Getting around · Málaga · Spain
Getting around Málaga
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Llecco, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The old town, the port and La Malagueta are all within walking distance. EMT city buses run along the seafront to Pedregalejo and El Palo and up to Gibralfaro, Cercanías trains serve the airport and the Costa del Sol, and two metro lines link the centre with western districts and the university. Not for the city.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- AGP
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- EMT travel card
Ways to get around
Walking
Most sights are within 15 minutes of the cathedral on foot, and the pedestrianised old town and port promenade are pleasant to walk.
Bus
EMT buses cover the city, including line 35 up to Gibralfaro and frequent services east along the coast to Pedregalejo and El Palo.
Pay by contactless bank card on board, or buy a rechargeable travel card at kiosks.
Train
Cercanías line C1 runs from Málaga Centro-Alameda through María Zambrano station to the airport and on to Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola. High-speed trains from María Zambrano reach Córdoba in about an hour and Madrid in under three hours.
Metro
Two metro lines run west from near the centre to María Zambrano station, the university district and the Carretera de Cádiz; they are useful mainly for residents and the railway station.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful at ranks in the centre and at the airport, and ride-hailing apps operate in the city.
Cycling
A municipal bike-share scheme and bike lanes along the seafront and port make cycling to the eastern beaches easy.
Tickets and passes
EMT travel card
A rechargeable card that lowers the fare per bus journey compared with paying for single tickets on board.
From the airport
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is about 8 km south-west of the centre. Cercanías line C1 reaches Centro-Alameda station in about 15 minutes, and the A Express bus runs to the Paseo del Parque in about 20 minutes. A taxi takes about 15–20 minutes.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city. A car is useful for the white villages and inland day trips, but Ronda, Nerja, Antequera, Córdoba and the Caminito del Rey are all reachable by bus or train.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Caminito del Rey | About 1 hour by car or train | Train to El Chorro, then shuttle bus to the entrance; or car |
| Ronda | About 1 hour 45 minutes by bus | Bus from Málaga bus station, or train with a change |
| Nerja and Frigiliana | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Bus from Málaga bus station to Nerja, then local bus to Frigiliana |
| Antequera and El Torcal | About 45 minutes by bus or train | Bus or train to Antequera; car or taxi for El Torcal |
| Córdoba | About 1 hour by high-speed train | AVE or Avant train from María Zambrano |
| Granada | About 1.5–2 hours by bus or train | Bus from Málaga bus station, or train |
| Mijas Pueblo | About 45 minutes by train and bus | Cercanías C1 to Fuengirola, then local bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Málaga?
Not for the city. A car is useful for the white villages and inland day trips, but Ronda, Nerja, Antequera, Córdoba and the Caminito del Rey are all reachable by bus or train.
+How do you get from the airport to Málaga?
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is about 8 km south-west of the centre. Cercanías line C1 reaches Centro-Alameda station in about 15 minutes, and the A Express bus runs to the Paseo del Parque in about 20 minutes. A taxi takes about 15–20 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Málaga?
Walking: Most sights are within 15 minutes of the cathedral on foot, and the pedestrianised old town and port promenade are pleasant to walk.