How to Get to Málaga From Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Granada
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Málaga is a gorgeous and sunny city that’s accessible from many other cities in Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, and Granada. Whether you go by train, bus, plane, or even carpool, you have plenty of options. Public transportation is also generally affordable in Spain, so there’s no excuse not to visit.
If you’ve got this coastal paradise on your travel plans, below are directions on how to get to Málaga and information on the different methods of transport available.
From Madrid
Train
Travel time: 2.5 – 3 hours
Cost: €12+
Taking the train from Madrid to Málaga is the fastest and most comfortable option. I loved traveling by train when I was in Spain for over a month. They’re comfortable, have bathrooms, and are sometimes equipped with wifi and outlets.
While taking the train can be very cheap, price varies a lot depending on the day of the week you’re traveling and how far in advance you book. To secure the cheapest price, book at least a few weeks in advance and travel on a weekday (preferably earlier in the week). Otherwise, buying a ticket the same week that you travel could cost you more than €100.
Bus
Travel time: 6 – 7 hours
Cost: €18+
How to book: Omio
Surprisingly, the bus can be more expensive than the train. It also takes more than double the amount of time. With six to seven hours of travel time, you’ll either lose the majority of your day or compromise your sleep on an overnight bus. Between cost and travel time, it’s not the best method of public transportation when going from Madrid to Málaga.
There are only a few buses that leave Madrid each day – one in the morning, two in the afternoon, one in the evening, and one at midnight. If this doesn’t work with your schedule or you want more options, you should look at taking the train instead since trains run more frequently on this route.
Carpool
Travel time: 5.5 – 6 hours
Cost: €25 – 40
How to book: Download the BlaBlaCar app on Android or iOS.
BlaBlaCar is a popular carpooling app in Europe. People who are driving from one place to another can earn some extra money picking up passengers along the way. I took BlaBlaCar multiple times while I was in Spain and had a smooth experience every time. It was also a unique way to meet locals.
Each driver sets their departure time and how much they charge for the ride, so you’ll need to check the app to see what’s available. However, the price for carpooling between Madrid and Málaga is usually between €25 and €40.
Plane
Travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Cost: €27+
How to book: Google Flights, Kayak, or your preferred flight aggregator.
Flying between Madrid and Málaga is incredibly affordable. It’s about the same as carpooling and can be cheaper than taking the train if you don’t book in advance. A plane ticket starts at €27 and is usually between €31 and €56.
Iberia Express and Air Europa are the two airlines that operate flights on this route. While there are plenty of nonstop flights each day, you should still buy your ticket at least a few days beforehand to get the most choices and avoid a price surge.
From Barcelona
Train
Travel time: 5.5 – 9 hours
Cost: €20+
If you plan on taking the train, make sure you get your ticket at least a few weeks before you plan on traveling. For the best deals though, you’ll need to book at least one month in advance. Otherwise, buying your ticket a few days out results in ridiculously high prices – as high as €300.
Taking the train can be a good option as long as you can get a good price. Most rides take between six and seven hours, which is doable. It’s a good time to read a book, catch up on some TV shows, or get work done.
Some train journeys require one transfer in Madrid. If there’s a transfer, be sure to check how long you have to make the transfer and give yourself enough time.
Bus
Travel time: 15 – 21 hours
Cost: €31 – 123
How to book: Alsa
It is a long, long journey to Málaga when driving from Barcelona. In fact, it can take nearly 24 hours. Note that in order to get the lowest price, you’ll need to buy your ticket ahead of time and select one that doesn’t allow changes or cancellations.
In my opinion, the potentially low cost doesn’t make up for how much time you’ll lose when taking the bus. Save yourself money and time by either taking a train or plane.
Carpool
Travel time: 10.5 – 13.5 hours
Cost: €40 – 95
How to book: Download the BlaBlaCar app on Android or iOS.
Because it’s such a long drive, there aren’t many carpools from Barcelona to Málaga. Carpooling isn’t the best option here because drivers can cancel or adjust the trip and most carpools aren’t posted until the week of. You’ll also need to have a lot of flexibility in order to carpool, which is more difficult when you’re traveling long distances. If the driver does cancel the trip, you’ll be left in a tough spot. You might have to stay an extra night or pay a lot to grab a last-minute train, bus, or plane.
Plane
Travel time: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Cost: €16+
How to book: Google Flights, Kayak, or your preferred flight aggregator.
With flights as low as €16, it is truly insane how cheap flying from Barcelona to Málaga is. And given how much faster it is, taking the plane is a no-brainer. It’s by far the best mode of transportation based on price and speed.
Even if you don’t score an amazing deal, flights typically cost anywhere from €30 to €60. That’s still a lot less compared to taking the bus or train.
From Seville
Train
Travel time: 2 – 3 hours
Cost: €25 – 47
The train is a decent option for going from Seville to Málaga. However, when you compare it to the bus or carpooling, it’s the most expensive travel method and there aren’t any benefits over the others. Because of that, I recommend going with the bus or carpooling.
Bus
Travel time: 2.5 – 4 hours
Cost: €10 – 22
How to book: Alsa
Taking the bus is easy, straightforward, and cheap. I recommend going with it over the train because you’ll save a lot while arriving in the same amount of time.
The bus stations in Seville and Málaga are in or right outside of the city center where most people stay, making them convenient to get to. If you’re traveling light, you can walk to and from the bus station, which is what I did.
Carpool
Travel time: 2 – 3.5 hours
Cost: €10 – 22
How to book: Download the BlaBlaCar app on Android or iOS.
Carpooling is a great way to get from Seville to Málaga since it’s comparable to taking a bus. You might even be able to find a carpool that picks up and drops off close to where you’re staying.
If you’re interested in meeting locals and testing your Spanish skills, I recommend taking BlaBlaCar over the bus. But if you just want to sit back and read or listen to music on your ride, the bus might be the better option.
From Valencia
Train
Travel time: 5.5 – 6 hours
Cost: €31+
Taking the train is going to be the best option for most people. It’s affordable (as long as you buy your ticket several weeks before you travel) and the travel time isn’t too long. However, you’ll need to make a transfer in either Madrid or Córdoba.
In Valencia, your train will most likely depart from either Estació del Nord or Valencia-Joaquín Sorolla station. The stations are very close to each other, and they’re located in the center of the city so you may be able to walk there.
In Málaga, trains arrive at the María Zambrano station, which is about a 20-minute walk to the historic center where most people stay. If you don’t feel like walking or you have a lot of luggage, you can either take a bus, hop on the metro, or flag a taxi to get you to your accommodation.
Bus
Travel time: 9.5 – 13 hours
Cost: €24 – 68
How to book: Alsa
In this case, taking the bus may not be cheaper than taking the train. Plus, it’ll take you double the amount of time. Prepare for a full day of traveling, unless you take the overnight bus. It’s also not a direct bus, as you’ll make multiple stops along the way.
Although buses in Spain are quite comfortable, I don’t think anyone enjoys sitting on a bus for this long. So skip the bus and take the train or a plane instead.
Carpool
Travel time: 6.5 – 9 hours
Cost: €30 – 75
How to book: Download the BlaBlaCar app on Android or iOS.
There are quite a lot of drivers that make the trek from Valencia to Málaga each day. You can usually find at least a few carpools for a wide price range, starting around €30. Prices can go up to €75, but most carpools are between €40 and €60.
Carpooling can be a good choice, especially if you have a lot of flexibility in terms of the time you leave and arrive. For travelers who don’t plan far out, this is also ideal because carpools aren’t posted on BlaBlaCar until a week or a few days out.
Plane
Travel time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Cost: €15+
How to book: Google Flights, Kayak, or your preferred flight aggregator.
It is shockingly inexpensive to fly. Combine that with the short flight time and it’s one of the best ways to travel if you’re coming from Valencia. Both the Valencia and Málaga airports are a short metro or bus ride from their respective city centers.
From Granada
Train
Travel time: 1.3 – 2.5 hours
Cost: €16+
Taking the train isn’t my first choice for getting from Granada to Málaga. I’m not saying it’s a bad choice – it’s just not the best choice. Instead, take the bus. It’ll take you the same amount of time, and it’s cheaper.
If you’re open to carpooling with locals and other travelers, that also costs less than the train.
Bus
Travel time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Cost: €7 – 14
How to book: Alsa
When I went from Granada to Málaga, this was my transportation of choice due to the low price, short travel time, and frequency. Buses leave every 30 to 60 minutes, starting at 5 AM. The last bus leaves at 9:10 PM. With so many trips every day, you can buy your ticket last minute – even on the day of. Buses do sell out, but as long as you’re flexible, you should be able to snag a spot.
Be aware that some buses are direct and others make multiple stops, increasing your trip time. When booking, make sure to select a direct trip or one that makes only one or two stops. However, since direct buses are usually priced the same as non-direct ones, you’re better off going with a direct bus.
Carpool
Travel time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Cost: €6 – 13
How to book: Google Flights, Kayak, or your preferred flight aggregator.
If you’re unsure about carpooling in a foreign country, the short trip between Granada and Málaga could be the perfect, lower-stakes opportunity to give it a try since you can always take the bus as a fallback.
Carpooling is the same cost as taking the bus and takes roughly the same amount of time. So why would you choose to carpool with strangers instead of opting for public transportation? Carpooling is a true, local cultural experience. I met such kind Spanish people, learned about their lives and country, and got recommendations on places to eat.
More resources for traveling Spain
- Complete One Day in Málaga Itinerary: What to See and Eat
- Málaga Solo Travel Guide: Best Hostels, What to Do, & More
- Perfect One Day in Bilbao Itinerary: What to See, Do, and Eat
- 8 Best Hostels I Stayed at in Spain
