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Marbella is around 50 km from Málaga Airport, between 40 and 50 minutes by road depending on traffic and the exact area (the Golden Mile, the town centre, Puerto Banús, Elviria or San Pedro de Alcántara). These are your options for the journey.
1. Private transfer (the most comfortable option)
With a Malaga airport to Marbella transfer, your driver meets you in arrivals with your name, tracks your flight and takes you straight to the door of your hotel or villa. The price is fixed per vehicle, so for families and groups it's usually very competitive. It's the best option if you're arriving at night, with children or with golf luggage, or if you're staying in a development away from the centre.
2. Direct bus
There's a direct bus route between the airport and Marbella bus station. It's cheap, but the station is in the upper part of town, so you'll usually need a taxi to reach your final accommodation. The service is also limited to certain times of day.
3. Taxi
Available from the rank at Terminal 3. It's direct, but the price depends on the meter and surcharges, and in high season the queues can be considerable.
4. Hire car
A hire car gives you freedom during your stay, but it means collecting the car (sometimes via a shuttle bus away from the airport), deposits, insurance and finding parking in Marbella, which is difficult and expensive in summer. If you only need to get around occasionally, combining a transfer with a private driver by the hour often works out better value.
What about Puerto Banús?
Puerto Banús is around 8 km beyond Marbella town centre. The transfer to Puerto Banús takes around 45 minutes and is the most popular way to get there for anyone staying in Nueva Andalucía or at the port itself.
Our advice
Book your transfer as soon as you have your flight details, especially between June and September, and book both directions at once. That way you can forget about transport for your entire stay.
