Getting To Malaga

Getting to Malaga can be achieved easily by all transport methods including by air, rail and road. Malaga International Airport presents by far the easiest and most sensible travel option, whether you are outside the country or within Spain.  Also, fast trains run to the resort city from Madrid and Barcelona with coaches and buses also being frequent.  Driving here from major centres is another good option, as the major highways are direct and of good quality.

By car

Spain’s main highways are modern and well developed, and the coastal roads offer outstanding views. There are two main routes to Malaga from the big Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona: the E5 comes in from the north from Madrid, while the E15/A7 runs along the east coast from Barcelona. If you are coming from the south of Portugal in the west, the A92 and N331 provide access, while the E15 also provides access from Gibraltar. Be especially careful when driving along parts of the N340 Costa del Sol road, as it can become very congested with impatient and dangerous-driving locals.

By rail

Travelling by train in Spain is another positive alternative to flying, with regular services feeding Malaga from the capital, Madrid and from Seville and Barcelona. There are five daily trains from Madrid (four hours), while three trains connect Malaga with Seville (three hours); the journey time from Barcelona is about seven hours. Trains are run by RENFE and services are fast and efficient, particularly the Talgo 200 or high-speed AVE trains. Madrid’s southern Atocha Station feeds the south coast.

By bus

Although more affordable, travelling long distance by bus in Spain can be a drag and is often very tiring. Eurolines buses run to Madrid and on to Malaga, although journey times are typically very long. However, services to Malaga from Madrid take about six or seven hours and are run by the likes of The Daibus, while many services also arrive from Córdoba, Seville, Granada and Rhonda. The main bus station in Malaga is on Paseo de los Tilos (southwest of the city).

By air

Malaga International Airport is one of Spain’s busiest airports and a convenient port to fly into if you are staying anywhere along the Costa del Sol. Numerous daily flights arrive here from destinations across Europe as well as many daily domestic services, and public transport to Malaga and beyond is excellent. Malaga Airport is served by trains, with services going to Malaga and west along the Costa del Sol. Buses and taxis are also freely available.

By ferry

You can also get to Malaga from northern Africa by ferry from Melilla, which takes eight hours.   From mid-September to mid-June ferries run daily.  This service is operated from Monday to Saturday by Trasmediterránea.

Malaga: Airport

Malaga International Airport is an important Spanish air hub for the Costa del Sol tourist industry, handling in excess of 12 million passengers each year.  Both scheduled and charter flights come in from major cities all over Europe with some major airlines.

The airport is located to the southwest of Malaga and has two, conjoined, terminals (Domestic and International). Facilities are good and consist of cash machines, money exchange and a bank, post boxes in both terminals, a medical service and a pharmacy as well as a range of shops and restaurants throughout.

Getting to and from Malaga airport

Regular trains depart from the airport station for Malaga and the major resorts of the Costa del Sol, as far as Fuengirola, every 30 minutes throughout the day . Buses also run frequently to Malaga and other resorts, with bus number 19 departing from outside the International Terminal every 30 minutes. There is also a bus service to Marbella that departs every 45 minutes from International Arrivals and makes stops at Torremolinos and Fuengirola. Most people on hotel packages will have an airport transfer thrown in with the deal, while those travelling by taxi will have to pay an airport surcharge.

If you hire a car from the airport, take a right turn out of the airport and then a left onto Carretera de Cadiz, which runs directly into Malaga city centre. Alternatively, you can take the E15 and the A357 if the old route is busy. The N340 and the newer E15 run west along the Costa del Sol to all resorts.

The airport has short-term and long-term parking, with covered and uncovered shor-term parking situated near Terminal 1 and long-term options located outside Terminal 2. The long-term spaces can be booked online for a better price.