The Automobile and Fashion Museum is Málaga's best surprise. While visitors tick off the Picasso Museum and the Pompidou, this former tobacco factory on the western edge of the old town quietly holds one of the most unusual museum experiences in Andalusia – 91 rare and vintage vehicles arranged alongside haute couture in themed rooms.
See how it fits into the city in our Málaga travel guide.
It takes about 1.5 hours, costs around €12, and almost everyone leaves having enjoyed it more than they expected.
- 0191 unique vehicles from the late 19th century to modern, shown alongside haute couture fashion.
- 02Housed in La Tabacalera, a striking 1923 tobacco factory sensitively converted into a museum.
- 03Watch the split hours – it closes 14:30–16:00, which catches visitors out.
- 04The cars-plus-fashion concept sounds gimmicky but the execution is excellent.
- 05Best as a second-day museum once you've done the Picasso and Pompidou.
What to See
The collection was assembled over decades by João Magalhães, a Portuguese businessman whose passion for automotive history runs from the late 1800s to the present. In 2021 the museum added fashion as an official second focus, and the combination works better than it sounds.
There are 91 vehicles across themed rooms – late 19th-century models rarely seen running, the flamboyant designs of the 1920s–30s, 1950s American dream cars, and a section on alternative-energy vehicles, leaning towards beauty and rarity rather than racing heritage.
The haute couture pieces from Chanel, Balenciaga, Dior and others are displayed alongside cars from the same era, so a 1930s coupé shares a room with 1930s evening gowns, and the juxtaposition makes both feel more alive. The 1923 tobacco factory is worth appreciating as architecture too, its high ceilings and natural light giving the collection space to breathe.
Tickets, Hours and Getting There
Tickets are available online with free cancellation up to 24 hours before, from around €12, with a guided-tour add-on worth considering if you want context on the cars' histories and the fashion connection. The split opening hours catch people out – it closes 14:30–16:00 – so arrive before 13:00 or after 16:00, and note the afternoon slot is quieter than the morning.
The museum is at Calle Marqués de Barzanallana 7 in the La Tabacalera building, about 15 minutes' walk west of the Picasso Museum and 10 from the Cathedral – follow Calle Álamos west from the centre. There's no on-site parking, so use Parking Alcazabilla or street parking on the western edge of the old town. Combine it with the Carmen Thyssen Museum for a full museum afternoon, both within 15 minutes' walk.
Who It's For
The museum draws a wider audience than you'd expect. Car enthusiasts get a collection strong on rare pre-war vehicles and unusual design pieces, while fashion and design fans find the haute couture rooms a genuine draw rather than a token addition, with well-executed period styling.
Families with older children do well here – the interactive sections and visual spectacle work for teenagers, though it's less suited to very young children. And for anyone who's already done the Picasso and Pompidou, it's the next best option in the city for an afternoon.
Is It Worth It?
Fit It Into Your Trip
Treat it as a second-day museum rather than a first-day must: do the Picasso and Pompidou first, then come here when you want something different from the usual circuit. Book online for the free cancellation, arrive before 13:00 or after 16:00 around the midday closure, and allow a full 1.5 hours for the themed rooms.
FAQ – Automobile Museum Málaga
Images: El Pantera / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
