HOW TO GET from Barcelona to Malaga

Best way to travel from Barcelona to Malaga

  • Taking a plane is the fastest (1h 35 min) and most convenient way. Thanks to Ryanair, it can even be the cheapest (tickets start at 14€).
  • High speed train is the next fastest option (6 h)
  • By car the trip takes 10 h and buses are even slower (15 h to 17 h).

Plane

The companies Vueling (Iberia) and Ryanair offer around 6 daily direct flights between Malaga and Barcelona. The flight takes around 1 h 35 min. If you book well in advance, Ryanair tickets start at an incredible 14€.

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BARCELONA'S AIRPORT

Barcelona’s airport is called El Prat de Llobregat (BCN) and it is located 18 km south-west of the city center. To get from the airport to the city, you have several options:

  • Taxi is always the most convenient way. The trip takes between 20 and 30 minutes and you can expect to pay 30 to 35€.
  • The express bus service from Aerobus links Barcelona with the airport in about 35 minutes. There is one bus every 5 to 10 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 6.75€.
  • The metropolitan transport of Barcelona (TMB) also runs buses between the airport and the center (line 46 during the day, lines N17 and N16 at night). Since it has more stops than the Aerobus, it takes more time, but it is also cheaper (2.55€). For more information on the local city buses: TMB Buses
  • There is a train connecting the airport to the city center. At the airport, the train station is located at T2B (follow the signs for RENFE). There is one train every 30 minutes approximately and the trip takes about 25 minutes. You can get off the train at Clot, Passeig de Gràcia or Sants and change into the metro to get to your destination. A one-way ticket costs 4 to 5 €.
  • The metro line L9 (orange) also connects the airport to the city. There are two stops at the airport (Aeroport T1 and Aeroport T2). However, to get to the city center you will need to change lines. Also note that to get to the airport by metro, you can’t use a standard single ticket; you need the special metro airport ticket called Billete Aeropuerto which costs 5.50€. For more information on Barcelona’s metro: TMB Metro

MALAGA'S AIRPORT

Malaga’s airport (AGP) is located 10 km south-west of the city center. To get from the airport to the city, check out our page How to get from Malaga’s airport to the city center.

Train

You can get from Barcelona to Malaga by train in 6 h. There are two direct high speed trains per day as well as another 6 - 8 daily train options (transferring in either Madrid or Cordoba).

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Expect to pay between 45 and 150 €, depending on whether you buy the ticket in advance and are flexible with the departure times.

BARCELONA'S TRAIN STATION

Barcelona Sants station is the main train station in the city. It is located about 5 km (3.1 miles) west of the center. The metro lines L3 and L5 link the station with the rest of the city, while several metropolitan bus lines also stop at the station. To get to the airport from the Sants station, there is a direct RENFE train which takes about 20 minutes.

For up-to-date information on Barcelona’s public transport system: www.tmb.cat

MALAGA'S TRAIN STATION

Malaga’s main train station is called Estación de María Zambrano and is located south-west of the city center. To give you an idea, it is a 20-min walk to the cathedral. Several city bus lines connect the station with the center.

For up-to-date information on the local city buses: www.emtmalaga.es

Car

Barcelona and Malaga are separated by 1,000 km (620 miles). By car, the trip takes between 9 h 30 min and 10 h. Unless you want to make some stops on the way, there is no reason to drive. If you decide to do so, there is one main route using a combination of the AP-7 and A-4 highways.

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This journey will take you out of Barcelona in the south direction, along the Mediterranean coast, all the way down to Valencia. There are many coastal towns and cities that would make a great stop: Sitges, Tarragona, Peñíscola or Valencia, just to mention a few.

From Valencia, the road continues across Spain’s interior (Castilla la Mancha). Once in Andalusia, about 90 min before reaching Malaga, another great stop is Granada and its impressive Alhambra Palace, which is a UNESCO world heritage site.

To find the best deals on rental cars, we recommend Discover Cars, which searches through the web for the best prices.

Bus

The company ALSA runs 4 daily buses from Barcelona to Malaga. The trip takes between 15 and 17 hours (making 7 to 19 stops on the way). Ticket prices vary largely. Usually, you can get a ticket for 38 €. However, it can cost up to 102 €.

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There is no reason for traveling between Barcelona and Malaga by bus since it is the slowest option. Also, you can get a plane ticket with Ryanair for pretty much as cheap or even cheaper than the bus.

Once you have arrived

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Patricia Palacios, co-founder of España Guide
About
PATRICIA PALACIOS
España Guide Co-Founder
Patricia is an engineer turned content creator who for over a decade has been helping travelers navigate her native Spain. In addition to her own website, her tips and recommendations have been featured on BBC Travel, CNN, El País & Lonely Planet, just to name a few.

This article might include affiliate links, allowing us to earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Check our disclosure page for more info.

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