Bristol to Málaga train with first_great_western

Trains from Bristol to Malaga

Enjoy the adventure of a train from Bristol to Malaga, where you can take in the sights of the UK, Spain and even the Atlantic Ocean along the way. Due to this trip requiring a ferry along the way, you can only complete the journey twice each week. The average time for this trip to be completed is around 33h, which gives you plenty of time to finish your book, catch up on your favourite series or just watch the world go by. This is an indirect route, so you’ll be required to make changes along the way.

   

Bristol to Malaga Train Time: Daily Departures

Throughout the week this journey can only be completed twice due to it being indirect and there being a requirement to wait for connections. That being said, you can get a number of trains from Bristol to Plymouth to begin your trip. You can pick from around 25 trains that depart from Bristol to Plymouth, where you will need to wait for the connecting ferry. These trains tend to depart from as early as 05:39 up until 11:48 p.m. Once in Plymouth, you can choose to get two ferries that leave the port each week. These depart on either a Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. or a Sunday at 4:45 p.m., so you can decide which day you travel.

Once you arrive in Santander, you will need to take a train to Madrid. These trains tend to depart three times daily, with the earliest train being about 7:05 a.m. on a weekday and 9:10 a.m. on a weekend. The last trains are often at about 7:00 p.m. on a weekday and Sunday, whilst they are about 2:00 p.m. on a Saturday. From Madrid you complete your trip to Malaga by train, with there being approximately nine trains per day, depending on when you travel. The earliest of these trains tends to leave at about 7:35 a.m. on a weekday and around 9:35 a.m. on a weekend. The last departure is around 7:35 p.m. throughout the week.

How long is the journey by train from Bristol to Malaga

The entire journey time from Bristol to Malaga varies depending on which connections you get, but in general this journey can be completed in about 33h. the first part of your journey from Bristol to Plymouth takes around 2h to complete, the ferry from Plymouth to Santander is around 20h 30min, whilst the train to Madrid is about 4h. The final leg of your journey to Malaga will take approximately 2h 30min. The remaining time is waiting time in between connections. All trains from Bristol to Malaga depart from Bristol Temple Meads train station and arrive into Malaga Maria Zambrano train station.

Malaga Malagueta Beach. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Bristol to Malaga?

Departure train station: All trains on this route depart from Bristol Temple Meads train station, which is located in the heart of the city. You can get to the station from popular tourist attractions such as Queen Square in about 14min by foot. At the train station you can use a range of facilities ahead of your journey. There is ticket office, photo booth, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, waiting room and toilets, so you’ll be all set for the long journey ahead.

Arrival train station: All trains arrive into Malaga Maria Zambrano train station, which is also located very centrally in the Spanish city. You can get to popular areas, such as Jardin de la Abadia in approximately 13min by foot, so it won’t take long to get your trip underway. At the station there are a range of facilities such as car hire, hotels and supermarkets, so you can get your holiday started with ease.

Which train companies travel from Bristol to Malaga?

There are several train companies that are involved in the journey from Bristol to Malaga, with both English and Spanish providers operating the route. In the UK you can get a train with either Great Western Railway or Avanti West Coast, whilst in Spain you will need to travel with Renfe. The UK leg of the journey normally operates around 25 trains per day, whilst the Spanish leg is split into two, with there being three trains from Santander to Madrid daily and around nine from Madrid to Malaga. As this service is indirect, you’ll need to make a few changes along the way.

Great Western Railway from Bristol to Malaga

Great Western Railway trains run a regular service between Bristol and Plymouth, so you can get your trip started with ease. There tends to be around 11 trains departing each day, with the earliest train leaving at 5:39 a.m. and the last being approximately 11:48 p.m. Whilst many of these trains are direct, you may on occasion have to change at Taunton train station to complete your trip. There is an average journey time around 2h 40min with this provider, so it won’t take long to arrive into Plymouth. You can find one-way tickets and round-trip tickets with ease on the Omio App, so you can create the perfect journey.

Avanti West Coast from Bristol to Malaga

Avanti West Coast also offer a comprehensive schedule so you can get your Bristol to Malaga trip started with ease. With around 14 trains daily, between 6:40 a.m. and 9:44 p.m. you should be able to find a time that suits your needs. The average travel time with this provider is 2h, so it’s a faster option for you to get to Plymouth. There are a couple of trains each day that require a change in Taunton train station, where you get a Great Western Railway train the rest of the way, but the majority of the journeys on this route are direct.

Renfe from Bristol to Malaga

Once in Spain you’ll need to travel with Renfe from Santander to Madrid and then Renfe Ave from Madrid to Malaga. Train from Santander depart three times per day with the earliest departure being approximately 7:05 a.m. on a weekday and 9:10 a.m. during the weekend. The last departure is often at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Once in Madrid you will catch the Renfe Ave to Malaga, with trains leaving around nine times per day. The first train of the day is about 7:35 a.m. on weekdays and around 9:35 a.m. on weekends, with the last train leaving around 7:35 p.m. The journey time for the first leg of this journey from Santander to Madrid is about 4h, with the train from Madrid to Malaga taking approximately 2h 30min.

Malaga Street Village. Source: Shutterstock

Bristol to Malaga: Services on board

Throughout your journey with all the providers, you’ll be able to appreciate First Class seating, which offers additional space and comfier seats. You’ll also be able to connect to free wi-fi, so that you can stay connected throughout your journey. Bikes are permitted across the services, but there is limited spacing, so it’s wise to book in advance. All the train providers also have a great accessibility for those that are travelling with a disability. If you would like special assistance, it is recommended to call up in advance so that there is a member of staff there to help you. On Avanti West Coast your bags must not be bigger than 30 x 70 x 90cm, on Great Western they should be no larger than 25cm x 40cm x 70cm, whilst on Renfe the maximum size is approximately 85cm x 55cm x 35cm. You can also take pets on the services, providing they are in an animal cage or on a lead.

How to find cheap train tickets from Bristol to Malaga?

It’s easy to get cheap tickets from Bristol to Malaga, so you can enjoy great savings ahead of your holiday. A good way to ensure you get a well-priced ticket is to look as far in advance as possible, as tickets tend to get more expensive the closer you get to the departure date. If you have flexibility with travel then it is also helpful, as you might find it’s cheaper to travel either side of your desired departure date. In the UK, you can also use railcards, such as a senior railcard, which will give you large discounts on that part of the trip.

To Malaga by train – travel tips

There are some great things to do in Malaga, making it a great destination to visit. Start at Alcazaba, which is a group of impressive buildings from the 11th century. Then head over to Museo Automovilistico de la Moda, which is a private collection of some very rare cars. Malaga Cathedral should be next on your list, which was built from 1500 AD.

Enjoy some tranquillity in the Castillo de Gibralfaro, which is a gardens that covers a vast area in the city. Visit Museo Picasso Malaga where you can see more than 200 pieces of art from this iconic artist. After enjoying a local tapas at one of the restaurants in the city centre, you can then head to Jardin Botanico Historico La Concepcion, which is a beautiful area that offers perfect picture opportunities.