Long-Distance Malaga trains
The only access by train to the Costa del Sol is to Malaga’s mainline station served by trains from Madrid, Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. This station is interchangeably called Maria Zambrano (the official name), Malaga-Renfe, and Vialia, actually the name of the shopping centre built around the station.
Before the AVE – which was finished in January 2008 – the journey from Madrid used to take 4 hours, but nowadays the new high-speed AVE line from Madrid to Malaga via Cordoba was finished in and is the journey time is reduced to around two and a half hours.
Regional trains in Malaga (Cercanias)
There are two train lines serving part of the coast: Malaga to Fuengirola and Malaga to Alora. Both lines are efficient and popular the Malaga to Fuengirola lines is the most profitable line in Spain and used by some 8 million passengers a year.
The trains are comfortable with air conditioned. You can purchase tickets from machines at most stations or from ticket offices; If there isn’t a machine at a station you may be able to buy your ticket on the train from the inspector.
The tickets price depends on the number of zones you travel through. Both train lines have five travel zones and prices range from 1,80€ to 3.50€ one-way, and 3.40€ to 7.00€ round-trip. Monthly tickets are also available, with prices around 35.10 – 74.25 euros depending on selected zones.
Malaga train to Fuengirola
Malaga train to Fuengirola service runs two trains per hour with stops at:
- Zone 0 – Malaga downtown (two stops: at the main Renfe station and by the river, opposite El Corte Ingles)
- Zone 1 – Victoria Kent, Guadalhorce and the airport (aeropuerto)
- Zone 2 – Plaza Mayor, Los Alamos, La Colina, Torremolinos, Montemar-Alto and El Pinillo
- Zone 3 – Benalmadena/Arroyo de la Miel, Torremuelle, Carvajal and Torreblanca
- Zone 4 – Los Boliches and Fuengirola
The journey from Malaga to Fuengirola takes just 45 minutes and the service is generally very efficient with a high degree of punctuality. The first train leaves Malaga centre at 5:20am, and subsequent departures are 20 past the hour and 20 to the hour. The last train is at 11:30pm (11:33pm from Maria Zambrano train station)
The first train leaves Fuengirola at 6:20am. Subsequent trains leave at 20 and 40 minutes past the hour. The last train leaves at 11:50pm.
Malaga train to Alora
From Malaga train station, Victoria Kent and Malaga centre, you can also take a train to Alora. The stops and prices are below:
Malaga train to Alora runs from Malaga centre and stops at:
- Zone 0 – Malaga Renfe station and Centro Alameda
- Zone 1 – Victoria Kent and Los Prados
- Zone 2 – Campanillas and Cartama
- Zone 3 – Aljaima and Pizarra
- Zone 4 – Alora
The first train leaves Alora at 6:45am and the last at 10:45pm. From Malaga the first train is at 6:06am and the last at 9:21pm.
Prices for commuter train
Prices rise often, so they could change when you take the train. Find below the one way tickets:
- 1/2 zones: 1,80 euros
- 3 zones: 2,05 euros
- 4 zones: 2,70 euros
- 5 zones: 3,60 euros
There is no discount for round trips.
Discount with bonotren
The only discounts available is when you purchase a 10 trips ticket from the vendor machine. You can share this ticket to save money if 2 or more people are travelling with you.
The price for 10 trips also depends on zones:
- 1/2 zones: 11,95€
- 3 zones: 13,85€
- 4 zones: 18,70€
- 5 zones: 25,05€
You have one month to use all the trips available. Remember that in a round trip it will consume 2 trips from this bonotren.
Contact information and website
- Customer Service Office: 912 320 320
- Suburban train information: 952 128 079
For more information and latest timetables visit renfe.es.