Malaga Transport

Although Malaga is a large city, the city centre and the historic quarter are easy to get about on foot.  There are, though, several public transport options open to visitors who want to access areas farther afield. Trains, buses, tourist services and taxis all provide fairly efficient transport, depending on where you want to go. Buses have the greatest reach and are the cheapest travel option, while a tourist bus visits all the city sights and trains run between the marina, city centre, the airport and out to the beach resorts on the Costa del Sol.

By train

There are two local train lines within Malaga, known as cercanias - lines C1 and C2. C1 line runs from Malaga through the airport and out west along the coast as far as Fuengirola, taking in Torremolinos and Marbella. The C2 line runs from the centre of Malaga and out towards the inland town of Alora. Although these trains are cheap, they don’t stop at all stations and tourists visiting Malaga will only really have a need for the C1 line, which serves the airport every 30 minutes.

By bus

The bus system in Malaga is run by EMT (Empresa Malagueña de Transportes) and has far greater coverage than the local train system. Buses are frequent, air conditioned and run to most destinations throughout the city. Daily or 10-journey bus tickets can be purchased at estancos (tobacco shops) all over Malaga and there is even a night service. It is a good idea to avoid any city buses from about 14:00 to 17:00, as many locals travel home during this time including school kids.

Taxis

A fast transport option is to take a taxi. Taxis in Malaga are numerous and easy to flag down when they display their green ‘libre’ light. They are cheap when compared with other cities and resorts across Europe and are best used for short trips around the city and out to the airport. All licensed taxis in Malaga are white.

Tourist services

The tourist bus service, similar to a red double-decker London bus, offers city tours that take in all the sights and attractions, with the option to hop on and off when you feel like it. Commentary is available in several languages, including English, French, and German, and tickets can be purchsed from the kiosk outside the main post office.

From the airport

Most people who don’t have prearranged shuttle bus transfers from the airport to city hotels, travel to Malaga by train or taxi. Trains for the city centre, as well as out to the resorts of Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola, depart every 30 minutes and run all day, while taxis are available from outside both terminals and reach Malaga within 20 minutes. Airport taxi surcharges apply, although fares are very reasonable. Buses also run to Malaga throughout the day, with bus number 19 running every 30 minutes between 06:30 and 23:30 from outside International Arrivals. For drivers, the N340 provides access to both Malaga and the major beach resorts to the west.