Last-Minute Flights & The Easiest Airport Train in Spain

My sister and I booked our trip to Málaga just a few days before we travelled — that’s how spontaneous this one was. We took an early morning flight from Manchester, which meant we were touching down on the Andalusian coast right around lunchtime. The timing was perfect.

We visited in April, which turned out to be a brilliant time to go. The city wasn’t overrun with summer crowds, the temperatures were comfortable for walking and exploring, and direct flights from Manchester were easy to find at short notice. April is genuinely underrated for a Málaga trip.

GETTING THERE

The 12-minute train is a game-changer. The train station is literally inside the airport terminal — jump on and you’re in the city centre in just 12 minutes. No taxis, no transfers, no faff. One of the best airport connections in Europe and perfect for a short break where every hour counts.

LUNCH AT THE PORT — LA BELLA LOLA

We headed straight to Málaga’s port when we arrived and it immediately set the tone for the whole trip. The port area is relaxed, scenic and incredibly easy to spend time in — a few lovely shops, clean public toilets just around the corner, and the beach a short stroll away. We ate at La Bella Lola, a restaurant right at the port overlooking the yachts docked below. The setting alone would have sold us, but the food was genuinely fantastic.

We tried: • Breaded anchovies — a Málaga classic, crisp, fresh and utterly addictive • Tortilla — perfectly set, rich and deeply comforting • Mushroom croquettes — golden, creamy and impossible to stop eating • Prawns — fresh from the coast, simply and perfectly prepared • Aubergine stuffed with goat cheese in tomato sauce — a total showstopper.

Every single dish was wonderful. Sitting there with yachts bobbing below us and plates of fresh Spanish food on the table, it was the kind of lunch that reminds you exactly why you travel.

THE BEACH

From the port, the beach is literally just around the corner and it’s one of the things that makes Málaga so special. In April the weather wasn’t quite warm enough to stretch out on the sand, so we didn’t stay long, but even a walk along the seafront is worth it. On a warm day this beach would be absolutely spectacular. Málaga is one of the very few cities in Europe that genuinely offers both a beach and a vibrant city centre within easy walking distance. Most beach resorts don’t have a city worth exploring. Most great cities don’t have a proper beach. Málaga has both — and that’s rare.

THE CITY STREETS

From the beach and port it’s around a 15-minute walk into the city centre, and it’s absolutely worth every step. The streets of Málaga are genuinely beautiful — ornate painted buildings, narrow winding lanes, endless places to eat and drink, and an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and buzzing with life. Some of the streets genuinely reminded me of Venice. That same sense of turning a corner and stumbling into something unexpectedly lovely, except sunnier, and with tapas instead of gondolas.

WHERE WE STAYED

We rented an apartment north of the city centre, which was a brilliant call. It was quiet at night — well away from the bustle of the tourist streets — but still only a 10-minute walk into the heart of the city. For a short break, that balance is everything.

VERDICT

Málaga is one of those cities that feels made for a spontaneous trip. Close to the airport, effortless to navigate, endlessly pretty streets, brilliant food, and that rare combination of beach and city that most destinations simply can’t offer. I loved it for a last-minute short break and would highly recommend it. Would I go back? Without hesitation.

Trip details: April 2026 | Manchester to Málaga | Sisters’ short break