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Málaga Travel Guide
Málaga is a city in southern Spain and is the gateway to the Costa del Sol - one of the most popular holiday regions in Spain.
What you'll find in this guide:
Practical Information
Getting to Málaga
Getting around Málaga
Top things to do in Málaga
Where to go in the Costa del Sol
Current testing requirements
Practical Info
GMT +1
Euro EUR
Spanish
Type C and F
Avg 2 hrs 50 minutes
Málaga is often seen as the gateway to the Costa del Sol, with tourists heading off to popular destinations like Nerja, Marbella, Torremolinos and Fuengirola. But it's worth taking the time to explore the city itself, as it's fast becoming a rich culture hub with a great culinary scene, fantastic art galleries and interesting historical sites to explore.
TopGetting to Málaga
Which UK airports fly direct to Malaga?
There are lots of options for flying to Malaga - with direct flights from Stansted, Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, London City, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast and Bristol. Most flights are operated by easyJet, Ryanair or British Airways and prices start around £25.
Flights arrive at Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport which is around 5 miles outside of Málaga itself.
Getting to Málaga from the airport
If you're planning on staying in the city there are a few ways to get there from the airport:
- Bus - the A Express Line takes around 15 minutes to get downtown and it runs every 25 minutes from 7am to midnight. It costs 4EUR and only cash is accepted.
- Train - the C1 rail line will take you from the airport to downtown in 12 minutes as well as other stations on the Costa del Sol.
- Private transfer - book a private transfer and you'll be taken straight from the airport to your accomodation.
- Taxi - taxis can be picked up outside arrivals at Terminal 3. They'll take around 20 minutes to get downtown and the minimum airport fare is 17EUR.
Getting to the Costa del Sol from Málaga airport
The easiest way to get around the Costa del Sol is by hiring a car - you'll get the freedom to explore without having to rely on public transport.
Getting around Málaga
Málaga Airport Transfers
Book and save with low cost transfers from Malaga Airport, with prices starting from under £6.00 with FREE cancellations up to 3 days before departure.
Málaga Car Hire
Pre-book your Málaga Airport car hire, with prices starting from just £3.61 per day with FREE cancellations*
Current testing requirements for Spain
- Vaccinated adults admitted with proof of vaccination
- Unvaccinated adults only admitted with proof of recovery
- 12-17-year-olds admitted with negative PCR test
Top things to do in Málaga
Picasso Museum Málaga
Málaga is the birthplace of the famous artist Pablo Picasso and you can learn all about his art and life at the Picasso Museum where there are over 285 works donated by Picasso's family. Standard entrance is 9EUR and those under 16 go free.
Alcazaba
The Alcazaba is a palatial fortification overlooking the city. It's been inhabited by a number of ancient civilisations like the Phoenicians, but most prominently by the Romans - there's Roman ampitheatre right next to the palace.
Centre Pompidou Málaga
Easily recognised as the colourful glass cube, the Centre Pompidou is a branch of the more famous Centre Pompidou found in Paris. Recently they've also made an awesome online escape room that you can take part in on their website.
Where to go in the Costa del Sol
Nerja
Nerja is one of the most popular destinations in the Costa del Sol with lots of excellent beaches to choose from and plenty of amenities to keep you fed and watered. In Nerja you'll find the famous Plaza Balcón de Europa (the Balcony of Europe) set on the cliffside overlooking the sea below - check out the local stalls and treat yourself an ice cream to watch the sunset with.
Just outside of the town are the Caves of Nerja, a 5km stretch of caves that are one of the most popular tourist sites in all of Spain. If you time it right you can even see a concert held inside the natural amphitheatre of the caves.
Marbella
Marbella is perhaps the most 'upmarket' of towns in the Costa del Sol - think luxury yachts and boutiques. If you're looking for beach resorts, nightclubs and luxury then Marbella is the place to be. If you want to hang out on the sand head to Bounty Beach, where you'll find chilled tunes and beachside bars - it's a popular spot among the locals and has a younger crowd.
Away from the beach resorts there's a beautiful old town to explore - head to Plaza de los Naranjos and cool off next to the fountain.
Make sure you pack your golf gear if you're a golf enthusiast as there are plenty of golf clubs to choose from including La Quinta Golf & Country Club with its 27-hole course.
Torremolinos
If you're taking the whole family to the Costa del Sol then you might want to base yourself around Torremolinos as there are plenty of things to keep the kids entertained. Crocodile Park, Selwo Marina and Aqualand are the main attractions for kids and there are lots of excellent beaches to choose from too.
Fuengirola
A short drive from Torremolinos is Fuengirola, another excellent town for families. Days out include Bioparc Fuengirola, Aquamijas, CostaWaterPark and Sould Park Fuengirola.
Mijas
Mijas is split into two main areas to visit - Mijas Costa and Mijas Pueblo. Mijas Costa is the main commercial and residential area popular with ex-pats. The much more charming part of Mijas is Mijas Pueblo which is a whitewashed hillside village. Here you'll find picturesque streets with art galleries, museums and plenty of historic buildings to explore.
If you happen to be there on the 5th January you can catch the cabalgata and see the Three Kings parade through the streets on colourful floats.
Frigiliana
Found on the slopes of Sierra de Almijara, Frigiliana was voted the most beautiful village in Andalucia. This Moorish village has the winding cobbled streets we come to expect of quaint Spanish villages. Look for the iconic white walls adorned with colourful pots, vases and mosaics - it's a great place to simply wander and see what you find.
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