Malaga Trains

Trains from Malaga Airport offer a swift and efficient connection to the Costa del Sol. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about Malaga Airport Airport trains, including how to find the train station, fare prices, how to buy tickets, and more.

Malaga Airport Trains: Overview

There is a train station at Malaga Airport. Malaga Airport Train Station is on the Cercanias Line, meaning its a “local” or “suburban” line. The train station based at Malaga Airport is called “Aeropuerto”. The train offers a brilliant service, cheap, clean and efficient, and is well worth considering when booking accommodation. You can travel as far south as Fuengirola, as far north as Malaga City, and as far inland as Alora.

A quick idea of train journey times from Malaga Airport:

• Malaga Airport to Torremolinos – 10 minutes
• Malaga Airport to Benalmadena – 17 minutes
• Malaga Airport to Los Boliches – 30 minutes
• Malaga Airport to Fuengirola – 34 minutes

Where is the Train Station at Malaga Airport?

As you leave Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall by the main exit doors, you’ll be in a courtyard outdoors. Ahead of you is a ticket office. Walk across the courtyard, past the ticket office and past the bus stops. Just a little further on, you will come to the Renfe train station (2-3 minutes walk). If you arrive from the Departures area upstairs, you can walk along and take a lift or the escalators down to the train station.

How far is the train station from Malaga Airport?

As you leave the arrivals hall, it‘s a 2-3 minute walk to Malaga Airport Train Station.

How the Malaga Airport Trains Work: Lines, Stations and Destinations

The Malaga Airport Train Station is on the “Malaga Cercanias” Line (meaning “local line2). It is operated by a company called Renfe. On the map below, you can see the different train stops on the Malaga Cercanias line. You’ll also see that the Malaga Cercanias train line is split into two parts, C1 and C2:

• The C1 part of the line is the most popular and best-known one, running along the coast from Fuengirola to Malaga City, and stopping at Malaga Airport along the way. If you’re coming to Malaga on holiday, your final destination will most likely be on this line.
• The C2 part of the line runs from Malaga City to an inland town called Alora. If you’re travelling from Malaga Airport to Alora, you’ll need to change trains in Malaga City.

Once you understand how it all works, what tickets you need and where to get off, it’s pretty straightforward, quick and very cheap – if you’re staying within easy reach of one of the stations of course!

Travelling further than Fuengirola or Malaga?

Should you be travelling further than Fuengirola or Malaga, for example to Estepona, Marbella or Nerja, you need to take a bus, book a transfer or take a taxi.

Map of Malaga Airport train line

Buying Tickets at Malaga Airport Train Station

1. Ticket machines at the station

As you enter the train station, there are several self-service ticket machines where you can buy your tickets. The machines take cash and cards. They can be a little confusing, and the queues can be long in peak seasons like summer. So take your time and watch your bags. If you need help, there usually is someone around whom you can ask.

2. Tap-and-pay with your credit card or phone

The Malaga Airport local train line now accepts payments by tapping your credit card or your phone on the turnstiles or machines at the departure and destination stations. Note that only Mastercard and VISA credit cards are accepted, and foreign debit cards may not always work, so be prepared to buy a ticket from the machine if you encounter problems at the turnstile. To use your phone for payment, you must have NFC payments activated.

3. Buy tickets on the Renfe Cercanias app

You can also buy your tickets on the Renfe Cercanias app, which you can download for Android, Apple or Huawei. You’ll need to register as a user first before you can use the app, so make sure to do this before rushing for the train. The ticket is valid for up to 2 hours from purchase.

Prices: How much is the Train Fare from Malaga Airport?

You can check train fares on the Renfe Cercanias website, but here are the most common fares people buy from Malaga Airport:

• Single Tickets: 1-2 Zones 1.80€; 3 Zones 2.05€, 4 Zones 2.70€, 5 Zones 3.60€
• You can buy monthly travel passes which will work out cheaper if you use them frequently
• You can buy Bonotren, a set of 10 tickets you can use between you
• Children under 6 years travel for free – 2 children per adult
• Discounts for groups of 10 or more, pensioners, people with reduced mobility and “Familia Numerosa” (large families with 3 children or more). We advise you to check directly at Málaga Airport Train Station Ticket machines.

Train times & schedules from Malaga Airport

You can check exact train times here on the Malaga Cercanias website. Simply choose your departure and destination stations; the Malaga Airport station is called “Aeropuerto”.

1. Train journey time – Malaga Airport to Malaga City

If you’re travelling from Malaga Airport into Malaga City, the journey is around 12 minutes. Trains start at 6.44am and run until 00.54am (just before 1am) from the airport. They run every 20-35 minutes depending on the time of day. For ticket prices, go to Málaga Cercanias. If you’re staying in Malaga City, there is also the Malaga Metro you can use to get around the city, after the train leaves you in the centre.

2. Train journey time – Malaga Airport to Fuengirola

The first train from Malaga Airport to the direction of  Fuengirola leaves the airport at 5.32 am and the last one at 23.42, running every 20-35 minutes depending on the time of day. The journey time is 34 minutes.

3. Train journey time – Malaga Airport to other destinations

These are just 4 of the most popular stops, but there are 24 local stops going in the other direction to locations including Pizarra, Álora and Cartama.

Can I Take Bikes on the Train?

You can take one bike per person. If the train is busy, you may not be allowed to enter and be asked to wait for the next train—all details about Bikes on Trains at Malaga here.

Is Malaga Airport Train Station Wheelchair Friendly?

Yes, there are lifts to take you down to the trains at Malaga. You need to check below about the other lift and wheelchair access stations along the Coast.  Torremolinos there is no access.

Malaga Cercanias Station With Lifts

We have been informed by Renfe, the train company, that all Malaga Cercanias Lines either have a lift, a ramp or easy access for people with reduced mobility who use wheelchairs, with the exception of Torremolinos. If you travel to any of these stations and have difficulties accessing them, please let others know on our Facebook Group (link below).

Malaga Airport Trains to Other Cities

If you’re travelling long-distance to Cordoba, Madrid, Seville or anywhere else in Spain, you first need to head to Málaga Maria Zambrano Station to catch a high-speed train. This is a fantastic big station with train and coach links all over Spain, plus the Vialia Shopping Centre housed in the same building. The AVE and Avant de Málaga high-speed trains can take you to many of the big cities of Spain, including Madrid and Barcelona. We highly recommend getting out and travelling around if you have time to spare.

Other FAQs

Can you take a train from Malaga Airport to Marbella?

No, you can only go as far as Fuengirola. You can take the direct bus mentioned above or the train to Fuengirola and bus from there.

How often do the trains run from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola?

They run every 20 minutes or so. Always check the timetables as they may vary slightly.

Ask Us More Questions

If you have questions, join our Facebook Group The Costa Del Sol Travel Forum where our huge community of frequent Malaga travellers will help you with Malaga Aiport trains or any other tricky travel topics. Why not also follow our Facebook page for the latest Malaga Airport news?