Málaga airport to the city centre: train, bus, taxi and transfers

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The short answer: fastest, cheapest, easiest

Málaga airport (AGP) is about 8 km south-west of the city centre, and it has its own train station.

• Cheapest and fastest: the Cercanías C1 train, about €1.80, roughly every 20 minutes, about 12 minutes to Málaga Centro-Alameda, the stop for the old town
• Late arrivals and heavy bags: a taxi from the rank outside arrivals, usually about €20–28 to the centre, 15–20 minutes
• Direct to the door: the A Express bus (€4) stops along the Alameda and Paseo del Parque, or book a private transfer with a driver waiting in arrivals

Heading straight to the coast? The same C1 train runs west to Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola. For Marbella and Nerja you need a bus, a taxi or a transfer (see below).

Comparison table

Step by step

C1 train (Cercanías)

1. Follow the signs for Renfe / Tren from arrivals in Terminal 3. The airport station (Aeropuerto) is a few minutes’ walk from baggage reclaim.
2. Buy a single at the machine (card or cash), or tap a contactless bank card or phone at the ticket gates.
3. Take a train towards Málaga Centro-Alameda, not towards Fuengirola. Check the platform screens: both directions use the same station.
4. Get off at the right stop (see below). Centro-Alameda is the end of the line, so you can’t overshoot.

Trains run roughly every 20 minutes from early morning until around midnight, and the ride to the centre costs about €1.80. There is no train in the small hours. Luggage travels free and there is room for suitcases.

María Zambrano or Centro-Alameda?

• María Zambrano (about 8 minutes) is the main railway station, with high-speed trains to Madrid, Córdoba and Seville, and the main bus station right next door. Get off here if you are changing to a long-distance train or bus, or staying near the station. The old town is a 20-minute walk.
• Centro-Alameda (about 12 minutes), the last stop, is on the edge of the historic centre and Soho. Calle Larios and the cathedral are about 10 minutes’ walk away. This is the stop for most hotels.

A Express bus

1. The stop is outside arrivals at Terminal 3.
2. Pay the driver €4 with a Visa or Mastercard, or in cash. Luggage is free.
3. The bus stops near the main bus station and María Zambrano, then along the Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque, ending near Plaza del General Torrijos, close to the port, the Alcazaba and La Malagueta.

Buses run about every 25–45 minutes, depending on the time of day. The bus beats the train if your hotel is near the Paseo del Parque or the port, and it usually runs a little later than the train. The same line takes you back to the airport.

Taxi

The taxi rank is outside the arrivals hall. Taxis are metered, using special airport tariffs with a minimum fare of about €18 on weekdays by day and more at night, at weekends and on holidays. A ride to the old town usually comes to about €20–28, with a small extra for each large suitcase and a night supplement between midnight and 6:00. Cards are usually accepted, but mention it before you set off. We’d ignore anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.

Uber, Bolt and Cabify

Ride-hailing apps work at Málaga airport. The pick-up points are in the car parks on the ground floor, a few minutes’ walk from arrivals, and the app shows you where to go. Prices are often a little lower than a taxi but rise at busy times, so we’d compare the apps before you book.

Private transfer

A driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and drives you to the door. The price is fixed when you book, which matters most for longer trips along the coast and for families with car seats. It is, we think, a good choice if your hotel is on a pedestrian street in the old town, where the driver can plan the nearest drop-off. Book a private transfer from Málaga airport. (We earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.)

Hire car

The car-hire desks are in the terminal, and some cheaper companies use a shuttle bus to an off-airport lot. We’d hire a car for the coast and inland villages, but not for Málaga itself, where the centre is largely pedestrian and parking is expensive. See car hire at Málaga airport or compare prices on DiscoverCars.

From the airport to the Costa del Sol

The airport sits between Málaga and the western resorts, so for much of the Costa del Sol you don’t need to go into the city at all.

• Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola: take the C1 in the Fuengirola direction. The fare is about €1.80 to Torremolinos, €2.05 to Benalmádena and €2.70 to Fuengirola. The Benalmádena stop you want depends on your hotel: Arroyo de la Miel is inland, the marina and beaches are a short bus or taxi ride down the hill.
• Marbella and Estepona: there is no train. Avanza runs direct buses from the stop outside Terminal 3 through the day, from about €6 to Marbella. Check times on Málaga airport to Marbella by bus. A taxi or transfer costs much more but takes you to the door. See Málaga to Marbella for all the options.
• Nerja: ALSA runs only a few direct buses a day from the airport. Otherwise, take the C1 or the A bus to Málaga bus station and change to the ALSA bus to Nerja, about 45 minutes to 1 h 30 from there. See Málaga to Nerja or by bus. With luggage or a late flight, we’d take a transfer: it is much easier.

Arriving at your hotel

Most of Málaga’s old town is pedestrian. Taxis and transfers stop as close as they can, which may be a few minutes’ walk from the door. We’d send the hotel address to your driver on your phone, and ask the hotel where cars can drop you. For the areas themselves, see where to stay in Málaga, and for the rest of your trip, the Málaga travel guide and things to do in Málaga.

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