Málaga is one of the easiest cities in Spain to get around. The historic centre is small, flat and largely pedestrianised, so you'll walk to most of the big sights. When distances stretch, the buses, metro and commuter trains are cheap, frequent and simple to use. This guide breaks down every option with real 2026 prices and journey times so you can plan without guesswork.
Málaga on foot: the default option
Start by assuming you'll walk. The Cathedral, the Alcazaba, the Roman Theatre, the Picasso Museum and the Muelle Uno waterfront all sit within about a 10-minute walk of each other inside the old town. The core is pedestrian-only, well signposted and safe to wander day and night, so for classic sightseeing you rarely need any transport at all.
City buses (EMT)
Complete Malaga old town walking tour with admission tickets includedCheck availability →The orange EMT buses cover the whole city and reach the neighbourhoods and beaches the metro doesn't. A single ticket bought on board costs €1.40, paid to the driver in cash or by contactless card. If you plan several trips, a rechargeable card works out significantly cheaper per journey and includes free transfers between buses within 60 minutes, so you can change lines on one fare.
- Single ticket on board: €1.40
- Rechargeable card: cheaper per trip, with free transfers within 60 minutes
- Buy or top up cards at kiosks and tobacconists (estancos)
- Useful lines run to Pedregalejo and El Palo beaches and up to the Gibralfaro castle (line 35)
The metro
Málaga's metro has two lines and is spotless, modern and fast, but it's built for commuters more than tourists, so it doesn't reach the old town's monuments. It's most useful if you're heading to the university (Teatinos campus), the regional hospitals, the Martín Carpena sports arena for a concert or event, or the western beaches. Both lines meet at El Perchel, directly under the María Zambrano mainline station, where you can connect to the Cercanías trains and the AVE high-speed rail.
- Single ticket: €1.35, or about €0.82 with a rechargeable transport card
- Line 1: El Perchel/Guadalmedina to Andalucía Tech (university campus, hospitals)
- Line 2: Guadalmedina to Palacio de los Deportes (Carretera de Cádiz district, beaches)
- Hours: roughly 06:30–23:00 Mon–Thu, until 01:30 on Fri and Sat nights, 07:00–23:00 Sun and holidays
- Trains every 7–10 minutes for most of the day
Cercanías commuter trains
The Cercanías network is the smart way to reach the airport and the Costa del Sol resorts west of the city. The C1 line links María Zambrano and the central Málaga Centro-Alameda station with the airport and continues along the coast to Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola. The C2 line runs inland towards Álora. Trains are frequent, cheap and beat sitting in coastal traffic.
- Airport to city centre (C1): about €1.80, roughly 12 minutes to Málaga Centro-Alameda
- C1 trains run about every 20 minutes, from early morning until around 00:54
- The same line continues to Torremolinos, Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel and Fuengirola for beach day trips
- Both lines interchange with the metro and AVE at María Zambrano (El Perchel)
To and from the airport
Málaga Airport is only about 8 km from the centre and there are three easy ways in. The Cercanías C1 train is the cheapest and most reliable: around €1.80 and roughly 12 minutes, avoiding all traffic. The EMT Express Airport bus (Line A) drops you right in the centre near the Alameda Principal and Paseo del Parque, costs around €4 and takes 15–25 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi is the door-to-door option.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Official white taxis with a blue stripe wait at ranks across the city and can be flagged down or booked by app. Fares are metered under rates the city council updates each year; for 2026 the weekday daytime tariff starts with a minimum charge of around €4.65. Uber and Cabify both operate in Málaga and are often handy at night, though prices surge at peak times. For short hops within the centre a taxi rarely makes sense, since walking is usually faster.
Bikes and e-scooters
Málaga has invested heavily in a flat, well-connected seafront cycle path, making it a genuine pleasure to ride from the port and Muelle Uno east along the promenade to Pedregalejo and El Palo. Private shops and app-based operators rent city bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters by the hour or day, and the city is rolling out an expanded public e-bike scheme. It's one of the nicest, cheapest ways to cover the coast at your own pace.
Driving and parking
You do not need a car to enjoy Málaga, and inside the centre it's a liability: much of the old town is pedestrianised or restricted, and street parking is scarce. If you do arrive by car, use one of the underground car parks at Plaza de la Marina, near the Alcazaba or under Muelle Uno, and leave the car there. A rental car only earns its keep for day trips into the countryside or along the Costa del Sol, and you can pick one up at the airport or the train station.
Quick planning tips
- Walk the historic centre; use transport only to reach the beaches, airport or outlying districts
- Carry a contactless card: it works on EMT buses and speeds everything up
- For repeat trips, a rechargeable transport card cuts the per-journey cost and adds free transfers
- Take the C1 train for the airport and coastal resorts to skip the traffic
- Keep small change for the on-board bus fare if you're paying cash