Flight to Malaga (AGP)

Flying to Malaga: tips and information for your trip

This southern city on the Costa del Sol has holiday options for everyone. Its impressive climate and welcoming culture make it an inviting place to spend time, whether you’re hitting the beach, the tapas bars or anywhere in between.

The city has everything you could want: culture and history, a fun and active nightlife and a rich diversity of things to do. Stay local, explore the Old Town and get a feel for the heart of this fabulous city or head to the train or bus station and branch out.

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What to do in Malaga?

1. Appreciate the amazing beaches. The entire Costa del Sol boasts some incredible beaches and Malaga is no exception. Visit La Misericordia if you want award-winning beauty, Los Alamos for beachside concerts in the summer, or take a trip to Puerto Banus for some celeb spotting.
   
   
2. Explore the nightlife. Keep it classy and visit some of Picasso’s favourite bars, such as "Antigua Casa Guardia" or shake things up and hit somewhere like "ZZ Pub", a great club for jazz, funk, soul and salsa.
   
   
3. Scale new heights and see the Alcazaba. This incredible Moorish fortress is a key part of Malaga’s skyline and offers incredible views, both inside the walls and of the city itself. The Castillo de Gibralfaro also tells a similar visual story and can be seen from all over the city.
   
   
4. Visit the Cathedral. This interesting structure was built over a period of 150 years, so it’s a true mixture of architectural styles. It is also missing its planned southern tower because the money was instead spent to help colonies in America gain independence from the UK. Visitors can read more about the story and history whilst there.
   
   
5. Discover the Ataranzas Market. This hub of life and activity is a key part of Spanish life and fresh produce and fair prices make the market very popular. Have a wander around looking at the colourful stalls or grab a drink and some tapas at one of the bars.
   
   
6. See Picasso’s house, Casa Natal, and the Picasso museum. Here you’ll find a selection of his work, dating as far back as his childhood, lent by his family to the museum.

Practical information for your trip

• Brussels Airlines flies to and from Malaga Airport, located 8 km from the city centre. Local and direct shuttle buses can take you to Malaga, Velez, Marbella, Estepona and other surrounding areas, whilst national buses provide transport to other southern cities. Alternatively, head to the airport train station to find links to the local and national rail lines. Taxis and car hire are also available and information about prices can be found on the airport’s website.
  
  
• Currency: Euro. Many places will accept credit cards, but having some cash on you is always a good idea for smaller places.
  
  
• Telephone calls and Wi-Fi: : The telephone code is +34. There are also a number of free Wi-Fi spots around the city.
  
  
• Electric sockets: Type C and F. Spain operates on a 230 V supply voltage and 50 Hz.
• Travel Information: Spain is an EU member and has signed the Schengen agreement. Therefore, many travellers will only need a passport or appropriate ID card to enter the country and don’t require a visa for stays less than 90 days. 

Dos and Don’ts in Malaga

• Do explore the region. The south of Spain is an amazing melting pot of culture and heritage and it also has some of the most incredible natural wonders and attractions. Jump on a bus, catch a train or hire a car to visit nearby Granada, Nerja, Fuengirola, Marbella, Ronda and many more wonderful cities.
  
  
• Do time your museum visits. Many of the city’s museums offer free entry on a Sunday, so check in advance and plan your trip accordingly if you’d like to save a bit of money.
  
  
• Don’t pay to watch Flamenco that’s not authentic. Paying for a flamenco show is not always necessary. Many restaurants offer a free show whilst you eat your evening meal, for example. Alternatively, "Kelipe, the Flamenco Arts Centre", has a top-level show and the ticket price includes two drinks.

Local phrases & essential vocabulary

The local language is Spanish, although there are a great number of tourists in Malaga hotels, so English is quite widely spoken. However, try and practice a few phrases in Spanish for emergencies.

• Hello: Hola
• Good morning/good day: Buenos días
• Good afternoon: Buenas tardes
• Good night: Buenas noches
• Please: Por favor
• Thank you: Gracias
• Yes: Sí
• No: No
• Where is… : Donde está…
• How are you?: Cómo estás?
• I want...: Quiero...
• The bill: La cuenta
• Do you speak English?: Habla ingles?
• How much is it?: Cuánto es?
• I don’t understand: No entiendo
• Water: Agua
• Beer: Cerveza

Cultural events

• Malaga Carnival. Every year in February or March, the people of Malaga mark the start of Lent with Carnival. With parades, street parties, food stalls and stage performances popping up around the city, it’s a great opportunity to go wild before the traditional pre-Easter period of fasting and sacrifice begins. Tourists and locals alike dress up in extravagant costumes and join in the fun.
  
  
• Malaga Feria is one of the most exciting things to do and see in the city. A week-long spell of celebrations and festivities every August, visitors have the option of a day fair and a night fair which have fairground rides, fireworks, concerts, food stalls, pop-up bars and restaurants and much more.
  
  
• Semana Santa. Being in Malaga during the Holy Week is an amazing experience, a great time to visit Andalusia and discover some deeply held local traditions.

When to go to Malaga?

Malaga‘s hottest season is May to September, but temperatures are often in double figures for most of the year, so it’s a good place to visit at any time. It gets very little rain throughout the year. If you want to hit the beaches, it’s probably a good idea to avoid the winter season as you’ll need a jacket around that time, but spring and autumn are generally warm enough to ditch the layers.

What to eat in Malaga?

• Espeto. This local dish of grilled sardines is a regional speciality that’s often cooked on the seafront and enjoyed with lemon and white wine.
  
  
• Tapas. Eating tapas is more than just a meal, it’s an experience. From berenjenas con miel (aubergine with honey) to boquerones fritos (fried anchovies), you’ll likely be given a small snack with every drink you buy. Be sure to also order tapas from the menu; ask in whichever bar or restaurant you visit for a recommendation, as many places have homemade specialities.
  
  
• Ajoblanco. Literally ‘white garlic’, this almond, bread and garlic soup is enjoyed cold in the summer, usually with melon or grapes.
  
  
• Molletes. A typical flatbread roll that is particularly soft and spongy, making it perfect for the typical Spanish breakfast of toasted bread with olive oil, salt and tomato.