Twenty minutes by car from the city centre and Malagueta beach, the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport stands proudly: the largest and busiest in all Andalusia, a true crossroads for travellers arriving from all over Europe. If, after your plane has landed, you are still trying to get into the Spanish mood, Malaga is already ready to welcome you and give you a welcome to Andalusia, a land of inestimable artistic and natural heritage.
In this article you will read a series of useful information and tips on how to reach the city by air, in particular from the aiports from which low-cost flights to Malaga without stopovers are scheduled; in addition to this, we will explain how it is possible to save on tickets and on other small expenses that unexpectedly lighten the wallet: the journey from home to the airport and parking the car on site, transfers from Malaga airport to the city centre and travel insurance.
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Flights to Malaga: why land here?
Malaga, an enchanting and lively city on the Mediterranean Sea, is perhaps the most versatile of the major cities in Andalusia. In our Malaga travel guide we have repeatedly highlighted how this city hides among its streets the clues to an (at least) dual nature: not only that of a proud city, guardian of splendid architectural masterpieces of Islamic and Christian art, but also, and above all, the main gateway to the world-famous Costa del Sol, which boasts the most renowned and popular beaches of Malaga and its province, capable of attracting crowds of holidaymakers in the summer months.
By virtue of its location, Malaga is also the ideal starting point for an Andalusia itinerary along the ocean-facing side, known as the Costa de la Luz, in search of the most unspoilt beaches of Cádiz or, on the Mediterranean side, along the coast of the Costa Tropical, as far as the beaches of Almería and Cabo de Gata. It is also from Malaga that inland routes begin: let us not forget that, from here, the trip to Seville is only 124 miles, and that on the way there are many delicious detours to be made: one example? Ronda! To discover it, here is our article on the things to do in Ronda.
The available airlines for flights to Malaga
Compared with flights to Seville, Málaga offers a much wider choice of direct flights from the UK. Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is served from London as well as many other British airports, including Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, East Midlands, Belfast and Cardiff. Some routes are seasonal, so availability may vary depending on when you travel.
Here are the main airlines offering direct flights to Malaga from the UK:
- Ryanair
- easyJet
- Jet2.com
- TUI Airways
- British Airways / BA Euroflyer
- Wizz Air UK
- Vueling Airlines
There are also numerous connecting options from UK airports, usually via major European hubs such as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon or Frankfurt.
Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport
We have already touched elsewhere on the importance of this airport’s strategic location, which is just a few miles from the centre of Malaga and, to the west, from Torremolinos, the first town on the Costa del Sol, an earthly and maritime paradise for millions of tourists from all over Europe and beyond.
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport has three terminals, T1, T2 and T3, which together form a single passenger terminal complex. It is one of Spain’s busiest airports and offers an extensive network of domestic and international connections, including numerous direct flights from the UK. Check your airline or the airport information screens for the check-in area and boarding gate assigned to your flight.
Malaga Airport: how to get around the city and to the beach
If, as soon as you land, you intend to begin a tour of the holiday resorts of the Costa del Sol, a good solution is to go straight to car hire in Malaga airport. If, on the other hand, your plans include a visit to Malaga, we advise against taking the car: as in all the major cities of Andalusia, getting around the city centre by car is a task worthy of a nineteenth-century novel. Rather, it is better to rely on convenient public transport such as the taxi, the train (here, unlike in Seville, there is a dedicated station) or the bus:
- The airport railway station is located next to the terminal complex. Renfe’s C1 Cercanías line connects the airport with Málaga María Zambrano station and Málaga city centre in one direction, and with Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola in the other. The journey takes around 8 minutes to María Zambrano, 12 minutes to Málaga city centre, 18 minutes to Benalmádena and 34 minutes to Fuengirola.
- There are several bus services connecting Malaga Airport with the city and other destinations along the Costa del Sol. An express bus runs directly between the airport and Málaga city centre. There is also a particularly useful direct service to Marbella, the jewel of the Costa del Sol, famous for its beaches. Marbella is not served by the C1 train line from the airport, so the bus is one of the most convenient public transport options, as explained in our guide to visiting Marbella.
For those who do not like public transport, there are some very useful services available with private vehicle or shared shuttle: these are very convenient options, especially for those who want to get off the plane and head straight to the hotel to drop off their luggage, so they can explore the city in complete peace of mind.
Don’t forget travel insurance!
Although flights to Malaga are a short-haul journey, it may be worth considering taking out travel insurance, so that you can enjoy your holiday in peace and without the looming anxiety that something unexpected might happen. Here are some of the options available with travel insurance:
- lost luggage
- accidents
- civil liability
- cancellation of the trip
- refund in the event of an early return
- legal assistance
- departure delay of the flight
You can choose whether and how to activate your travel insurance in two ways:
- when booking your flight to Malaga, selecting the travel insurance you want and checking whether the cover offered meets your needs;
- by purchasing it from the website of a specialist agency.
Low-cost flights to Malaga: how can you save money?
Having flown to Malaga several times, I have never given up searching for the best fare on price comparison websites: in addition to the convenience of carrying out a single search that compares the offers of all the available airlines, I have always noticed the chance of saving – sometimes considerably! – on the fare, compared with buying on the official websites of the individual airlines.
Search for low-cost flights to Malaga on Skyscanner
Search for low-cost flights to Malaga on Expedia
Flight + hotel deals in Malaga: an extra money-saving opportunity
If you book a return flight from the UK to Malaga, it is also worth checking flight + hotel deals offered by airlines and online travel agencies. Booking the two together can sometimes be cheaper than arranging flights and accommodation separately. These packages are generally based on a return journey from and to the same UK airport, so check the booking conditions if you are planning to use different airports for your outbound and return flights.
Search for flight + hotel deals for Malaga
Now that you know everything about flights to Malaga, all that’s left is to book your ticket, pack your suitcase and say goodbye to your friends. Have a great trip!
