Malaga’s airport (AGP) is officially called Malaga – Costa del Sol Airport and is located 10 km south of the city center. To get from the airport to downtown, there are several options:
Train is the cheapest way to travel between Malaga and the airport. The commuter train line C1 connects Malaga’s Maria Zambrano train station with the airport in 10 min. It also makes a second stop in Malaga’s center (station Malaga Centro – Alameda).
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The train runs everyday from 6:44 am til 0:24am (airpot to Malaga) and from 5:20 am til 11:30 pm (Malaga to airport). One ticket costs 1.80€ and there is one train every 20 min.
This same train line also links the airport with other coastal towns, such as: Torremolinos in 10 min, Benalmadena in 18 min and Fuengirola in 34 min.
For more information on the commuter train line C1 check out Renfe’s website.
The bus line A Express Aeropuerto links Malaga’s center with the airport 24 hours per day. There is one bus every 20 – 25 min from 6:30 am til midnight (less frequent over night). The trip lasts anywhere between 20 and 30 min depending on your exact stop and the time of the day (due to traffic).
Most interesting to visitors are probably the stops at Paseo del Parque (3 min walk from the cathedral) and Alameda Principal (3 min walk from Calle Larios). It also stops at both the bus and train stations. One ticket costs 3 €.
There are also several buses linking Malaga’s airport with other towns along the Costa del Sol such as:
Taxi is a very convenient way to get from Malaga’s airport to downtown. The ride takes about 20 minutes and you can expect to pay around 20€.
Note that in Spain, when you call for a taxi, you are charged extra for the journey of the taxi to the pick up point.
As with taxis, the trip from the airport to the city center by car takes about 20 minutes.
Keep in mind that although it is very easy to travel by car in between cities in Andalusia, getting into Malaga’s city center can be stressful. The old town is made up by narrow one way streets and there seems to always be some type of construction going on in the area resulting in streets being closed to traffic.
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Although there are several parkings in the old town, during peak times (weekends, holidays, etc.) they can get full. It is recommended to be prepared by having looked up more than one parking garage prior to your arrival. Or, even better, book a hotel with parking. Expect to pay around 20€ per day for parking.
If you are not planning to get out of the city, however, you will probably not need/want a car during your stay in Malaga. Using taxis and/or public transport will end up being a cheaper option, since you will save money on parking and gas. Our recommendation would be not to rent a car on arrival and only do it when you are leaving the city.
Having a car in Andalusia gives you quite a bit of freedom while making the most of your time. There are many rental car companies operating at Malaga’s airport and the Maria Zambrano train station, both international and local.
Generally speaking, rental cars are quite affordable in the region and the roads are in good condition. To find the best deals on rental cars, we recommend Discover Cars, which searches through the web for the best prices.
Uber is operating in Malaga. However, there are not that many drivers which can mean long waiting times. You will usually save a little bit in comparison to taxis, but it might not be worth the wait.
There are several transfer companies offering both private and shared transfers between the airport and the city center. You can find a list of options here.
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