Malaga Airport is the main gateway to the Costa del Sol and Andalucia, one of the most popular areas in the South of Spain. There are also many travellers who come to Malaga on a winter sun break, for a few days, to enjoy the sunshine and the mild temperatures. Getting from Malaga Airport to Malaga is very easy as the airport is located just outside of the city.
How Far is Malaga Airport from Malaga?
Malaga Airport is located 8 kilometres away from the city centre. The airport is very well connected to the city both by public and private transport. There are taxis available at any time of the day or night, a fast, direct train, as well as an airport bus.
It is important to know that the bus station in Malaga is outside of the city centre and, if you are travelling with luggage, the best option is a taxi. The terminus for the C1 train is a little closer, but still on the other side of the river leaving you with a 15-20 minute walk to reach the centre.
Another thing that you should know is that most of Malaga old town is a pedestrian only zone, so keep this in mind when you choose a hotel if you are travelling with heavy luggage.
How to Get from Malaga Airport to Malaga?
By Taxi
The easiest way to get to Malaga from Malaga Airport is by taxi. You will find the taxi rank just outside of the arrivals terminal. The taxis are regulated and metered, with a fare into the city centre costing around 20 euros. You should be mindful that Taxis have day and night tariffs, with an extra supplement added to the trip. Also, you will be charged an extra fee if you have a lot of luggage or pets.
The two taxi companies that operate at Malaga Airport are Taxi Union and Unitaxi. You will recognise the cars by their colour: white, with a blue stripe on them.
The journey time into Malaga city centre should take around 15-20 minutes, assuming there is no heavy traffic.
By Private Transfer
Another convenient option to travel between Malaga Airport and Malaga city centre is by private transfer. This is a great choice if you are travelling with family or a larger group of friends, as well as if you have a lot of luggage.
Compared with a taxi, the private transfer will wait for you in the arrivals hall with a tablet or greeting card with your name on it. They usually use mini vans which can fit a much larger number of people than the taxis. They also have no extra charges for luggage and fees are fixed regardless of the time of day.
If you book a shared transfer, the meeting point is on the left hand side, in the newly opened car park, as you exit the arrivals terminal.
A fare for a transfer will cost you around 30 euros for a minibus, 25 euros for a standard car, and 15 euros for a shared shuttle.
You can click here to compare prices and options for private transfers.
By C1 Train
The C1 (Cercanias) urban train is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to travel from Malaga Airport to Malaga city centre. The train provides a direct link to Malaga from the airport, stopping along the way to other areas in the city such as Guadalhorce, Victoria Kent, Maria Zambrano bus and train station, and Centro Alameda – which is the last stop. A ticket from the airport to the city centre costs 1,80 euros and can be purchased at one of the machines at the station. The machines are very easy to use, are multi language including English, and accept both cash and card. Make sure to keep the ticket, as you will need it to exit the barriers at your destination. Recently, you can also tap in and tap off if you have a contactless card, so you can skip the queues at the ticket machines.
The C1 train station is very easy to find at the Malaga Airport. Simply exit the airport through the arrivals gate and walk straight, passing underneath the bridge to the parking, and leaving the taxi ranks behind you. The last building you will reach is the train station, which is in the underground.
The train journey between the Malaga Airport and Malaga Centro Alameda is less than 15 minutes. You can check the schedule of the C1 by clicking here – Note: the train doesn’t run at night.
By Bus
The Linea A bus is run by EMT, the local public transport company in Malaga. It connects the Malaga Airport to the city centre 24 hours during the high season, which makes it a great option if your flight lands late at night, and you are travelling on a budget.
The bus stops at 10 different places between the airport and its final destination which is Plaza del General Torrijos, near the seafront of the city.
The bus is also a great option as well if you want to travel beyond the Maria Zambrano train and bus terminals, and actually reach the city centre by public transport.
You can find the map of the route as well as the timetable, by clicking here. The bus runs every 30-40 minutes during the day time, and the ride from the airport into town takes around 20-35 minutes. The fare is 4 euros each way, which you can pay directly to the driver in cash or by card.
The bus station is located in front of the arrivals terminal.
Uber on Costa del Sol
Uber is not a popular choice for travelling around the South of Spain. It has not been welcomed by the local taxi driver and it only has a limited licence in the region. There are also very few licences given to Uber drivers, only a couple of hundred that operate on the entire Costa del Sol, so the chances of catching a cheap Uber to the airport are very slim.
Hiring a Car?
If you plan to explore more of Andalucia and not just stay in Malaga, I highly recommend hiring a car. Whilst the public transport connecting the larger cities in Andalucia is great, if you want to visit the famous white villages or other places in the countryside, you will need a car.
There are plenty of places to hire a car at Malaga Airport, with all the major rental companies having desks here. If you travel to Malaga during the high season, I highly recommend booking your car in advance, as in summer there are very few cars left and the prices sometimes double. Also, don’t believe those offers that advertise car hire for 2 euros a day – these are very misleading. Once you get to the desk, you’ll be required to pay a substantial deposit against potential damages or they will push you into buying their insurance which will increase the price to around 20 euros a day. I always hire cars through Holiday Extras because I can see all costs upfront, as well as buy the extra insurance for a fraction of the price offered by the desks at the airport and after I land, all I have to do is go pick up the car.
Click here to compare different prices for car hire at Malaga Airport.
You can also read my guide on hiring a car at Malaga Airport by clicking here.
For more Airport travel guides, check out the articles below:
- How to get from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola
- How to get from Sevilla Airport to Sevilla
- How to get from Granada Airport to Granada
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