English
How to Travel from Barcelona to Málaga
It seem to be a common trend for travelers to Spain to combine a major city with a major beach town in one single trip.
Madrid and Valencia are a popular combo, as are Madrid and Gibraltar, but the most common city pairing for new visitors to Spain is definitely good old Barcelona and Málaga.
Here is everything you need to know about turning these destinations into a seamless journey, and how to choose the best transportation method to do so.
Málaga – by Igor Ferreira – Unsplash
The Journey
Barcelona and Málaga are both coastal cities in Spain. Barcelona, however, lies at the far north of the country’s easternmost coast, while Málaga is way down at the bottom, almost at the southernmost tip.
Between them lies just under 1000km of land; not a quick or easy journey to make, and definitely not a journey for a day trip.
When visiting both Barcelona and Málaga, make an effort to spend at least three days in each place, as these regions require time in order to properly experience their essence.
Visiting Málaga
What can you expect from Málaga? Well, I’ve never found anyone to be indifferent toward this coastal area — you either love it, or you hate it.
The shoreline is rich in yellow-sand beaches and light blue water, while high-rise resorts and hotels line the beach streets. Because of its ever-growing popularity, Málaga’s neighborhoods closest to the beaches can appear somewhat congested with infrastructure to the unfamiliar eye.
Once you arrive, you’ll find that everything works as a connected ecosystem for holiday makers and traveling youth.
Malaga – by Christian Möller – Unsplash
Moving away from the shore, deeper into the city, Málaga’s architecture takes a more historic and traditional turn. Here, the buildings exhibit district Moorish influence as well as a clear flair for the Renaissance era as well.
Málaga’s history spans close to 3000 years, making it one of the oldest surviving cities in Europe. Historians estimate that Málaga was founded as early as 770 BC.
When you’re not lazing on the beach, you’ll be able to explore many cathedrals, monuments and castles left behind by early Málagan people. The city that so many come to simply for the beach-life suddenly becomes a hub for Spanish culture, art and history. In this way, it becomes understandable why so many find Málaga not to be exactly what they expected.
Malaga – by MEAX – Unsplash
Getting There
Thankfully, infrastructure in Spain has progressed significantly since 770 BC, and we are currently spoiled for choice with ways by which to reach Málaga from Barcelona.
Read through the following and determine which one will be best for your budget, time constraints and accompanying travelers.
By Car
If you’re not in a rush and have more than one other person traveling with you, you might want to consider the rental car travel route.
Driving from Barcelona to Málaga is a scenic journey that runs all along the Spanish coastline, right through the towns and villages that inhabit this part of the land. It’s a breathtaking journey, one that you’ll appreciate doing on your own time as you’ll be able to stop as you please and explore.
Malaga – by MEAX – Unsplash
If you were to make the journey without stopping, Barcelona to Málaga would take just under 10 hours to complete.
Most who make this journey by car will divide it in half and do it over two days instead of one. Alicante or Murica would be the best places to stop over; they are almost exactly halfway between the two cities.
By Train
Traveling by train is the most popular transportation option for people moving between Barcelona and Málaga.
It’s not the most efficient, flying is slightly faster, but the trains require less transit periods and thankfully hold no luggage restrictions.
The trains to Málaga depart daily from Sants Station in the city center. Renfe AVE is the carrier, and the journeys take almost exactly 6 hours in total. There are multiple trains that run this route each day; book as far in advance as you can to ensure the cheapest rate.
Malaga – by Jonas Denil – Unsplash
By Bus
If traveling by car is very much for those who are not in a rush, traveling by bus is then for anyone with lots of time to waste… or with little money to spend!
The busses between Barcelona and Málaga run for as little as €20 one way. The journey, however, will cost you just under 18 hours of your time.
There are six busses a day between Barcelona and Málaga: two serviced by Eurolines FR and four by ALSA.
The bus follows the same route that the rental cars would, along the coastline. You’ll still get to bask in the picturesque scenery, just from a non-stop vehicle instead of your own.
By Plane
Traveling from Barcelona to Málaga by air is the fastest journey on offer. Both Barcelona and Málaga have their own city airports, so transit before and after your flight is kept minimal.
The flight time is only an hour and 35 minutes. With transit time in consideration, the total journey is likely to take around 4 hours and 20 minutes, give or take.
You can get some unimaginably cheap airfare depending on when you book your flights. I’ve seen one way tickets going for as little as €12, and then for as much as €150, it really all depends on the season & luck of the day.
Bear in mind that most internal Spanish airlines won’t include luggage costs in their advertised prices. If you’re traveling Spain with only hand luggage, you’ll save a ton of money. If you have suitcases to check in you’re looking at an additional amount, usually more than your actual ticket price.
Malaga – by Jonas Denil – Unsplash
