Getting the bus in Malaga city
Getting around Malaga by bus is easy. Empresa Malagueña de Transportes (EMT) boasts an extensive bus network that is very reliable and safe to use.
Most areas in the city are reachable by a single bus from the Alameda, the main boulevard at the bottom of Calle Larios.
Paying for the bus in Malaga
If you’re in Malaga for a short period of time, you can pay the driver directly for your bus journey. One ride costs 1.40€ per person (all prices in this article are correct as of November 2023).
Note that individual tickets are only valid for one ride. When changing buses, you must buy a new ticket.
If you wish to pay by card, EMT has, since summer 2022, been rolling out contactless payment on its buses. If using a foreign card to pay, a 20€ initial payment is often deducted but is usually refunded (minus the cost of your travels) within a couple of days.
You can also pay for the bus by using the EMT Málaga app (Android and Apple) and either scanning your phone by NFC (not compatible with iOS) or QR code.
For up-to-date information on prices and special rates click here.
Weekly or monthly bus passes in Malaga
If you’re in Malaga for an extended period or you’re a resident, you may want to purchase a bus pass (tarjeta transbordo, also known as a bonobus). This costs 1.90€ – a quantity that can be refunded if the card is returned in good condition within a year.
This offers much more flexibility than the aforementioned payment options and gives access to a range of discounts.
There are two main options for bus passes in Malaga:
- You can load your card with 10, 20 or 30 trips (10 trips = 4.20€), or
- You can buy an unlimited monthly bus pass (tarjeta bus mensual) for 19.95€
It’s important to note that in the first case, multiple people can use the same card and 1 trip will be deducted for each person that validates the card when getting on the bus (perfect if you’re travelling as a couple or family). In the second case, the card can only be used by one person per trip.
If you’re using a bus pass, you validate it by tapping it on the reader next to the driver. Unlike single tickets, bus passes allow free transfers between lines within one hour of the first trip.
Where to buy bus passes in Malaga
You can purchase bus passes from a large number of kiosks, tobacconists or shops (see where here).
Once you have bought a bus pass, you can top it up at the same locations.
Malaga bus routes and timetables
EMT’s routes are integrated into Google Maps, making it easy to plan bus trips online. The EMT app (Android and Apple) also offers different options to plan your journey.
For those who are anxious about where to get off the bus, all of the EMT’s new fleet is equipped with screens that tell you exactly where you are.
If you prefer more old-fashioned methods, you can download and print a detailed map of all routes, as well as the bus stops on the Alameda here.
Things to look out for
- If paying in cash, note that drivers are not obliged to offer change for quantities larger than 5 euros.
- Malaga locals take queuing for the bus very seriously. When waiting at a bus stop, it is common to be asked who is last in line. Queue jumping is likely to be met with shouting!!
The Malaga Guru team comprises individuals of diverse ages and backgrounds who share a common bond – a deep affection for the city of Malaga, its rich culture, and its warm-hearted inhabitants!
25 Comments
Hello. Paid by bank card on buses in Malaga. Being charged €4 and €5 for two people . It should be €2.80 a trip
Can you explain please
Hello! Depending on your card, sometimes a larger payment is retained and then later adjusted to the correct amount. Did this happen in your case?
Can we use the EMT bus pass to get to Marbella? Many thanks in advance
Hi Andrew! No, that’s only for within the Malaga city limits. Instead, you’ll need a ‘Tarjeta Consorcio‘ for travel on buses between municipalities. These can be bought at many of the same places as the EMT card
hello, if I pay by tapping my card when I get on the bus do I need to tap it again when leaving the bus?
No, only when getting on the bus!
I am confused. Many site told me that Bonobus is an option for EMT buses in Malaga. But now I cant find any comparition, so I guess Transboro is the new name of Bonobus?
And Transboro is a plastic card with NFC? Or a paper? I mean is there an inital cost of transboro card and plus the 10 jurney? Can I buy the card in the same places where I can charge it?
Thanks in advice!
Hello!
Bonobus and the tarjeta transbordo are the same thing. It’s a plastic card that can be bought and topped up at the same outlets. You can also use the EMT app on your phone.
Thank you!
Hi there
Just wondered if Malaga have an app for public transport? I.e. pay via app
Hello! The Malaga bus company has its own app called “EMT Málaga”. However, it doesn’t offer as much flexibility or the same discounts as buying a physical bus pass (at the moment).
Hello, can you explain to me how does the bus driver tell that you have already validated ticket on the bonobus tarjeta, when you are changing the lines? (the bonobus ticket should be valid for one hour).
Hello! This will be done automatically when tapping your card on the reader when you board the second bus.
Thank you for your reply! Your website is very informative. 👍
Anyway, today, I switched from bus 3 to bus 7 at Héroe de Sostoa – Estación. But the display just said 0 viajes, and it seemed the driver is confused why I beep the card when it is empty.
Then he asked if I changed the bus, I said yes and he said that it’s free.
But I didn’t understand how he can trust me that I really changed the bus and also what would happen if the card wasn’t empty (whether it would deduct 1 trip).
Whayt is the initial price of a tarjet transbordo before loading with 10, 20 or 30 travels?
Hello! It costs 1.90€ but this can be refunded if you return the card in good condition within a year
I appreciate this article brought up 2 points – one is the stop tracking screen inside the bus (that would make a non-resident much confident in taking buses). The other is the 2nd “look out for” – i.e. queuing for the bus. While other information is also important, they are easy to fine, but not the areas you brought up. Good Job.
Thank you – We’re glad you found this information useful!
1) What is the price of “Bonobus” (“tarjeta transbordo”) card? I want to buy 10 trips on this card.
2) If I travel with the second person, should I use the same bonobus card twice when entering the bus or should I say something to the driver?
Hello!
1) The card itself costs a 1.90€ deposit (refunded if returned in good condition within a year)
2) If you load your card with 10 trips, multiple people can use the same card and 1 trip will be deducted for each person that validates the card when getting on the bus
Just tap the card and it will beep and briefly show the number of journeys left. If there are two of you just tap the same card a second time and it will beep again and deduct a ride off the total left, so starting with 10 you’ll now have 8 left. If you change bus within an hour you can use the card again for free, you need to tap the card again on the new bus, it will make a different beeping sound this time to signify it’s a subsequent journey within the hour, tap it again for the second person and the same beep will sound. The number of journeys shown will not reduce on the second journey and still show as 8.
I once rode on a bus with my family and tried to use the bonobus card, and the bus driver refused to accept it. I’d like to know what is the area we can use the bonobus as I believe that were a bit far from the area where the card is usable. I’d like to clarify that we are staying in malaga near the first flatotel international.
Hi John! The Bonobus is only valid on EMT buses within Malaga city limits. That hotel is in Benalmádena, not Malaga.