If you’re planning to travel from Malaga to Seville by train, you probably have a lot of practical questions: where do you get the tickets? How long is the journey? How comfortable are the train coaches?
These and many other questions will be answered in detail in this article.
Unlike the rest of the guides you will find online, this one has been written by a local expat living next to Malaga, so you will be getting only the most accurate and detailed local information available.
Ready to jump in?
Malaga to Seville by Train: The Journey Details
THE DISTANCE
The distance between Malaga and Seville is approximately 200 kilometres or 124 miles.
THE TRAIN CONNECTION
The train connection between Malaga and Seville is operated by Renfe, which is a national Spanish train network. I have travelled with their trains to many other destinations within Spain and never had any issues.
There are two types of trains to Seville – direct rain which will get you to Seville in under 2 hours and connecting trains via Cordoba which take longer (more details below).
For the journey from Malaga to Seville, there are roughly 8 to 10, sometimes up to 12 connections per day.
The first trains leave at 6.37 am and the last ones to Seville leave at 8.37 pm.
If you would like to see the options for the departures for the particular day, you can visit the Renfe website and put in your destination details (type in Sevilla for Seville). The website is also available in English, you can change the language in the top right corner.
The train connections you will see have different prices and journey durations, which are reflected in the price.
TRAIN TICKET PRICES
The train ticket prices start at 19.95 euros one way. If you check online, there may be just a few trains available at this price point. In a lot of cases, it will be the trains with the longer travel times.
I found that if you book in advance, you are more likely to get cheaper train ticket options with shorter travel times too.
The price of the ticket can go up to 37.35 euros one way.
The tickets come with seat selection and luggage included. If you’re travelling with pets, there is an extra charge of 11.70 euros per journey.
If you need to cancel your ticket, there is a cancellation fee of 40% of the ticket price.
JOURNEY DURATION
The journey duration varies depending on which connection you take.
Direct trains to Seville leave from Malaga Maria Zambrano and travel via Antequera and Cordoba, with a total travel time of 1 hour 55 minutes, and 3 stops in between on average.
There are also connecting trains to Seville, where you need to get off in Cordoba and get the second train from there. The journey duration is between 2 hours 55 minutes and over 3 hours, depending on how long you have to wait for the train in Cordoba.
Train Station in Malaga: Maria Zambrano Station
I love this train station! I use it very frequently as my local commuter train from Fuengirola also arrives here.
Maria Zambrano is the biggest train station in Malaga, and it resembles a small shopping mall, with a train station attached. The main bus station of Malaga is just across the road from the train station too.
The train station has clothing shops, cafes, gift shops, magazine shops and other small boutiques on the ground floor, with a huge Mercadona supermarket, fast-food restaurants and other shops on the first floor.
There are toilets available on the ground floor and first floor, barrier-free access, and most of the cafes will allow you to get take away for your train.
If you’re leaving the station around noon and want to grab a quick lunch, keep in mind that almost all of the restaurants open after 1pm.
The access to the train platforms is from the middle hall of the station, where you will also find Renfe customer support desks. There is a luggage scanner just before you enter the platforms.
There is a big taxi rank outside of the main hall of the station.
Train Station in Seville: Sevilla Santa Justa
The trains arrive at Sevilla Santa Justa, which is a similar size train station to the one in Malaga, but with not as many facilities as you would find in Malaga.
You won’t find a big selection of restaurants, but there are a few souvenir shops, cafes and basic station facilities.
There is also a decent size taxi rank just outside of the station.
Malaga to Seville by Train: Practical Tips
Where to buy train tickets?
You should buy them at the Renfe website and they will send the PDF tickets to your phone. On the website you will be also able to check the different connection options, travel time, prices and choose an allocated seat and purchase any extras.
The website is available in English and accepts payments by card and Paypal.
Where to validate your tickets?
Unlike in most European countries, the trains in Spain (at least the ones I’ve travelled on so far) have no conductor checking your tickets.
You simply either scan the ticket QR code at the barrier by the entrance to the platform or in the booth on the platform – the second option applies to Malaga Maria Zambrano. The booth is served by an employee of the station who will scan your ticket and you can board the train directly.
What to do at the train station?
If you have time in Malaga, there are lots of shops and restaurants you can explore while you wait for your train. You can also get takeaway food for your train journey, although on most trains you have a restaurant coach available.
Facilities on the trains to Seville
The trains are pretty modern and well equipped with food service being offered on the longer journeys and also a restaurant coach available. The trains have modern toilets and good luggage storage facilities.
There is also a wifi connection and access to electricity sockets should you need to charge your laptop on the way.
Most Popular Experiences in Seville
Here are some highlights you can experience while staying in Seville.
- Seville Cathedral, Royal Alcazar & Giralda Entrance with a Guided Tour – skip the line entrance for both locations, save a lot of time and enjoy an informative guided tour.
- Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower Skip Line Tickets Only – save a ton of time with these skip-the-line tickets (no tour guide)
- Entry Ticket to Royal Alcazar Only – buy online and skip the line at the gates
- Guadalquivir River City Cruise – enjoy the stunning views and historic bridges on a city cruise.
- Casa de Memoria Flamenco Show – Seville’s most celebrated Flamenco show, in an authentic setting.
Malaga to Seville by Train: Frequent Questions
How long is it from Malaga to Seville by train?
The shortest train journey from Malaga to Seville is 1 hour 55 minutes, which is a direct train. There is also a connecting train option via Cordoba, with a journey duration of around 3 hours.
How to get from Malaga airport to Seville by train?
If you’re travelling from the airport, the easiest way to travel to Seville by train is to take the local commuter train C-1 to Malaga Maria Zambrano. The train runs every 20 minutes and the journey should take about 10 minutes. The train will get you to the same train station from where you can get the direct train to Seville. The journey on the train to Seville from Malaga takes 1 hour and 55 minutes if you’re using the direct train connection (connecting trains via Cordoba take 3 hours).
Malaga to Seville train cost?
The train ticket prices for the journey between Malaga and Seville start at 19.95 euros one way, per person. The price varies a lot each day, depending on which train connection you’re taking, the journey duration and how far in advance you book.
Generally, if you want to get the best price and most convenient travel connection, it’s a good idea to book well in advance online via the Renfe website.
What to See in Seville?
I love Seville, it’s my favorite place in Southern Spain. If you’re looking for inspiration on what to do while there, here are some of the older articles I’ve written while visiting:
Visiting the Royal Alcazar of Seville
Palacio de las Dueñas, Seville
Best Restaurants in Seville (Spain)
The Venice of Spain: Plaza de España, Seville
The Gem of Andalusian Architecture: Casa de Pilatos, Seville
The Monument of Controversy: Las Setas de Sevilla
Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower
10 Gorgeous Photography Locations in Seville, Spain
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