Private transfer from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport to Alhaurín el Grande, Malaga

Alhaurín el Grande sits on the southern slopes of the Sierra de Mijas, looking out over the Guadalhorce valley rather than the sea. The old town is a grid of steep, narrow white streets around Plaza Baja and Plaza Alta, with the Fuente de los Doce Caños fountain a well-known local landmark. It draws a large permanent community of northern European and British residents, plus golfers heading for Alhaurín Golf, laid out on the hillside below town. Spring and autumn are busiest, when the countryside is green and walkers use the tracks up into the sierra. Many visitors stay in villas and fincas scattered across the surrounding campo, on lanes off the A-404 towards Coín and Alhaurín de la Torre, rather than in the town centre itself.

The route leaves the airport on the A-7 briefly, then turns inland and follows the A-404 through Alhaurín de la Torre and up the Guadalhorce valley. It is a short run, usually around 35 minutes, and it moves away from the coast almost immediately, so you won't see the sea. The terrain shifts from flat valley floor to gentle hill country, with the Sierra de Mijas rising on your left as you approach. The final stretch into town is the slowest part: the A-404 becomes busier around the outskirts, and if your address is in the old centre the streets are narrow, one-way in places and awkward for larger vehicles. Villa addresses out in the campo often sit on unnamed lanes off the main road.

Because so many stays here are in fincas and villas rather than hotels, send more than just a street name. A pin location, the name of the urbanización or nearby lane, and a phone number make the difference, as satnav often struggles with rural addresses around Alhaurín. If you're staying in the old town, tell the driver the nearest plaza or a bar you can be dropped at, since some central streets can't be entered by car. Golfers heading to Alhaurín Golf should note the clubhouse is below the town, signposted off the approach road, not in the centre. There is little late-night public transport back to the airport, so pre-booking a return is worth it. The valley can get foggy on winter mornings, which occasionally slows the final approach.