Malaga's weather is quite mild throughout the year. The city is very sunny in summer and can also experience some sun in winter. Rainfall is generally scarce and normally takes place during the spring and autumn.

During summer temperatures rise over 30 °C, in some occasions reaching up to 38-39 °C. Winters experience colder temperatures, with January averaging 9.5 °C. In September, October, April and May, the weather is mild but usually maintains a cool regime, with temperatures rarely rising over 25 °C, making it ideal to go sightseeing the city and its surrounding areas without the heat of the summer. The winter months can witness unpleasant weather with temperatures feeling colder than they are due to the wind. Sunshine is scarce during the winter, and this causes the closure of most activities. It is therefore advisable to visit Malaga in June or September, as despite the possibility of rain, the city is less crowded and the temperatures more comfortable than those of the chilly winter and of the hot summer.

Humidity is relatively high due to the proximity to the sea, so normally thermal sensation makes it seem colder or hotter than it really is.

• Málaga Tourism website

36.675-4.4991671 Málaga Airport (AGP  ^IATA). The third biggest international airport in mainland Spain (after Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat Airport). As a holiday destination, the airport's primary tenants are discount carriers and charter airlines, although limited service on the European national carriers (Air France, British Airways, etc.) is available. Seasonal service (non-daily) is available from New York-JFK on Delta.  

Getting there/away:

• Bus. Line A express is very convenient, running every 20–25 minutes and stopping at Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque, where most of the local buses that serve the city stop as well, costs €4 (Oct 2024). The route map for bus A can be seen online. The stop names are shown on an electronic display inside the bus so you can tell when to get off. (NOTE Bus & Metro websites are geoblocked outside of Spain)
• From the airport you can get a train (C1 line), that goes to Málaga Centro Alameda station in city center. It costs €1.80 (Dec 2024), runs every 20 to 40 minutes from about 7AM to 1AM and takes 8 minutes to reach the María Zambrano station for transfer to Renfe's high-speed AVE service or the main bus station which is right next to the train station. Train route and timetables are here.
• A taxi to the city center will cost about €20, a journey to Málaga Port will cost around €25. Taxis can be found at the airport's taxi rank just outside the arrivals hall of Terminal 2. Generally, there are taxis available, although you may have to queue and in summer the queues can be very long.
• Minibus. Taxis can carry a maximum of 4 passengers regardless of passenger age. Although this can be cost effective if 4 passengers are travelling together over shorter distances, it can be expensive if travelling in large groups. Licensed minibus transfers can be ordered in advance that carry up to 17 passengers for a fixed fee and will meet you in the arrivals lounge of Terminal 2. Minibus companies can not be flagged down from outside Malaga Airport it is forbidden. A typical single transfer to Marbella will cost around €110.
• Renting a car at Málaga's airport is relatively cheap, but it is advisable to book in advance.

In Southern Spain (Andalusia) you usually get a better price using Blablacar than travelling by train or intercity bus.

36.7118-4.43212 Málaga María Zambrano , the city's sleek new train station, is about 1 km (0.62 mi) west of the city centre and served by renfe's high-speed AVE service, which zips travelers to Madrid in 2½–3 hours (some with continuing service to Barcelona), Cordoba in 1 hour or Seville in 2 hours, with multiple trains running each line daily. Slower (and cheaper) trains are also available. There is one train a day to Madrid from renfe's low cost brand Avlo, but this is not necessarily the cheapest train and is priced more like a budget airline. There is another 'low cost' operator iryo^{[dead link]} providing services to Cordoba & Madrid which run several times a day.

For Granada, take a train to Bobadilla and change to a Granada-bound train there.

renfe also operates two Cercanías commuter rail lines out of Málaga, one west along the coast via the airport C-1 and the nearby tourist towns of Torremolinos and Fuengirola and one inland C-2. Both lines make two stops in Central Málaga: one at the María Zambrano station (where you can connect to RENFE and the bus station across the street) and one at the end of the line at Centro-Alameda, closer to the city center where Avenida de Andalucia crosses the Guadalmedina River.

36.71605-4.425563 Malaga Centro-Alameda. The closest underground train station to the city centre. It's the first stop on the two Cercanías train lines, C1 and C2.  

The main bus station is right across the street from the train station, a km or so west of the city centre on Paseo de los Tilos. The station serves buses from all over Spain and is a major transfer point if you're passing through the region.

A substation, the 36.715833-4.4211114 Muelle Heredia bus station, is located along Avenida de Manuel Agustin Heredia, adjacent to the port and handles many of the regional buses that serve the Málaga province, such as those going to nearby beach towns, many of which are operated by the Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium.

The A-7 E-15 motorway runs along the coast to from Gibraltar to Almeria and through Murcia and on.

The A-45 motorway runs from Cordoba to Málaga.

There is a ferry route between Málaga and Melilla in North Africa with Transmediterranea. Book early.

Cruise ships plying the Mediterranean call at 36.716667-4.4166675 the Port of Malaga.  .

The best way to get an impression of Málaga is to discover the charming corners, stunning sights and lovely neighborhoods by wandering the streets and narrow roads on foot: take a stop for churros con chocolate, ice-cream, a coffee or some tapas and enjoy the Andalusian atmosphere.

Málaga is making big improvements when it comes to cycling. Nowadays Malagueños use their bikes more often to go to work or for recreational use in the weekends. Also Málaga established a cycling association supported by the local public transport association. The use of bicycles is promoted as being eco-friendly, fun, safe and healthy. Promotional campaigns in the form of group cycle activities or excursions outside Málaga are being introduced and this has led to big success.

Meanwhile, Málaga also constructed several bike lanes. Due to this construction the centre is also better connected with the Northern part of the city. The historical centre of Málaga is already free of motorized vehicles, which makes cycling much safer than in the past. Also spots like the boulevard and the harbour are only accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. This 2-km-long boulevard is wide enough for cyclists to enjoy and cycle in a relaxing fashion.

Besides cycling in the city the coast area of Málaga is also worth exploring by bike. Going east from Málaga is probably the most popular route as its possible to travel along a route through the twin traditional fishing villages of Pedregalejo and El Palo all the way to the end of Rincon De La Victoria without going on the main road. Travelling west along the coast is not quite as straightforward, for example biking from Málaga to Torremolinos is a popular route but it is difficult to find a good route away from busy highways but it is possible.

Cycling inland north from Málaga is characterized by steep climbs with little in the way of long easy winding routes. The Montes de Málaga is probably the most notable mountain route from the city where an elevation of over 900 m can be reached in less than 15 km, this route is known locally as "The Reina" and is not for the lazy cyclist. Other notable climbs include a section known locally as "The Wall" which is a terrifying descent or climber's challenge depending on what direction it's cycled. "The Wall" is a 9 km section between Moclinejo and Almáchar (this is the terrifying descent direction) on an inland route from Malaga to the coastal resort of Torre Del Mar.

An alternative mountain route for the committed cyclist is around the "Sierra de Mijas". The route goes west from Málaga on quite a busy main road past the airport, then up a steep country road to the white villages of Benalmadena Pueblo and Mijas Pueblo, dropping down then to Alhaurin el Grande and back on the north side of Sierra de Mijas to Málaga via Alhaurin de la Torre.

• Escapada Cycling, Plaza Poeta Alfonso Canales. 10:00 - 20:00. High-end road bike hire. starts from €35/day. (updated Apr 2019)

There are several public transport options (bus, metro & local trains) which can save you the hassle of parking a car.

With the green travel card of CTMAM you can use all means of public transport in and around Malaga (metro, commuter trains (Cercanías), city and regional buses) for a lower price. The card can be bought in tobacco shops for €1.50 and must be charged with at least €5 (Nov 2024). There are other travel cards from Metro Málaga (covers city buses as well) & EMT Tarjeta Transbordo (see below) but this card is for buses only.

Metro Málaga^{[dead link]} is a small two line light metro service that covers parts of the city. Line  1  runs West from the centre, while Line  2  runs South. You can used a contactless bank card on the barriers for a cost of €1.35 if your card is unregistered. If you register your bank card you will be charged a lower price. Both lines come together at the El Perchel (Maria Zambrano) station, from where you can also access the AVE, the Media Distancia, Regionales and Cercanías train networks at Maria Zambrano station, as well as the intercity bus station.

EMT City Buses^{[dead link]} There is a comprehensive network of city buses. Most buses call at the Alameda Principal near the Atarazanas metro station. (NOTE both the EMT website and Metro Malaga are geoblocked for users outside (or appearing to be outside) Spain. If you have difficulty accessing them locally, try WiFi). Journey planning can be done using Google Maps or Moovit. A single ride costs €1.40 (Nov 2024) which can be paid by contactless card. For using the city buses more often buy a Tarjeta Transbordo for €1.90 and charge it with €4.20 for 10 rides (Nov 2024). The Transbordo card can only be used for the city buses, not for other means of public transport.

Commuter Trains (Cercanías) There are two lines C-1 & C-2 which both call at Málaga Centro Alameda, Maria Zambrano (for mainline trains, trams & buses) & Victoria Kent. Extending well beyond the city there are two lines C-1 runs South West to Fuengirola calling at the the Airport & Torremolinos amongst many other places. C-2 runs approximately North West to Alora. You can load the tickets onto +Renfe & Tú Contactless Card or an easier way is to use a contactless bank card at the carriers.

Regional buses are controlled by CTMAM.

If you want to park at Malaga airport, there are many private car parks around the airport which are much cheaper than the official airport car park.

There are many car rental companies in Malaga. Most of them are located near the airport.

• Semana Santa (Holy Week). The Holy Week processions in Málaga are known for at least 500 years, and are one of the oldest in all of Spain. They begin Palm Sunday and end Easter Sunday. The Spanish Legion's procession is a must see on Maundy Thursday. (updated Mar 2016)

Beware of places that seem to have prices too good to be true like Bar Aduana Vieja near Malaga Museum. They'll give you extremely tiny portions but luckily they are easy to avoid - they have horrible reviews on Google Maps.

• 36.7219-4.4181611 Bodega-Bar El Pimpi, Calle Granada, 62 (entrance around the corner from the Museo Picasso), ☏ +34 952 228 990, info@elpimpi.com. Daily 10:00-late. Enormously popular with both locals and tourists, this place serves up excellent food and wine. Despite being frequented by such celebrities as Antonio Banderas and Placido Domingo, the prices are very moderate. (updated May 2022)
• 36.71925-4.4221112 Mesón Lo Güeno, Calle Marín García, 9, ☏ +34 952 22 30 48. Daily 12:00-24:00. Offers a large range of tapas and excellent wines. (updated May 2022)
• 36.714452-4.42737413 Restaurante Gallego Candamil, C. Cuarteles, 15 (On the street leading from the train station to the centre), ☏ +34 95 232-3907. This Galician restaurant is very popular with the locals. This is understandable when you see the great range of quality tapas at fantastic prices, e.g. tapa of empanada €1.25, glass of cider €1.15. 
• 36.722809-4.41016714 Restaurante @ Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro, Castillo de Gibralfaro, ☏ +34 95 222-1902. Castillo de Gibralfaro. Some report being disappointed by the restaurant at the Parador. The food was sub par, but the service by contrast was exemplary, together with all the nice little free appetizers, aperitifs, etc. Wine list tended towards the expensive but with the excellent idea of a monthly wine choice 'balancing quality and value', for example a very palatable Ribera del Duero Crianza at €10. Set menu €27 pp (plus VAT). Fantastic view of the city, especially from the terrace. 
• Cafetería of Hotel Castilla Guerrero, in street Córdoba, nº 7 in Málaga centre, between the Port and Alameda Principal. Offers traditional and typical Andalucian dishes, including soups, salads, meats and fishes or sandwiches, cakes, croissants or baguettes. Star dishes include: Gazpacho andaluz, Paella, Porra Antequerana, Rabo de Toro, Croquetas caseras, and many more. Breakfasts and meals with inexpensive prices.
• Meson Huesca, Calle Virgen De La Esperanza, 21. (updated Apr 2023)

• 36.718234-4.44019515 Jacinto Restaurante, Av. del Obispo Angel Herrera Oria, 7. High-end seafood restaurant (updated Aug 2022)

• 36.721905-4.4224111 Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Malaga, Calle San Telmo 14, ☏ +34 952 005 116. Check-in: midday, check-out: 11:30. The newest backpacker in town, amazing location right in the city center with big roof-top terrace to overlook lovely Málaga and a bar in the basement. Free wifi and breakfast. From €14, dorms and double rooms. Directions: From Busstation Paseo los Tilos its a 2-km walk to the Oasis Hostel at Calle San Telmo 14. Walk to the right of Paseo los Tilos turning into Callejones del Perchel. At the roundabout take a right into Avenida de la Aurora crossing the river. Continue the river bank on the this side for about 800 m, (Pasilla de Santa Isabel) until you turn right into Calle de los Cisneros. Turn into the 4th street on the left, Calle Santos, next to the right, than left again, than right again into Calle San Telmo at No. 14 from €14. 
• Pension La Palma, Calle Martinez 7, ☏ +34 95 222-6772. Run by a friendly lady, this cheap and cheerful place has rooms starting from €30. It's very central and some rooms have little balconies. 
• Pension Costa Rica, Calle Córdoba 5, ☏ +34 95 221-3577. Very primitive and in the middle of the red light district, but it seems to be one of the cheapest available. From €20. 
• Picasso's Corner, San Juan de Letrán, 9, ☏ +34 95 221-2287. Right in the historic district, close to the beach. Bar and lounge, food and disco shows! 15-20. 

• 36.7164-4.42182 Hotel Alameda, Street Casas de campos, 3 (corner street Cordoba,9) (next to the harbour, a short walk from Alameda Principal (sur) stop on the no. 19 bus), ☏ +34 95 222-2099, info@hotelalamedamalaga.com. Economic budget, centrally situated in Málaga center, between historical center and the Port. All rooms have private bathrooms, television and air-conditioning or heating. The hotel is on the eighth floor of a building shared with other businesses and you will need to use the buzzer (well labelled) to speak to reception so they can let you in. (Reception is manned 24 hours a day.) From €55. 
• 36.71963-4.423243 Apartamentos Debambú, Calle Cintéria, 7, ☏ +34 952 21 99 16, info@debambu.es. Centrally located, with very clean rooms. Exceptionally clean and modern, with helpful staff. Free wi-fi, airport shuttle available. From €60/studio. 
• Málaga Hotel, Acacias de Guadalmar 153 (on Guadalmar beach), ☏ +34 95 217-6061, fax: +34 9521756552, info@malagahotelpicasso.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 3 star hotel with garden, swimming pool, jacuzzi, restaurant. Boardwalk with beach restaurants (chiringuitos). €60 - 119. 
• 36.71647-4.423344 Oficentro Suites, C/ Tomas Heredia, 8 (city centre), ☏ +34 952 213 447, info@oficentro-suites.es. The apartment is fully furnished and cleaning is done weekly. (updated Mar 2024)
• Silken Puerta Málaga, Héroe de Sostoa 17, ☏ +34 93 280-2988. Very stylish four-star from the Silken chain, opposite the main train station. Beautifully decorated rooms and bathrooms, with great attention to detail. Good discounted rates in winter (€56-69+VAT). 
• Hotel Guadalmedina, Pasillo del Matadero, 16, ☏ +34 952 365 146. €55-90. 
• Suites del Pintor, C/ Montaño 18 Portal 3, ☏ +34 952 22 43 50. Bright, comfortable apartments in Malaga's historic centre (updated Jul 2016)
• Hotel MS Maestranza Málaga, Avda. Cánovas del Castillo 1, ☏ +34 952 21 36 10, maestranza@mshoteles.com. Nice 4-star hotel in the centre of Malaga. (updated Jul 2016)
• Higueron Hotel Malaga, Curio Collection by Hilton, Avenida del Higueron, 48, Fuengirola, ☏ +34-95-1505101, hotel@reservadelhigueronresort.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. (updated Jan 2021)

• NH Málaga, Avenida Río Guadalmedina, ☏ +34 95 207-1323. In the historic and commercial centre of Málaga, next to the 'Puente de la Esperanza' and a short stroll from the 'Museo de la Expiración'. Its excellent location makes it easy to enjoy Málaga's unique personality. 
• Parador de Málaga Gibralfaro, Castillo de Gibralfaro, ☏ +34 95 222-1902. Fantastic location with spectacular views (best on 3rd floor) over the city. Sitting area and balcony. €135 +VAT, breakfast €11. 
• Hotel del Pintor, Álamos 27, ☏ +34 95 206-0980. Opened in 2005, the Hotel del Pintor is a small urban hotel that combines design and technology with personalized attention. Central location in the historic center, near Picasso's birthplace. €74-121.