pompidou in Paris has been renewed to keep the museum open through 2034. It continues to show works from the Paris collection.
What can you see at the Centre Pompidou Málaga?+
There is a semi-permanent display of modern and contemporary art from the Pompidou collection, renewed every few years, plus temporary exhibitions. The works on show depend on when you visit.
Where is the Centre Pompidou Málaga?+
It is on the Muelle Uno waterfront by the port, under the landmark multicoloured glass cube. The old town is about ten minutes away on foot.
Is the Pompidou Málaga good for children?+
Yes, it runs family workshops and exhibitions designed for younger visitors. The compact size also suits short attention spans.
When is the Centre Pompidou Málaga closed?+
It is generally closed on Tuesdays and a few public holidays. Check the opening days before you go.
