How To Get From Malaga Airport To Fuengirola
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If you’re travelling to the Spanish town of Fuengirola from outside of mainland Spain then it’s highly likely you’ll fly into Malaga Airport.
The best way to travel the 23km west to Fuengirola from Malaga Airport is in a taxi or an Uber as it’s direct. The journey takes between 20 and 30 minutes and roughly costs between €30 and €50. However, if you’re on a budget or travelling solo you may want to consider public transport instead.
There are a number of more affordable public transport options to choose from when it comes to making the journey from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola including the Renfe C1 train and a shuttle bus.
Taxi
⏱️ Time: 30 mins
💵 Cost: €30 – €50
💻 Reserve Taxi: Hoppa
The quickest and easiest way to get from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola is by taxi since a taxi is able to pick you up just outside of the airport terminal and drop you off right outside your accommodation in Fuengirola.
Fuengirola is situated 23km west of Malaga and the AP-7 highway connects the two locations meaning that the journey should only take between 20 – 30 minutes depending on traffic.
There are three ways you can get a taxi from Malaga Airport;
- From the taxi rank
- Using Uber
- Using Bolt
The taxi rank at Malaga Airport is located outside of the arrivals terminal and is clearly signposted both inside and outside of the building.
With a traditional taxi, you’ll be paying for the journey based on a pre-set metered rate, therefore the driver will not be able to provide you with the exact cost of the journey in advance.
Although an estimate based on my first-hand experience, is between €30 and €50 one-way depending on the time of day you travel (travelling at night for example is more expensive) and the size of vehicle you require.
Alternatively, you can use the ride-sharing service Uber which has a dedicated pick-up point just outside the arrivals terminal which is once again heavily sign-posted both inside and outside of the building.
Bolt, an Uber competitor is also available in Malaga. However, unlike in other countries where both services operate I found that the availability and price on both platforms was incredibly similar. Therefore I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to download and set-up the Bolt mobile application if you already have Uber available.
The pricing model of Uber differs from that of a traditional taxi in that the price is dynamic based on the demand for the service in the area at that time. However, in contrast, you can see the exact cost of the journey in advance for the type of vehicle that you require.
If you are planning on using Uber to travel from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola then I highly suggest downloading the Uber application and creating a profile in advance so that all you need to do once you collect your luggage is select your ride vehicle.
The price difference between Uber and a traditional taxi should be no more than €5. Therefore when choosing between an Uber and a traditional taxi, it’s really about which service is most convenient for you.
Train
⏱️ Time: 35 mins
💵 Cost: €2.70
💻 Buy Tickets: Omio
Malaga Airport train station is situated just outside of the airport terminal and is well-signposted both inside and outside of the building. From this station, you can take the Renfe C1 train to Fuengirola in just 34 minutes at a cost of €2.70.
Tickets for the train can be purchased from the ticket machines just inside the station. However, depending on your arrival time in Malaga you may find that the machines are incredibly busy and in that case, you can use your bank card to tap and go through the entrance gates at Malaga Airport station and again as you exit at Fuengirola station.
Be sure that you tap in and out of the stations correctly to avoid being overcharged and double-check that your bank has a favourable exchange rate and charges zero commission on international spending.
Trains from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola station start at 05:32 and end at 23:42. Between the hours of 07:02 and 21:42 there are 3 trains every hour. They are every 20 minutes at 02, 22 and 42.
The train between Malaga Airport and Fuengirola station will call at;
- Plaza Mayor
- Los Alamos
- La Colina
- Torremolinos
- Montemar
- El Pinillo
- Benalmadena Arroyo de la Miel
- Torremuelle
- Carvajal
- Torreblanca
- Los Boliches
- Fuengirola
Keep in mind that once you arrive at Fuengirola station you’ll still need to travel to your accommodation. If you have a large amount of luggage this may require you to get a taxi which should cost a couple of Euros. Alternatively, if you’re travelling light, are in good physical condition and have booked accommodation central to the town then you should be able to walk instead.
Hire Car
⏱️ Time: 30 mins
💵 Cost: €30 per day (hire car only)
💻 Book Hire Car: Discover Cars
If you’re looking to explore the Costa Del Sol during your trip to Fuengirola then it may be a good idea to hire a car since it will provide you with a lot of flexibility and likely work out to be a cost-effective transport method over the long term.
If you decide that renting a car is right for you then I recommend picking the car up from Malaga Airport and then driving it to your accommodation in Fuengirola.
Best Place To Rent A Car In Malaga
Discover Cars compares car rental deals from more than 500 partners so that you can choose which is best for your trip.
The best way to rent a car in the Costa Del Sol region is to book online since you’re able to compare the different car hire companies and cars available to find the right option for your needs.
Once you’ve booked your hire car you’ll want to go and check in with the company and pick up the keys to your vehicle from the car hire desk at the airport upon your arrival.
All of the car hire companies operating from Malaga Airport are located on the lower level of the terminal, meaning you’ll need to take an elevator from the baggage claims area down to level -1 (again this is well sign posted inside the terminal).
Make sure you arrive at Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport with plenty of time to drop off your hire car and check-in for your flight, drop your bags and go through security.
The cost of hiring a car from Malaga Airport varies significantly depending on the company and the type of vehicle you select.
However, the cost of the vehicle isn’t the only thing you want to consider, you’ll also want to think about petrol / gas and the cost of parking, especially at your accommodation (luxury hotels in the region have been known to charge up to €35 a night for parking).
Subsequently, if you don’t plan to explore more of the Costa Del Sol region during your trip to Fuengirola then it’s likely a hire car is an unnecessary expense and instead, I’d recommend taking a taxi from the airport to the town instead.
Private Airport Transfer
⏱️ Time: 60 mins
💵 Cost: €15
💻 Reserve Transfer: Hoppa
While there is no public bus between Malaga Airport and Fuengirola there are a number of shuttle buses available between the two locations.
If you have booked to stay in Fuengirola as part of a holiday package with the likes of Tui and Jet2 then it’s likely your shuttle bus from the airport direct to your hotel will be included as part of your package.
In that case, you’ll want to check the booking documents you have received to see if you have been provided with any transfer information. If you are unsure I recommend speaking directly to a travel agent from the company either in person where applicable or over the phone.
Alternatively, if you haven’t booked a package holiday but would still like to take a bus from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola then I recommend booking via Hoppa which is a third-party comparison platform, think of it like Skyscanner but for domestic transport.
Using Hoppa you can choose from several different shuttle bus companies operating between Malaga Airport and Fuengirola and choose the service that best suits your needs based on the price, reviews etc.
The price of a shuttle is done on a per-person basis, which means that if you’re travelling as a group of three or more then the cost of a taxi is likely cheaper – not to mention more direct.
However, keep in mind when taking a shuttle bus from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola you may be required to stop at several locations for other passengers during your journey. Subsequently, while the direct journey should only take between 20 and 30 minutes depending on traffic a shuttle could easily take upwards of one hour.
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