From Málaga airport to your holiday home: train, bus, taxi or car hire
Málaga airport sits right on the coast, a few kilometres from the city centre and just next door to Torremolinos. That makes arriving on the Costa del Sol unusually easy: from the moment you collect your bags, you are rarely more than an hour from your holiday home, and often much less.
The best way to get there depends on where you are staying, how much luggage you have and what time you land. Here is how the options compare, with indicative fares as of autumn 2026. Prices and timetables change, so double-check on the operator’s website just before you travel.
By train: the Cercanías C1 line
The cheapest and often quickest option for anyone staying between Málaga and Fuengirola is the local Cercanías train. The airport station is a short covered walk from Terminal 3; follow the signs for Tren. The C1 line runs in two directions: east into Málaga (María Zambrano station in around 8 minutes and Centro-Alameda in about 12), and west along the coast through Torremolinos, Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel and Los Boliches to Fuengirola, which takes around 35 minutes.
Trains run roughly every 20 minutes from early morning, around 05:30, until close to midnight. A single ticket to Málaga centre costs €1.80 and to Fuengirola around €2.70. Buy at the machines in the station, which take cards and cash, or use the Renfe app. Keep your ticket: you need it to exit at the other end.
Good to know
- C1 train: about €1.80 to Málaga centre and €2.70 to Fuengirola, roughly every 20 minutes
- Airport express bus (line A) to Málaga centre: around €4, pay by contactless card or cash
- Coaches to Marbella take about 40–45 minutes; there is no train west of Fuengirola
- Taxis are metered, with an airport supplement of €6.49 in Málaga’s 2026 tariffs
- AP-7 toll at Calahonda: €5.70 in low season, €9.25 in summer (2026)
By bus: Málaga city and further along the coast
Line A Express to Málaga centre
The EMT airport bus, line A, leaves from outside Terminal 3 arrivals and runs to the city centre via the main bus and train stations, ending near the port and Paseo del Parque. The fare is around €4, paid on board by contactless card or cash, and buses run every 20–25 minutes or so for most of the day. The journey takes 20–25 minutes in normal traffic. It is a good choice if your holiday home is near the Alameda, the port or the old town rather than close to the train stations.
Coaches to Marbella, Estepona and beyond
For Marbella, Estepona and other towns west of Fuengirola, where there is no railway, direct coaches run by Avanza leave from the bus stops outside arrivals. The trip to Marbella bus station takes around 40–45 minutes and there are many departures a day, with fares in the region of €8–12 at the time of writing. Services to Estepona are less frequent and take longer, so check the timetable in advance. To reach Nerja and the east coast, the usual route is the airport bus or train into Málaga, then an onward coach from the main bus station.
Local tip
Landing late? The last trains leave the airport before midnight, and coach services along the coast thin out in the evening. If your flight is due after about 22:30, plan on a taxi or a pre-booked transfer instead of hoping to catch the last connection.
By taxi
The official taxi rank is directly outside arrivals at Terminal 3, and there is rarely a long wait except at peak summer times. Taxis are metered and the tariffs are set by the authorities. Under Málaga city’s 2026 tariffs, journeys from the airport carry a supplement of €6.49 and a minimum fare of around €18, with higher rates at night, at weekends and on public holidays, and a small charge per suitcase in the boot.
As a rough guide, expect something like €20–30 to central Málaga or Torremolinos, €40–55 to Fuengirola, €70–95 to Marbella and €100 or more to Estepona or Nerja, depending on the time of day and exact address. Ask the driver for an estimate before you set off if you are unsure, and ask for a receipt (recibo) at the end.
Uber, Bolt and Cabify
Ride-hailing apps operate from the airport, with pick-ups from a designated area rather than the taxi rank; the app tells you where to go. Uber and Bolt have the most cars between Málaga and Fuengirola, while Cabify tends to have better coverage further west towards Marbella and Estepona. Prices are shown up front and can be cheaper than a taxi at quiet times, but surge pricing can make them more expensive at busy times. Make sure the car that arrives matches the registration in the app before you load your bags, and agree any extra stops before you set off.
Hiring a car
If you are staying in Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, the hills or the east, a car makes life much easier. Málaga airport is one of the most competitive car-hire markets in Europe, but cheap headline prices can hide costs. Some things to check before you book:
- Fuel policy: choose full-to-full, where you return the car with a full tank. Full-to-empty policies charge for a whole tank, often at an inflated price plus a service fee.
- Deposit and excess: many companies block a large deposit on a credit card, often several hundred euros or more, unless you buy their own excess cover. Check that your card has enough room and that it is a credit card if required.
- Desk location: some firms have desks in the terminal, others a shuttle bus to an off-airport depot. Allow extra time for the shuttle and queues in summer.
- Tolls: the AP-7 toll motorway west of Fuengirola is quicker than the free A-7. A car pays €5.70 at the main Calahonda toll in low season (from October) and €9.25 in summer; you can pay by card.
- Parking: ask your host if your holiday home comes with a parking space. In central Málaga, Marbella old town and Nerja, street parking is hard to find.
For holiday-home owners
Clear arrival instructions make a big difference to guests. If you rent out your home, include the nearest train station or bus stop, an indicative taxi fare and parking details in your welcome information. You can list your holiday home on Spainholiday and add this to your listing.
Guests on longer stays often skip the hire car for the first few days and rent one locally later, once they know how much they will actually drive. If you are planning a month or more on the coast, our long-term rentals include homes close to the train line, which makes life without a car much simpler.
Top photo: HrAd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is the train from Málaga airport to Málaga centre?
A single ticket on the Cercanías C1 line costs €1.80 to Málaga Centro-Alameda at the time of writing, and the journey takes about 12 minutes.
Is there a train from Málaga airport to Marbella?
No. The railway ends at Fuengirola. To reach Marbella, take a direct coach from outside arrivals, a taxi, a ride-hailing app or a hire car.
How much does a taxi from Málaga airport to Fuengirola cost?
Expect roughly €40–55 as of autumn 2026, depending on the time of day and exact address. Taxis are metered and include an airport supplement.
Can I use Uber at Málaga airport?
Yes. Uber, Bolt and Cabify all pick up at Málaga airport from a designated area, which the app shows you when you book.
What time does the last train leave Málaga airport?
Trains run until close to midnight, but exact times vary by timetable. If you land late in the evening, check the Renfe timetable or plan on a taxi.
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