Malaga public transport nears 50 million trips as use grows faster than Seville and Madrid

Malaga’s buses and Metro are heading for another record year, with nearly 50 million journeys made in the first eight months of 2026. Fresh figures show that public transport use in the city is growing faster than in Seville and Madrid, good news for anyone who wants an affordable way to get around without a car.

A record-breaking year

Between January and August, Malaga’s EMT buses and Metro carried 49.255 million passengers, almost 1.9 million more than during the same period in 2025. Overall use rose by 3.97%, according to provisional national statistics reported in Spanish media.

Buses are still the backbone of the network, carrying 36.6 million passengers and growing by 4.23%. Malaga’s Metro carried 12.655 million journeys, up 3.21%.

Faster growth than Seville and Madrid

Malaga recorded the fourth-fastest growth among Spanish cities with a Metro, behind Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. Its combined bus and Metro use increased by nearly 4%, ahead of Seville at 2.23% and Madrid at 0.81%.

Malaga still carries fewer passengers in total than either Seville or Madrid, but the pace of growth is the key story. More people are choosing public transport, and the city’s network is expanding its role as a practical daily alternative to driving and parking in central Malaga.

August was exceptionally busy

August was a standout month, helped by Malaga Feria and the summer influx of visitors. EMT buses carried 4.88 million passengers, up 5.4% year on year, while the Metro carried 1.258 million, up 5%.

Feria week alone generated 1,784,827 bus journeys, an increase of 5.1%. Tuesday, August 18 became EMT’s busiest day on record, with 209,059 passengers using the network.

Cheaper travel for residents

Fares have played a very strong role in encouraging more people to leave the car at home. Malaga City Council has extended discounts of between 40% and 50% on EMT travel cards and monthly passes until December 31 2026.

A 10-journey bus card costs €5, working out at €0.50 per trip, while an unlimited monthly pass costs €23.95. Children aged three to 14 who are registered in Malaga travel free on ordinary EMT buses, although airport and special Feria services are excluded.

Metro’s city-centre extension changed travel

Malaga’s Metro became far more useful in 2023, when new stations at Guadalmedina and Atarazanas brought it into the historic centre. The extension made it easier to travel between the centre, the port area and neighbourhoods to the west.

Demand has risen strongly since then, and the network has passed 100 million cumulative passengers since opening in 2014. A planned 1.8-kilometre extension towards Hospital Civil is expected to bring further growth once complete.

For those residing in Malaga and the surrounding areas, the figures show a transport network that is becoming cheaper, busier and more convenient. Buses offer extensive coverage across the city, and the Metro provides a quick option for crossing town without traffic or parking worries.