Whilst the Costa del Sol has established itself as a leading sun and sand tourist destination, the province of Málaga also has numerous natural spaces for its visitors to explore.
Of all of these, the best known are undoubtedly the Caminito del Rey (the King’s Path) and the Torcal de Antequera nature reserve, but you can also enjoy nature in the city of Málaga itself.
Do you want to immerse yourself completely in nature without having to travel far? Well, read on, because this guide will tell you all you need to know for your visit to the Málaga Botanical Garden: where it is, how to get there, ticket prices and opening times.
The history of the Garden
A romantic love story lies behind the origins of the Málaga Botanical Garden. In the mid-19th century, two well-known members of Málaga’s high society (Jorge Loring Oyarzábal and Amalia Heredia Livermore, Marquises of Casa Loring) got married and embarked on their honeymoon around Europe.
The honeymoon, lasting six months, gave them the chance to get to know each other better and also to indulge in one of their passions: botany. And so it was that, on their return to Málaga, they came laden with dozens of specimens of different plants and trees which they had been collecting as they travelled through Europe.
Once settled on their farm in the city of Málaga, the couple decided to employ the French gardener Jacint Chamousset, who would gradually turn their farmland into a beautiful English-style botanical garden.
The garden began to increase in size and in the number of herbaceous specimens, until (due to financial problems) the Marquises Loring-Heredia were forced to sell the farm to the Echevarría family.
This family, originating from Bilbao, enchanted by the diversity of the plants in the garden, decided to continue extending it (creating new areas such as the Arroyo de la Ninfa, the Avenida de Palmeras and El Mirador) until the La Concepción Botanical Garden was eventually purchased in 1990 by Málaga City Council and opened to the public in 1994.
How to plan your visit to the Málaga Botanical Garden
The Málaga Botanical Garden (known locally as the Finca de la Concepción) is not only one of the best places to see in the city of Málaga, but it’s also one of the prettiest tropical gardens in Spain. It’s no wonder, as the garden boasts more than 25,000 plants consisting of 2,000 different species, as well as archaeological remains, statues, ponds, waterfalls and greenhouses.
Basically, there are two ways of visiting the Málaga Botanical Garden: independently or on a guided tour. You can book a guided tour in advance or at the ticket office at the entrance to the garden.
Visiting the Málaga Botanical Garden independently
Given the layout of the plants and trees in the Málaga Botanical Garden, visitors can choose to take different routes or paths when visiting independently.
That way, you can explore the garden by following a scientific criterion, whereby the plants are grouped according to type:
- Aquatic plants
- Bamboos
- Baobabs
- Cacti and succulents
- Mediterranean flora
- Fruit trees and bushes
- Carnivorous plants, orchids and bromeliads
- Palms
- Primitive plants
- Ancient Málaga vines
Alternatively, you can also visit the garden by following set routes, some of the main ones being:
- The viewpoint route.
- The forest route.
- The Around the World in 80 Trees route.
- The hibiscus route or walk.
In any event, whichever criterion you choose, we’d recommend you download the map of the Málaga Botanical Garden from the website onto your phone or ask for a hard copy at the entrance. That way, you won’t feel lost in the jungle!
Guided tours of the Málaga Botanical Garden
In our view, the best way of discovering the garden is by taking a guided tour, as you’ll be accompanied by an expert who will explain the key characteristics of each type of plant and tell you anecdotes, historical information and interesting facts about the garden that you wouldn’t know about otherwise.
The guided tours last an hour and a half and can be booked in advance by calling 951 926 180.
Opening times of the Málaga Botanical Garden
The Málaga Botanical Garden is open from Tuesday to Sunday as follows:
- From 1 April until 30 September: from 9.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
- From 1 October until 31 March: from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
When planning your visit, you should bear in mind that the garden is closed on Mondays throughout the year, as well as on 25 December and 1 January.
The Málaga Botanical Garden at night
As well as daytime access, you can also visit the garden at night on a guided tour.
Night tour
The nighttime guided tours of the garden take place on Fridays (from October to March at 8 p.m.; from April to September at 9 p.m.). They last about an hour and a half and you can also book in advance by calling 951 926 180.
Concerts in the Málaga Botanical Garden
As part of the programme of events organised by the Málaga Brisa Festival, every year in the Málaga Botanical Garden various concerts are held by renowned artists from the national music scene, as well as local bands.
The last festival, for example, featured Soleá Morente, Elefantes, Los Muchachos, La Habitación Roja and Lagartija Nick. For more details, visit the website of the Costa del Sol Tourist Board.
Málaga Botanical Garden: useful information
Tickets
Tickets for the garden can be purchased in person from the ticket office. The entry fee varies according to the type of visitor:
- Standard price: €5.20.
- Concessions: €3.10. Available to Under 16s, large families, students under 26, retired visitors and pensioners, ‘Live Spanish in Málaga’ cardholders (students of Spanish) and Joven Junta Andalucía cardholders (for under 30s).
Guided tours (daytime and nighttime) are paid for separately. The price varies according to the number of people in the tour group. See here for guided tour rates.
Is the Botanical Garden free?
You can visit the Málaga Botanical Garden free of charge on Sundays throughout the year as follows:
- From 1 October until 31 March, from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
- From 1 April until 30 September, from 4.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
How to get to the Málaga Botanical Garden
The Málaga Botanical Garden is situated in the north of the city, about 5 km from the Old Town.
To get there, you can either drive (there’s parking at the garden) or take public transport:
- Sightseeing Bus: The green route of the Málaga Sightseeing Bus stops at the Botanical Garden.
- Urban Bus: The last stop on the No.2 route of the Málaga Transport Company (Empresa Malagueña de Transportes/EMT) is about 15 minutes’ walk from the Botanical Garden.
This practical guide for visiting the Málaga Botanical Garden is sure to have aroused your interest in this unrivalled natural space. Book a flight to Málaga and be amazed by this wonderful tropical garden!
