Car rental in Malaga at the Best Prices

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain, the city of Malaga is located on the Mediterranean coast, within the region of Andalusia. With practically all-year round sunshine, this city provides the perfect setting for an exceptional holiday. From its numerous museums, and historical monuments, to its lively bars, clubs and restaurants, Malaga has it all. Take a stroll along its main pedestrianised shopping zone, pop into some of its high-class stores or instead spend the day in a local waterpark – the choice is endless.

Providing car rental across numerous global locations, Auto Europe is well positioned to find you the best quotation from a large list of suppliers. We have over 60 years’ experience in working with local, national and international car hire suppliers - which means that finding you the perfect car rental in Malaga shouldn’t be too challenging. Contact one of our reservation agents today to discuss how we can help you plan your next Malaga trip.

How is the traffic in Malaga?

Spain is one of the best countries for exploring with a car. You can head towards Barcelona along the coastal roads from Malaga, or instead towards Seville on the A-92. Stop off at numerous amazing towns such as Marbella, Nerja, Estepona, Cordoba or Granada – the options are endless. Many roads around Malaga aren’t overly congested, but central Malaga, the shopping district and its seafront, does suffer from heavy traffic at times.

The following are some road rules to adhere too during your visit to Malaga:

• You must drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left
• Minimum driving age is 18. However, some car rental suppliers have an older minimum age threshold
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving
• Seatbelts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle
• Road markings will indicate the word “paeje” when approaching a toll both.

Where can I park my car rental in Malaga?

Parking in Malaga city centre is restricted and hard to come by. Much of the centre is pedestrianised and as such, this limits the amount of parking spaces available. On-street parking is designated by a blue dotted line. These blue zones are charged via either a pay-and-display machine or a meter. Generally, charge times are from 09:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 until 20:00, Monday to Friday. You only pay for mornings on a Saturday, whilst Sunday’s and Public Holidays are free. You are only allowed a maximum stay of up to 2 hours.

A great alternative to the blue parking zones are the secure underground car parking garages located throughout the city. These garages are open 24-hours, with no maximum time limit. The best located garages if wishing to visit the city centre can be found at the Plaza de Marina, Granados, Muelle Uno and Alcazaba.

Malaga Airport

With a total of three terminals, Malaga Airport is the regions only international airport. With over 60 flight routes, the airport is the fourth busiest in Spain. Along with the national carrier, many other airlines such as British Airways and Easyjet use this airport.

Malaga Airport (MAD)
Address: Av. del Comandante García Morato, s/n, 29004, Málaga, Spain
Website: Malaga Airport
Telephone: +34 952 04 88 38

What to do in Malaga

Malaga is not only blessed with great all-year round weather but also a fabulous Mediterranean coastline and mountain range. A city full of great cuisine, vibrant shopping districts and great nightlife – Malaga welcomes numerous tourists each year. Museums, monuments, tourist attractions, historical sites and amazing beaches all converge to provide an unforgettable holiday. These are our recommendations for when visiting this exciting city:

• Fort of Alcazaba: Dating back to the 10th century, the Alcazaba Fort towers over the port of Malaga on a hill. It was conquered by the Spanish in 1487 and has now become one of the city’s main tourist attractions. As you walk through its landscape, the fort introduces you to its wonderful Moorish architecture and design. Towards the base of the fort you’ll also be pleasantly surprised to encounter a Roman amphitheatre.


• Malaga Museum: Covering 18,000 sqm, with a total of eight rooms, Malaga Museum was opened in 2016. The museum is a wonderful venue for introducing you to the numerous cultures and empires that have moulded the identity of Malaga. This provincial museum holds around two thousand art pieces together with a further eighteen thousand archaeological artefacts.


• Picasso Museum: Opened in 2003, Malaga’s Picasso Museum is a testament to the life and work of Pablo Picasso, who was born in Malaga in 1881. Interestingly, the very same house that he was born in is located close to the museum. A wonderful collection of paintings, ceramics and sketches are housed in its twelve permanent galleries. On occasions the museum also has other interesting temporary exhibits to view. Within the grounds exists a coffee house together with a bookshop.


• Selwo Marina: Located just west of Malaga in Benalmádena is the marine park Selwo. This park will not only introduce you to the various marine life, but also entertain you with various animal shows. Within its four distinct areas, you’ll encounter sea lions, birds, lizards, penguins and dolphins, to name but a few. A must visit for the whole family and only 15 minutes from Malaga centre by car.


• Malaga Tapas Tour: This three hour tapas tour will not only introduce you to one of the region’s most famous food styles, but also the art of Andalusian Flamenco. Your guided tour will take you to many of the city’s top tapas venues, where you’ll be able to enjoy traditional tapas whilst viewing an electrifying Flamenco show. Enjoy the night with great food, wine and hospitality.

Best day trips with my car hire in Malaga

Due to the city’s location and good road connections, Malaga is ideal for a quick day trip. With your car rental from Malaga, consider heading north to Granada and Sierra Nevada to enjoy some snow activities. Or pop to Nerja and kayak along the Mediterranean coast. Eastwards you’ll come across the beautiful seaside town of Marbella and Estepona. The Rock of Gibraltar is also not too far and is another great option. These are our recommendations for an enjoyable road trip:

Seaside Town of Marbella:
Heading westwards along the AP-7 you’ll come across the beautiful seaside town of Marbella. The journey itself will take you just less than an hour’s drive, and once there, you’ll enjoy a picturesque and relaxing town. Famous for its fabulous weather, Marbella is also home to some world renowned brands. Puerto Banús is frequently visited by the rich and famous. Wander through its town centre and relax at a chic coffee house, bar or restaurant.

Mountain Town of Ronda:
The inland mountain town of Ronda is an exceptional experience. Divided between two mountains, this town although inland is surprisingly popular with tourists. The journey will take you just under an hour and a half by car, along windy mountain roads, but once there you’ll be amazed at the spectacular views it offers. The two sides of the town are linked together by an old strikingly beautiful bridge. Spend the day exploring the town and castle, until ultimately pausing for a coffee in one of the numerous cliff side coffee houses.

Seaside Town of Estepona:
If you plan to visit Marbella, then consider driving a little more until you reach the seaside town of Estepona. Being slightly further from Malaga Airport this town sees less tourists, especially compared to Malaga and Marbella. It has a large sandy beach and an exceptionally well kept old town. The town has a modern Botanical Garden and a smallish town centre full of bars, clubs and restaurants. The port is also extremely lively during the weekends and a great place to eat out.

City of Granada:
Located northeast of Malaga and around an hour and a half by car, you’ll come across Granada. If you’re tired of lazy days on the beach and fancy some snow instead, then the Sierra Nevada, located in Granada is the perfect place. Here you can ski, snowboard or take up numerous other snow related activities. The city is very lively with ample bars, coffee houses, clubs and restaurants to enjoy. Visit Alhambra and be mesmerised by how beautiful this Moorish style palace is.

Geographic Information & History

Located in southern Spain on the Mediterranean coastline, the city of Malaga belongs to the autonomous region of Andalusia. The city itself is rocky and incorporates many steep mountains with an abundance of local wildlife. Being the sixth most populated city in Spain, it is also the largest southernmost city in Europe. With an average of 300 days of sunshine per year, Malaga has an average temperature of 24ºC. During summer time temperatures can reach as high as 30ºC, whilst in winter it rarely falls below 9ºC. This is in part is due to the protection that the surroundings mountain ranges offer.

Founded in 770 BC by Phoenicians as Málaka,, the colony came under Carthaginian rule from the 6th century. Following the Punic Wars, the city came under the rule of the Roman Republic and given a confederate status. From the Greeks, Byzantine, Moors and Bastetani, the city saw itself ruled by many different tribes at various periods in its history, until it was ultimately conquered in 1487 and came under the Christian Spanish Kingdom.

During the Spanish War of Succession, Malaga was witness to the largest naval battle in 1704. In 1936 the city was held by the Spanish Republic, being the base for the republican navy. In 1937, Dictator Franco’s troops captured the city, with an estimated seven thousand citizens killed. After the end of the Spanish Civil War and Franco’s rule, a Constitutional Monarchy was established in Spain. From here on end, Malaga started to grow substantially, in part, fuelled by its tourism industry and cheaper package holidays.

How to get around Malaga

Malaga has a modern and well integrated public transport network. It is relatively cost-effective and will get you around the city, quickly and stress free. Along with its bus network, the city also has train, metro, taxis and a regular ferry service to Melilla in North Africa. Malaga also contains a major cruise port with links across the Mediterranean.

Bus

The main bus station is located next to the main train station, in the west of the city. From here you can catch buses with destinations to all over Spain, such as Seville, Granada and Marbella. Located along the Avenida de Manuel Agustin Heredia is another slightly smaller bus station that serves only regional routes. From here you can catch buses to nearby areas and neighbourhoods, local beaches and to other towns in the Malaga province.

Train

Also located in the west of the city, is Malaga’s main train station – Maria Zambrano. Here you can catch a high-speed train known as AVE, and in less than 3 hours you’ll be able to reach numerous Spanish cities such as Seville, Cordoba and Madrid. In addition, regional commuter trains are also available from this station. One train line heads west towards the beach towns of Torremolinos, Fiengirola and Malaga Airport., whilst the other heads inland.

Taxis

An official city taxi service exists in Malaga. The taxis are white in colour with a blue stripe upon each front door. A Taxi sign is also present on its roof directly above the driver. Taxis are metered but we would recommend talking with the driver before setting off on your journey. Taxi ranks can be found throughout city and at major transport hubs. Likewise, you can also pre-order a taxi.

Metro

Taking around 5 million passengers per year, Malaga Metro consists of 2 lines and 17 stations. Both lines where opened in 2014 and are extremely modern, well-maintained and efficient. Line 1 (Red) runs from the University of Malaga to the city centre, whilst Line 2 (Blue) links Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena to the city centre.

Useful links

Tourism Information