Cheap flights to Malaga from EUR24*

Malaga offers you a city break full of art and history, plus beaches, great food and nightlife. After all, this is Picasso’s hometown, famous over the centuries for its art and architecture both highbrow and innovative. It’s also a port city with beaches right in the centre, home to world-class shopping promenades, and gateway to Spain’s renowned Costa del Sol.

 

A holiday of art and sun

Malaga is both energising and relaxing as you encounter quiet museums housed in palaces, join the crowds strolling pedestrian promenades, enjoy an espresso at a café at portside, or delve into the city’s Roman, Moorish or modern sides. Then there’s the entire Costa del Sol to explore – beach after beach, resort towns and fishing villages, mountain hikes and water sports.

 

Art and history through the ages

For fantastic vistas of Malaga and the Mediterranean, climb up to Gibralfaro Castle. These towers were built to protect the Alcazaba, the palatial 11th-century Moorish citadel that you can visit next. Then go back further in time to the Roman amphitheatre, from the 1st century. Back down in the centre, peek into Málaga Cathedral, then set the Picasso Museum, housed in the 16th-century Buenavista Palace, as your destination. The museum has almost 300 works by the Malagueño artist, and true fans can also have a nose around his childhood home. Then take a stroll in the Moorish neighbourhood, with the charming Pasaje de Chinitas and other narrow streets. If you’re an art lover, don’t miss the Carmen Thyssen Museum, a vast collection of Spanish painting in a 16th-century palace. Closer to the water stands the Pompidou Centre, a colourful branch of the Paris favourite, with works by such modern masters as Kahlo, Bacon, Magritte and Miró. But you’re probably in aálaga to enjoy the sun and sea, so start your Costa del Sol holiday at Playa de la Malagueta, the city's main beach.

 

Top-notch tapas and seafood

Malaga is home to several Michelin-lauded restaurants, including José Carlos García, with imaginative seafood dishes in an airy modern setting overlooking the marina. For more casual seaside dining, head to the Playa de Pedregalejo, a beach lined with restaurants frying up some of the best seafood in the city, or the classic El Balneario de los Baños del Carmen, where you can pretend you’re a bourgeois holidaymaker in 1918. In the old town, try Tapeo de Cervantes, or El Mesón de Cervantes – same owner, same awesome tapas. Uvedoble Taberna offers a nuevo twist on tapas, or perhaps you prefer La Tranca, for tapas at a friendly price. Other options include Al Yamal, offering authentic Moroccan food, and Óleo, which serves up unusual Mediterranean-Japanese fusion food in a minimalist setting at Malaga’s contemporary art gallery, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo.

 

Shopping promenade and scenic bars

Calle Larios is the quintessential Malagueña street fringed with 19th-century buildings, housing the biggest international shops, cafés, restaurants and small boutiques. Gauzy white cloth covers part of this pedestrianised promenade, taking the sting out of the sun in summer, and in winter, sparkly lights link the buildings, forming a holiday arcade. For more outdoor shopping and strolling, walk the Palmeral de las Sorpresas (that’s right, the Palm Grove of Surprises) along the seaside to the Muelle Uno centre of shops, restaurants, craft markets, art exhibitions, and a lighthouse at the end of the pier. If food markets are your thing (and they are marvellous in Spain) visit the Mercado Atarazanas, housed in a 19th-century iron-clad building with a magnificent stained-glass window depicting the city’s history. Bodega El Pimpi is the bar of choice in Málaga, with all kinds of rooms with all kinds of atmosphere, including a terrace overlooking the Roman amphitheatre. La Madriguera is a craft beer haven, or hit grungy La Tranca for a pint among a local crowd. Los Patios des Beatas is a snazzy wine bar where you can try vino from across Spain. Vermouth fan? They’ve got it on tap at Casa Lola.

 

Beaches, hill towns and vistas

Beach after beach – 26 of them with the prestigious Blue Flag designation – lie just beyond Malaga in both directions. To name just a very few to the southwest of Málaga: Los Álamos in Torremolinos is known for kitesurfing and beach bars; La Fuente de la Salud in Benalmádena is indeed a ‘source of health’ as its name suggests, and Calahonda, El Bombo and La Cala, beneath the gorgeous hillside town of Mijas, are also among the best beaches in Andalucía. Fuengirola has four beaches perfect for families, and it’s home to the Bioparc, a zoo known for treating its animals well. The Costa del Sol is much more than beaches and resorts. Nerja, sometimes called the most charming seaside village in Spain, is not only cute, it’s home to the humbly named Balcon de Europa, an outcropping overlooking the Mediterranean at the end of a winding path over cliffs and coves. Speaking of cliffs, don’t miss the awe-inspiring town of Ronda, 100 kilometres from Malaga. This little gem is perched over a rocky gorge and linked by the Puente Nuevo, built in the 18th century, despite its name. More dramatic scenery comes your way on the Caminito del Rey, a once-perilous walkway along the steep walls of the El Chorro gorge. Completely renovated for safety in 2015, it’s still not for the faint of heart.

 

Malaga airport

Malaga Costa del Sol Airport has bus and train connections with destinations all along the coast, or inland to Sevilla or Granada. City buses whisk you to the city centre in 15 minutes, or take the C1 train for a 12-minute ride. Taxis and rental cars are plentiful. The airport has lots of shops, including duty-free, clothing, accessories, sports items, jewellery, toys, electronics, gifts and souvenirs. Restaurants offer tapas, craft beers, coffee and takeaway food.

 

Malaga weather

With 300+ days of sunshine, and a constant breeze to tame the heat in summer, Malaga has simply gorgeous weather. Summer lasts from April to November, and even in winter, Málaga is warmer than any other good-sized European city, with an average daytime temperature of 18°C and the occasional climb to 24°C.

FAQs for booking flights to Malaga

How to get cheap flights to to Malaga?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Malaga flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Malaga?

For beach fun, festivals, and gorgeous weather, summer (June-August) is the perfect time for a visit to Malaga. Daytime temperatures range from highs of 31°C with cooler evening temperatures of 18°C. Warm sea conditions offer a pleasant swimming experience. There’s also a variety of festivals that happen during the summer months, including Fan Fan Fest in June, Mad Cool Festival in July, and The Canela Party in August. And if you want to experience a mixture of flamenco dancing, music, fireworks, and the best food and drinks the city has to offer, don’t miss out on the week-long Málaga Fair (Malaga Feria) in August. However, if smaller crowds and cheaper prices are more your speed, shoulder season (April-May and October-November) is ideal.

How to get from Malaga Airport to Marbella? 

Malaga Costa del Sol Airport offers various transport options, including buses, trains, taxis, and rental cars. You can reach the city centre by bus in 15 minutes or by C1 train in 12 minutes. To get from Malaga Airport to Marbella, you have five options: the recommended and cheapest way is to take the bus, and it takes 40 minutes.

Taking a taxi or driving are alternative transportation options available that will take you about 33 minutes. Similar options include shuttles and town cars, which will get you to your destination in about 34 minutes. A bus is also available direct, running hourly, which is both easy and inexpensive.

How do I offset the carbon emissions of a Malaga flight?

As part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions, we've launched a carbon offsetting scheme. Input the details of your Malaga flight into our travel footprint calculator to calculate your carbon emissions. You can choose to offset your emissions by making a payment supporting two verified carbon-reducing projects. You will receive a certificate in return, recognising the offset emissions.