Travel Guide
Car Hire · Cercanías Train · Bus · Taxi. Honest Transport Guide
Transport Overview
The Costa del Sol is a linear coastline, 160 km of resorts and towns connected by the A-7 coast road and AP-7 motorway. Getting between the main towns is straightforward; getting into the interior (white villages, national parks, inland day trips) requires more planning.
For most villa holidays, a rental car is the most practical solution. The freedom to arrive at your villa at any hour, shop at local supermarkets, take spontaneous day trips to Ronda or Frigiliana and return from restaurants at midnight without taxi-hunting is worth the modest hire cost.
The Cercanías C1 train is an excellent and underused resource for guests staying in the western central coast (Torremolinos–Fuengirola area), fast, cheap and frequent, connecting the airport to Málaga city and all the western coastal towns.
Airport → Torremolinos
12 min train
Airport → Fuengirola
45 min train
Airport → Málaga City
15 min train
Málaga → Marbella
40 min road
Málaga → Nerja
55 min road
Marbella → Estepona
25 min road
Transport Options
Essential for most villa stays
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Tip: Book in advance, especially in summer. SIXT, Hertz and Europcar all have good airport operations. Diesel SUV recommended for mountain roads.
Excellent for western coast
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Tip: Buy a 10-trip card (Tarjeta Multi) if using repeatedly, saves around 30% versus single tickets.
Convenient for short trips
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Tip: FreeNow (formerly MyTaxi) app works well across the Costa del Sol. For airport runs, agree the price before departure or insist on the meter.
Budget-friendly intercity
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Tip: ALSA buses connect Málaga to Nerja (€4.50, 1.5 hrs, hourly). The coast bus (M-110) connects Málaga to Marbella via all coastal towns.
Our concierge team arranges car hire, airport transfers, taxi accounts and more, so you arrive at your villa with everything sorted.
Browse VillasFAQ
It depends on the villa location. Villas in Torremolinos, Benalmádena or Fuengirola can be accessed easily by the Cercanías train from the airport, and most amenities are walkable. Villas in Marbella, Nerja, inland areas or anywhere rural require a car. We provide specific transport information for each property and are happy to advise.
Driving in Málaga is straightforward for experienced drivers. The motorways (A-7 and AP-7 coast road) are modern and well-signposted. Mountain roads to white villages are narrow but well-surfaced. Spanish drivers are generally confident and the rules are the same as the rest of Europe. Parking in Marbella old town and Ronda can be limited, use the signposted car parks.
Yes, but it requires a connection. Take the Cercanías C1 train from the airport to Málaga city (15 min), then an ALSA bus from Málaga bus station to Nerja (1.5 hrs, €4.50, hourly). Total journey approximately 2 hours. For a group with luggage, a private transfer or taxi is more comfortable and often not much more expensive when split.
The AP-7 is the coast toll motorway, fast, uncongested, €8–15 for the full coast section. The A-7 (N-340) is the free coastal road running through all the resorts, slower but free, and necessary for stopping at towns. For long journeys (e.g. Málaga to Estepona), the AP-7 toll is worth it. For short town-to-town trips, the A-7 is fine.
