The Centre Pompidou, Malaga, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Centre Pompidou Málaga is an outpost of the famous Paris museum of modern and contemporary art, set in a colourful glass cube on the Muelle Uno port promenade in Málaga. It shows rotating selections of 20th and 21st century art and is one of the most recognisable modern buildings on the city's waterfront.

The story behind it

The Centre Pompidou in Paris opened in 1977 and holds one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe. In 2015 Málaga became home to a branch of it, a partnership that brought works from the Paris collection to southern Spain. The museum opened as the old harbour area of Muelle Uno was being turned into a place for strolling, eating and looking at the sea.

The choice of Málaga fits the city's artistic identity. It is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, and it already had a strong museum scene in the centre. The glass cube at the entrance, with its coloured panels, was created by the French artist Daniel Buren, who is known for his use of colour and pattern. Much of the gallery space sits below the cube, so the little coloured block is only the visible part of the museum.

What to look for

• The coloured glass cube is the first thing to notice, and its panels throw patches of tinted light on the ground when the sun is out.
• The setting at the end of the port promenade puts the cube against masts, sea and sky, which makes it easy to photograph from several angles.
• Look back towards the city from Muelle Uno to see the hill of the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro rising behind the harbour.
• Notice how a museum with a Paris pedigree sits comfortably among cafes and palm-lined walkways, a sign of how the port has changed.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour for the outside and the promenade, and longer if you want to go through the galleries. Check current opening hours and admission before you go.
• Late afternoon is pleasant for the light on the glass and the sea, and it is cooler than midday in summer.
• You can go inside the museum, and exhibitions change, so look at what is currently on before you decide how long to stay.
• The historic centre, the cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Malagueta beach are all within walking distance, so it combines easily with a wider walk.

Explore it on a quest

The cube is best seen as part of a walk, not a single stop. Questo's self-guided quests lead you on foot from place to place, tell you about each one as you arrive and set a puzzle in what is in front of you, with no guide and no group to join. Browse the quests in Malaga to pick a route and discover the port area and the streets around it at your own pace.