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Planning a European getaway? We’ve put together this helpful list of airports in Spain to get you started. Our Spanish airport guides include all the information you need to know before you go. Just choose your city below and find information about local airports such as facilities, transfer tips, parking info, how to get around town, car rental and other helpful details for an unforgettable trip to Spain.

Airports in Alicante
Airports in Balearic Islands
Airports in Barcelona
Airports in Canary Islands
Airports in Madrid
Airports in Malaga
Airports in Seville
Airports in Valencia

Here are some of the top airports in Spain:

Valencia Airport (VLC)

Valencia Airport, also known as Manises Airport, is a small air field by Spanish standards. Despite it having just one terminal, it still manages to process nearly six million passengers every year. Extensive renovations were carried out in 2007 for the hosting of the America’s Cup. It is a modern facility with convenient public transport options into Valencia.

You can find flights to Valencia Airport from many European countries including Geneva, London, Madrid, Rome, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich and Prague. Connections to US airports like New York’s JFK are available seasonally as well.

Valencia is considered a medium-sized airport in Spanish terms, but it feels dwarfed by massive airports like Madrid, from where many incoming passengers originate. Although it isn’t ideal for long stopovers, there are much less pleasant ways to spend an hour or two than relaxing in the airport cafes.

San Pablo Airport (SVQ)

Rebuilt for the 1992 Universal Exposition, Seville’s San Pablo Airport is a no-nonsense, highly functional airport, providing travellers with easy access to the beautiful capital city of Andalusia, as well as the famed beaches of the Costa del Sol.

Flights to San Pablo Airport are provided by a number of airlines, including several low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Vueling and easyJet – offering short, inexpensive connections to leading European and North African destinations.

Seeing more than 4.5 million sun-seekers each year, San Pablo is a busy hub that has earned a reputation for being a much more pleasant, relaxing transit-point than other Spanish airports.

Cheap flights to Seville are hardest to find between May and August so book your flights early to secure the lowest fares.

Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD)

On average, 49 million travelers a year make their way through Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain’s main gateway. Conveniently close to the city center, it is easily accessible by rail or road.

Flights to Madrid Barajas Airport come in from major hubs around the world. Acting as the main bridge between Europe and Latin America, Madrid Barajas Airport places emphasis on speed, efficiency and traveler comfort, and uses the latest technology to facilitate a smoother, more enjoyable journey.

A big part of the running of Barajas Airport is the careful monitoring of the facility’s environmental impact. The airport is run in accordance with Aena Aeropuertos’ environmental quality policy so that its activity stays within regulations. Employees, companies and users all regularly participate in awareness campaigns that examine the facilities and their impact on the airport’s natural surroundings. A ground-breaking and forward-thinking facility, Barajas Airport is as efficient as it is eco-friendly.

Malaga Airport (AGP)

Malaga Airport (AGP) is one of the busiest airports in Spain and an important tourism gateway to the popular Costa del Sol region. It’s situated 5 miles (8km) from the city of Malaga and 3.1 miles (5km) from Torremolinos. More than 12 million passengers catch flights to Malaga Airport from all over the world each year, especially in the summer months.

There are three terminals at Malaga Airport. Different airlines have check-in desks at different terminals, but all flights leave from Terminal 3 (the newest terminal) which opened in late 2010. It’s twice the size of Terminal 2 and has a large food hall, as well as several other facilities.

Although the new Terminal 3 is spacious and has lots of new facilities, this is one of those airports that feels like it’s permanently under construction, so be prepared for detours and poor signage at times.

Barcelona International Airport (BCN)

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) is generally known as El Prat Airport. It is located 8 miles outside of Barcelona and is the second-largest airport in Spain. Its close proximity to Barcelona makes El Prat a great airport from where to start a Spanish break.

The airport caters for tourists and locals alike with a great selection of shops and duty free items. The El Prat Airport receives most of its flights from other European airports and a couple from airports in North Africa. The terminal is easy to navigate and staff at the airport are always willing to help.

El Prat is popular with low-cost airlines and it is a hub for Ryanair, Spanair and Vueling. Iberia and Air Europa have regular flights to and from El Prat Airport and it is easy to find domestic, European and charter flights to Barcelona El Prat Airport. Several major carriers choose to use El Prat (British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada) and most flights to the Canary Islands, Granada and the Balearic Islands either stop-over or originate from Barcelona Airport.

Alicante International (ALC)

Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Alicante International (ALC) is an ideal gateway to Spain’s pristine coast. The country’s sixth-busiest airport underwent major renovations in March 2011, including the construction of a new terminal large enough to handle 20 million travelers annually.

The sun-drenched airport offers plenty to do for passengers waiting to board. Between retail shopping and Internet surfing in the VIP lounge, grab a bite at the delightful tapas bar or pose with friends and family in newly installed photo booths.

Flights to Alicante Airport arrive daily from Madrid, Barcelona and other hubs, primarily across Europe. Approximately 10 million passengers access the gateway to the Costa Blanca each year. The unparalleled beach resorts attract both low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet and Air Berlin, as well as full-service airlines such as Iberia.

Alicante’s modern architecture and spacious layout create an aesthetic as refreshing as the vacation you’re bound to have in Spain.

Lanzarote Airport (ACE)

Lanzarote Airport (ACE) serves the sunny Canary Island of Lanzarote and is conveniently located 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the capital city, Arrecife.
In addition to receiving a much needed facelift during the 1990s, a section of the airport’s Gaucimeta Terminal was dedicated to serving as an aviation museum in 2002 in response to tourists’ keen interest in the island’s aviation history.

With roughly 5 million travelers on more than 46,000 flights to Lanzarote Airport each year, the facility is very busy, especially during the summer season. The terminals are rather small and often get busy (but seldom chaotic), especially on Thursdays when several British flights to Lanzarote Airport arrive.

Las Palmas/Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

Located approximately 12 miles (19km) south of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and 16 miles (25km) north of the island’s popular tourist areas, Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) or Las Palmas Airport – locally referred to as “Aeropuerto de Gando” – handles almost 9.5 million passengers per year. It is the Canary Islands’ busiest aerial hub and Spain’s fifth-busiest airport.

With a reasonable selection of shops and places to wine and dine, as well as warm and friendly services and an assortment of facilities, Gran Canaria Airport offers a pleasant experience. Clear days offer majestic views of distant mountains, however, breezier weather brings extreme tailwinds to the island, sometimes affecting flight schedules. In general, though, temperatures at Las Palmas International range from mild to moderate throughout the year, so you needn’t carry much in your hand luggage except for a camera, cap and pair of shades.

Like all tourist gateways, Las Palmas can get chaotic at times, especially during the peak months of July and August. However, staff do their best to offer assistance in terms of speeding up procedures and going the extra mile to help passengers.

Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI)

The island of Majorca may be small, but its airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), is big, big enough to accommodate the legions of vacationers who arrive every summer to enjoy the sunny beaches of this Mediterranean island.

Along with Ibiza, Formentera and Minorca, Majorca is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the Spanish Mediterranean, and the airport processes more than 21 million passengers each year.

Flights to Palma de Mallorca Airport come in from around Europe, including most of the UK airports such as London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and East Midlands. There are also flights from Brussels, Paris, Prague, Moscow, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, Geneva, Istanbul, Rome, Budapest, Frankfurt, Zurich, Sofia, Madrid and Warsaw.

Palma de Mallorca is built for large crowds, but in the peak summer season the queues for budget flights back home to the UK are annoyingly long and the airport is often packed. The staff members are helpful however, and do their best to assist with problems.

Ibiza Airport (IBZ)

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) is the main gateway to two of the Balearic Islands – Ibiza and Formentera. The airport is 4.3 miles (7km) southwest of Ibiza, and although the island is small, its popularity as a summer party destination ensures passenger numbers of around 5 million passengers each year.

About 85 percent of the visitors to Ibiza arrive between May and October. If you’re there at the right time (and in the right mood), you can catch some of the world’s best trance, house, and techno deejays performing all through the summer.

Alternatively, you can take one of the many guided tours through the city and surrounds, many parts of which have been declared world heritage sites.
The airport is quite small, with only one terminal building, and getting into town is easy enough using either the buses or taxis. Aside from grabbing a bite to eat, or getting a beer at the bar, there isn’t a whole lot to do at the airport itself.

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About the author

Amanda FestaAmanda is a Boston-based writer who loves to travel and believes planning her next adventure is half the fun. Amanda is a Content and Social Media Executive at Cheapflights.

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