Things to know when driving Malaga Airport
Thanks to the fabulous sea and sun resorts of the Costa del Sol, Malaga is one of the world’s most popular airports for tourists. But it’s also the perfect gateway to the magical world of Andalucía, with its fantastic Moorish citadels and palaces. And if you’re here on business, Malaga Airport is the key to reaching all the important commercial centers of the region.
The city of Malaga itself is just a few minutes’ drive away and it’s easy to reach the Costa del Sol resorts like Torremolinos, which is just four miles south, and Fuengirola, 10 miles to the southwest.
You’ll find that road connections to the airport are very good, whether you’re just driving off into southern Spain or returning a car to us. There are two access roads, connecting the airport straight to trunk roads heading north into the city or south to the A-7 coastal motorway. Meanwhile, the A-45 heads inland towards the ancient city of Cordoba.
Follow the MA-20 north from the airport and you'll be in the heart of the city whereas the MA-22 is the best route to take if you're looking to explore the coastal region.
Driving around Malaga and southern Spain is generally safe and easy, and most of the road rules are very close to the rest of Europe. You’ll find that Spanish traffic drives on the right side, you mustn’t use your main beam in built-up areas and seatbelts must be worn by everyone.
The motorway speed limit is 75mph and 62mph on dual carriageways. On other roads, it is 56mph, with an unusual allowance to drive up to 68mph temporarily to overtake a slow vehicle outside built-up areas. The normal limit is 31mph in towns.
More About Traveling Malaga Airport
Malaga is a fascinating city combining the best of historic and modern day Spain, yet many visitors to the airport simply head off to seaside resorts without exploring. Whether you’re here for business or pleasure, renting a car is the perfect way of taking in the city and for touring the rest of Andalucía.
The marvels of Malaga
Malaga was lucky enough not to have a beach – so it wasn’t turned into a high-rise tourist city in the sixties. The central historical areas are untouched.
Visit the old quarter on the left bank of the Guadalmedina River, one of the most interesting parts of Southern Spain. Among the classic old buildings is a museum commemorating the birthplace of the artist Picasso, the remains of a Moorish castle and a Roman amphitheater. Best of all is the Alcazaba, a luxurious fortified Arab palace on a small hill overlooking the river.
Wander further and you’ll discover the landmarks from the Christian reconquest of Andalucía - the grand cathedral and bishop’s palace - that are both worth visiting too.
And when you’ve seen enough amazing history, fast forward to some of modern Malaga’s highlights, like the trendy tapas restaurants, pedestrianized shopping areas, and the cool modern art galleries. Look out for the cube-shaped Pompidou Center and CAC gallery, the most popular gallery in Andalucía.
Soak up some sunshine
Malaga Airport is just 80 miles from the North African coast so you can expect to find it serves a hot, dry and sunny area. The beach resorts of the Costa del Sol, the Sunshine Coast, along Spain’s south coast are some of the most popular in the Mediterranean.
To west you’ll find some of the big resorts that specialize in family fun, like Torremolinos, Fuengirola, and Estepona. Meanwhile, Marbella and Puerto Banus have developed a more up-market glossy atmosphere.
You'll find the resorts are smaller and quirkier as you head east in your rental car. Look out for Nerja, which perches on cliffs above the beaches, and Motril, which is a busy working town with good local beaches too.
The best of the rest
Drive north into picturesque hills to find the old town of Antequera, which is packed with historic churches, palaces and forts. Away from the coast, it’s not very touristy and gives visitors an easy glimpse of traditional Spanish life, with its authentic street markets, tapas bars, and little family-run restaurants.
Granada is north-east of Malaga Airport and offers one of the main inland destinations of the province. You’ll find it’s a large, lively, city in the foothills of the grand Sierra Nevada Mountains. Granada offers Andalucía’s biggest attraction: the Alhambra. This World Heritage Site is a vast Arabic hilltop citadel, with imposing fortifications, ornately decorated rooms and shady gardens.
Due north from Malaga Airport is the old capital of Spain when it was under Islamic rule. Cordoba is so full of old Moorish monuments the whole city center has been declared a World Heritage Site. The forest of striped arches in the Great Mosque is the most memorable single sight but it’s also a treat to simply wander the old streets of the center, peeping into old courtyard gardens.
