Before exploring the city, you first need to know how to get around Malaga and understand the different ways of getting from A to B. The historic centre of Málaga is really small, and you can reach plenty of the main sights on foot. But if you want to visit the areas around the centre, or even get to the airport, you will need to look at public transport. So here is my complete guide to the different public transport options for getting around!
Prices checked in October 2026
Getting around Malaga by city bus (EMT)
The bus is the simplest, easiest and cheapest way to get around Malaga. The city has a very extensive urban bus network, run by the EMT company. With more than seventy lines, you can easily get around the whole city.
To explore the area around Malaga, you can take the intercity buses from the bus station, right next to the train station. These lines serve the surrounding towns and villages.
Practical information
- Timetable: buses run from 6:45 am to 11 pm (some lines also run at night).
- Fares: €1.40 for a single journey; €4 for the Airport express line.
- Line A is the dedicated line linking Malaga Airport to the city centre. You catch it at Terminal 3. A single journey costs €4, paid directly to the driver.
How to buy bus tickets?
There are several ways to buy bus tickets in Malaga. Here are your options:
- Buy your ticket directly from the driver.
If you are only making one journey, you can pay for your bus ticket directly to the driver, in cash, with a note of €5 maximum.
- Buy a multi-journey transport card.
You can buy a non-personalised bus card, the “tarjeta transbordo” (often called the “BonoBus“). You top it up with 10 journeys for €5, which works out at €0.50 per journey instead of €1.40. It is sold at tobacconists and newsstands. It is not in your name, so several people can share it. The ticket is valid for 1 hour on all bus lines (if you want to take the metro, you will need a separate metro ticket), except Line A to the airport.
- Get a monthly or annual pass
If you live in Malaga, you can go for the unlimited monthly pass at €23.95. Depending on your profile, there is also a youth or student card (€13.50 a month, unlimited) and reduced-fare “Oro” cards for pensioners. To get one, book an appointment at the dedicated EMT offices.
You can also choose an annual pass at €174, giving you unlimited travel for a whole year.
The Malaga Metro
I didn’t know it myself, but yes, there really is a metro to get around Malaga! It opened in 2014 and has two lines, mostly underground:
- Line 1: ANDALUCÍA TECH — EL PERCHEL
- Line 2: PALACIO DE LOS DEPORTES — EL PERCHEL
Metro hours vary by day: from 6:30 am to 11 pm on weekdays, and until 1:30 am on Saturdays.
Practical information
- Opening hours
Monday to Thursday: 6:30 am to 11 pm
Friday and the day before public holidays: 6:30 am to 1:30 am
Saturday: 7 am to 1:30 am
Sundays and public holidays: 7 am to 11 pm
- Fares: €1.35 per single journey, with prepaid cards available for cheaper trips.
How to buy metro tickets in Malaga
- Single ticket and Metro Pay Malaga
Since Semana Santa, the city has launched a new way to pay with your phone or a contactless bank card: MetroPay! The idea is to make buying a ticket easier for passengers. It’s simple: you go to the metro platform and, at the turnstile, just tap your bank card or phone to pay the €1.35 for your single journey. And that’s it! No more hassle and long queues at the ticket machine!
- Malaga Metro wallet card
The wallet card, also called the “Tarjeta Monedero Metro de Málaga”, is simple. You can top it up with a minimum of €5 and a maximum of €25. It is not in your name and allows multiple validations, which means several people travelling together can use it. A ticket can be validated up to nine times within three minutes for group journeys. You must validate the ticket at both the departure and the arrival station with the same ticket. In 2026, a journey costs €0.49 with this card, plus the cost of the card itself (paper or PVC) when you buy it.
- Consorcio de Transportes card
This card is sold through the Consorcio de Transportes network of kiosks and tobacconists and can be topped up at the Malaga metro ticket machines. It allows combined use of all public transport systems. It also gives you a discount when you transfer to other transport systems. In 2026, a metro journey with the Consorcio card costs €0.49, and bus, train or metro transfers cost between €0.39 and €0.52.
This card is also available for large families and for students.
You will find all the details on the official Málaga Metro website.
Getting around Malaga by taxi or ride-hailing app
What I really love in Spain is being able to get around by taxi or ride-hailing car. Prices are perfectly reasonable, and it saves you taking the car when you live on the outskirts. My favourite app, by far, is Cabify! Fares are generally cheaper than Uber (not always, but I like supporting Spanish companies 🙂 )
Otherwise, taxis drive all over Malaga, and you will easily find them along the main roads.
Malaga taxis are white with a blue stripe. You can find them easily all over the city and at the airport. Fares depend on the distance, roughly €7 to €15 for journeys within the city. Getting around by taxi, Uber or Cabify is much more common, especially when there are several of you, or with children.
TOP TIP: Try Cabify with my promo code EMILIE73. If you also have an Iberia loyalty card, you can collect Avios when you ride with Cabify! All the details are on the Cabify website
Suburban trains (RENFE)
Suburban trains link Malaga city centre with the airport and with coastal towns such as Torremolinos and Fuengirola. In Spain these trains are called “Cercanías”, the equivalent of the Paris RER (only better #oops). There are two main lines:
- Line C1: Fuengirola — Málaga Centro – Alameda
- Line C2: Málaga Centro-Alameda — Álora
The price depends on the number of zones you travel through. With the Consorcio card, a journey costs from €1.04 to €7.75 depending on the zones (fares in force since 15 July 2026). For a single ticket, check the price shown on the machines at the station.
Tickets are sold at the ticket machines in the station.
Getting around Malaga by e-bike and electric scooter
For a greener option, go for the electric bikes and scooters from Dott. Download the RIDEDOTT app to access the vehicles and prices:
- Prices: €0.29/minute; day pass €4.99; monthly subscription €29.99.
Apps that make life easier (and getting around Málaga too)
EMT Malaga
Just like in Madrid, you can check the remaining journeys on your transport card and even top it up from your smartphone. This works thanks to NFC technology! Download the EMT Malaga app and you can do all of this without even going to a ticket machine.
CityMapper
It isn’t an app specific to Malaga, but you can use it for all your city breaks. You enter your starting point and your destination, and Citymapper shows you every possible way to get around Malaga. It’s perfect: you get the estimated journey time and a Google Maps map to reach the bus stops.
Getting around Malaga is really easy! I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to Malaga! And don’t forget, the best way to enjoy the city is on foot!!
Emilie
