Málaga Metro — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

Launched in 2014, the Malaga Metro stretches 11.3 kilometres (7 miles) and has 17 stations on its two operating lines. A standard ticket costs €1.35 ($1.61). The metro operates from 6:30 a.m. to 23:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with extended service on weekends and holidays. Although there is no direct link to the airport, travellers can reach the airport terminals via the Renfe commuter service.

The Malaga Metro operates from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays, 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. The average speed of the trains is not indicated, but the maximum speed is 70 km/h.

The trains have air conditioning and are not driverless. There is no information about the possibility of walking between the platforms or the presence of screen doors on the platforms.

The fare for a trip on the Malaga metro is €1.35. There are around 2,000 passengers per day.

Map of Malaga Metro

Map of Malaga Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Malaga Metro map in PDF format.

Metros in Spain: Málaga Metro

With a population of just over 570,000, Malaga is the sixth most populous city in Spain and the second most populous in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

In the 19th century, Malaga experienced a significant industrial boom, becoming the first city in the country to achieve industrialisation. However, this period of growth was interrupted by the devastation of the Spanish Civil War.

After the war, Malaga embarked on a new wave of modernisation in the 1960s and 1970s, fuelled by the strategic location of its port. The port’s prime position for Mediterranean trade and tourism led to a major upturn in the city’s fortunes.

These influential factors were instrumental in the development of the city’s service sector, which in turn supported a vibrant tourist industry.

Faced with a lack of alternative solutions, the local authorities in Malaga began to look for ways to improve the city’s public transport, especially in the perennially congested city centre.

In the 1990s, the need for a railway system capable of meeting local demand was recognised. However, it wasn’t until 2006 that construction began on what would become known as the Málaga Metro. Although it bears the label “metro”, its size and technical specifications closely reflect the characteristics of a light rail system.

A full eight years later, in 2014, this innovative urban transport alternative was unveiled. Currently, the Malaga Metro covers a total distance of 11.3 kilometres (7 miles), with 17 stations on its two lines.

Lines and Stations

Málaga Metro currently covers a distance of 11.3 kilometres (7 miles), with a total of 17 stations on two active lines. In 2017, the network served approximately 5.6 million passengers, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year.

The development of both lines has been driven by the need to manage busy areas and reduce congestion on the main thoroughfares in the centre of Málaga. Although there has been speculation about a possible third line in the future, no official confirmation has been made.

Here is a brief overview of Malaga’s metro lines.

Line 1

Line 1, inaugurated on 30 July 2014, is a 7.50-kilometre (4.7-mile) railway line that connects 13 stations. It runs from the El Perchel neighbourhood through the city centre to the Cruz de Humilladero neighbourhood and the Ciudad Universitaria. Stations on this line include:

El Perchel: Located in the neighbourhood of the same name, this station is part of the prestigious Málaga-Centro district. Inaugurated in 2014, it shares its services with Line 2.
La Unión: Located in the Cruz de Humilladero neighbourhood, at the end of La Unión street. Opened in 2014.
Barbarela: Located on Juan XXIII Avenue, this station is also in the Cruz de Humilladero neighbourhood, close to the San José Obrero Specialist Centre, known locally as “Barbarela”.
Carranque: Opened in 2014, this station is located on Virgen de la Cabeza Street, close to the Ciudad Deportiva de Carrenque and the Carlos Haya Hospital.
Portada Alta: Located near Plaza José Bergamín, where the Potada Alta and La Barriguilla neighbourhoods meet at the end of Calle Cómpeta.
Ciudad de la Justicia: This station is located in the Teatinos-Universidad neighbourhood, on Louis Pasteur Boulevard, next to the Ciudad de la Justicia courthouse complex.
Universidad: Also located in the Teatinos-Universidad district, this station provides direct access to the Teatinos-Universidad campus, where several branches of the University of Malaga are located.
Clínico: This station is located near the Virgen de la Victoria Hospital, in the Puerto de la Torre district, on Louis Pasteur Boulevard.
El Cónsul: This station is located in the Teatinos-Universidad district, near Louis Pasteur Boulevard, as part of the first phase of the Malaga Metro.
Paraninfo: This station was originally called “Rectorado”, but its name was changed just before it opened. It is located in the Teatinos-Universidad district.
Andalucía Tech: Located in the Teatinos-Universidad district, this station is very close to the Soliva and Los Asperones neighbourhoods, where the Málaga Metro line ends.

Line 2

Line 2, like Line 1, was opened to the public in 2014. It covers a distance of 5.7 kilometres (3.5 miles) and has 9 commercial stations. It serves neighbourhoods such as Poligono Alameda, passing through the Centro district and District 7. Trains, which travel at an average speed of 30 km/h (18.6 mph), usually take 9 minutes to complete the entire route. There are also plans to extend the line to at least 4 more stations, although the opening dates have not yet been determined.

Guadalmedina: Located in the El Perchel neighbourhood of the Centro district, its name comes from the Guadalmedina River. Although it is expected to start operating in 2016, it will not open its doors to the public until just before 2020. Like Line 2, this station also serves Line 1.
El Perchel: Although this station is located between the Explanada de la Estación and RENFE neighbourhoods, it is named after the nearby El Perchel neighbourhood in the Centro district. Opened on 30 July 2014, it shares services with Guadalmedina station and serves both lines 1 and 2.
La Isla: This station is located in the La Princesa neighbourhood, in the Carretera de Cádiz district, at the intersection of the Juan Pablo II bridge and Héroe Sosotoa street. It is also very close to the northern part of the Jardín de la Abadía and Parque Ayala neighbourhoods.
Princesa-Huelin: Located in the La Princesa neighbourhood, from which it takes its name, this station is very close to the Juan XXIII bridge and the Huelin and Alaska neighbourhoods in the Carretera de Cádiz district.
El Torcal: This station is located at the top of Velázquez Avenue, in the El Torcal neighbourhood of the Carretera de Cádiz district.
La Luz-La Paz: Although this station was initially named “Los Guindos” and before that “Velázquez” when it was inaugurated in 2014 (due to its connection to both streets), the residents on both sides of this station successfully renamed it after their neighbourhoods, La Luz and La Paz.
Puerta Blanca: Located in the Puerta Blanca neighbourhood, in the Carretera de Cádiz district, this station was part of the first development plan.
Palacio de los Deportes: Named after its location next to the José María Martín Carpena Indoor Sports Centre, it is located on Miguel de Mérida Nicolich Street in the Carretera de Cádiz district.

Connections

The Málaga Metro is well connected to other modes of transport, offering a variety of alternatives for commuting throughout the city and its suburbs. Although all stations have some form of connection to other systems, the following are particularly noteworthy:

El Perchel: This station serves both lines 1 and 2 and also provides access to Málaga-María Zambrano for residents of the surrounding area. Málaga-María Zambrano is the main railway terminal where the high-speed intercity trains, known as “Cercanias Málaga”, serve the outlying areas. The terminal is also the location of Málaga’s bus station, which provides both city and intercity bus services. The terminal is also the base for EMTSAM, a company that provides bus transport for some of Malaga’s urban population.
Universidad: Connected to line 1, passengers can also board EMTSAM vehicles at this station, specifically on lines 11, 18 and 22, as well as the city bus lines M-116, M-143, M-114 and M-166.
Clínico: Like Universidad, this station belongs to Line 1, as it is connected to the EMTSAM lines 11, 18 and 22.
Puerta Blanca: Associated with Line 2, this metro station provides access to the city bus lines 5, 9, 10, 31 and A.

Fares

Although the fare options and payment plans for the Malaga Metro are not very extensive, they are designed to meet the needs of different types of travellers, with 4 possible options:

Casual Ticket: This is the simplest and best option for infrequent travellers. With this reloadable card, a trip on the metro costs just €1.35 ($1.61). Best of all, this ticket can be validated multiple times, allowing up to 9 people to use it at the same station, provided there is enough credit on the card.
Malaga Monadero Metro Card: This card is a good alternative for regular metro users. Made from a more durable material than the casual ticket, it can be loaded with a maximum balance of €25 ($US 29.90), with a minimum balance of €5 ($US 5.98). This payment method reduces the fare to €0.82 ($US 0.98). Like the casual ticket, the Mondadero Metro Card can be validated multiple times, allowing up to 9 people to use it at the same station.
Transport Mondadero Consortium Card: This card is integrated with other public transport systems such as city buses. It’s the best option for those who frequently use the city’s public transport system, as the same card can be used for different services. With one of these cards, the metro fare is reduced to €0.82 ($US0.98), but if a transfer is made from a city or intercity bus, the fare is reduced to €0.65 ($US0.78). As with the previous options, this card can be validated multiple times, allowing up to 9 people to use it at the same station.
Transport consortium card for large families: This card allows you to take advantage of the discounts offered by the Málaga Transport Consortium. As a special card, it is not transferable and cannot be validated more than once. It can only be used by the person for whom it is intended.

Video

Schedule

The Málaga Metro operates a comprehensive timetable to meet the needs of its users, taking into account holidays and similar occasions. The following is the varying schedule of the Metro.

Monday to Thursday: 6:30 – 23:00
Fridays and days before holidays: 6:30 am – 1:30 am
Saturdays: 7:00 am – 1:30 am
Sundays and public holidays 7:00 – 23:00

Trains run every 6 to 10 minutes Monday to Thursday, every 6 to 15 minutes on Fridays and every 10 to 15 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Regulations

The Málaga Metro has a number of rules that it encourages its passengers to follow in order to avoid possible fines and to improve service. Here are some of the most important ones:

To ensure smooth movement, drivers should allow passengers to exit the carriages before boarding.
Escalators should be used correctly by standing on the right and allowing other passengers to pass on the left.
Elevators are preferred for people with reduced mobility and those travelling with prams. They are also recommended for the elderly and pregnant women.
Be aware of emergency devices and alarms and use them only in real emergencies.
It is recommended to use the litter bins provided in order to keep the Malaga Metro clean. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
Avoid obstructing the movement of other passengers, including carrying large objects that may disturb other passengers.
When travelling with a child, hold the child’s hand and keep an eye on the child at all times to prevent dangerous situations.
Failure to carry a valid ticket, carrying an expired ticket or carrying an invalid ticket is an offence and will result in a fine.
It is forbidden to enter or leave the train after the signal to close the doors. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
Tobacco consumption is completely prohibited in the stations and trains of the system.
It is not permitted to take video or photographs for reporting purposes, unless prior authorisation has been obtained from the authorised staff of the facilities.
It is forbidden to eat or drink in the facilities of the Malaga Metro.
Roller-skating is prohibited in the stations and carriages of the Metro.
It is forbidden to take animals on the metro, unless they are guide dogs or small enough to be carried in special containers.
Bicycles are allowed in metro facilities, although they must be moved to make way for people with reduced mobility.

Airport Connections

The Malaga Metro doesn’t have a direct link to Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport, meaning that none of its stations are located within the airport terminal. However, it is still relatively easy to reach the airport with a quick transfer.

To get to the airport, take one of the two metro lines to El Perchel station. Upon arrival at El Perchel, passengers should exit the station and proceed to the Málaga-María Zambrano train terminal. From there you should look for the Renfe C1 trains to the airport. These trains usually run every 20 minutes and take about 8 minutes to reach the airport. The fare is €1.70 ($2.03) and the service runs from 6.20am to 11.20pm.

The procedure is similar for those wishing to travel from Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport to Malaga city centre. The station for the Renfe C1 line is located under Terminal 3 (T3), where tickets to the city centre can be purchased. Apart from the train, other means of transport available at the airport include taxis, buses and car rental services.

Future Expansions

While no extension of the Malaga metro is currently underway, work is focused on completing the original project. Although the completion date was originally set for 2019, it has now been pushed back to 2020.

Once completed, both metro lines will connect to the centre of Malaga and to each other. In the future, there are plans to build a second metro line to the city’s airport via a station on the site. This proposed project follows the trend seen in other Spanish cities, where airport terminals are directly connected to the metro system.

The possibility of a third line serving the La Malagueta neighbourhood in the Este district is also being seriously considered. However, this project could be replaced by an extension of the intercity railway network. The final decision will be taken by the relevant authorities once the current work has been completed.

Tourist Attractions

Close to the Princesa train station, travellers will find the collection of the Russian Museum of Saint Petersburg in Malaga, a much-visited centre for its diverse exhibitions. Every year, more than 100,000 tourists visit the museum’s facilities, which include projection rooms, a lecture hall, an auditorium and the headquarters of its virtual museum. Covering an area of 2,300 square metres, the museum’s exhibits change regularly, ensuring that every visit is a different experience.

Also near Princesa Station is the Automobile and Fashion Museum. This relatively new museum, opened in 2010 after the restoration of an old tobacco factory, houses over 90 vehicles from different eras, the oldest dating back to 1898. This museum is a must for car enthusiasts.