$186+ Cheap flights to Málaga, Spain

The gateway to Spain’s most desired resort towns is via Malaga, the quiet coastal seaport city of Andalucia. While Malaga has seen rise to bigger buildings and fancier hotels over the years, it still retains its legacy as one of Spain’s greatest destination spots. Past the congested streets and high-rise buildings lies the quaint old center, which is brimming with Spanish culture and historic landmarks. Millions of vacationers book flights to Malaga every year for entryway to the Costa del Sol’s top beach and resort destinations including Torremolinos and Marbella. For those travelers staying in Malaga, the city is full of opportunity.

Malaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and his works are well-represented in the numerous art galleries throughout the city. Travelers spending time in Malaga will find its history is deep rooted in Moorish and Spanish culture, which is evident by the popular hotels and museums that have been converted from castles to accommodations. Because of its location to the Costa del Sol, Malaga’s economy thrives off tourism. Thanks to the more than six million tourists booking flights to Malaga annually, the city retains its position as southern Spain’s economic and financial epicenter.

Málaga, Spain climate

Located on the Costa del Sol of Spain, Málaga experiences hot summers and ocean-cooled evenings. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, which reside further up in Andalucía, keep the colder weather away from Spain’s southernmost coast. If you’ve booked a cheap flight to Málaga for sometime in the winter, you’re looking at mild weather that’ll fall somewhere close to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Best Time to Fly to Málaga, Spain

Whether you’re heading to Malaga for prime summer beach time, or if you’re driving through Andalucía for panoramic views of the Mediterranean in the middle of winter, you’ll be able to find cheap flights to Málaga for any season if you plan ahead and you’re flexible with your travel dates.

Peak Season: Tourists flock in droves to Málaga in the summer months to enjoy the spotless southern-Spanish skies. Finding a Málaga cheap flight during this time may prove to be difficult, as rates and fares for transportation and hotels tend to spike to accommodate the increase in tourist traffic.

Off Season: Málaga’s off-season eases in during the autumn months with the cooler weather and usually marks the start of “local season”, which means cheap flights to Málaga and discounted hotel accommodations are more likely Though several restaurants and venues close for the shift in seasons, the weather in Málaga is still quite agreeable and the beaches make for the perfect backdrop to any vacation year-round.

Getting around Málaga, Spain

Malaga is easy to get around on foot since most of the sites are right next to each other. The public buses are reliable and affordable. Take the train or bus into town after your Malaga flight lands. You can also rent a car at the arrivals gate if you need to.    

Málaga, Spain Travel Information

The best way to shake off the jetlag from your flight to Málaga is to head straight for the beach! For the most famous photo-op in Malaga, head to the sandy strip with its own name rising from the dunes in huge, sculpted letters. La Malagueta is over a mile long and provides charming straw beach umbrellas for visitors at a small fee and a massive statue that spells out the name of the beach. The Plaza de Toros (bullfighting ring) is located near the beach, as well, for those interested in a different kind of entertainment.

Thousands of art enthusiasts book cheap flights to Málaga to visit the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. The Picasso Museum is located near the birthplace of the revolutionary Spanish artist, and houses a permanent collection of his work, the majority of which was donated by the Picasso family. In addition to the Picasso Museum, Málaga is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs, and the Museum of Fine Arts. All of these museums are centrally located and easily accessible via public transportation.

Before your flight to Málaga, make sure to leave a little extra room in your suitcase for the clothes and souvenirs you’ll pick up at the cities flea markets and ferias. In Huilin, the flea market takes place from morning until late afternoon on Wednesdays and you can find everything here from antique fans to fresh fruit. On Sundays, the flea market next to the La Rosaleda Stadium is a great place to go for second-hand and vintage clothes shopping, and it lasts from early morning until just before siesta around 2 p.m.

Malaga Airport (AGP) is one of the busiest airports in Spain and an important tourism gateway to the popular Costa del Sol region. It’s situated 5 miles (8km) from the city of Malaga and 3.1 miles (5km) from Torremolinos. More than 12 million passengers catch flights to Malaga Airport from all over the world each year, especially in the summer months.

There are three terminals at Malaga Airport. Different airlines have check-in desks at different terminals, but all flights leave from Terminal 3 (the newest terminal) which opened in late 2010. It’s twice the size of Terminal 2 and has a large food hall, as well as several other facilities.

Although the new Terminal 3 is spacious and has lots of new facilities, this is one of those airports that feels like it’s permanently under construction, so be prepared for detours and poor signage at times.