Car Hire in Torremolinos: Do You Need a Car?

For a beach stay you don't need a car in Torremolinos: the town can be walked "from end to end", the Cercanías train has five stops in it, and the tourist board counts up to 135 taxis. A car pays off for day trips – Nerja is about 50 minutes away and Granada about 1 hour 30 – and Málaga Airport, where most visitors collect one, is just five kilometres from town.

Do you need a car in Torremolinos?

No, in our judgement, if you are staying for the beach, the town and Málaga city. Turismo Torremolinos says "it is possible to walk from end to end of the town" and that the commuter line from Fuengirola to Málaga has five stops in Torremolinos, running between 05:20 and 23:30. Málaga city centre is about 20 minutes away.

Taxis are metered and run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with up to 135 in the fleet, according to the tourist board, which also lists bus lines between 08:00 and 22:00 and a cycle lane on the promenade from Bajondillo to Los Álamos. Our practical tips for Torremolinos cover the train stops and the airport.

Hire a car if you want to reach places the train doesn't, such as Ronda or Granada, or to move at your own pace around the coast.

Where can you hire a car for Torremolinos?

Turismo Torremolinos says there is "a wide range of rental companies to choose from, even car rental with a driver", but it names none and gives no prices, so we don't either. We found no verified source for what a town desk charges against the airport, and we don't claim one is cheaper.

The airport is the practical pick-up point, five kilometres away, and comparing suppliers there is quicker than visiting desks in town. Our guide to car hire at Málaga Airport covers the terms: desks, fuel policy, deposits and the low-emission zone in central Málaga.

How do you get from Torremolinos to Málaga Airport to collect a car?

By train, Turismo Torremolinos says the airport is about fifteen minutes from any of the five stops in the municipality, and "10/15 minutes" by car in its connections table. The Cercanías C1 stops at Los Álamos, La Colina, Torremolinos (La Nogalera), Montemar-Alto and El Pinillo.

First and last trains matter on a pick-up day: the tourist board gives 05:20 to 23:30 as the normal hours between Málaga and Fuengirola, so check Renfe for the day. For a pre-booked ride instead, see getting from Málaga Airport to Torremolinos.

Where do you park in Torremolinos?

Along the seafront there are "enough outside parking spaces", and the centre has a "Shop in town and park free" campaign at five car parks, according to Turismo Torremolinos: Plaza de Andalucía, San Enrique, Isabel Manoja, Maestra Miret and Pueblo Blanco. It applies when you dine or shop at supporting businesses; we haven't checked the rules.

Parque de la Batería has more than 150 parking spaces, the tourist board says. We found no official daily price for the town's car parks, so we print none; ask your hotel about parking when you book – see where to stay in Torremolinos.

Which day trips are worth a car from Torremolinos?

Turismo Torremolinos lists these journey times from the town, and the town is on the A-7, the AP-7 and the N-340:

Times are the tourist board's figures; traffic and the route change them. For what to see at each stop, see our guide to day trips from Torremolinos.

What do you need to drive in Spain?

The UK Foreign Office says you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Spain, provisional licences are not valid, and you must carry a valid driving licence and ID. The minimum age to drive a car is 18. We haven't verified the rules for other nationalities, so check with your hire company.

Spain has strict drink-driving laws, police can give on-the-spot fines for offences including speeding, and using a mobile phone while driving is illegal, even if you have pulled over, the Foreign Office says. Children may sit in the front only if the rear seats are taken by other children or the car has none; car hire agencies can provide child seats if you ask when you reserve.

The Foreign Office also warns that "highway pirates" target foreign-registered and hire cars, and that thieves may pose as plainclothes police in unmarked cars; genuine police will only ask for vehicle documents, not your bag or wallet.

FAQ – Car Hire in Torremolinos