In this chapter you will find out how to get around Málaga by public transport, how much tickets cost and where to buy them.
City buses
The main means of transport in Málaga, at least the part where most of the tourist sights are, are the buses of the EMT Málaga transport company. These ply the streets of the city on around 30 routes, usually running once every 15 minutes. However, there are usually several lines running together, so the resulting interval is much shorter.
During the day the buses run from about 6:00 am to midnight, at night they are replaced by special night lines, always marked with the letter "N", which run on 5 lines at 30 minute intervals.
Bus tickets
Tickets for a single journey can only be bought from the driver and cost 1,40 eur. The driver will not accept notes larger than €5. The price is valid for all lines (even night lines) except the "A" line going to the airport.
An alternative is to use a transbordo card, which can be purchased at newsagents and other shops (see list) and charged for 10 rides at 4,20 eur. One ride counts as an hourly journey with any number of transfers, but you can only change buses within the EMT, not to the metro/tram. When your 10 rides are up, you can then top up another 10 rides at all locations where the card can be purchased. The card cannot be used on the "A" line to the airport.
For full ticket and fare information, visit emtmalaga.es/es/tarifas.
Suburban rail
There are also two frequent suburban rail lines that leave Málaga from outside the city limits, generally known as Cercanías in Spain. While line C2 does not have much tourist potential (it runs a short route to the inland city of Álora), line C1 is very well used. It takes you from the centre to Málaga airport and to the coastal resorts of Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola.
Trains run every 20 minutes from about 6am to midnight during the day, and every half hour at weekends and late hours. Tickets are simply bought from the ticket machine at all stations and prices range from 1,80 eur to 3,60 eur depending on the number of zones. There is no extra charge for travel to the airport, as there is for the A bus service.
The terminus of the suburban trains is at Málaga-Centro Alameda station (underground station) about 300 metres on foot from the historic centre.
Málaga Metro
In Málaga you can currently use 2 metro lines, but this is actually more of a fast-track underground tramway, it is not the classic "big" metro trains. For tourist purposes, the metro network is not yet very usable. Both lines start at the main train station and go from there to the housing estates in the west of the city.
A single metro ride costs 1,35 eur, and you can buy a ticket from a machine at all stations. However, you will also have to pay for a plastic card 0,30 eur, which can then be loaded with up to 9 individual tickets.
For information, maps and current ticket prices, visit the official website at metromalaga.es/en/tickets-and-fares.
Car rental
If you're only heading to Málaga for a long weekend to stay purely in the city, renting a car doesn't make sense, but if you're travelling for a longer period of time, it can definitely pay off. Especially for trips into the hinterland, where there are many interesting destinations, remote Andalusian villages or hiking trails to visit, hiring a car definitely makes sense.
The best place to rent a car is right at the airport, where many local and large multinational car rental companies are based.
Even on the Costa del Sol, general car rental guidelines apply and if you're new to this segment, read our article How to rent a car abroad for the first time.
Compare car rental prices - book a car
How much does it cost to rent a car?
Car rental prices at Málaga airport are reasonable and you can pay for a week's rental of a small car from 165 eur. Of the local lesser-known car rental companies, we would only be able to recommend Wiber. On the other hand, Goldcar or Clickrent have mostly negative reviews. Prices at the larger multinational car rental companies currently start at 293 eur per week.
The most transparent price comparison of all car rental companies is offered by booking.com, where you can book a car directly or pay for additional insurance.
Parking Málaga
You can park your car for free anywhere on the street as long as there are white dashed lines painted on the parking spaces. These areas are the majority in Málaga and so, apart from the narrowest historic port, the area around the port and the La Malagueta district, you can park virtually anywhere. On the other hand, if the lines are blue or green, you have to pay to park.
