Malaga Gibraltar Bus: Tickets & Tips from Local Expert [2024]

Are you planning to travel from Malaga to Gibraltar by bus? In that case, you’re at the right place!

As a local expat living near Malaga, I have plenty of experience with the local transport options and have visited Gibraltar myself.

In this article, I have put together the most detailed guide you’ll find on your transport with the Malaga Gibraltar bus.

Malaga Gibraltar Bus: Transport Details

If you’ve decided you want to travel to Gibraltar by bus, this article will give you all the details and info you will need.

If you have some specific questions about this journey, I have added an FAQ question at the end of the post, but feel free to leave a comment if your question hasn’t been answered in here.

Can You Get to Gibraltar from Malaga by Bus?

Yes, but NOT directly to Gibraltar. Because it’s a foreign territory, the buses only run to the last town by the borders called La Linea.

From the bus station of La Linea, you can take a short walk towards the crossing and enter Gibraltar on foot, or take the local Gibraltar taxi from there. More on that later.

Before you plan your trip, please make sure that you check the legal requirements for entry on the local government website for Gibraltar.

As of spring 2023, you can enter Gibraltar with a valid EU passport without any additional paperwork, or even a valid national ID card (EU citizens only).

Where to Get the Bus?

The buses to Gibraltar leave from the main bus station in Malaga, which is right next to Malaga Maria Zambrano train station.

The station is really dated and not well equipped, so if you want to do some shopping ahead of the journey, get some souvenirs or have lunch before you leave, you’re better off crossing the road and using the train station.

The train station is fairly big and modern and resembles a small shopping mall with a big train station attached to it.

Malaga Gibraltar Bus Departure Times

The Malaga Gibraltar Bus departs at the following times:

• 8.30 am – arrival 10.50 am
• 11.30 am – arrival 14.15 pm
• 13.15 pm – arrival 15.40 pm
• 14.30 pm – arrival time 17.30 pm
• 15.45 pm – arrival 18.00 pm
• 17.30 pm – arrival 19.40 pm
• 22.25 pm – arrival 22.40 pm

Please note that the times are subject to change, in the summer months they normally add more connections due to the demand.

To get the most accurate information about departures, I always recommend checking the booking system at Avanza website as there you get the most up-to-date information.

Bus Ticket Prices & Where to Buy Them

Many articles about travelling to Gibraltar will direct you to third-party websites to purchase your tickets (through their affiliate links). I would advise against using these companies as they often take a commission on the transition and you might end up paying more than you need.

To get the tickets, head over directly to the Avanza website which is the company operating this route. They have a very simple booking system which is also available in English.

On this page, enter Malaga and La Linea and your chosen travel date.

The tickets to Gibraltar start from 14.19 euros one day, per person, and the price will be higher in the summer months and other peak travel times.

Once you entered your details, you will get a QR code with a digital ticket that you just need to show to the bus driver, along with your valid ID or passport.

Luggage is normally transported free of charge and included in the ticket, but if you’re travelling with excessive luggage or dog etc, you might need to pay extra.

Even if you’re travelling off-season, it’s better to get your tickets online as that will guarantee you can get on the bus if there are more people boarding at the station. During summer months, this route may be quite popular so you may need to get your tickets a bit in advance, if you had a specific date and time you wanted to travel.

Malaga Gibraltar Bus Journey Time

As you can see from the departure times above, the shortest journey time to Gibraltar from Malaga is 2 hours and 10 minutes, and the slowest buses will take you there in 3 hours.

The faster buses make only three stops on the way – Malaga Airport, Marbella and Estepona.

The slower 3 hour buses also stop in other destinations between these cities, like Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, San Pedro and others.

Bus Facilities & Practical Tips

The Avanza buses are fairly modern and well-equipped, I have had no issues with them. They normally have a toilet for longer journeys, and some also have a USB charger on the seats.

On some journeys, a wifi is also available.

For longer journeys, seat reservations will be also possible when you’re booking online.

What To Do Once You Get to La Linea

The bus will drop you off at La Linea bus station, marked on the map below.

After you get out, you have the option to walk to the border crossing or take one of the taxis from the station and drive there. The taxis cannot cross the border, so you will have to get off and take a Gibraltar taxi from the other side.

The walking distance from the bus station to the crossing is approximately 600 – 700 meters, so it would only take you about 10 minutes to walk there.

What To Do Once You Get to Gibraltar Border

There are two lines going through the border, one for cars and one for pedestrians. There are clear signs navigating you through passport control.

I was pretty happy that I did not drive to Gibraltar in a car, because the lines can be quite extensive. The pedestrian traffic, on the other hand, looked much more manageable.

You walk through passport security, the same as you would in an airport, and exit on the other side. After that, you have to walk through the airport runway, which connects the crossing with the city. If there is a plane landing, you will see a red light at the traffic lights and will have to wait before you cross.

Right after the passport control you will also see some tour operators offering trips around Gibraltar, and you can also take a taxi to town from there.

If you’re going on foot, for me the walk to town took about 20 minutes, depending on where you want to get to.

Gibraltar Malaga Bus

Once you’re ready to head back, I have listed the departure times from La Linea bus station below. Remember that you have to still go through passport control on your way out, so leave plenty of time ahead of your bus departure, to ensure you can get to your bus on time.

Bus departures from La Linea:

• 7.45 am – arrival 10.10 am
• 11.05 am – arrival 13.30 pm
• 12.35 pm – arrival 15.00 pm
• 15.30 pm – arrival 17.50 pm
• 16.30 pm – arrival 19.25 pm
• 19.25 pm – arrival 21.40 pm
• 20.15 pm – arrival 23.10 pm

Malaga Gibraltar Bus: Frequent Questions

Is there a bus from Malaga airport to Gibraltar?

Yes, the same line that connects Malaga with La Linea also stops at the airport, but the number of connections per day is quite limited. Currently, there are five connections per day, with departures from the airport at 8.55 am, 13.40 pm, 16.05 pm, 17.50 pm and 20.45 pm.

How long is Gibraltar to Malaga by bus?

The shortest travel time between Malaga and La Linea (for access to Gibraltar) is 2 hours and 10 minutes.

What is the distance between Malaga and Gibraltar?

The distance is approximately 130 km.

How much does the bus cost from Malaga to Gibraltar?

The bus tickets start from 16 euros one way, but you need to get off at La Linea bus station and walk to Gibraltar crossing from there (about 10 min walk)

I hope this guide answered all the questions you might have had about this journey!

If I left something out feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading.