Transfers on the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol runs along the sea for more than a hundred and fifty kilometres, and the whole of that coast is served by one airport, Malaga. We drive to the centre of Malaga, to Fuengirola, to Marbella, to Puerto Banus, to Estepona and to Nerja.

Fuengirola is ~29 min away, Marbella ~43 min, while Estepona and Nerja are over an hour away in opposite directions from the airport. In summer the road along the coast is busy, especially on the way out of Malaga along the A-7, and that is already built into the journey times.

Puerto Banus stands apart: formally it is part of Marbella, but the marina has its own approach, and the driver needs to know which quay or hotel to bring the car to. State the point when you book. Nerja is the other way, to the east: the Balcon de Europa and the caves are there, and there is no railway at all, only the bus.

The driver contacts you after landing and names the exact meeting point. Waiting at the airport is free for 60 minutes, counted from the actual landing. The price is fixed when you book: per car, not per person, and it does not depend on traffic, the time of day or the number of passengers. Night flights into Malaga arrive often, and the fare on them is the same. Child seats are free in every class.

One airport for the whole coast. Every route on this page starts at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport (AGP), which sits by the sea just south-west of the city, between Malaga and Torremolinos. From the terminal the city centre is 17 km away, Fuengirola 24 km, Marbella 51 km, Puerto Banus 59 km, Estepona 81 km and Nerja 72 km.

How you meet the driver. You give your flight number when you book, and the driver plans the pick-up around the real landing time, not the one on your ticket. Once you land, he writes in the app chat where the car is waiting. To be met as you walk out, add the paid name sign option: the driver then waits in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign.

When the queues are long. Passport control and the baggage belt come out of the free hour, which starts at the actual touchdown. If you will need longer, write to the driver in the app chat.

The railway and the buses. The C-1 local train runs from the airport to Malaga's Maria Zambrano station in twelve minutes and, the other way, to central Fuengirola in about half an hour, where the line ends. Beyond it there is only the bus: the Avanza coaches to the Marbella and Estepona bus stations, and the Alsa to Nerja, about an hour and a half with stops.

Malaga city centre. A city that works all year, not a resort: the Alcazaba above the Roman theatre, the Picasso museum, Calle Larios, the Atarazanas market and La Malagueta beach a short walk from the cathedral. It suits city breaks and museum days. Via the MA-20 ring road the ride takes ~37 min and costs from €35. The old centre is largely pedestrian, so the driver stops as close as a car can get and points you the way.

Fuengirola. A practical resort with a promenade from Sohail castle to Carvajal and a large foreign community that keeps shops and bars open out of season. It is the easy choice for families with small children and long winter stays. Heading west along the coast, the car arrives in ~29 min; the transfer costs from €45.

Marbella. Twenty-seven kilometres of coastline under one name: the old town around the Plaza de los Naranjos, Dali bronzes on the Avenida del Mar, the Golden Mile and quieter San Pedro. It suits families and couples alike. On the AP-7 the trip takes ~43 min and costs from €77.

Puerto Banus. The marina on the western side of Marbella: yachts along the Muelle Ribera, boutiques and a late nightlife, with golf courses right behind it in Nueva Andalucia. It suits couples, groups of friends and golfers. The AP-7 gets you there in ~50 min, and the transfer costs from €86.

Estepona. The westernmost resort on the coast and the most Spanish in mood: whitewashed lanes full of flower pots, murals over whole house walls, the wide Playa de la Rada and a working fishing port. Pick it for a calm family holiday. The AP-7 drive takes ~1 hr 11 min and costs from €112.

Nerja. Here the Sierra Almijara comes down to the water, and the town stands on cliffs above small coves: Burriana beach, the caves with prehistoric paintings, the white village of Frigiliana just up the slope. It suits couples and walkers who prefer white houses to towers. Heading east on the A-7, the drive takes ~1 hr and costs from €102.

What these prices mean. Each figure is the Econom fare for the whole car. For up to seven people the Van costs from €81 to Fuengirola and from €125 to Marbella: a group shares one fare instead of paying per seat.

Toll motorway or free road. West of the airport two roads run in parallel. The AP-7, the Autopista del Sol, is a toll motorway with few junctions, and our journey times to Marbella, Puerto Banus and Estepona are based on it. The free A-7 next to it hugs the towns, with frequent exits and local traffic, and gets slow in summer.

Who pays the toll. Tolls are not part of the fare. If the car uses a toll section, you pay the driver back for it on the spot, against the receipt; the booked price stays the same.

East and into the city. The road to Nerja is the A-7 eastbound: it skirts Malaga and then follows the Axarquia coast, where the hills drop straight into the sea. The run into the centre is shorter but depends on the MA-20 ring road, which slows down at rush hour.

Seasons on the coast. July and August are the peak, and resort traffic does not thin out until late evening. In Holy Week, processions fill central Malaga and some streets close to cars, so the drop-off point may be a little further from the hotel. From November to March the roads are calmer; Malaga and Fuengirola stay lively all winter, while Torremolinos and Benalmadena go quiet.

A jam costs time, not money. In high season, book the ride back to the airport with a good margin.

Which class for whom. Econom (a Toyota, Hyundai or similar) is the budget option for up to three passengers and two suitcases. Eco carries the same in an electric or hybrid business-class car, a Tesla or a Lexus. Business means a saloon such as a Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series or Audi A6, and Premium a class higher for guests you want to receive in style, both for up to three. The Van seats seven with seven suitcases; the Bus, a minibus for up to sixteen with luggage, suits golf groups and weddings. A bottle of water waits in Eco, Business, Van and Premium, not in Econom or Bus.

Count the bags, not only the people. Econom, Eco and Business are made for two suitcases. Three adults with three large cases, a pushchair or golf bags are better off in the Van, and the fare does not grow with the luggage.

Child seats. A child seat is free in any class and mandatory for children up to and including 135 cm. Tick one in the booking form for each child who needs it.

Booking. Book on the website or in the app, where the price for each class shows straight away. The amount is reserved on your card before the trip and charged after it. Give the exact drop-off: the hotel name, the berth in Puerto Banus, the street in old Malaga. For a pick-up at an address the driver waits 15 minutes, so be at the door on time. Our drivers hold a VTC licence and help with the bags, and WhatsApp support answers around the clock.