Are you planning a day trip from Fuengirola to Marbella?
In that case, you’re in the right place!
I have been living next to Marbella since 2020, and have plenty of experience visiting Marbella on a day trip from Fuengirola.
In this article, you will find all your options for planning this day trip, along with detailed instructions and local insights that will save you a lot of time and hassle.
Let’s dive in!
Distance From Fuengirola to Marbella
The distance between Fuengirola and Puerto Banus is approximately 30 km (18.6 miles).
One Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella: Your Options
- Day trip by bus: 30-45 min bus ride, tickets 3.75 euros one way
- Day trip by car: most convenient & fastest
- Day trip by train: no train connections available for this route
- Day trip with tour company: easy affordable option with 2 pick up locations
- Day trip with taxi: approx 30 – 40 euros one way
1. Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella by Bus
There are two bus companies covering this route.
You can take the faster bus (Avanza) which is only 30 – 45 mins, or the slower but more frequent bus connection M-220 which takes around 1.5 hours.
Fast Long Distance Bus from Fuengirola to Marbella
The fast line is operated by Avanza (the red and white buses), these are the long-distance buses from destinations like Granada and Malaga, that continue all the way to places like Cadiz or Algeciras.
The fast buses take about 30 to 45 minutes on average, and will only stop on the main bus station in Marbella, which is a little off from the center of the city.
You can get your tickets in advance at Avanza website, that way you can get on the bus even if it’s busy, they run around 10 times per day, more often in the summer months.
No need to print the ticket, just show the QR code on your phone.
The tickets cost 3.75 euros one way per person, and I recommend getting them online. If you run out of time, you can get one from the ticket booth at the bus station, but make sure you tell them which bus you want to take (bus departure time).
Otherwise, they will give you ticket for the next available connection, which may be the slow one (see below).
Local M-220 Bus Fuengirola to Marbella
The local buses (green ones) run more frequently than the Avanza line, and have like 50 stops on the highway (I’m not kidding!).
It takes a lifetime to get to Marbella with these, and all the stops are on the busy free highway, so it’s not a very pleasant ride, but you do get amazing sea views.
The connection to Marbella is the M-220 line between Las Lagunas – Fuengirola – Marbella and you can check the timetable here. The route and stops are marked on an itinerary map here.
The bus tickets are a similar price to those from Avanza, around 3.30 euros per person.
Unlike the fast bus, the local bus has many stops in Marbella town, by the main road, which is a more convenient option for getting to the city or Puerto Banus.
Fuengirola Bus Station
Fuengirola bus station is pretty chaotic as there are many buses stopping at the same time, and there are no designated platforms. The bus simply pulls up by the side of the road.
It’s important to know which bus you’re taking and what is the final destination, especially if you’re on the Avanza bus. The local green bus always has the number M-220 displayed and it’s easy to spot.
2. Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella by Car
If you already rented a car in Fuengirola (or planning to do so), driving to Marbella is pretty easy and you can choose from two different highways – paid and free.
- AP-7 – this is the paid toll road, which is less busy and a little faster compared to the other one. They go right next to each other, so you still get to enjoy the beautiful views with fewer cars. The tolls on this road are not huge, I think it was around 5 euros.
- A-7 – this is the free Mediterranean highway that is used by most people, it is busier, especially at peak times, and the local buses also have many stops on the highway (keep your distance from them). The travel time difference between these two is not huge but can be an issue if you travel in peak times.
I have marked the suggested route on the map below.
Parking in Marbella
There are several good parking options available in Marbella. If you’re planning to explore the old town, its best to leave the car in one of the parking spaces by the coastline and walk there.
The Indigo Car Parks next to Avenida del Mar are a good option for this.
The parking options are marked on the map below.
3. Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella by Train
There are no train connections between Marbella and Fuengirola. The train network stops in Fuengirola main train station and doesn’t continue further south.
4. Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella with Tour Company
If you’re staying in Fuengirola and don’t like the hassle of navigating the local traffic or using public transport, getting a trip with a local tour company is a super convenient option to see Marbella.
The tour company I recommend offers conveniently located pick-ups from the bus station in Fuengirola and also Los Boliches.
This day trip ticks off three beautiful destinations in one day – Marbella, Puerto Banus and the pretty hilltop village of Mijas Pueblo.
Click the link below to reserve your spot – this day trip is available once a week in the main season.
The day trip comes with free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before the trip, English English-speaking guide and convenient pick up and drop off in Fuengirola.
You will also have free time in Mijas Pueblo, Marbella and Puerto Banus to explore on your own.
5. Day Trip from Fuengirola to Marbella by Taxi or Uber
If you’re planning to take a taxi, you can expect to pay between 30 to 40 euros, depending on your destination and the number of people traveling.
I did this trip with a taxi a few times and found that Uber is often cheaper, especially if you can get UberX. It’s worth getting it on your phone if you don’t have it already and check the prices there.
Things To Do on a Day Trip in Marbella
If you’re driving by car or even taking the bus, Marbella is pretty close to Fuengirola so you will have almost a whole day to explore.
Start your day trip in the old town of Marbella – it’s a maze of picture-perfect narrow streets decorated with flowers and plants, boutique shops, ice cream shops and cosy cafes to sneak in for some refreshments.
The main parts of the old town include Plaza de los Naranjos, the Orange Tree Square, where you will find the town hall and the tourist office. Another pretty square is next to the Church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, it is lined with orange trees with a large fountain in the middle, and it’s usually much more peaceful than Plaza de los Naranjos.
Right opposite the church you will also see the remains of the old medieval city walls, and if you continue to walk alongside the walls, it will eventually lead you to Muralla del Castillo, the ruins of the old fortification built during the Moorish period.
Calle Ancha is one of the main and prettiest streets of the old town – you will find lots of small hotels and restaurants here, well worth a short stroll.
After you complete your walk around the old town, and perhaps sneak somewhere for a quick tapas lunch, you can continue walking down towards the coastline.
Stop at Alameda Park to hide from the sun and see the pretty fountain in the middle, and continue walking straight down from the park through the pedestrian zone Avenida del Mar, with sculptures of Salvador Dali casually spread around the plaza.
From there, you could enjoy the rest of your day trip by the sea, having a drink in the marina, or taking the really long coastal walk while exploring the ‘Golden Mile’ of Marbella, with luxury properties lining the whole coastline. There are plenty of small seaside cafes and bars to stop for a refreshing drink.
If you have time, you can get a short taxi ride to Puerto Banus to see the millionaires’ playground with luxury megayachts in the marina, luxurious boutique shops, and supercars casually parking by the side of the road.
Other Day Trips from Fuengirola
Fuengirola is the perfect location for exploring more of Southern Spain – you can book a variety of day trip options with a local tour company, or simply plan your own exciting adventure.
Some of the most popular day trip options include those to Granada, to Seville, or even to the beautiful village of Ronda.
Keep in mind that travel time will vary, so if you want to have more time to explore choose the destinations that are closer.
Conclusion
I hope you found everything you need in this detailed day trip guide! If there is something specific you would like to know about this day trip, please leave a comment below.
Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
HOTELS
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
