Getting around Málaga is easier than most cities its size. Here’s everything you need to know before you arrive.
I work at Málaga airport. I see every day how people arrive and immediately face the same question: how do I get into the city? This guide to getting around Málaga covers every option — from the airport to the centre and around the city — with honest advice on what works best depending on your situation.
Whether you’re figuring out getting around Málaga by train, bus, metro or taxi, the answer is simpler than most visitors expect. Here’s the complete breakdown.
Getting around Málaga — from the airport to the city centre
Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport is 8km from the city centre — one of the best-connected airports in southern Europe. You have four realistic options for getting around Málaga from the moment you land.
01 — Train Line C1 — the best way of getting around Málaga from the airport
The Cercanías C1 line connects the airport directly to the city centre in around 12 minutes, and to María Zambrano station — the main AVE hub — in 8 minutes. It runs every 20 minutes, costs under €2, and operates from around 5:45am to 11:45pm. The airport station is at Terminal 2, a short walk from arrivals.
This is what I’d tell any friend arriving in Málaga: take the train. It’s faster than a taxi in traffic, costs almost nothing, and drops you at María Zambrano — which connects directly to the metro, the bus station and the cercanías network for the rest of the Costa del Sol.
| Destination | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Málaga Centro | ~12 min | ~€1.80 |
| María Zambrano (AVE) | ~8 min | ~€1.80 |
| Torremolinos | ~11 min | ~€1.80 |
| Benalmádena | ~18 min | ~€1.80 |
| Fuengirola | ~34 min | ~€1.80 |
Practical info
First train from Málaga: 5:45am — Last train from airport: 11:45pm — Every 20 minutes — Airport station at Terminal 2 — Card accepted at ticket machines. Book via renfe.es
Best for: almost everyone travelling to the city centre or the Costa del Sol
02 — Bus Express Line A
The EMT Express Line A connects the airport to the city centre in around 15 minutes. Stop at Terminal 3, Floor 0. Runs every 15 minutes from 6:25am to midnight. Ticket: €4, card or cash on board. The bus drops you closer to the port and Paseo del Parque — useful if your accommodation is in Soho, La Malagueta or the eastern part of the centre.
Best for: travellers staying near the port, Soho or La Malagueta
03 — Taxi from Málaga airport
Taxis operate on a fixed tariff from the rank at Terminal 3, Floor 0. The minimum fare to the city centre is around €17–€20. For families with children and heavy luggage, or for flights arriving after 11:45pm when the train stops running, the taxi is the practical choice for getting around Málaga.
Practical info
Rank: Terminal 3, Floor 0 — Minimum fare: ~€17–€20 — Radiotaxi: +34 952 04 08 04 — Unitaxi: +34 952 33 33 33 — Higher rates at night and weekends
Best for: families with luggage, late night arrivals, groups splitting the cost
04 — Uber and Bolt
Both operate from Málaga airport. Request from the app and meet your driver at the VTC pickup area — Parking T3, Floor 0 for Uber; Floor 0 Arrivals for Bolt. Prices are comparable to regulated taxis and occasionally cheaper. The advantage is the ability to book in advance and pay cashlessly.
Best for: travellers who prefer app-based booking and cashless payment
Getting around Málaga city — your options once you’re here
05 — On foot — the best way of getting around Málaga centre
Málaga’s historic centre is compact and almost entirely pedestrianised. From a hotel in the old town, you can walk to the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum, the Atarazanas market, the port and La Malagueta beach without needing any other transport. Most visitors underestimate how walkable it is. Getting around Málaga on foot is genuinely the best option for the centre.
Best for: anyone staying in or near the historic centre
06 — Metro
Two lines — L1 and L2 — running from Atarazanas station westward through El Perchel and beyond. For tourists, the most useful stops are Atarazanas (historic centre), El Perchel (train and bus stations) and Teatinos (university area). A single journey costs around €1.35. If you’re staying in El Perchel or Huelin, the metro is your best option for getting around Málaga to the centre.
Best for: travellers staying in El Perchel, Huelin or heading to Teatinos
07 — Cercanías — the coastal commuter train
The C1 cercanías line runs from María Zambrano through the airport and along the coast to Fuengirola. Frequent, cheap and reliable — the best option for getting around Málaga and the Costa del Sol without a car.
| Destination | Time from María Zambrano | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | ~8 min | ~€1.80 |
| Torremolinos | ~20 min | ~€1.80 |
| Benalmádena | ~27 min | ~€1.80 |
| Fuengirola | ~42 min | ~€1.80 |
Best for: day trips along the Costa del Sol, travellers staying outside Málaga city. See our full day trips guide for more.
08 — Urban bus — EMT Málaga
The EMT bus network covers the entire city with over 40 lines. For most tourists, the bus is less useful than walking or the metro — routes are less intuitive. But a few lines are essential for getting around Málaga beyond the walkable centre:
- Line 35 — goes up to Gibralfaro Castle, saving a steep walk in the heat
- Line 3 or 11 — reaches Pedregalejo and El Palo on the eastern coast
- Express Line A — airport to city centre
Tap on and off with a debit card. Single journey: around €1.40. The Citymapper app works well for navigating Málaga’s bus network in real time.
Best for: reaching Gibralfaro, Pedregalejo, El Palo and other points outside the walkable centre
09 — Taxi and VTC in the city
Taxis are easy to find — ranks at Plaza de la Marina, outside María Zambrano and near the port. Uber and Bolt both operate throughout the city. A trip across the centre typically costs €6–€10. For the Montes de Málaga — the hills above the city where the best traditional restaurants are — a taxi is the most practical option for getting around Málaga’s outskirts.
Best for: short trips across the city, reaching the Montes de Málaga, late night returns
Quick reference — getting around Málaga from the airport
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train C1 | ~12 min | ~€1.80 | Almost everyone |
| Bus Express A | ~15 min | €4 | Port / Soho / Malagueta area |
| Taxi | ~20 min | €17–€20 | Families, heavy luggage, late arrivals |
| Uber / Bolt | ~20 min | €15–€22 | App users, cashless payment |
My honest recommendation for getting around Málaga
Take the train from the airport. It is the single best piece of advice I can give anyone arriving in Málaga. Under €2, under 15 minutes, no traffic, no negotiation, no confusion. Follow the signs in Terminal 2 to the cercanías station and you’ll be in the city centre before your fellow passengers have found the taxi rank.
Once you’re in the city, walk. Málaga’s centre is made for it. Use the bus for Gibralfaro or the eastern beaches, the metro if you’re staying in El Perchel, and a taxi or Uber for the Montes on a Sunday afternoon. For more on planning your trip, see our guide on how many days in Málaga you actually need.