- Must visit
Museo Nacional del Prado
Spain’s premier art museum, famed for masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. A cornerstone of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art and a top priority for first-time visitors.
Cheapest price
$23
Average price
$23
Fastest journey
6 h 30 m
Average duration
6 h 45 m
Buses per day
3
Distance
416 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Málaga to Madrid is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Málaga to Madrid will cost around $23 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $23.
Of the 3 buses that leave Málaga for Madrid on Sat, Jun 20, 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
On Sat, Jun 20 the direct buses cover the 416 km distance in an average of 6 h 45 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 6 h 30 m .
On Sat, Jun 20 the slowest buses will take 7 h 15 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
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BASEOmio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Málaga to Madrid among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from $23. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 2h 57m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $23, and a flight costs an average of $49.
Distance: 258 miles (416 km)
| Bus | Most popular Train | Flight | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
$25 Average price Cheapest | $45 Average price | $258 Average price | $112 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 51m Average total duration 4h 21m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 2m Average total duration 3h 32m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 57m Average total duration Fastest 2h 57m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* | 5h 24m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.2 - 2.5kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular airline | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Málaga to Madrid:
A bus is $21 (€17) less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Málaga to Madrid costing on average $45 (€37).
A bus is $233 (€191) less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Málaga to Madrid costing on average $258 (€212).
Other travel options to Madrid take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 32m.
Bus takes on average 4h 21m.
You'll arrive about 1h 3m sooner (4h 21m by bus vs 5h 24m by car) and save roughly $87 (€71) compared to fuel and tolls ($25 (€20) vs $112 (€92)). You also skip the drive itself — no traffic stress, no parking, and you can use the time to work, nap, or catch up on a series with the onboard Wi-Fi.
Direct coaches are operated by Grupo Interbus, BlaBlaCar.
Driving is still worth considering if you're travelling with bulky luggage, need flexibility on departure times, or plan to stop along the way.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:20AM | Arrival Time 11:00AM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 07:50AM | Arrival Time 02:10PM | Duration 6h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:00AM | Arrival Time 02:20PM | Duration 6h20 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:20AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 5h40 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $36 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 08:30AM | Arrival Time 02:30PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 02:00PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Mon, Wed | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 03:20PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator Grupo Interbus | Departure Time 09:20AM | Arrival Time 03:50PM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Everyday | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 09:30AM | Arrival Time 02:40PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:00AM | Arrival Time 03:10PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:10AM | Arrival Time 04:10PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 10:20AM | Arrival Time 03:30PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Mon | Cheapest price $33 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 04:20PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $31 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 11:30AM | Arrival Time 05:40PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 01:00PM | Arrival Time 06:20PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator Grupo Interbus | Departure Time 01:45PM | Arrival Time 08:15PM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:20PM | Arrival Time 07:20PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $35 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 02:30PM | Arrival Time 07:30PM | Duration 5h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:20PM | Arrival Time 09:20PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Tue | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 03:50PM | Arrival Time 09:10PM | Duration 5h20 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $37 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:00PM | Arrival Time 10:10PM | Duration 6h10 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator Grupo Interbus | Departure Time 04:15PM | Arrival Time 10:45PM | Duration 6h30 | Departure days Sun | Cheapest price $23 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:20PM | Arrival Time 10:20PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Tue, Thu | Cheapest price $43 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 04:50PM | Arrival Time 10:40PM | Duration 5h50 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $41 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:00PM | Arrival Time 11:00PM | Duration 6h00 | Departure days Fri | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:10PM | Arrival Time 11:30PM | Duration 6h20 | Departure days Thu | Cheapest price $44 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 05:30PM | Arrival Time 10:40PM | Duration 5h10 | Departure days Wed, Fri | Cheapest price $30 |
Operator BlaBlaCar | Departure Time 06:50PM | Arrival Time 01:50AM | Duration 7h00 | Departure days Sat | Cheapest price $28 |
Operator Grupo Interbus | Departure Time 11:45PM | Arrival Time 07:00AM | Duration 7h15 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat | Cheapest price $23 |
The table below shows live departures for Málaga to Madrid buses for today, Friday, June 19. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BASE | 9:20 AM Malaga, Estación de Autobuses | 6h30 | 3:50 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
BASE | 1:45 PM Malaga, Estación de Autobuses | 6h30 | 8:15 PM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
BASE | 11:45 PM Malaga, Estación de Autobuses | 7h15 | 7:00 AM Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, bus, and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Buses from Málaga to Madrid run on average 6 times per day, taking around 4h 21m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at $23 (€19) but you can travel from only $19 (€16) by train.
There are 6 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 01:30, the last at 23:45. The fastest bus covers the 258 miles (416 km) distance in 5h 45m.
Distance 258 miles (416 km) |
Average bus duration 4h 21m |
Cheapest ticket price $23 (€19) |
Buses per day 6 |
Direct buses 6 |
Fastest bus 5h 45m |
First bus 1:30 AM |
Last bus 11:45 PM |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 91 days |
Discover the best of Madrid — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Madrid trip today.
Spain’s premier art museum, famed for masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. A cornerstone of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art and a top priority for first-time visitors.
Madrid’s leading modern art museum, best known for Picasso’s Guernica alongside major works by Dalí and Miró. Essential for modern and contemporary art lovers.
A major museum spanning European painting from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Its broad collection complements the Prado and Reina Sofía perfectly.
Madrid’s most famous park, ideal for walking, boating, and relaxing among monuments and formal gardens. A top city experience for nearly every visitor.
Madrid’s best-known avenue, lined with historic architecture, theaters, shops, and rooftop views. Energetic by day and night, it is one of the city’s defining walks.
The symbolic heart of Madrid and a major meeting point, home to the Kilómetro Cero marker and famous public celebrations. Constantly busy and central.
Madrid’s signature chickpea stew, traditionally served in stages with broth, vegetables, chickpeas, and assorted meats. It is one of the city’s most emblematic comfort dishes.
A classic Madrid sandwich of fried squid rings in crusty bread, especially associated with bars around Plaza Mayor. It is a simple local staple and iconic snack.
A rich traditional stew made with tripe, chorizo, and morcilla in a paprika-forward sauce. It is a historic tavern dish closely linked to Madrid cuisine.
Prestigious flamenco venue with acclaimed dining, known for refined Spanish cuisine in an intimate historic setting. It combines performance and high-end gastronomy.
Historic traditional restaurant famous for roast suckling pig and Castilian classics. It offers an old-world atmosphere and is one of Madrid’s most iconic dining rooms.
Well-known classic restaurant celebrated for huevos rotos and traditional Spanish cooking. It is a long-established spot with a lively, polished tavern feel.
Moderate for Western Europe. Museums and transport are reasonable, while central hotels and fine dining cost more.
Service is usually included. Locals often round up or leave EUR 1-2 in cafés and 5-10% at restaurants for very good service. Tipping is appreciated, not required.
Official public transport app
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses -> Puerta del Sol, Madrid
Traveling from the coast of Andalucia to Spain's capital is easy and comfortable, with a wide range of buses from Málaga to Madrid to choose from every day. Ten to eleven buses leave Málaga on most days, and they only take around 6 hours to get to Madrid. That means finding a quick, suitable connection should be simple.
All buses to Madrid from Málaga are operated by Interbus, running services out of Málaga's bus station to both Madrid's airport and the city's Estación Sur. Getting to all parts of the capital should be easy.
Most buses from Málaga to Madrid will take between 6 hours and 6 hours and 30 minutes, with no changes required along the way. However, travelers should be aware that a couple of journeys every day take longer, about 7 hours and 25 minutes. Please check the timetable carefully before booking.
Buses run throughout the year on a regular schedule between Málaga and Madrid. There are 10-11 services on weekdays and Saturdays, and 9 buses on Sundays. Buses leave as early as 7:35 a.m. and there are clusters of departures around lunchtime and mid-afternoon. A late evening service usually leaves just after 11:00 p.m. as well.
Departure bus station: InterBus services to Madrid depart from the Estación de Autobuses, which can be found a short walk southwest of the old city and west of the port. It's also next to Maria Zambrano train station, connecting buses with the Costa del Sol. The C1 bus also runs a circular route through the city center to the bus station.
Arrival bus stations: There are two arrival points in Madrid. The Estación Sur is the most convenient for the city itself, only a couple of miles south of the center. The Cercanias C1 line or the Metro will take travelers to all parts of Madrid in no time. Alternatively, buses run to Madrid's airport in the Barajas neighborhood.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Málaga to Madrid by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Madrid, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Málaga to Madrid buses use the Malaga, Estación de Autobuses to Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses station pair, with some services arriving at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid). Use this guide to compare Málaga and Madrid bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Malaga, Estación de Autobuses is 1 km from Málaga city centre. Public transport options include:
Malaga, Estación de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Tapas 24 (0.4 km), Pizzeria Roma (0.6 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located inside the station, near the main entrance.
Ticket office support is available at Malaga, Estación de Autobuses.
Available at Malaga, Estación de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Malaga, Estación de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Malaga has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Tapas Bar (in the station).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and inside the station.
Ticket office support is available at Malaga.
Available at Malaga: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Malaga: Elevators, ramps.
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses is 3 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafetería de la estación (in the station), Restaurante El Brillante (0.5 km), La Taberna de Domínguez (0.7 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and in the waiting area.
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses.
Available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Estación Sur de Autobuses: Elevators, ramps.
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) is 12 km from Madrid city centre. Public transport options include:
Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid) has practical services for this route, including Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Shower, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Rodilla, Mahoudrid
ATMs are aTMs located throughout T4, major cards accepted .
Ticket office support is available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid).
Available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Madrid, Terminal de autobuses T4 (Aeropuerto de Madrid): Step-free access, elevators, accessible toilets.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need