The “Barcelona of the south”. This is how Malaga, one of the most popular cities in southern Spain, has been referred to for some time now, due to its similarities in many aspects to Barcelona. From its maritime vocation, its old town next to the beach to its problems with tourist gentrification, the capital of Malaga undoubtedly bears some resemblance to the Catalan city.
However, until now, the connection was somewhat poor. To get from one to the other could only go by car (about 10 hours) or, chaining high-speed trains (or medium distance) through Madrid or fly, with somewhat higher prices. And although the route will not change (the Spanish high speed is still well centralized in Madrid), now Ouigo has released a direct connection that allows you to connect the two cities without getting off the train.
24 € the ticket: the new BCN-Malaga connection
Thus, the new low-cost route, which will begin operating on December 15, 2024, will offer a daily journey from each city: at 11:50 am from Barcelona and at 11:35 am from Malaga.
The journey will have a duration of five hours and 50 minutes, during which the train will make stops in Zaragoza, Madrid and Cordoba. This new route is, in fact, an extension of the Barcelona-Seville line, inaugurated in December 2023 by the operator, eliminating the need for transfers that prolong travel time.
Tickets for this route will be available at a promotional price of 24 euros for December, significantly cheaper than the 62 euros that a similar service with AVE costs. The train ticket price includes a carry-on bag and a small suitcase.