Is renting a car worth it if you're based in Málaga city?

Not for a week based in the city. The old town is pedestrianised, hotel parking runs €20 to €30 a night, and the car sits idle on the days you are in town or on the beach. Ronda and Antequera are both doable by train or coach. What works better is hiring for just the two or three days you want to string beaches and white villages together – pick it up at a city office, not the airport, and watch for the low-emission zones in town centres. If your trip leans more towards quiet coves and inland villages, that flips and a full-week hire makes sense. Our car rental guide covers the costs.