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

Malaga's public transport system is nearing a milestone of 50 million trips in just the first eight months of 2026, with usage growing faster than in Seville and Madrid. In the same period last year, the city saw 49.255 million passengers, a 1.9 million increase from 2025. Overall usage rose by 3.97%, according to provisional national statistics.

Buses remain the backbone of the network, with 36.6 million passengers and a 4.23% increase. The Metro carried 12.655 million journeys, up 3.21%. Malaga's growth among Spanish cities with a Metro is the fourth-fastest, behind Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao. The city's public transport use increased by nearly 4%, outpacing Seville's 2.23% and Madrid's 0.81%.

While Malaga carries fewer total passengers than either Seville or Madrid, the growth rate is the key story. More people are choosing public transport, and the network is expanding its role as a practical daily alternative to driving and parking. August was a standout month, with EMT buses carrying 4.88 million passengers, a 5.4% increase, and the Metro with 1.258 million, a 5% jump.

The Feria and summer visitors contributed to this surge, with 1,784,827 bus journeys during the week alone. Fares play a significant role in encouraging people to leave their cars at home, with discounts of 40% to 50% on EMT travel cards and monthly passes until December 31, 2026. Malaga's Metro became more useful in 2023 with new stations in the historic center, and a planned extension towards Hospital Civil is expected to bring further growth.