It is one of the key cities of the region "Záhorie", between the Little Carpathians in the east and Morava River in the west and a cultural and economic hub for nearby villages such as Gajary, Kostolište, Veľké Leváre and Jakubov.

During World War II, Malacky was captured on 5 April 1945 by troops of the Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front.

The most prominent sites in Malacky include the Franciscan church of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the so-called "Palffy Palace" and the renovated synagogue.

The church includes a precise from 1653 of the so-called Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta) that Christ ascended to the Pretorium of Pilate.

Swedspan, a subsidiary of IKEA, operates a large lumber plant just south of the city.