Malaga Aeronautical Museum (Museo Aeronautico de Malaga)

The basics

Whether you’re an aviation fan, a history buff, or just want something unusual to occupy the family while in Malaga, the Malaga Aeronautical Museum is just the ticket. You can take self-guided tours of the various museum buildings and surrounding grounds. Standout sights include the original flight tower complete with its analog instrumentation, interactive experiments that illustrate the science of flight, and several real aircraft, including helicopters and some early commercial jets, some of which you can enter and explore.

Things to know before you go

• The Malaga Aeronautical Museum will fascinate travel fans, history enthusiasts, and aviation aficionados of all ages, including children.

• Plan on spending around 1.5-2 hours at the museum.

• Entry to the museum is free.

• On-site facilities include rest areas and free car parking.

How to get there

The museum stands on Av. del Comandante García Morato at the southern corner of Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport. By public transit, take Malaga’s A Express Line (EMT) bus or Cercanías C1 train line to the airport, and then make the roughly 20-minute walk to the museum. Alternatively, hire a cab or drive yourself to the museum: turning off the MA-21 at Exit 3 and taking the 3rd exit at the first roundabout before following the signposts.

When to get there

The Malaga Aeronautical Museum is typically open Tuesday-Saturday throughout the year. It closes on December 24, 25, and 31, and again on January 1 and 6. Opening hours are generally mid-morning to mid-evening on Tuesdays, and mid-morning to mid-afternoon on Wednesday-Saturday. Tuesdays and Saturdays are usually the museum’s busiest days—although it doesn’t usually get crowded—so to explore when things are quieter, consider visiting on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Highlights of the Malaga Aeronautical Museum

Amongst other must-sees at the Malaga Aeronautical Museum is the hacienda-style terminal: a far cry from today’s vast glass-and-concrete hulks, where you can still see the original check-in counter, wooden benches, luggage scales, and advertising posters. Next up is the control tower, complete with its old light signaling system and small viewing windows. For many, though, the highlights are the restored aircraft, which include a Douglas DC-3 and McDonnell Douglas DC-9, the latter one of the last pre-digital passenger planes.