Málaga records its highest average hotel stay of the year in August, at 2.61 days

The city recorded 421,037 hotel overnight stays in August, 3.38% more than a year earlier, with especially marked growth in international tourism, according to INE data released by the City Council.

P. Gonz. L. · Published on October 4, 2026 at 10:24

Málaga closed August with 161,541 hotel guests and 421,037 overnight stays, according to the Hotel Occupancy Survey of the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). Hotel nights grew 3.38% compared with the same month in 2025, while the number of guests fell 5.90%, which indicates that those who visit the city stay longer.

The longest stay of the year

The average stay reached 2.61 days in August, 10.13% more than a year ago and the highest monthly figure of 2026, above the 2.25 days recorded in July. The room occupancy rate stood at 90.38%, a level similar to the 90.61% of August 2025. Among international markets, the longest stays corresponded to the Netherlands, with 3.36 days, and Germany, with 3.32. They were followed by the United Kingdom, with 2.94 days; Italy, with 2.66; and the United States, with 2.44.

Foreign tourism drives the figures

In August, 111,906 foreign guests were recorded, 3.62% fewer than a year earlier, who generated 313,458 overnight stays, 11.12% more. International overnight stays accounted for about three out of every four hotel nights recorded in the city that month. The United States added 6,697 guests, 5.81% more, and 16,310 overnight stays, 12.20% more than in August 2025. The United Kingdom remained the international market with the highest volume, with 16,215 guests and 47,623 overnight stays, 28.46% more than a year earlier. Italy recorded 12,162 guests and 32,380 overnight stays, with increases of 24.24% and 27.18%, while Germany added 7,116 guests and 23,631 overnight stays. In the domestic market, August left 49,634 guests resident in Spain and 107,579 overnight stays. Andalucía was the main source region, with 21,581 guests, followed by Madrid, with 8,487; Cataluña, with 3,441; and the Comunidad Valenciana, with 2,501.

The year-to-date total also grows

Between January and August, Málaga totals 1,150,861 guests and 2,542,588 overnight stays, 3.05% more than in the same period of 2025, which is equivalent to 75,248 additional nights. In that period, 783,836 international guests have been recorded, a figure practically the same as last year's, and 1,878,935 foreign overnight stays, 9.77% more, that is, 167,253 additional international nights. In the year-to-date total, the United States reaches 56,782 guests and 127,894 overnight stays, 5.98% more. The United Kingdom adds 124,128 guests and 329,938 overnight stays, with growth of 15.06% in nights. Italy records 65,211 guests and 142,602 overnight stays, 1.89% more, and Germany reaches 68,833 guests and 165,289 overnight stays, 13.04% more. The data come from the INE Hotel Occupancy Survey, disseminated by the municipal area of Turismo y Promoción de la Ciudad.