Getting around Malaga by bus

A single bus ride in Malaga costs €1.50. Buy a Bonobus card and it drops to 50 cents. For a city of 600,000 people with a bus network that covers every district and runs until midnight every day, that’s a remarkable deal – and many visitors never find out about it.

We’ll be honest: most of central Malaga is walkable, and you could spend a long weekend here without ever needing a bus. But the moment you want to reach the Botanical Gardens, catch an early flight, catch a ride back from El Palo, or get home from the Fair at 5am, Malaga’s EMT bus network earns its place. This guide tells you exactly how to use it.

Prefer to see the city by bike? Read our guide to cycling in Malaga

Rather take the metro or drive? Check out our guide to getting around by subway or car

Malaga hop-on, hop off bus 

The distinctive double-decker red bus with ‘City Sightseeing Malaga’ along the side is one of the main tourist attractions in Malaga and an easy way to get an overview of the city. Tickets are valid for 24 or 28 hours and during that time, you can hop-on and hop-off the bus as much as you like. It has three routes, all starting and ending at the mainline train station with stops on the way:

• Red route – this route takes you around the main sights in the centre, including the port and lighthouse, and the Gibralfaro Castle. 
• Green route – this hop-on, hop-off bus goes up to the Botanical Gardens via Malaga FC stadium.  
• Blue route – this route combines sights in the centre (Pompidou Centre and the Port) with the Russian Museum and Car Museum in the west of the city.

All ticket types include entry to the Music Museum and Car Museum plus an audio guide. Prices start at €25 for adults and €12.50 for children aged 3 to 12 (children under 3 travel free).

Malaga bus services

We think Malaga has an excellent bus network and the blue EMT buses make an easy way to get around the city.

City buses are turqoise and have the EMT logo on the front and side. Note that the newer electric buses are a darker blue.

Where do Malaga buses go?

Malaga public transport buses have routes connecting the centre with all outlying districts. Several bus routes cross the city from one end to the other – e.g. the No 7 goes from the far west end to the north and the No 11 runs from northwest Teatinos district to El Palo in the east.

What about bus timetables?

Most routes run from early morning (around 6am) to late evening (between 11.30pm and midnight). The frequency on the busiest routes varies between 8 and 15 minutes on Monday to Sunday.

Do buses run at night in Malaga?

Yes, the city has night buses:

• N1 – runs between Puerta Blanca (near the sports stadium in the west of the city) and El Palo in the east. Buses run every 30 minutes from 11pm to 5am.
  
• N2 – takes a long circular route calling at practically all the districts north of the city. Buses run roughly every 70 minutes between 0.15 and 6am.
  
• N3 – goes from the Paseo del Parque in central Malaga to Campanillas in the west. This service only operates in one direction and only on Friday and Saturday, between 0.30 and 2.45am
  
• N4 – runs between the centre (Alameda Principal) and Puerto de la Torre in the west via Teatinos. Buses run every 45 minutes from 11.30pm to 2.30am Sunday to Wednesday and from 11.30pm to 5.30pm Thursday to Saturday.

Cost: €1.40 one way (or €0.50 with a bonobus)

Can wheelchairs go on buses?

Yes, practically all buses have wheelchair ramps via the middle or back door. When the bus stops, make sure the driver knows you need the ramp, wheel yourself in and park yourself and your chair in the designated area. Usually a fellow passenger will take your fare or bonobus card to the front to pay the driver.

Read more about accessible Malaga.

How much does a bus ride cost?

€1.50, one way.

If you’re planning to use the bus a lot or there are several people in your party, buy a multi-journey bus ticket (bonobus, 10 journeys for €5 minimum). Each ride costs €0.50 and you can use a single bonobus for as many people as you like. You can also use the bonobus for multiple bus journeys – if you take a second or subsequent bus within one hour of taking the previous one the next journey is free.

10-ride bus tickets aren’t the only bargain in town. Read our guide to Malaga on a budget for more money-saving tips.

Where can I buy a bus ticket?

You can buy single tickets on the bus. Drivers give change but try to avoid notes bigger than €5.

You can buy a bonobus at estancos (look for the yellow capital T outside the shop), newspaper kiosks and many other places in the city centre. Look for the ‘Venta de bonobus’ sign.

Can I pay by card on a Malaga bus?

Yes, you can also pay using a contactless method (debit or credit card or GooglePay etc on your phone). Just tap your card or phone on the machine to the right (next to the driver) when you board the bus.

Things to bear in mind with contactless payment on Malaga buses

Note that your journey costs €1.40 and you can’t get a multi-journey discount if you pay by contactless.

Note too that EMT doesn’t take immediate payment for the journey from your bank account because the transaction confirmation takes time. Expect to see payment in your bank statement 2 to 3 days after your journey.

How do I know when my bus is going to arrive?

Most bus stops in Malaga have electronic signs telling you when the next bus is due. You can also find out by consulting the app (see below).

Malaga Bus Stations

Malaga has two bus stations, as shown on the map below. The red line shows the route of the Airport Bus A.

Main bus station – Paseo de los Tilos

The principal Malaga bus station is located in the west of the city next to the mainline train station, about 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre (Google map link here).

Buses leave from here for other cities in Andalusia such as Granada and Seville, and Madrid. You also get buses to Antequera, Marbella and Nerja from this bus station.

What facilities are there?

• The bus station has a ticket office and several ticket machines (they take cash and card payments).
• There are plenty of cafés and restaurants nearby.
• Public toilets (not always the cleanest).

Buying a ticket in advance

If you’re planning to travel outside Malaga by bus, on a day trip to Granada or Nerja, for example, buy your ticket online ahead of travel.

Alsa provides services to Cordoba, Granada, Nerja and Seville.

Avanzabus goes to Marbella.

Note that the regional transport company operates buses to Antquera and you can’t buy tickets online.

Secondary bus station – Muelle de Heredia

This bus station is next to the port and opposite Plaza de la Marina (Google map link here). Buses from here serve towns and villages to the east of Malaga such as Rincón de la Victoria and you can also get local services to Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengirola from here. 

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Special bus routes in Malaga

As well as the regular bus routes covering the city, Malaga also has some buses for special occasions or locations.

Malaga Airport Bus – A

Runs between Malaga Airport and the city centre (Plaza del General Torrijos) with frequent stops along the way including the train and bus stations, Alameda Principal and Plaza de la Marina. Buses run every 20-25 minutes between 7am to midnight.

Cost: €4 one way (bonobus isn’t valid for this service so no savings here).

Flea Market Bus – 64

Runs between the Alameda Principal and one of the biggest markets in Malaga, held on Sundays in the fair ground to the west of the city. Buses run every 20 minutes between 8.10am and 2.20pm (centre to the market) and between 8.35am and 1.20pm (market to the centre).

Cost: €1.50 (or €0.50 with a bonobus).

Fair Bus – F

Runs during the Malaga Fair (3rd week in August) between the city centre and the fairground. Buses run every 20 minutes from midday till late.

Cost: €1.50 one way.

Botannical Garden Bus – 91

Runs between the bus station and the Concepcion Botanical Gardens with a stop at the train station. The timetable varies depending on opening times of the gardens, but buses are every 75 minutes between 11am and 6pm.

Cost: €1.50 one way (or €0.50 with a bonobus).

Handy app

If you’re planning to use the bus a lot for getting around Malaga, it’s worth downloading the Malaga bus company mobile phone app. This is easy to use and you don’t need to understand Spanish because it should download in the language set on your phone.

Go to Google Play or iPhone store and search for EMT Malaga and download the app on your phone.

The main menu has several features including:

• a map of bus stops in Malaga (locator= map pin icon)
  
• bus routes (bus icon)
  
• your stops (star icon – useful if you’re using a particular bus stop frequently)
  
• how to get to (find the path = arrow icon – you need to activate your location on your phone)

Click on route on the main menu and then choose your route. The bus icons show where buses are at that moment and if you click on a bus stop it tells you when the next bus is due.

Click on the clock icon on the top right to see timetables for that particular route.

Tips for using the bus in Malaga

• Pay by contactless to avoid the change problem — drivers accept cash but only up to a €5 note, so if you’re not carrying small bills, tapping your card or phone is the easiest option. Just be aware the charge won’t appear on your bank statement for 2–3 days.
  
• Share your Bonobus — one card can be used by multiple passengers on the same journey, so if you’re travelling as a couple or small group, you only need one card between you. At €0.50 per ride per person it’s an even better deal.
  
• Take a second bus within an hour and it’s free — if your journey requires a connection, board the second bus within 60 minutes of the first and the transfer costs nothing on a Bonobus card. Plan your route with this in mind.
  
• Use the EMT app before you leave your accommodation — the app needs an internet connection to work in real time, so check your route on wifi before heading out rather than relying on mobile data at the bus stop.
  
• Board at the front, exit at the middle or back — this is standard Spanish bus etiquette and keeps things moving. If you need the wheelchair ramp, board at the middle or rear door and let the driver know in advance.
  
• The airport bus (Line A) doesn’t accept the Bonobus — it’s a flat €4 regardless, so don’t expect the discount you’d get on a regular city route.
  
• Night buses run on a very different frequency — some routes only come every 70 minutes, so check the timetable before committing to a late night out without another way home.
  
• Allow plenty of time for a bus journey – traffic in central Malaga is busy and buses on popular routes can be slow.