Málaga for Sports Lovers

The popular summer destination, Málaga offers sports lovers an environment rich in games to watch and games to play. Home to three major professional sports teams, it’s a perfect vacation spot for those seeking a break from the beach scene to watch a game or even join in.

Football

Spain is passionate about football. Fans of Duda and the Málaga Club de Fútbol will enjoy watching their favourite Premier Division La Liga team compete against rivals such as Barcelona and Atlético Madrid. Home games are played at La Rosaleda stadium, located on Paseo de Martiricos, the home of football in Málaga since 1941.

Basketball

Basketball enthusiasts can head over to Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena to watch some fast-moving plays between Málaga’s home team, Baloncesto Málaga (more commonly known as Unicaja Málaga) and opponents in the Liga ACB and Euroleague basketball leagues.

Women’s Football

As winners of the National League and Cup in 1998, Málaga’s women’s professional football team, Atlético Málaga of the Primera Division, can be watched competing against contenders on their home turf of José Gallardo football stadium.

Playing Sports

For those preferring to play a sport rather than watch, Málaga as a beach destination is popular for all kinds of water sports and sailing. It is also home to approximately fifty golf clubs in and around the area.

Getting There

Because Málaga is such a popular vacation spot, the city is very accessible from most of Europe, as well as internationally, with a variety of direct and connecting flights into Málaga Airport, the fourth busiest airport in Spain. There are a number of carriers offering non-stop flights from London that get visitors to Málaga in three hours. Upon arrival, taxis from Málaga airport are an easy way to travel into the city centre, or to one of the many hotels, resorts, or beach locations.

If travelling to Málaga from other parts of Spain, the city is well-connected to Granada, Seville and Cordoba. Four daily buses leave Granada airport for the two-hour ride to Málaga airport. Buses leave the Granada bus station for the Málaga bus station every thirty minutes.

RailEurope takes visitors from Seville to Málaga in two hours and from Cordoba to Málaga in just under an hour. It is recommended that train tickets be purchased well in advance for travel during the summer months to guarantee a seat.

Getting to Málaga from the larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona are also quite convenient. From Madrid, visitors can board a Eurail AVE high speed train and be in Málaga in two hours, thirty minutes. From Barcelona, tourists would do well to board one of several direct flights to Málaga, a quicker option than the six hour train ride.

There are a number of cruise ships that stop at Málaga’s port, which happens to be one of the oldest ports in the Mediterranean. Summer vacationers may want to consider booking a cruise on one of the major cruise lines that stops in Málaga to spend a glorious day at the beach, sightseeing, cheering on a favourite sports team or playing a round of golf.