Day Trip to Malaga From the UK, From £71.30 for the Whole Day
Founders pay £19.00 a year, for as long as you stay. See the founding offer
The cheapest day trip to Malaga from the UK is from Luton on Monday 14 December, £39.00 return and £71.30 for the whole day with the train, lunch and dinner, and about 6.4 hours in town. Gatwick is £74.30 the same day.
Malaga in December is the trip people don't believe works until they've done it. First flight out, sun on your face by mid morning, last flight home, back in bed before midnight.
We went through every UK airport on our board for November and December and pulled the cheapest same-day return from each. Then we added what the day actually costs once you land, because a £39.00 flight isn't a £39.00 day.
The whole day costs more than the flight, so here's the lot
On our cheapest date the ground costs come to £32.30 a person. That's £4.00 for the train into town and back, £8.80 for lunch and £19.50 for dinner. Paid sights are on top if you want them.
So the number to look at is the whole day, not the fare. Every price below is return, per person, checked on 28 October 2026.
Cheapest from each airport
- Luton Monday 14 December, easyJet. £39.00 flight, £71.30 for the day. Out 07:15, home 20:45, landing 22:40. About 6.4 hours in town.
- Gatwick Monday 14 December. £42.00 flight, £74.30 for the day. Out 06:20, home 21:20, landing 23:10. About 7.9 hours in town.
- Manchester Friday 11 December, Ryanair. £48.00 flight, £80.30 for the day. Out 05:50, home 21:25, landing 23:30. About 8.4 hours in town.
- Liverpool Wednesday 16 December, easyJet. £48.00 flight, £80.30 for the day. Out 06:55, home 21:55, landing 23:55.
- Birmingham Saturday 5 December, Jet2. £53.00 flight, £85.30 for the day. Out 06:20, home 21:55, landing 23:55.
- Bristol Thursday 17 December, easyJet. £54.00 flight, £86.30 for the day. Out 06:20, home 21:10, landing 22:55.
- Newcastle Friday 13 November, Jet2. £62.00 flight, £94.30 for the day. Out 06:00, home 21:15, landing 23:30.
- East Midlands Sunday 15 November, Jet2. £83.00 flight, £115.30 for the day.
- Stansted Saturday 19 December, Ryanair. £115.00 flight, £147.30 for the day. The later 09:35 start means only about 6.4 hours there.
Luton to Malaga on 14 December · Gatwick · Manchester · Bristol
What to do with seven or eight hours
Malaga is small enough to do on foot, which is exactly what you want on a day like this. The train from the airport takes about 12 minutes and drops you near the centre.
Do the climbing in the morning while it's cool. The Alcazaba is €7.00 and the view from the top is the one everyone takes home. The cathedral is €10.00 and the Picasso museum €13.00. Pick one of the two, not both, or you'll spend the best of the light indoors.
Then lunch, then the beach. Malagueta is a short walk from the old town, so you can sit by the sea for the afternoon without any faff getting there.
Head back to the airport with an hour and a half in hand. You don't want to be the one running for the gate.
If your date doesn't work
Most airports have a second cheap day close by. Luton was £46.00 on Saturday 12 December and £49.00 on Thursday 17 December. Gatwick was £43.00 on both Sunday 13 and Tuesday 15 December. Manchester was £51.00 on Friday 27 November and £54.00 on Monday 30 November. Bristol was £57.00 on Monday 14 December.
Quick answers
Can you do Malaga as a day trip from the UK? Yes. From nine airports when we checked, all out early and home the same night.
Which airport is cheapest? Luton, £71.30 for the whole day on Monday 14 December.
Do I need a bag? Not for a day. Check what your fare includes before you pack anything bigger than a small bag.
Fares move every day, so open the trip page for your date before you book. Want more sun? Our winter sun day trips for December has six more.
Founders see every day priced, six months ahead, for £19.00 a year. Become a founder
Day trips in this article
Founders pay £19.00 a year, for as long as you stay. See the founding offer
The cheapest day trips of the week, by email
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.
Related Articles
Christmas Markets Still Open After Christmas 2026, Day Trips Date by Date
The Christmas markets still open between 27 December and 4 January, and a day trip from the UK to each, with the whole-day cost. Checked 28 October.
· 3 min read
Day Trip to Milan From the UK, and Which Milan Airport to Pick
Milan has three airports and the cheapest flight isn't always the cheapest day. Here's how Malpensa, Bergamo and Linate compare for a day trip. Checked 28 October.
· 3 min read
Prague Christmas Market Opening Day: A November Day Trip That Works
Prague's markets open on 28 November 2026, and you can land, do both main squares, eat your bodyweight in trdelník, and be home by midnight. Here's the honest plan.
· 4 min read
Latest Articles
View all articles
Christmas Market Day Trips From Manchester 2026, Your Questions Answered
Which Christmas markets you can do in a day from Manchester Airport in 2026, what each costs for the whole day, and the best date for each. Checked 28 October.
· 3 min read
A Day Trip to Lisbon From the UK, Hour by Hour, From £82.00
How a day in Lisbon actually goes from Stansted, what it costs once you land, and the cheapest date from five UK airports. Checked 28 October.
· 3 min read
Christmas Market Day Trips From Heathrow 2026, 11 Markets by Whole-Day Cost
Eleven Christmas market cities you can do in a day from Heathrow in 2026, ranked by the whole-day cost, with flight times and market dates. Checked 28 October.
· 3 min read