Malaga Train Guide – Getting the Train in Malaga
Malaga Train Guide – Getting the Train in Malaga
Tourist Information and Guide on Train Travel in Malaga
Trains in Spain are an excellent form of transport, and none better than from Malaga, where it’s easy to explore not just other areas in Spain, but also nearby areas like Fuengirola, Torremolinos, and Malaga airport.
This Malaga train guide will give you all the details you’ll need for using Malaga’s train services, such as where to buy tickets, routes, and easy to reach attractions.
Buying Malaga Train Tickets
You can buy Malaga train tickets a number of different ways:
1. Malaga Train Tickets at the Station
Tickets for the train in Malaga can be purchased in-person at the station. The smaller stations all have ticket machines which are simple to use, and some of the larger ones have staffed ticket offices.
It’s worth mentioning that it can be risky to just turn up at the station and buy tickets, especially during busy periods of the year (Christmas and summer).
Trains in Spain do sell-out, and once they are full they stop selling tickets (there is no standing up on long-distance trains in Spain) so be aware if looking to travel further afield such as Seville, Madrid, or Barcelona.
Because of this I would recommended booking tickets online – not only does this secure you a seat, and guarantee your journey, it also avoids any queues or panicking at the station.
2. Malaga Train tickets online through Renfe
Train tickets in Malaga (and across all of Spain) can be purchased directly from Renfe, the company who operate the majority of trains in Spain.
You can purchase on their website, however be careful the pages on the Renfe website sometimes don’t translate very well, often error/time out and have difficulty accepting foreign cards (I had my card declined once using the website).
The do, however offer the best prices and the most up to date information around schedules and prices.
3. Malaga Train Tickets through Omio – Recommended!
If anybody asks me the best way to book tickets for the train in Malaga I always recommend using Omio. It’s not just for Malaga, they’re an excellent company to book all forms of transport with across Europe.
By using the TrainLine you can purchase tickets using ApplyPay, Paypal, and international cards. It offers the exact same routes and train bookings (it’s an official Renfe reseller) and it’s a painless and easy way to book tickets.
They even have an app, and you can download the tickets to this, and just show the QR code on your phone. It’s a simple process, and recommended when booking train tickets from Seville.
Click Here to Book Seville Train Tickets Online
Malaga Train Routes
Local Malaga Trains (Cercanías/Commuter)
The local train system (dealing with the immediate areas around the city) in Málaga is called Cercanías (commuter) and has two lines:
- C1 Line: This is the busiest line of the two. It goes from Málaga Centro-Alameda to Fuengirola. Stops on this line are popular for tourists including destinations such as Malaga Airport and Torremolinos.
- C2 Line: This line connects Málaga with Álora. It’s less busy and unlikely to be used my toruists, with the main crowd being locals looking to commute to Malaga for work.
Both lines start at Málaga Centro-Alameda and run frequently, especially on the C1 line, so you usually don’t have to wait long (around 15 minutes per train).
The Cercanías Málaga network is divided into different zones, with 5 zones (0,1,2,3,4) in total. The zones help to determine the ticket price. The more zones you pass through, the more expensive the ticket.
| Zones Crossed | Ticket Price (€) |
|---|---|
| First 2 zones | 1.80 |
| 3 Zones | 2.05 |
| 4 Zones | 2.70 |
| 5 Zones | 3.60 |
You can download a copy of the local Malaga train routes here.
Long Distance Trains in Malaga
Malaga is also an excellent transport hub for trains across Spain, with excellent route links and a large number of direct trains from the main train station.
The following are some of the most popular destinations that you can reach from Malaga:
| Destination | Travel Time from Malaga | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Madrid | 2.5 – 3 hours | Book Tickets Online |
| Barcelona | Around 6 hours | Book Tickets Online |
| Seville | Approximately 3.5 – 4 hours | Book Tickets Online |
| Valencia | About 6 hours | Book Tickets Online |
| Granada | 1 hour 20 minutes | Book Tickets Online |
The train journey times in Spain are dependent on the type of vehicle being used. There are two main train types in Spain, the modern AVE train, and the older style regular carriage train.
The modern AVE train is high speed, and can get you to key destinations across the country very fast. You do of course pay for this premium, and the same journey can be double the price when using the high-speed AVE vehicle (but get you there twice as fast!)
I would advise booking train tickets as far in advance as you can, with prices getting more expensive closer to the departure date. They also sell out fast, and it can be a nightmare trying to get a train to popular destinations from Malaga, such as Seville or Madrid, on the day.
The latest routes, schedules and train times can be found on the official Renfe website.
Málaga Train Map – Routes
Check out the following route maps for trains in Malaga:
Long Distance Malaga Train Map
More on Visit-Malaga:
