Car hire in Malaga

Malaga has well and truly earned its reputation as the cultural capital of the south: the Picasso Museum, the Alcazaba overlooking the port, the bars of El Pimpi with the vermouth flowing, and that Soho district brimming with street art. But the city is only the gateway. The best of the province begins where the seafront promenade ends, and that is where a hire car makes the difference between seeing Malaga and living it.

With the keys in your hand, the entire Costa del Sol is within easy reach: Nerja and its coves to the east, Marbella and Estepona to the west, and inland a string of white villages no bus tours at leisure. The Caminito del Rey, Ronda perched above its gorge, or a getaway to Granada stop being organised excursions on someone else's schedule and become your plan, at your pace.

What's more, driving around the province of Malaga is a pleasure in itself: coastal dual carriageways with the sea as a backdrop, mountain roads winding through olive groves, and viewpoints where you can stop without hurry. Pick up the car at the airport or in the centre, and within twenty minutes you're already deciding between beach, mountains — or both in the same day.

Day trips from Malaga

• Caminito del Rey — Spain's most famous gorge, with walkways suspended a hundred metres above the Guadalhorce. ~50 min from Malaga; book tickets well in advance.
• Ronda — The city of the gorge and its Puente Nuevo alone justify the hire; the climb up the A-397 from the coast is spectacular. ~1 hr 30 from Malaga.
• Nerja and Frigiliana — ~45 min to the east: the Balcón de Europa, the Nerja caves and, ten minutes up the hillside, Frigiliana, one of the most photogenic white villages in Andalusia.
• Granada and the Alhambra — Via the A-92 you reach the Alhambra, the Albaicín and the tea houses in ~1 hr 30. Leave early, visit at leisure and be back to sleep by the sea.
• Marbella and Estepona — The Golden Mile, Marbella's old town and the flower-filled streets of Estepona: the other face of the Costa del Sol, ~40–50 min along the Mediterranean dual carriageway.
• Antequera and El Torcal — ~45 min inland: millennia-old dolmens, a delightful monumental centre and the karst landscape of El Torcal, a sea of limestone that seems from another planet.

A perfect day behind the wheel

Getting around

• For the historic centre, forget the car: it is largely pedestrianised and best enjoyed on foot. Leave it in a secure public car park and walk between the Alcazaba, the cathedral and Muelle Uno.
• Use the car for what truly needs it: trips out of the city, inland villages, more distant beaches and full-day excursions. The airport–centre stretch is also well covered by the local commuter train.
• Watch out for the blue zone and the restricted-access streets of the old town: if your accommodation is right in the centre, check with them beforehand about where to park and how to arrive by car without straying into traffic-limited zones.

When to go

Malaga boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, so almost any date works. Spring and autumn are ideal for driving: mild temperatures, quiet roads and perfect light for the white villages. In July and August the heat bites and the coast fills up, with heavier traffic on the A-7; book your car well in advance. Winter, mild and clear, is a wonderful secret for the interior.

Your pick-up

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (8 km from the centre), María Zambrano station and offices along the Costa.

Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.

Frequently asked questions

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