Yesterday I found a return flight from East Midlands to Málaga for £90 return on Skyscanner.
Inbound is Jet2, outbound is Ryanair. This series is about finding good flight deals and planning what kind of extreme day trip I could have — where I’d go, what I’d see, and what I’d eat.
The rules
- Same-day return
- No hotel
- No big plan
Just seeing what kind of day I could squeeze into a cheap ticket.
The flight deal
I was searching for a cheap return ticket, and this one stood out:
- Route: East Midlands → Málaga
- Price: £90 return
- Airlines: Jet2 (outbound), Ryanair (inbound)
- Flight times: Depart East Midlands 06:40 → Arrive Málaga 10:40, Return Málaga 22:15 → Arrive East Midlands 00:15
Málaga Airport is only about 15–20 minutes from the city centre, so a same-day trip is very doable.
Getting from the airport to the city
If I landed at Málaga Airport, I’d have a few easy options:
- Cercanías train (C1) – around 12 minutes to Málaga Centro Alameda, cheap and frequent
- Airport bus (A Express) – around 20–25 minutes, drops you centrally
- Taxi – quickest and easiest, but more expensive
I’d probably take the train — fast, simple, and gets me straight into the centre so I can start exploring.
What I’d see on an extreme day out
Málaga is compact, sunny, and perfect for wandering, so I’d keep everything walkable.
Morning
- Alcazaba – heading there first, a short walk from the centre, mainly for the views over the city and the port.
Midday → Evening
After the Alcazaba, I’d have the whole afternoon and evening to explore the city.
- Museo Casa Natal de Picasso – an afternoon visit.
- Plaza de la Merced – outside the museum. Obligatory photo with the Picasso statue, then into the old town.
- Old Town & Calle Larios – walking through the old town streets and squares, doing a bit of window shopping along the way.
- Pastelería stop – I’d pop into a few local pastelerías, traditional or modern, and try something sweet at each.
- Málaga Cathedral (La Manquita) – stopping by to admire it from the outside and take a few photos.
- Muelle Uno & the port – a walk along the waterfront, watching the boats come and go.
- La Malagueta Beach – finishing the day with a stroll along the beach, feeling the sea breeze before heading back to the airport.
What I’d eat and drink
Nothing fancy — just eating along the way.
- Coffee and a pastry to start the day.
- Lunch somewhere in the old town — maybe tapas.
- Something sweet from a pastelería in the afternoon.
- Some seafood near the beach if time allows.
- One last drink before heading back to the airport.
I’d just eat whenever I felt like it.
The flight was £90 return, and the airport train is only €3.60 (return) — not bad at all for a full day in southern Spain.
Final thought
This would be another extreme day out — cheap flights, no hotel, and seeing how much of Málaga I could fit into a single day. A long day, but plenty packed in for a cheap flight.
Prices mentioned were correct at the time of writing and may vary. Just a reminder: this is how I’d do it — everyone’s experience may be different, so use it as inspiration rather than a strict plan!
