Getting To Benalmadena

Benalmadena is well supplied by all forms of public transport options, with an international airport only a few miles away, and a train station. The best way to get here is without doubt by plane, as Benalmadena is on the south coast of Spain and a long way from anywhere. Getting here by train is also made easy by the many high-speed services that run to nearby Malaga from Madrid, while long-distance buses also run to Malaga. Major roads converge on the region and travelling up and down the coast is made easy by the E15 motorway and popular rail services.

By car

Benalmadena is straightforward to get to from Spains major centres owing to the excellent motorway network. You will need to go to Malaga on both main routes from Madrid and Barcelona. The E5, E902, A359, and the E15 provide access from Madrid, while the E15 (A7) runs all the way from Barcelona, through Malaga and onto Benalmadena. It is about a 6-hour drive from Madrid and around 10 hours from Barcelona. Seville is 2 to 3 hours away to the northwest. The N340 Costa del Sol coastal road is a dangerous stretch of highway and visitors should pay special attention when driving on this route in the busy summer season.

By rail

Getting to Benalmadena from major Spanish centres is straightforward and is actually more attractive than driving. High-speed Talgo 200 trains run from Madrids southern Atocha Station to Malaga several times per day and although they are the most expensive option, the trains are very fast. You can be in Malaga in just a few hours after leaving Madrid, from where you can connect to a standard service, which plys the coastal railway to Benalmadena.

By bus

The Estacion sur de Autobuses is located just south of Madrid city centre and Atocha Station and several bus companies run to Malaga, from where other bus services and trains run to Benalmadena. The journey time to Malaga is 6 or 7 hours and one of the main providers is Daibus, with several daily departures. Buses also arrive in Malaga from Barcelona, Crdoba, Seville and Granada, while Eurolines coaches serve Madrid from major European centres. Malagas main bus station is on Paseo de los Tilos in the southwest of the city and services run all day to Benalmadena and beyond.

By air

At least 10 million passengers fly into and out of Malaga International Airport every year. It is a very busy airport and is served by many major international scheduled and charter airlines. The airport is located five miles to the southwest of Malaga on the N340 coastal highway and boasts a railway station with links to Malaga city centre and Benalmadena.

The airport has two terminals which are connected to one another and are well served with good passenger services and facilities. Essential passenger facilities include cash machines, post boxes and a bank in Terminal 2, while numerous bars and restaurants throughout the terminals as well as duty-free outlets are also available.

Drivers can take the N340 direct to Benalmadena from the airport and be at the resort town in about 15 or 20 minutes. Trains run to Malaga and Benalmadena every 30 minutes from about 07:00 to midnight, while local buses also depart the airport every 30 minutes. Tourist shuttle buses operate to the resort and many visitors with holidays booked as part of a package will invariably have their airport transfers thrown in at no extra cost.

For faster access to Benalmadena from Malaga Airport, taxis leave from outside both terminals throughout the day and can be there within minutes. Airport charges apply to passengers being picked up from the airport and there may also be extra charges for additional luggage and passengers.

Taxis

Although both Benalmadena Pueblo and Benalmadena Costa are compact, they are about three miles apart and a fair walk from one another. Taxis are available for transfers between the two and are fairly reasonably-priced. The taxis are denoted by a green light on the roof, which lets you know if they are available; much the same as in Malaga.