I am flying into Malaga airport, I would like to vist Cordoba (Mezquitta only, not the town). My flight arrives at Malaga airport at 11.05 am. Is it possible to visit Corboda the day I arrive, after I check into the hotel in Malaga?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Also, the only airport hotel I can find in Malaga is the Holiday Inn Express, my flight departing Malaga is very early at 7 am, is there a hotel connected to any of the airport terminals that I can stay in the night before I leave?

Thanks.

There is at least one Fodorite here who resides in Málaga or the area, so you should top your posting from time to time to get his attention.

Until you get some more local expertise from him, I'd say that the answer of the first part of your question will also depend on if you plan to do that by rental car or train.
I cannot remember having needed more than 45min to disembark, pick up luggage, clear car rental procedures to drive off the airport. So you should be ready by 12 noon. Drive to Córdoba is appr. 2hrs, add 1hr for going to hotel, check-in, drop-off luggage in your room, and leave town again. So you could be in Córdoba by 3pm. Add some time to go into town and find a place to park. Depending on your date of travel, the Mezquita will close at 5.30pm to 7pm. So yes, technically you might be able to do it. If it's *worth* it or if it's wise to do make such a road trip at the very beginning of your vacation (is jetlag a matter?) only you can decide.
If you plan to take the train, you can check schedules at www.renfe.es

Re. hotels directly *connected* to the airport: I do not remember one hotel that would be connected to the terminal buildings. The HI Express is appr. 300-400 meters from the terminal. I saw more hotels on Av. Velázquez, the main road going into Málaga, in appr. 1-2km distance from the airport which would only be a very short taxi ride. As you can imagine, that is not the cosiest location but if only proximity to the airport counts, the HI Express is your best option. You can go to viamichelin.com, open the map for Málaga, zoom in until you get the airport area, and tick the "Hotels" box on the upper edge of the map to see the individual hotel's location.

Thanks, Cowboy1968 for your reply and thank you for the links.

I would like to clarify, I will fly into Malaga on an intra Europe flight, so jet lag will not be an issue. I not going to stay in Cordoba overnight. I was planning on moving my luggage to my hotel in Malaga and then taking the train to Cordoba, I know the train takes 50 mins, but I've had no end of problems with Renfe's website so I don't know how frequent the trains are. Nor do I know how far Mezquitta is from the Cordoba train station. I have checked opening times for Mezquitta and it looks like it closes at 6 pm when I will be travelling in Europe.

The generic schedules show (within your time frame) trains leaving Málaga at 14:00, 14:30, and 15:00, arriving Córdoba at 15:02, 15:35, and 15:54 respectively. From looking at the map, I'd say that the Mezquita is appr 1.5km from the station, but taxis are not pricey in Spain.

Thank you, Cowboy1968.

It's doable I think in most circumstances, but will be rushed. I would take the airport train to the station, leave your luggage there (you may need to go to the bus station next door) and catch AVE to Córdoba. Traffic is truly dreadful in the centre of Córdoba, but taxis can get round some congestions by using special lanes and being allowed inside no-drive zone (around Mezquita). Allow 30 min from the station. You need around an hour inside to do it justice (or 45 min at a stretch). Pick up your luggage on your return to Málaga and then check in. Let the hotel know about your late arrival. Of course if your hotel is very close to the airport, you can check in first (or leave luggage there if your room isn't yet ready) and take a train/taxi to the station.

Alec's comments re left luggage make sense. If you need an out of town hotel not far from airport in malaga there's the parador golf but you won't get a feel for the city that way. lots of good hotels in the centre of malaga (maybe 15 mins from airport if traffic not bad, 25 if busy. don curro, hotel larios, nh hotel, ac hotel...do a search - there are some good, reasonable malaga hotels recommended. josele is the fodorite in malaga - maybe post for him if you need more info. in cordoba, get a taxi outside the railway station. the mezquita is 10-15 mins tops on the ring road and the taxi will drop you outside; get a card and you can ring up for a return or else arrange a pickup. give it at least an hour - you can always relax in the patio de naranjas after you've visited...well worth it (weather permitting). Understand you want to see mezquita but if you're in cordoba it's a great pity not to look around the old part of the city. re train times, i read last week that renfe weren't permitting bookings beyond the end of feb but i guess this will have to change soon.

I think Cowboy1968 and Portuense mean me living in Malaga. Sorry, I've been busy.
Hotels 1-2 km near the airport at Novotel and Ibis, good rates, but not the ideal location, far from the city center and on semi-industrial grounds, and the tube is still being built!
To give better advice, tell me: how long are you staying in Malaga? Do you already have a hotel? What time your plane departs?
The AVE train gets you fast to Cordoba, you can buy your ticket pretty fast as soon as you get to the station, but there are cheaper slower trains. Then you'll need a taxi to the Mezquita-Catedral. You'll be there at siesta time, which is good as there'll presumably be less visitors. But some days in the year it is closed to visitors for one reason or other. When are you planning your visit?

Sorry, I did not read your plane departs at 7 in the morn. You can stay at a hotel in the city center as there'll be no traffic when you go to the airport, it is very early. It'll take no more than 15 min. Taxi may be 20 eur.

Thank you all for the helpful feedback.

josele, I have not arranged a hotel yet. I will be in Malaga in Oct, 2010.

I had planned on staying for three nights but the airline changed my flights and had me staying in Malaga for two nights only. Once I learnt this I posted this question.

I have rebooked my airline tickets and changed my dates to allow me to stay for three nights (two full days), Hopefully, there won't be another schedule change between now and when I travel. At present, my flight itinerary is as follows:-

Sunday, arrive Malaga, 11.05 am.
Wednesday, depart Malaga, 7.00 am.

Do I need to buy a ticket for the AVE in advance, do these trains sell out? Are discounted tickets available?

On a Sunday you may find more people visiting the Mezquita-Catedral than on Monday. Check timetables here: http://www.artencordoba.com/MEZQUITA...a-turismo.html
I am not sure about ticketing, surely you may find more people returning from Madrid and Cordoba on a Sunday evening, so if you are visiting Cordoba then, better book in advance. But have in mind that if your plane arrives delayed and you miss the train, there's no return of money. And to get extra discount you have to buy return ticket. Anyway, I believe options wont be available to purchase this soon.
Hotels near the Railway Station are Barceló (in the very station), Silken Puerta de Málaga and Tryp Alameda.(There are others, cheaper). On the river, let's say midway city center to Rail Station, the NH Malaga. Then, in the very city center there are many others, depending on budget. As I told you, there won't be any traffic at the time you depart.

Thank you, josele.

Just checked a friend that went to Cordoba yesterday, chose the Avant train, took just 10 mins more than AVE for half the price.

good to know, I'll buy my ticket when I arrive in Malaga. Many thanks to all of you for your help.