How to get from Manchester to Málaga

How to travel from Manchester to Malaga?

To reach Malaga from Greater Manchester you will be using a combination of taxis, trains, buses and ferries. Alternatively, you can fly between the two destinations. Spain is a top choice destination for travellers from the UK mostly around Spain's summer time being from June to September. Mostly the travellers heading to Malaga, which is a region in Spain that boasts yellow sandy beaches and is rich in entertainment and cultural activities, are holidaymakers, meaning their trips are longer stay trips. There are typically around 60 flights a week that take this route. The buses and trains mostly run hourly six days a week, while the ferry you will take operates twice a week.

What is the cheapest way to get from Manchester to Malaga?

The cheapest way to get from Manchester to Malaga is to book a combination of a bus, then a train ride and then a flight. The bus trip will take you from Rusholme Bus Station to Piccadilly Rail Station. Next, you will board a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool South Parkway. Then you will take another bus to Speke, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where you will take the last leg of your trip and fly into Malaga.

To ensure you get the best travel deal on tickets from Manchester to Malaga, we recommend using the Omio site to get an overview of all your travel options available and their cost. Remember to be flexible with your travel dates. If you book on off-peak times for your chosen mode of transport you will get better prices. Booking in advance is always recommend to save money. Different modes of transport allow for different periods of pre-booking time. For example, you can book a plane ticket for up to one year before you fly, while you can book bus tickets up to 12 weeks in advance.

What is the fastest way to travel from Manchester to Malaga?

The fastest way to get to Malaga from Manchester is to take a taxi to the Manchester Airport and then fly directly to Malaga Airport. The flight time is approximately 3h. There a serval well-known airlines that offer this flight, and they include KLM, British Airways, Iberia, and Ryanair. Flights run from 6 :00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. You will find around 60 flights weekly and can go up to about 75 flights over the weekends. There are both direct flights and one-stop and two-stop flights that go between Manchester and Malaga. Typically you will find a 1h and 30min layover on the flights that call for a change of plane. You will make changes in Amsterdam, Paris, and London depending on the airline you choose to fly with and how many stops there are along the route.

Find the best tickets from Manchester to Malaga and book with Omio

Booking your tickets through Omio, will mean you can book the best ticket for your holiday requirements. Omio is so easy to use because you can scan through the different modes of transport that offer trips from Manchester to Malaga at a glance. If you are not familiar with the form of travel you decide on, you are welcome to head to the Omio Magazine which will help you discover helpful tips on how to travel. Another welcome element of using Omio is that you will be able to see the different service providers that are travelling along this route, which will allow you to pick your favourite company to travel with. Information will not get lost in translation, as you can book and search in your language.

Malaga Tourist. Source: Shutterstock

Trains from Manchester to Malaga

Generally train tickets are your most affordable tickets available, and this is true for this trip as well. A combination of a train ticket and a flight make this trip cheap. The best thing about booking train tickets is that there are no hidden costs, and you can book up to 12 weeks in advance to secure the cheapest ticket. People who enjoy travelling at a slower pace in a relaxing and comfy environment ofter prefer to take a train. Several train companies offer different legs of this trip. They include Northern Rail, Cross Country, Avanti West Coast and Renfe. Most trains run hourly to cover that particular leg of the trip. There are a few changes on the route, firstly you will go from Manchester Piccadilly to Oxford Station, then catch a bus to Logrono Station and end in Malaga Maria Zambrano, with one change over in Madrid-Puerta De Atocha on this last leg of your train trip.

Train travel from Manchester to Malaga with Northern Rail

The most popular choice for train travel on this route is Northern Rail, followed by Cross Country. Both providers leave from the same station being Manchester Picadilly and both arrive at Oxford Station. Some of our most favourite services offered by Northern Rail company is the free onboard wifi, the onboard catering service, their extensive help for travellers with mobility issues and their option to travel with your pets, meaning you don't have to leave your furry family out of your family vacation.

Buses from Manchester to Malaga

The bus service providers that operate along this route are Flixbus, ALSA, StageCoach Oxfordshire, National Express and Socibus. Generally, there are three changes on the bus route and your travel time will be about 4h. Depending on the leg of the trip you will find buses that run every 20min or hourly. The fastest bus company operating this route is Flixbus. When you leave manchester you will be departing from Manchester Picadilly Bus Station and will be arriving in Estación de Autobuses de Málaga, in Malaga. You can catch a train, bus or taxi to reach the city centre of Malaga and the journey averages about 9min.

Traveling by bus from Manchester to Malaga with National Express

The most popular choice for bus companies making the different legs of this trip are National Express and the Flixbus. Both companies are operating from the same bus station being Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station. National Express is a top choice because they are a household brand in and around the UK, with buses running daily all over the country. Their modern buses use GPS signals to constantly update things like location, speed and temperature on the bus during the trip.

Malaga Frigiliana. Source: Shutterstock

Flights from Manchester to Malaga

Serveral trusted airline operates flights from Manchester to Malaga. They include AirFrance, Raynair, British Airways, EasyJet and Iberia. You will be able to catch a flight every 4h to reach Malaga from Manchester and can pick either a direct flight, one-stop or two-stop trip. Ryanair is the fastest flight available as they run direct flights to complete the trip. Once you arrive at Malaga Airport, the quickest way for you to reach the city centre is by train. The train leaves the arrival terminal of the airport every 12min and runs along the C1 train route. The trip takes about 15min and operates from 6:30 a.m. till 12:30 a.m. daily.

Flying from Manchester to Malaga with Ryanair

Airfrance and Ryanair are the most popular choices of air travel companies for this trip. Both are considered the fastest flights available. However, Ryanair ticks the fastest and cheapest ticket provider. One of the most convenient services you will be privileged to when flying with Ryanair is that they have company agreements with certain services such as Hertz car rental company, and certain hotel companies, which means if you produce your plane ticket you will get special rates when picking up your pre-booked hire car, or discounts on your hotel stay.

Ferries from Manchester to Malaga

Brittnay Ferries is the only company operating this route, and you can catch this ferry that connects you from Plymouth to Santander twice a week. The trip will take you around 20h to complete.

Traveling by ferry from Manchester to Malaga with Brittany Ferries

Being the sole ferry provider for this route, Brittany Ferries are considered your first choice company to make this trip with. You are in good hands though! This company has a fleet of 8 high-speed ferries that are spacious and comfortable. Durning longer crosses such as this one, you will be able to experience the onboard live entertainment such as jazz singers and djs. The cabins available are luxurious and are available in first-class or economy class. There is a children's centre for the kids to keep busy while onboard, and the quality of the catering available is considered world-class, with personal chefs available for travellers with special dietary requirements.

To Malaga by train/ bus/ flight/ ferry—travel tips

Málaga has become a thoroughly chic city and a dynamic art district. with its extensive yellow sandy beaches that stretch for miles, the area is nicknamed the coast of the sun. A blend of modern and old school architecture makes walking through the streets a charming melting pot of different worlds. Malaga is home to many stunning botanical gardens such as Málaga Botanical Garden “La Concepción” for those visitors who enjoy long walks surrounded by nature.

Gazpachuelo Malagueño is a famous dish that you will find in the restaurants of the area. A soup originally made by the fishermen in the area was called El Palo. Originally considered a poor mans dish, it is now much more luxurious with the addition of locally caught fresh seafood like shrimps or clams. BYOKO is both a local favourite and a tourist hot spot for trying this traditional delicacy.