Málaga has more than 15 kilometres of sand within the city limits and dozens more along the rest of the Costa del Sol. The water is warm enough to swim in from May to October and stays around 16°C in winter. The closest beach to the historic centre is La Malagueta, a man-made stretch of dark sand below the bullring with a busy run of seafood restaurants and water-sports rentals along the back. It is convenient and lively rather than scenic.
For something more relaxed, walk or take the number 11 bus east to Playa de Pedregalejo and then Playa del Palo — narrower, calmer, and lined with the chiringuitos that grill sardines on wood-fired skewers stuck into half-buried rowing boats. To the west, La Misericordia and beyond it the long, broad Guadalmar beach are quieter still and used mostly by locals.