A Unique Blend of Automotive History and Fashion
Nestled in an emblematic building on the western side of Málaga, the Automobile and Fashion Museum (Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda de Málaga) stands as one of the Costa del Sol's most distinctive cultural attractions.
This extraordinary museum offers visitors a fascinating journey through the artistic and historical evolution of automobiles from the late 19th century to the present day, all while showcasing the intimate relationship between automotive design and haute couture fashion throughout the decades.
A Remarkable History
The idea for the museum first emerged in 2007, with construction beginning in 2008 in the historic "La Tabacalera" building—Málaga's former Royal Tobacco Factory that dates back to 1927. After meticulous renovation led by architect Carolina Serrano, the museum was officially inaugurated on September 16, 2010, initially as the Automobile Museum of Málaga. In 2021, it was rebranded as the Automobile and Fashion Museum, reflecting its expanded focus on the parallel evolution of automotive design and fashion.
The museum houses the extraordinary private collection of Portuguese entrepreneur and car enthusiast João Manuel Magalhaes. Valued at approximately 25 million euros, this collection ranks among the most important vintage automobile collections in the world, featuring vehicles that span more than a century of automotive innovation.
La Tabacalera building itself adds an extra layer of historical significance to the museum experience. Constructed in Málaga's Huelin district when the province's wealthiest families were establishing factories and workshops in the area, this architectural gem has been thoughtfully transformed into a 6,000-square-meter exhibition space. Its high ceilings and distinctive long, narrow windows create the perfect atmosphere, allowing shafts of natural light to dance across the impeccably polished surfaces of the vintage vehicles.
What to See: A Journey Through Automotive History and Fashion
The museum offers an immersive experience through 13 thematic rooms, each dedicated to a different era or aspect of automotive design and fashion. Visitors can explore halls such as Belle Époque, Años 20 (1920s), Art Decó, Coches Populares (Popular Cars), Años 30 (1930s), Años 50 (1950s), The Fashion Corner, Coches de Diseño (Design Cars), Coches de Sueño (Dream Cars), Tradición Inglesa (English Tradition), Energías Alternativas (Alternative Energies), Sala de Motores (Engine Room), and Tuning.
The automotive collection features nearly 100 exclusive vehicles meticulously restored to the highest standards. The exhibition begins with models from the late 19th century—the earliest resembling a horse-drawn carriage with a small motor—and advances through the decades with renowned marques including Mercedes, Hispano Suiza, Bugatti, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Jaguar, and many others. Some standout examples include a 1898 Winner, steam-powered cars from 1910, an extraordinary airplane-car from 1932, and even a solar-powered "spaceship" vehicle from 2009.
What sets this collection apart isn't just the vehicles themselves but their extraordinary craftsmanship and unique design elements. Many feature luxurious details such as ostrich or mink fur upholstery, dashboards crafted from mother-of-pearl, handles made of ivory and silver, and exotic custom engines. Particularly notable is the "jetset car," a black Rolls-Royce customized with Swarovski crystals that exemplifies the "Tuning" section of the museum.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate the museum's emphasis on the car as an art form. The collection includes models customized by famous artists, such as a 1920 Unic designed in the style of Sonia Delaunay, the French-Ukrainian artist who was a pioneer in the art of automobile customization, creating bold, colorful designs inspired by cubism for brands like BMW, Renault, and Bugatti.
The Fashion Connection
What truly distinguishes this museum from other automotive collections is its extensive fashion component. The museum houses over 300 vintage hats from the 1920s through the 1950s—the golden age of hat wearing—created by legendary fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, and Balmain. Among these treasures is even a replica of Salvador Dalí's famous shoe hat, a surrealist masterpiece that blurred the line between fashion and art.
Through the "Maga Sublime Collection," visitors can witness the evolution of Haute Couture throughout the 20th century across seven engaging exhibitions: "From Mariano Fortuny to Galliano," "Trilogy," "The Cocktail of the Forest," the extensive vintage hat collection "From Balenciaga to Schiaparelli," "Fashion Victim," "Apotheosis," and "Too Much is Never Enough." In total, more than 200 Haute Couture pieces complement the automotive displays, creating a unique dialogue between these two expressions of design excellence.
The fashion displays are enhanced by period travel accessories, including antique leather suitcases and trunks that evoke the glamour of early 20th-century travel. This clever curation helps visitors understand how automotive design and fashion evolved in tandem, reflecting the changing aesthetics and cultural values of each era.
Contemporary Art and Special Features
Beyond cars and fashion, the museum showcases contemporary art installations created from automotive parts and components. The "Engine Gallery" (La Galería de los Motores) features 15 decorated engines, each embodying themes relevant to their models or eras. Some are adorned with Swarovski crystals or thousands of tiny mirrors, transforming functional machinery into stunning works of art.
The exterior of the museum is also decorated with sculptures crafted from various car parts, further emphasizing the creative intersection of art and automotive engineering. This artistic approach extends throughout the museum, which deliberately plays music from different eras to complement the exhibits, enhancing the immersive experience for visitors.
A relatively recent addition to the museum is the EcoMuseum section, dedicated to raising awareness about sustainability and green energy. Here, visitors can see pioneering alternative energy vehicles, including a steam car designed in 1910, what is presented as the world's first electric car built in 1916, and several futuristic prototypes powered by alternative energy sources like hydrogen.
Practical Information: Location and How to Get There
The Automobile and Fashion Museum is located at Avenida Sor Teresa Prat, 15, 29003 Málaga, in the building known as "La Tabacalera." While it's situated slightly away from the city center in the Huelin neighborhood, it's easily accessible by several transportation options.
By public transport, visitors can take bus numbers 15 or 16 from the city center to the "Avda. Sor Teresa Prat (Tabacalera)" stop, which leaves you directly in front of the museum. Alternatively, the Green Route of the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus includes a stop at the museum. This mini-bus departs from the María Zambrano train station and can be used either with a full City Sightseeing ticket or separately for just €1.30 for a single journey.
Those coming by metro can take Line 2 to Princesa-Huelin station, which is approximately a 400-meter walk from the museum. For visitors arriving by car, there is free parking available at the museum for the duration of your visit, which is a significant advantage in a city where parking can be challenging.
Another pleasant option in good weather is to walk along the Misericordia beach promenade from the city center, which takes about 40 minutes but offers lovely sea views and the opportunity to stop at one of the many beach bars (chiringuitos) along the way.
For an exact location, you can view the museum on Google Maps: Museo Automovilístico y de la Moda de Málaga
Opening Hours and Admission
The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00. It is closed on December 25th and January 1st, while on December 24th and 31st, it opens only from 10:00 to 14:30. The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum's closing time.
Admission prices are as follows:
- General admission: €10
- Reduced price (students, seniors over 65, and special protection groups): €8
- School visits: €4
- Guided tours: €12 (reservation required)
- Free entry: Children under 5 years old and journalists with professional ID
Special prices are available for groups, guided tours, and school visits with prior reservation by contacting
Beyond the Museum: A Cultural Hub
The Automobile and Fashion Museum was conceived not just as a display space but as a comprehensive cultural and leisure venue. Beyond its permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly hosts fashion shows, concerts, and various types of workshops, many of which are free to attend. These events enhance the museum's role as a vibrant contributor to Málaga's cultural landscape.
For those planning a full day of cultural exploration, the museum shares its location with the Russian Museum of St. Petersburg, housed in another part of the same La Tabacalera complex. This proximity makes it convenient to visit both museums in one outing, though visitors should be aware that seeing both thoroughly might require more than two hours.
The surrounding Huelin neighborhood also offers attractions worth exploring, including the lively Parque del Oeste with its mini zoo, and numerous authentic local restaurants and cafés that provide a taste of everyday life in Málaga away from the more tourist-oriented city center.
A Unique Experience for All
What makes the Automobile and Fashion Museum truly special is how it transforms what could be a narrowly focused car collection into a multifaceted cultural experience. By placing automotive design within its broader historical and artistic context—and particularly by highlighting its relationship with fashion—the museum creates an engaging environment that appeals to visitors with diverse interests.
Car enthusiasts will naturally be drawn to the exceptional vehicles on display, many of which are rare or unique specimens that can't be seen elsewhere. Fashion aficionados will find the haute couture exhibits equally compelling, with pieces from legendary designers spanning several defining eras of 20th-century style. Art lovers will appreciate both the customized vehicles and the contemporary art installations that repurpose automotive components in creative ways.
Even visitors without specific interest in cars or fashion typically find themselves captivated by the museum's aesthetic approach and the stories it tells about how design, technology, and culture have evolved together over more than a century. The museum accomplishes what the best cultural institutions strive for: it educates and enlightens while also providing a genuinely enjoyable experience.
The Automobile and Fashion Museum stands as a testament to human creativity and innovation, showcasing not just the technical evolution of the automobile but how these machines have been integrated into our cultural identity and aesthetic sensibilities. In doing so, it offers a uniquely enriching perspective on the history of design and its ongoing impact on our daily lives and aspirations.
For anyone visiting Málaga, whether for a brief stay or an extended holiday on the Costa del Sol, the Automobile and Fashion Museum represents an opportunity to experience something truly distinctive—a world-class collection that celebrates the artistry of mechanical engineering and haute couture in equal measure, all housed in a historical building that tells its own story of Málaga's industrial heritage.