Discover the easiest ways to travel from Malaga Airport to Estepona
If you’re vacationing in Costa del Sol, there are many excellent things to do in Malaga, but one of the best places to enjoy some sunshine in winter or summer is Estepona.
One of the closest airports to Estepona is Málaga, and there are many ways to get from Málaga Airport to Estepona, whether you get the bus, train, taxi, transfer service or even hire a car.
Here we’ll show you how to get from Málaga Airport to Estepona the best way possible whichever mode of transport you plan to take.
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Useful Travel Information About Estepona
✈ Book cheap flights to Malaga Airport with Skyscanner
⚘ Avoid tourist traps and get the customizable “Andalucia Like a Local” itinerary. – Get it here
✔ Book tours in Estepona with GetYourGuide
➳ Find the best hotels in Estepona with Trivago
❖ Rent a car at the best rates with DiscoverCars
✎ Never leave without travel insurance! I get mine at HeyMondo. It is easy to set up, cheap and reliable.$ Withdraw money without hidden fees and avoid exchange charges with TransferWise (Free Mastercard debit card to spend money abroad)
Quick Start:
- Take the bus from Malaga Airport & Estepona for an affordable option.
- Go under your own steam by hiring a car.
- Take a taxi – Malaga Airport to Estepona in a relaxing style.
BEST OPTION: How to get from Málaga to Estepona
The best way to get from Málaga to Estepona is by car whether you choose to hire one or opt for a taxi transfer. – Check out car hire here
If you want a smooth journey without the hassle of using public transport like buses and taxis, a transfer is the most convenient way to travel between the two locations.
This is especially true as Spain has many public holidays when bus and train schedules run on a reduced service.
1. From Málaga to Estepona by Train
The first thing you should know is that there is no direct train from Málaga to Estepona, so a train will only take you half of the way there.
The rest of the journey needs to be made by bus.
You can get onboard at the main Málaga Centro-Almeda train station or at Málaga Airport if you’ve just arrived by plane and get on the Cercanías C1 train line.
This line runs right the way down to Fuengirola where the line ends. It takes approximately 45m and costs around €4 with trains running every 2-3 hours. – Check out tickets here.
On the way down, which takes around 45 minutes, you’ll pass through some of the Costa del Sol hotspots like Torremolinos and Benalmádena.
Once you arrive in Fuengirola, the bus station is right next to the train station so head there and look for a direct Fuengirola-Estepona bus that will take you straight there.
The bus fare costs around €8 and takes approximately 1h30m to get there, with around 5 buses per day.
2. From Málaga Airport to Estepona by Bus
The bus service from Málaga Airport to Estepona is direct so you can jump on and in around 1h30m you can be at your destination.
Thankfully, the bus from Málaga Airport to Estepona runs frequently every hour or so with multiple times available throughout the day and into the evening.
Prices can vary but it’s usually around €10-€12 and the buses in Spain are comfortable for long journeys. – Get a ticket here
You’ll pass through lots of coastal towns like Benalmadena, Torremolinos and Marbella so it’s advisable to book your tickets in advance as the routes can get quite busy.
3. From Málaga Airport to Estepona by Car
Describe the route and recommend renting a car. Go into the benefits of renting a car in this area of Southern Spain
If you’re vacationing for less than a fortnight it’s a great idea to rent a car and drive from Málaga to Estepona.
It also frees you up to travel at your own pace and not have to worry about missing trains, canceled buses or crowded public transport.
You can simply get in your car and travel down the main coastal highway, the AP-7, which takes you from Málaga to Marbella, passing around the main towns such as Fuengirola, before arriving in Estepona.
It’s ideal for taking day trips to the surrounding locations, so you can travel from Málaga to Nerja in the north to explore caves and caverns, or from Málaga to Estepona and check out the historic city center or bustling fishing port.
Renting a car costs around €125 per week for an average sized family car if you have 5 or less passengers and will really give you the freedom to explore southern Spain. – Check out rentals here
4. Taxi from Málaga Airport to Estepona
One of the easiest and fastest ways to get transport from Málaga Airport to Estepona is by jumping in a taxi to take you straight to your hotel or accommodation.
There’s a taxi rank outside the airport and it will take around an hour to arrive at your destination.
If you get a taxi from Málaga Airport to Estepona it will cost you approximately €100 for the one-way journey if there are four people, but if you need a larger minibus it can be anywhere from €150- €200.
If you’ve had a long flight to Málaga Airport and don’t feel like taking public transport, a taxi is a strong consideration to get you from point A to B with a minimal amount of hassle. – Check their services here
We advise that you book airport transfers from Málaga to Estepona in advance so it’s ready and waiting for you at the exact time you need it.
Return: Travel from Estepona to Málaga Airport
If you’re trying to get from Estepona to Málaga Airport there are multiple routes you can take.
The easiest is to drive yourself in a hire car along the AP-7 highway and switch to the MA-20, then the MA-23 to get to the airport.
You can then just leave the hire car at the airport if there’s a compatible hire company.
This is also the way a private hire car would take you if you’d prefer to book a taxi from Estepona to Málaga Airport and will cost you approximately €100 for a single car, or upwards of €150 for a minibus service.
Other options are to take a train to Fuengirola, then switch to a bus service to Málaga Airport. Or, you can get on a bus which will take you straight there with no changes.
Trains and buses run frequently every day from the station in Estepona, but always remember to book your tickets in advance as the last thing you want is busy public transport making you late for your flight.
Distance from Málaga Airport to Estepona
Getting from Málaga Airport to Estepona takes around 55m if traveling by car or taxi by using the AP-7 highway which is around 80 km in distance (approx 50 miles).
It’s more or less the same distance if traveling on the A-7 route that runs along the coast, but it is likely to take 1h15h or longer as there can be traffic on this slower road.
If you’re taking public transport such as a bus or train, then expect a longer journey as the bus may make multiple stops along the way, increasing the journey time to 1h30m and taking over 100km (approx 60 miles) to complete.
Our final words on how to get from Málaga Airport to Estepona
It’s definitely worth traveling from Málaga town or Málaga Airport to Estepona by car rather than by train because Estepona does not have a train station.
It does have a bus station, but if you don’t get a direct route from Málaga to Estepona by bus, expect to hit all of the main coastal towns on the way down which can considerably add to your journey time.
The best option is to pre-book a taxi transfer so it’s there waiting for you any time you like day or night, or you can hire a car too.
However, if you’ve been traveling on a flight for a long time it’s an added difficulty to go through the car hire process then navigate the Spanish road system.
If you do choose a transfer, make sure to book it in advance.
If you’re in Málaga then it’s a wise choice to take in the cultural aspects of this town by visiting the Picasso Museum or taking a tour of the Alcazaba fort.
There’s also a beach for lazy days by the sea. When in Estepona you should try and make time for a visit through the old town with narrow cobbled streets, but there’s also various botanical gardens and a huge safari park called Selwo Aventura featuring animals and various rides.
Short FAQ about traveling from Málaga Airport to Estepona
How long is the transfer from Málaga to Estepona?
If you’re thinking about transfers from Málaga Airport to Estepona, then this is the easiest and fastest way to travel.
The journey will take around 1 hour if using the AP-7 highway straight down the coast to Estepona.
Does Estepona have a train station?
No, Estepona does not have a train station which means if you’re traveling to Estepona from Málaga you have to get on a train to Fuengirola and then take a bus the rest of the way to get there.
How much is a taxi from Málaga Airport to Estepona?
A regular taxi that fits 4 passengers should cost around €85-€100.
If you need a larger car to accommodate 5 or more people expect it to cost in the region of €150, and a minibus to transport a large group will be over €200.
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
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