--- title: "Malaga train stations | EveryRail" description: "Malaga's only main-line station, Maria Zambrano, is eight minutes from the airport by C1 and around three hours from Madrid on the fastest AVE trains." image: "https://znmmduxdxnnnebgevjdu.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-media/entity-featured/city-malaga.webp" --- [Home]()[Spain]()Malaga [Home]()[Spain]()Malaga **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About train stations in Malaga]() - [Where to book]() - [Train stations in Malaga]() - [Train routes to and from Malaga]() - [Find places to stay in Malaga]() - [Frequently asked questions]() [Book now]() Last reviewed September 2026 # Train stations in Malaga Malaga's only main-line station, Maria Zambrano, is eight minutes from the airport by C1 and around three hours from Madrid on the fastest AVE trains. ![Cityscape of Malaga, Spain]() Stations 2 Primary station [Málaga-María Zambrano]() Passenger operators 4 Routes covered 7 Malaga Maria Zambrano is the only main line station in the city, handling AVE, Cercanias and every regional service. ## Malaga Maria Zambrano is the station you want Malaga has one main line station, Malaga Maria Zambrano, and it handles every long distance and regional service in and out of the city. There is no second station to worry about, which is one less decision than you get in Turin or Milan. The building sits inside the Vialia complex, with a shopping centre built around the platforms, so arriving with time to spare is not wasted time. Confirm Malaga Maria Zambrano as the departure or arrival point on your ticket before you pay. Some booking sites list it simply as Malaga, and that is the same station. ## Getting to Madrid on the AVE [Renfe]()'s AVE high speed trains link Malaga Maria Zambrano to Madrid Atocha in around three hours for the fastest departures, with the slower services on the same route taking closer to three and a half hours. Treat three hours as the orientation figure rather than a fixed promise, since the exact time depends on how many stops a given service makes along the way. Renfe runs the bulk of the timetable, and low cost competitors have moved in on the same tracks: OUIGO and [iryo]() both run high speed services on the [Madrid to Malaga]() corridor, usually at lower fares than standard AVE but with fewer flexible fare options and less generous baggage allowances. Renfe's own budget brand, Avlo, also appears on this route. Across all operators combined, departures run through most of the day at a rate of roughly one train every hour or so, which makes Malaga one of the better connected secondary cities on the Spanish high speed network. If your priority is price rather than flexibility, compare Renfe AVE against OUIGO and iryo directly, because the seat and the speed are close to identical but the ticket conditions are not. ## The airport run is a Cercanias job, not a taxi one Malaga Costa del Sol airport sits on the C1 Cercanias line, and the ride into Maria Zambrano station takes around eight minutes. Trains on the C1 run roughly every twenty minutes for most of the day, dropping to every half hour early in the morning and late at night. That frequency makes the train the default choice over a taxi for anyone landing without heavy luggage or a tight connection, since you are rarely waiting long for the next departure. The same C1 line continues past Maria Zambrano to Centro Alameda, which puts you a short walk from the old town without a change of train. Check the platform screens on arrival, since C1 services alternate direction and you want the train signed for Malaga centre, not the one signed for Fuengirola. ## Walking or taking the tram into the centre From Maria Zambrano station itself, the historic centre is close enough to walk, with most visitors covering it in fifteen to twenty minutes depending on pace and luggage. If you would rather not walk, Malaga's Metro line 1 or line 2 both call at Guadalmedina, a few minutes' walk from the station concourse, and either line will get you into the centre in a handful of stops. There is no need to add a taxi to the budget for this leg unless you are travelling with a lot of bags or arrive very late at night, when service frequency drops. ## Booking around the operator split Because Renfe, OUIGO, iryo and Avlo all sell tickets for overlapping departures on the Madrid to Malaga line, price comparison sites can show what looks like one long list of options that are actually four separate companies with different rules on changes, refunds and luggage. Buy directly from the operator's own site or app where you can, since third party resellers do not always make clear which company is actually running your train. If your journey involves a connection beyond Malaga, for example onward to the Costa del Sol coast, check whether your ticket is issued by Renfe or by one of the newer entrants, because only Renfe tickets currently interline cleanly with the regional and Cercanias network at Maria Zambrano. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() - Rail Europe Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide. - Trainline Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies. ### Passenger train operators - [iryo]() iryo is a private Spanish high-speed operator linking Madrid with Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville and Malaga; every passenger needs a reservation. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Ouigo]() Ouigo is SNCF's low-cost high-speed brand, serving over 60 destinations in France and routes in Spain; basic fares include one hand bag and one cabin bag. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Renfe]() Renfe serves Spain with AVE, Avlo, Alvia and regional trains. AVE tickets are named and reserved, while Interrail and Eurail passes need reservations. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [SNCF Voyageurs]() SNCF operates France's TGV and regional trains. SNCF Connect books domestic and many international journeys, with fares ranging from flexible to non-refundable. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Train stations in Malaga [![Map showing the location of Málaga-María Zambrano]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Renfe]()![iryo]()![Ouigo]()Main stationMálaga-María Zambrano1.4 km from the city centreMálaga-María Zambrano is the main railway station in Malaga, served by Ouigo, iryo, Renfe, and SNCF Voyageurs.]()[![Map showing the location of Málaga Aeropuerto]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Renfe]()Málaga Aeropuerto7.7 km from the city centreMálaga Aeropuerto is a railway station in Malaga, served by Renfe. The main station for long-distance trains is Málaga-María Zambrano, 6.3 km away.]() ## Train routes to and from Malaga [![Cityscape of Malaga, the destination for this Granada to Malaga train journey]()Granada to Malaga by trainRenfe's Avant train links Granada and Malaga directly in around 1 hour 30 minutes via Antequera-Santa Ana, longer than the map distance suggests.]()[![Panoramic view of Malaga and the coast from Gibralfaro hill]()Madrid to Malaga by trainMadrid to Málaga trains take as little as 2 hours 30 minutes, with around 15 to 20 daily departures. AVE is the fastest; Avlo fares start at €7.]()[![Alhambra palace complex in Granada with the Sierra Nevada mountains]()Malaga to Granada by trainDirect Renfe Avant trains connect Málaga and Granada in about 1 hour 23-25 minutes, with three departures each way on June 2026 schedules.]()[![Madrid's Gran Via street at dusk with the Metropolis Building]()Malaga to Madrid by trainDirect Renfe and iryo trains cover Málaga to Madrid in about 2 hours 39 minutes, arriving at Puerta de Atocha (Almudena Grandes); departures vary by date.]()[![Ronda's cliffside old town above the El Tajo gorge]()Malaga to Ronda by trainNo direct trains run from Malaga to Ronda: change at Antequera-Santa Ana or Bobadilla. Journeys take 1 hour 50 minutes to 3 hours, 1 to 4 daily, from €13.80.]()[![Seville Cathedral and Giralda tower at sunset]()Malaga to Seville by trainDirect Renfe AVE and Avant trains from Málaga María Zambrano to Sevilla-Santa Justa take around 2 hours, with around 20 departures daily.]()[![Panoramic view of Malaga and the coast from Gibralfaro hill]()Seville to Malaga by trainRenfe Avant and AVE trains link Sevilla-Santa Justa with Málaga María Zambrano, where Cercanías, metro and bus connections continue into the city.]() ## Find places to stay in Malaga [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Malaga**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I use Renfe to check a Malaga ticket? Use the operator's official journey planner for the exact train you want. Check every leg and the conditions shown for the selected fare before paying. ### Should I choose the shortest train to Malaga? Choose it only when the connection and final transfer are practical. A little more margin is usually better when you are changing from another train, coach or flight. ### Can I treat the airport transfer as part of the train ticket? Treat the airport transfer as a separate step unless your confirmed itinerary shows it as included. Leave time for baggage, delays and the move between airport transport and the train. ### Can a rail pass replace a Malaga ticket? A pass can cover eligible journeys, but you must still check the selected service before travel day. ### Should I buy separate tickets for a Malaga journey? They can work when you allow a generous connection margin. Read the later ticket's conditions first because it may not cover a missed connection caused by an earlier delay. ## All train routes to and from Malaga - [Granada to Malaga by train]() - [Madrid to Malaga by train]() - [Malaga to Granada by train]() - [Malaga to Madrid by train]() - [Malaga to Ronda by train]() - [Malaga to Seville by train]() - [Seville to Malaga by train]() ## Other destinations in Spain - [Train stations in Alicante]() - [Train stations in Barcelona]() - [Train stations in Benidorm]() - [Train stations in Bilbao]() - [Train stations in Cordoba]() - [Train stations in Girona]() - [Train stations in Granada]() - [Train stations in Madrid]() - [Train stations in Ronda]() - [Train stations in San Sebastian]() - [Train stations in Seville]() - [Train stations in Toledo]() - [Train stations in Valencia]() ## Rail passes for Spain - [Interrail in Spain]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/spain/malaga/#webpage", "name": "Train stations in Malaga", "description": "Stations: 2. 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