Malaga Airport

Published on 17 July 2019

Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com

About Malaga Airport

Malaga airport is officially known as Málaga - Costa del Sol Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto de Málaga-Costa del Sol)

Malaga Airport: The Passenger-Only Zone

Shops

Once you pass the security you will enter the passenger zone. Malaga airport offers many shops, and most of the shops you will find in this area.

Fashion and accessories shops include big brands like Desigual, Sunglass-Hut, Victoria’s Secret, Superdry, The Fashion Gallery, Parfois.

There are also the usual duty free shops for cigarettes, alcohol, perfumes, chocolate, as well as other items.

When you shop at the Passenger Zone you will have to provide your boarding pass. If you intend to buy a few things, it helps to keep your boarding pass handy.

Restaurants and Cafes

In the Passenger-Only area you will also find many cafes and restaurants:

You can find plugs to charge your phone at Dani Garcia DeliBar that’s averaging a 4* rating on Tripadvisor.

If you need a pharmacy you have a couple of options. There is a pharmacy in Terminal 3 Departures Public Zone and then Parafarmacia vending machines that you can find after security.

A good thing to note is that once you go through Passports, there are limited shops, and they are not always open. This is particularly noticeable if you have an early flight.

The Arrivals and Departures Area

The Arrivals (downstairs) and Departures (upstairs) are open to the general public and offers seating and places for coffee and snacks.

The shops that are available to the public in the departures lounge are the famous Sunglasses Hut, Relay Newsagents, Travel Mate and Superskunk. In the departures lounge you will also find numerous cafes, including the globally renowned Starbucks brand.

For more information on the shops, restaurants, cafes and other facilities at the airport you can visit Malaga - Costa del Sol Airport information.

Getting to and from Malaga Airport by train

RENFE train station at málaga airport is served by Line C1 that takes you to Fuengirela going one way and Malaga Centro Alameda (to Malaga centre) going the other way. On the map the train station is marked as Aeropuerto hence that’s the name of the station. If you're serious about exploring Malaga, we have another post with more information about Malaga and the city centre.

The first train to Malaga-Centro Alameda leaves the airport at 06:44, and the last train leaves at 00:54.

The first train from Malaga-Centro Alameda to Fuengirola (via the airport) leaves at 05:32 and the last train leaves at 23:42.

The journey from the airport to Malaga city takes only 11 minutes at the price of 1.80 Euros. Keep this price in mind because if you’re getting a significantly different price on the ticket machine, perhaps it is a sign that you are doing something wrong.

Andalucia.com says that according to staff at the train station, foreigners have pressed a button that says "Sobretasa" and ended up paying 7-8 € instead of the actual price. "Sobretasa" is the button to push only if you were caught without a train ticket and issued a fine by one of the conductors. So, let the price guide you.

Here’s also a good guide on Malaga airport trains that provides more information including the map of the metro line.

Malaga FAQs

What towns are near Malaga Airport?

If you have a layover in Malaga, have some hours to kill, have the correct documents or visas in place to enter Spain, and want to use this time to see a town, a good option is to head to the Malaga city centre.

Is malaga airport near the beach?

It is easy to get to the Malaga city that is on the coast and has nice beaches.

Can you smoke at Malaga airport?

No, you cannot smoke at Malaga airport once you get past security. You can have a smoke outside of the airport before security.

What is Malaga Airport code?

The IATA code for Malaga airport is AGP.

Why is Malaga airport code AGP?

There are several amusing theories floating about, including the allusion to Picasso’s birthplace. Some say that AGP stands for “Aeropuerto Gran de Picasso” that would translate to “Picasso’s Great Airport”. That is an interesting notion as the Spanish painter - one of the most important artists of the 20th century, indeed hailed from the town of Málaga in Andalusia, Spain.

Another notion is that AGP is simply derived from the words Malaga and Spain picking out the letters A, G and P, as there were no available three-letter combinations left for the word Malaga.

If we look at the possible three-letter combinations of the letters from the word Malaga, we will see 13 possibilities. All of these possibilities are used by other airports:

Apparently, since the airport was renamed to Málaga - Costa del Sol, the local institutions wanted to change the IATA code to SOL. Changing an IATA code is possible, for example IDL was changed to JFK, and LAP (London Airport) was changed to LHR. However, SOL is already taken by the Solomon State Field Airport in the US, so it looks like Málaga - Costa del Sol airport will have to stick to what they have or find another option.

After a quick search it seems that LSD code might still be available, which could make a good fit for Málaga - Costa del Sol LSD. Bet they didn’t think of this one!

Is malaga airport big?

The airport serves Costa del Sol, a popular tourist destination and has international flights to over 60 countries. It’s a good size airport with many shops and restaurants in the Passenger Zone, but far from being a benchmark for biggest airports in the world.

Is malaga airport open all night?

The public areas at the airport are open 24 hours a day. If you are a good sleeper and can rough it a little, your layover at the airport might not feel too bad. However, there are some bad reviews from layover passengers that are worth reading to get a better idea whether this will be a suitable option for you.

Does malaga airport have free wifi?

Yes, and the wife covers all terminals. Connect your device to the wireless network Airport_Free_Wifi_AENA, and follow the instructions on the browser window to choose either the free service supported by advertising, or the premium service. We heard from one of our contributors that the free wifi is pretty decent.

Does malaga airport have lockers?

There are no lockers for rent at the airport. However, by the entrance to the platforms for the airport trains there is a facility to store your luggage and the price ranges from around 3.10 euros to 10.20 euros, depending on the size of your luggage. The service is open between 7am and 11pm and your suitcase will have to be put through a security scanner before you can put it in a locker.

Where to stay near Malaga Airport

Here are some accommodation options near Malaga airport.

Booking.com