We have picked 5 day trips from Malaga by car, and each one fits into a single day. Every route runs through a different landscape: the dramatic gorge at Ronda, white villages up in the hills, the Rock of Gibraltar on the horizon. You get distances, driving times, parking costs and practical tips. For all five, the simplest start is a car rental in Malaga with pick-up at the airport.
Ronda may well be the most photogenic town in Andalusia. It stands on the edge of the deep El Tajo gorge. Its symbol is the Puente Nuevo, an 18th-century stone bridge that joins the old town to the new.
• Puente Nuevo: the famous bridge over a 120-metre drop. The best photos are from the Mirador de Ronda viewpoint.
• Plaza de Toros: one of the oldest bullrings in Spain (1785).
• The old town (La Ciudad): Arab baths, the Mondragón Palace and the church of Santa María la Mayor.
• El Tajo: a walk along the rim of the gorge, with viewpoints along the way.
• Route: the A-357 to Ardales, then the A-367 to Ronda. It is the quickest way and toll-free. For more scenery, take the A-366 through El Burgo, a mountain road full of bends.
• Parking: the underground car park at Plaza del Socorro (about €3 per hour) or free street parking on the outskirts. How Spanish parking zones work is explained in our guide to parking in Malaga and Marbella.
• Best time: set off early, between 8 and 9 am. You beat the crowds and the heat.
Nerja is a charming town east of Malaga, known for the “Balcón de Europa” (Balcony of Europe), a viewing terrace above the Mediterranean. Just inland, tucked into the hills, sits Frigiliana. This white village is often called the prettiest in Andalusia.
• Balcón de Europa: a viewpoint with a panorama of the sea and the Baetic mountains.
• Cueva de Nerja (Nerja Cave): a huge cave known for its prehistoric paintings. Book your tickets online.
• Frigiliana: narrow lanes, white houses and Moorish heritage. Ideal for a stroll of 1 to 2 hours.
• Burriana and Maro beaches: smaller and quieter than the beaches in Malaga.
• Route: the A-7 motorway heading east (toll-free, good surface).
• Parking in Nerja: the car park at the Nerja Cave costs €2. In the centre, the underground car parks charge about €1.80 per hour.
• Parking in Frigiliana: a small free car park at the entrance to the village. It fills up fast.
Mijas Pueblo is a white village on a mountainside, with views along the whole Costa del Sol. It is only 35 km from Malaga, which makes it an easy half-day trip.
• Mijas Pueblo: white houses, narrow lanes and viewpoints over the sea. On a clear day you can make out Africa.
• Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña: a chapel set in a rock grotto.
• The miniatures museum (Carromato de Mijas): a quirky collection of tiny curiosities.
• Fuengirola (on the way back): the seafront promenade, Sohail Castle and the Bioparc zoo.
• Route: the A-7 west to Fuengirola, then the A-387 uphill to Mijas Pueblo.
• Parking: free roadside spaces as you enter Mijas (about 100), which go quickly. The multi-storey car park under Plaza Virgen de la Peña costs about €1 for the day.
• Combining it with Fuengirola: Mijas first, in the morning, then lunch and the beach in Fuengirola.
Gibraltar is a little piece of Britain at the southern tip of Europe. The Rock (426 m above sea level) towers over everything around it. It is home to the famous Barbary macaques, the only wild monkeys in Europe.
• Upper Rock Nature Reserve: views across to Africa, St Michael’s Cave and the wartime tunnels.
• Barbary macaques: you will meet them near the top. Keep a firm grip on your bag.
• Main Street: duty-free shopping. Pay in pounds sterling or by card.
• Europa Point: the southern tip of Gibraltar, with a lighthouse and a mosque.
You can drive a rental car into Gibraltar, but a few conditions apply:
• Tell your rental company before you go, because some firms do not allow it. At Car4Rent Malaga, Gibraltar is fine for a one-off fee of €20.
• Border: routine passport checks at the land crossing ended on 15 July 2026. Carry your passport anyway, because spot checks can still happen.
• Parking: the easy option is to park on the Spanish side, in La Línea, and walk in. It is cheaper, and on foot you still cross the airport runway. Cars now use the Kingsway tunnel instead.
The Caminito del Rey is a spectacular walkway pinned to the walls of the El Chorro gorge. It used to be called “the most dangerous path in the world”. Since its restoration it has been safe, and open to anyone aged 8 or over. The route is 7.7 km long, including 2.9 km of boardwalks up to 100 m above the river. You will not forget it.
• Tickets: book online well in advance on the official site (caminitodelrey.info). Daily visitor numbers are capped, and popular dates sell out.
• Driving route: the A-357 towards Ardales, then the MA-5403.
• Parking: the walk starts at the north access near Ardales. The official car parks there cost €2 per day.
• Walking time: about 3 to 4 hours. The route is linear and one-way, from north to south.
• Bus back: from the exit at El Chorro, a shuttle bus returns you to the north access and the car parks. It costs €2.50, cash only.
Most motorways on the Costa del Sol are free. An “A” in the road number (the A-7, for example) means no toll. “AP” (AP-7, AP-46) means you pay. In practice there are only two toll roads around Malaga. The AP-7 runs along the coast from Malaga to Guadiaro, past Marbella and Estepona, with the free A-7 beside it. On the Gibraltar run it saves time when the coast road is busy. The AP-46 heads north towards Antequera and costs €4.35 to €6.30, depending on the season. Every route in this guide can be driven without paying a toll.
The golden rule: look for a car park at the edge of town, not in the centre. Streets in the “pueblos blancos” (white villages) are narrow, sometimes under 2 m wide, and no place for manoeuvring. Most tourist towns have signposted car parks on the outskirts.
Petrol stations are frequent on the motorways and main roads. In March 2026, 95-octane petrol in Spain cost about €1.50 to €1.65 per litre. Prices have climbed since then, so check before you fill up. Unstaffed self-service stations (“sin operario”, literally without an attendant) are usually 5 to 10 cents a litre cheaper.
Planning longer drives? Read our guide to traffic rules in Spain as well. It covers speed limits, parking and fines.
Ready for the road? Rent your car from Car4Rent Malaga: no deposit, no credit card, and service in English or Polish. Full cover is available as an option. We bring the car to the airport terminal at no charge, or to your hotel or apartment for an extra fee.
Cars for road trips around Andalusia:
See also:
Contact phone number/Whatsapp:
E-mail:
Opening hours:
