Getting from Madrid to Malaga
Located in southern Spain, Malaga is famous for being Picasso’s birth place. But it’s also a lovely place to enjoy some quality time on the beach or check out the beautiful city. If you want a change and prefer a more laid-back town than Madrid or Barcelona , make sure to check out Malaga.
Summary
If you plan your vacation in advance (6-8 weeks at least), chances are that you can find a cheap plane ticket (from €43 per person one way or €71 per person RT) which makes flying the fastest and cheapest alternative. If you prefer to travel on the spur of the moment, the bus is the cheapest option (€21.80 per person one way) but it takes 6 hours to travel between the two cities.
By plane
Malaga is served by the third biggest airport in Spain. Many airlines, including low-cost ones, serve the city. The following airlines offer flights between Madrid and Malaga: Air Europa and Iberia. To get from the airport to the city center, the cheapest alternative is the local bus (€1 one way)
The flight takes 1 h 10 min. There are over 10 departures daily (in total) and the cheapest tickets are offered by Spainair. For example, if you want to buy a ticket 6 weeks in advance, expect to find tickets as cheap as €43 per person, one way, all taxes included. A RT ticket can be as low as €71 per person (if you book 6-7 weeks in advance).
By train
All trains to Malaga depart from Madrid’s main train station: Atocha. It takes about 3 hours to get from Madrid to Malaga on AVE trains (high speed). The prices range between €73.60 and €81.80 per person, one way (on line) for tourist class. If you buy the tickets directly from the station, they are a little higher (€74.10 and €82.40, respectively)
The following trains run between Madrid and Malaga:
- at 6:35 a.m., daily except Sat & Sun, from July 1 to Dec 14
- at 7:35 a.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 9:35 a.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 10:35 a.m., daily except on Sun, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 11:30 a.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 12:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 2:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 4:35 p.m., daily, from July 1 to Dec 14
- at 5:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 20 to Dec 14
- at 6:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 8:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
- at 9:35 p.m., daily, from Apr 6 to Dec 14
>>the schedule and prices are available here
By bus
The buses to Malaga depart from Madrid Est. Sur and the company providing the service is called Continental Auto . The company’s website is in Spanish so it can be hard to navigate but you can get the timetable and prices.
The journey takes 6 hours and the ticket price is €21.80 per person, one way. There are 8 departures per day, between 7:30 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.
By car
Renting a car in Spain is one of the best ideas if you want to explore the country at your own pace. The driving distance between Madrid and Malaga is 537 km and it takes about 6 hours.
Exit Madrid on M-50 ring road and then take R-4 A-44 to Algeciras, then A-92 and A-45. Part of R-4 is toll road.
Here’s a map to help with directions:
Other related information:
>>Madrid Airport Transportation
>>Getting from Madrid to Barcelona
>>Getting from Madrid to Toledo
>>Getting from Madrid to Salamanca
>>Getting from Madrid to Lisbon
>>Getting from Madrid to Seville
>>Getting from London to Ibiza
>>Getting from Madrid to Valencia
>>Getting from Barcelona to Ibiza
>>Getting from Madrid to Ibiza
>>Getting from Barcelona to Tenerife
>>Going from Madrid to Algeciras or Tarifa
>>Getting from Barcelona to Mallorca
>>Getting from Spain to Morocco
>>Getting from Madrid to San Sebastian
>>Getting from Madrid to Segovia
>>Getting from Barcelona to Fuerteventura