Alicante is one of the popular resorts on the Spanish Costa Blanca, according to legend, founded by the father of the famous military leader Hannibal. The name of the resort comes from the Greek word “acra levka”, which means “white peak” in Russian. When planning a trip to Spain, a tourist must add Malaga to the list of visited cities. This major port city is the birthplace of the artist Pablo Picasso and the actor Antonio Banderas. Let's figure out how to get from Alicante to Malaga.
Ways to get to Malaga
Malaga is a city with a charming historic center and modern neighborhoods with high-rise buildings and shopping centers. Tourists love to shop here and just walk the winding streets lined with greenery and flowers.
When going on a trip for more than one day, a tourist can enjoy relaxing on the beach.
The best beaches in Malaga, awarded with the international Blue Flag award, are worth visiting, including Playa del Campo de Golf, Playa de Guadalmar, Playa de la Misericordia, Playa de la Malaguet and Playa de El Palo.
The distance between Alicante and Malaga is about 480 km. You can get to the port city in southern Spain by bus, train (with a change), plane (with a change), by car or by passing.
| Travel option | Elapsed time | Trip value, EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Train | The road to Madrid will take about 2.5 hours + moving from Madrid to Malaga another 2.5-4 hours | Train ticket to Madrid - from 45.90 euros (high speed trains) Train ticket to Malaga - from 71.40 euros |
| Bus | Minimum time - 6 hours 29 minutes | € 24 to € 53.86 |
| Airplane | Time in the sky - from 1 hour 10 minutes (from Madrid) to 1 hour 30 minutes (from Valencia) + time to get to Madrid or Valencia + 1.5 hours for registration | Minimum airfare - 82 euros (via Madrid) and 79 euros (via Valencia) |
| Automobile | The road will take 5 hours 3 minutes (shortest route) | Payment for fuel - 44.24 euros + car rental (depends on the class and brand) |
| Hitchhiking | Travel time - 5 hours 20 minutes | Minimum cost - 28 euros |
Train ride to Malaga
Railways in Spain run in all regions, and rail links also connect Spain with Portugal and France.
Spain's railways are unique: they combine the traditional broad gauge track with the standard European one. The latter is only used by high-speed trains.
RENFE is the largest company serving passengers throughout Spain. There are also other companies serving only regional traffic. Among the latter, the most significant and well-known company is Euskotren, which operates in the Basque Country in northern Spain.
Alicante and Malaga are both coastal cities, so there are no railways there. This is due to the difficult mountainous terrain.
You can get to Malaga only with a transfer in Madrid. There are 11 trains per day on the Alicante-Madrid route. The first leaves Alicante at 6.15, the last at 20.10. The cheapest tickets are sold at the Promo rate.
You can check the timetable or buy tickets at the train station or online on the RENFE website.
There are trains from Madrid to Malaga 14 times a day. The first one departs from Puerta de atocha station at 7.00, and the last train leaves at 21.20. These relocation options are only available on the Flexible fare.
Average journey time is 2.5 hours.
The total minimum travel time with transfers is 5 hours, and the minimum costs reach 118 euros.
Direct bus transfer from Alicante to Malaga
Bus service in Spain is not inferior to rail transport. Flights are served by modern and constantly developing companies Monbus, Daibus, Hife, Conda, Autocares Grupo Samar. The most popular and demanded carrier company is ALSA.
Fans of travel in high-comfort cabins can purchase tickets for luxury buses, which imply more comfortable seats, coffee and sweets in the cabin.
For budget trips, there are economy class buses, which often offer discounts. But the ALSA company launches Mercedes-Benz Travego Eurobus buses on budget lines, which are distinguished by high comfort.
Buses in Spain are one of the most convenient and inexpensive ways to get to Malaga. Intercity buses from Alicante run 6 times a day. The first bus leaves the city at 3.20, and the last one at 21.45.
The bus route is as follows: Alicante – Elche – Murcia – Area Servicio Puerto Lumbreras – Puerto Lumbrera – Baza – Guadix – Granada – Huetor Tajar – Loja – Malaga.
The minimum travel time is 6 hours 29 minutes, which depends on the selected departure time. A bus ticket will cost a minimum of 24 euros without the right to cancellation, but the average price is 43.93 euros and 53.86 euros.
Search for tickets on the ALSA website.
The bus station in Alicante is located near the historic center of Plaza Luceros. The map shows the location of the bus station in order to find out which way to go or go.
Travel in the sky
There are currently no direct flights between the cities of Alicante and Malaga. But you can get there by making a change in Madrid or Valencia.
The first option is to make a connecting route in Madrid. Madrid can be quickly reached with the RENFE train. Pay 45.90 euros and you will be in Madrid in 2.5 hours.
There are 4 options for getting to the airport: buy a metro, bus, train ticket, or use a taxi.
| Metro | Line 8 - Nuevos Ministerios - Aeropuerto T4 runs from Madrid to the airport. Metro stations are located in the second and fourth terminals on the 1st floor in the center. The subway is open from 6.00 to 01.30. The ticket price is from 4.5 to 5 euros. |
| Bus | Three buses run from Madrid to the airport. |
| Route 203 - Atocha / Cibeles - O'Donnell - Airport. The bus runs every day around the clock, departing from Atocha Train Station. | |
| Route 200 - Avenida de America - Airport. The bus runs every day from 5.00 to 23.30 with breaks of 10-20 minutes. | |
| Route 101 connects the Canillejas metro terminus with the airport. Working hours on weekdays - from 6.00 to 23.25, on weekends and holidays - from 7.30 to 23.25. The cost of a one-way ticket is 5 euros. | |
| Train | Line C1 connects Madrid and Barajas Airport. A one-way ticket will cost 2.6 euros. After purchase, the ticket is valid for an hour. Trains run from the city to the airport from 6.00 to 23.30. |
| Taxi | The official taxi in Madrid is white with a red stripe. For landing in Madrid you need to pay 2.1 euros, for each next km at the standard rate (there are also evening and holiday ones), 1.05 euros is charged. You can pay only in cash, cards are not accepted. |
The largest airport in Andalusia is located in Malaga, so getting here by plane is a very good option. Iberia Express and Air Nostrum operate flights from Madrid to Malaga.
There are four direct flights in this direction per day. The first flight of the aircraft is at 7.30 am, and the last one is at 19.35. However, there are also flights with transfers, but then the travel time will increase to at least 4 hours 45 minutes.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at Madrid Barajas Airport or on the official websites of Iberia and Air Nostrum.
There are 3 options for getting to Malaga city center from the airport. The airport is located 8 km from the city center, so you can get there quickly.
| Taxi | You can order a taxi to Malaga airport on the website. The taxi operates around the clock, so at any time a driver with a sign will be waiting for you at the exit from the arrivals hall. When ordering a taxi, do not forget to include your flight details. |
| Bus | The Express Airport bus delivers tourists to the city center every day from 7.00 to 24.00. Travel time is 15-20 minutes. The fare is 3 euros. Tickets are bought directly from the driver. |
| Train | The C1 Renfe commuter train line connects Malaga airport with the city center and several locations on the Costa del Sol. The station from which the train departs is located opposite the arrivals area. The ticket price is 1.80 euros. |
The second option is to make a connecting route in Valencia. Valencia can be reached by train all year round.If you are planning a trip from early summer to September, then purchase tickets in advance on the RENFE website. In this direction, the company offers 10 options for moving: the first at 6.45, and the last at 18.56. The ticket price is from 16.30 euros.
There are 3 options for getting from Valencia to the airport.
| Underground | Valencia has two metro lines connecting the city center and the airport: the red line (3) towards Rafelbunyol and the green line (5) towards Maritim Serreria. The travel time is 20 minutes and the fare is 4.90 euros (1 euro per card, 3.90 euros for the journey). |
| Bus (shuttle bus or # 150) | There is a special shuttle bus - airport-Valencia-airport. Opening hours - from 6.00 to 22.00. The waiting time is 20 minutes. The fare is 2.50 euros. An alternative to the shuttle bus is the yellow city bus No. 150. Opening hours - every day from 5.25 to 23.55. The fare is 1.50 euros. |
| Taxi | From the center of Valencia to the airport there is a flat rate of 20 euros. |
The flight from Valencia to Malaga is operated by Air Nostrum, which operates the only flight departing from Valencia at 23.00. If you choose a direct flight, you will be there in an hour and a half.
The minimum ticket price is 79 euros. Monitor ticket prices as often as possible, as one way prices can reach 459 euros.
Travel by car
It is allowed to rent a car in Spain to persons who have reached 21 years of age with at least a year of driving experience, and a credit card on which a deposit is blocked (up to 800 euros) is considered a prerequisite for renting a car.
The selection of car brands is always wider with international agencies. To rent a car, use the RentalCars website.
The rental price depends on the class of the car, booking dates and season. The rental price also includes a limited policy with a deductible (from 300 to 500 euros).
In August and September, prices are overpriced by 10-20%. An economy class car will cost a tourist 30-50 euros. The vehicle must be refueled before returning.
Traveling from Alicante to Malaga by car is an option to drive through the picturesque mountainous area along the sea coast.
You need to go by car all the time along the A7 highway. Since the terrain is mountainous, novice drivers should not take risks and hit the road along this route.
There have been accidents on different sections of the road along this route, so the driver should be especially careful. Driving at high speed is prohibited here.
Fuel costs are EUR 44.24. The one-way rental agency fee is 150 euros. There are no fees for this route, because the track is free.
| Class | Stamps | Cost per day in 2018 | Number of passengers | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini cars (economy class) | Ford Fiesta, Fiat Panda | From 13.75 euros | May 4, 2018 | 2 pieces of luggage or 1 + 1 |
| Compact cars | Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane | From 14.55 euros | 5 | 2 pieces of luggage |
| Middle class | Ford C-Max, Seat Toledo | From 15.43 euros | 5 | 2 pieces of luggage +1 |
| SUVs | Nissan Juke, Nissan Qashqai, BMW X1 | From 15.95 euros | 5 | 3 pieces of luggage |
| Standard | Opel Insignia, Audi A4, Volkswagen Passat, Renault Laguna | From 17.35 euros | 5 | 2 pieces of luggage +1 |
| Premium class | BMW 3 Series, Audi A6, | From 245.15 euros | 5 | 2 pieces of luggage +1 |
| Minivan (7 or 9 seats) | Seat Alhambra, Renault Espace - 7 seats | 7 seats - from 256.80 euros | 7 and 9 respectively | 4 pieces of luggage |
| Mercedes-Benz Vito, Opel Vivaro - 9 seats | For 9 seats - from 378.53 euros |
On passing
On the popular Blablacar website, you can find the best option for moving from Alicante to Malaga for only 28 euros. The site has the opportunity to view the offer of each driver for different dates and choose the most suitable option for yourself.
Conclusion
Malaga is a friendly city in southern Spain, in the heart of the famous Costa del Sol resort area. It is worth coming here for a walk through the old streets, lush boulevards and gardens.
If you are choosing the best way to get from Alicante to Malaga, then buy a bus ticket or rent a car. If you rent a car, you will not be tied to time and fully enjoy the trip.
