Thanks to their Moorish architectures straight out of One Thousand and One Nights and the indescribable fairy-tale atmosphere that characterises them, the beautiful cities of Andalusia fill our dreams of escaping everyday reality. Excluding Córdoba, Granada and Cádiz in this case, we will talk about Malaga and Seville, two of the brightest stars of this region: any respectable tour, however short, should definitely include them. However, stepping out of the dream for a moment, it is necessary to understand whether it is feasible to organise a trip of this kind, how long it would take and what the distance is between the two cities.
In this article you’ll find our tips on the route from Malaga to Seville: the distance, transport links and all the stops you can make along the way on a road trip. Happy reading!
Contents
Distance from Malaga to Seville
The distance between Malaga and Seville is approximately 220 kilometres (136,7 miles), which can be covered in just over two hours by car.
Connections between Malaga and Seville
How to get to Malaga from Seville? Train, bus and car are clearly the three main options:
- Renfe trains connect the two cities with various daily services, both direct (from Malaga María Zambrano to Seville Santa Justa) and with one or more changes en route. Depending on the timetable and the operator (MD or AVANT), the train journey from Malaga to Seville can take 1 hour and 55 minutes or 2 hours and 49 minutes.
- by bus: starting from Málaga Bus Station in Calle Eguiluz and using ALSA’s direct buses, you can reach Plaza de Armas in Seville in around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- by car: covering this distance via the A-92 takes, as anticipated, a journey of around 2 hours and 15 minutes. As you will see in this article, choosing this type of option gives you the chance to make a few decidedly interesting intermediate stops…
Tips for car hire in Andalusia
Tips on how to get around Andalusia by train and bus
Why visit them?
Combining the beauty of the monuments of Seville with the typical atmosphere of Málaga and the Costa del Sol is an excellent idea if you are planning a short holiday in Andalusia.
The first convenience factor is linked to direct flights to Andalusia: the two cities are home to the region’s two main airports (the third is in Granada) and are therefore the ideal starting points for a tour to discover this fascinating land, whether you only have five or six days available or you want to spend a one- or two-week holiday in southern Spain. There are numerous connections between UK and Malaga airport or Seville airport, and if you look early enough, you can often find special offers at genuinely advantageous prices.
Why Malaga
Malaga is renowned for its long sandy beaches and lively nightlife. There is certainly no shortage of entertainment, but don’t be misled by its reputation as a purely seaside city: its ancient monuments will leave you speechless with their magnificence, as will its museums, churches and inland areas rich in natural beauty.
Among the must-see things in Malaga are:
- The Alcazaba, an ancient Moorish fortress dating back to the 11th century
- The Gibralfaro Castle, with its breathtaking view over the city
- The Cathedral, also known by the name ‘Manquita’ because of its distinctive structure
- The Picasso Museum, dedicated to the painter who was born here
- The charming Paseo del Parque and much more!
The list of attractions does not end here and, if you only have a few days’ holiday, I would still recommend spending two days in Malaga, or at least a full day. If you love the sea, however, consider extending your stay because you are in the heart of one of the most renowned stretches of coastline in southern Spain: you are on the Costa del Sol.
Why Seville
Seville is the key stop on a tour of Andalusia. Considered the jewel of southern Spain, this splendid city has an important international airport, and offers artistic treasures of unmistakable beauty. I recommend visiting Seville in three days at least – if you really can’t, the minimum is two days – to fully enjoy its atmosphere and attractions.
The list of the main places of interest in Seville is long. Here are the ones not to miss:
- the Cathedral, imposing and steeped in history.
- the Alcázar, a fairy-tale residence first of the sultans, and later of the Catholic Monarchs
- the charming Plaza de España, at the edge of Maria Luisa Park
- the Museum of Fine Arts, with its priceless artistic heritage
- Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, the oldest bullring in Spain
- the Metropol Parasol, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture
- il Barrio Santa Cruz, the city’s most famous district
And if Malaga enchants the eye thanks to Picasso, Seville will make you tremble with passion with its flamenco shows… an evening in one of Seville’s many tablaos is a must!
Itineraries between Malaga and Seville: recommended stops for those travelling by car
We are in one of the most beautiful regions of Spain and, if the great cities draw crowds of tourists with their range of attractions and activities, exploring the hinterland is just as alluring, if not often even more captivating.
For this reason, I always recommend hiring a rental car in Andalusia: if it is true, as you have seen, that there is no shortage of connections between the major cities, it is equally true that it is not easy to reach the smaller towns in Andalusia, the natural areas and the smaller villages quickly by public transport. Below you will find our specific advice on how, when and why to hire a car in Seville and Malaga:
Between Malaga and Seville you’ll find unspoilt nature, picturesque villages where time seems to have stood still, archaeological treasures and captivating trekking routes. Here are three ideas for covering the distance between Malaga and Seville in an itinerary with intermediate stops.
1. Málaga – Antequera – Archidona – Seville
The route is 247 kilometres (153,4 miles) long, taking around 3 hours via the A-45.
If you have a whole day at your disposal, I recommend setting off early from Malaga and spending the morning in Antequera, which is about an hour away, then heading to Archidona to spend the afternoon, and setting off again in the direction of Seville for the evening and overnight stay.
- Antequera is among the oldest settlements in Spain: the presence of dolmens bears witness to its long history of over 4,000 years. The most famous dolmens are the Dolmen de Menga, the largest, with anthropomorphic carvings, the Dolmen de Viera and the Dolmen de El Romeral. Moving closer to our own times, worth seeing are the Alcazaba with the Torre dell’Homenaje, the 16th-century Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor with its richly decorated chapels, the late 16th-century Arco de los Gigantes, and the 17th-century Iglesia de San Juan de Dios, which boasts a beautiful baroque dome.
- If time allows, an excursion that is definitely worth considering is El Torcal de Antequera, a beautiful area with trails winding through a striking rocky landscape: it will feel like walking on the moon! Of course, you will need to consider how much time you have available and decide whether to shorten your visit to Antequera or to Archidona, which comes immediately afterwards.
- In fact, just 25 minutes from Antequera is another town with Andalusian charm: Archidona. Perched on the hill, Archidona offers visitors the remains of a wall and a castle built in 1100, the Ermita de la Virgen de Gracia, the Iglesia de Jesus Nazareno and the sixteenth-century Iglesia e Convento de las Minimas. Plaza Ochavada is the baroque octagonal square that made the town famous. Not far from the town centre is the large rock known as Peña de los Enamorados, from where, according to tradition, in Moorish times a Christian knight and an Arab woman threw themselves off because their love was opposed by their respective families. After a stroll through the lovely historic centre of Archidona, set off again for Seville, which you will reach in about an hour and a half.
2. Málaga – Caminito del Rey – Seville
A just 50 minutes from Malaga is one of Spain’s most renowned hiking routes: the Caminito del Rey. Taking the A-357 from Malaga, you can reach Ardales, the starting point for the Caminito del Rey, and then continue on to Seville. In total, that’s 168 kilometres (104,3 miles), about 2 hours and 20 minutes by car.
You’ll be met by walkways that, in some places, are barely a metre wide and elevated up to 100 metres above the ground: this route winds for almost 8 kilometres (5 miles) through the gorges of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. On average, it takes between 2 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours to do the Caminito del Rey, so I recommend setting off early in the morning from Malaga so that you can enjoy the route between rocky walls and deep gorges, return by shuttle bus to the Ardales car park where you left your car, and continue your journey by car, so that you arrive in Seville in the afternoon, check into your hotel and enjoy an evening in the city centre.
3. Malaga – Ronda – White Villages – Seville
If you have the chance to spend an extra night on the journey between Malaga and Seville, I suggest you don’t miss Ronda and the famous Pueblos Blancos: you won’t be disappointed.
There are two possible itineraries:
3.1 Malaga – Ronda – Setenil de las Bodegas – Olvera – Seville
These are 236 kilometres (146,6), taking around 4 hours split over two days. Here are the stages:
- Ronda is magical: it deserves a day trip, so I suggest you set off from Malaga, spend the day visiting its splendid attractions and then sleep in the city.
- The following morning you can set off from Ronda and reach Setenil de las Bodegas: not only steep, narrow little streets await you in this village, but also the living rock between one house and the next, or even above you… a truly unusual sight.
- But that’s not all: another white village awaits you just a short distance away. Make your way to Olvera, with its unrivalled silhouette set against the sky, the imposing Iglesia de la Encarnación and the ancient castle standing guard over this beautiful town from above. And once you’ve had your fill of the scenery, get ready to head on to Seville in the evening: the journey takes about an hour and a half.
3.2 Malaga – Ronda – Grazalema – Zahara de la Sierra – Seville
This itinerary covers 252 kilometres (156,5 miles), doable in around 4 hours and 20 minutes split over two days.
- Programme a morning departure from Malaga and spend a day and a night in Ronda, as above.
- The following morning, set off for Grazalema, around 45 minutes away. Grazalema is a village at an altitude of about 800 metres in the Sierra of the same name. In the green heart of the biosphere reserve protected by Unesco since 1997, you will find this small village with its characteristic whitewashed houses: a sight that will stay in your heart. As you stroll through the historic centre, don’t forget to taste the Payoyo cheese, a typical local goat’s cheese.
- After Grazalema, continue on to Zahara de la Sierra, which you will reach in about 30 minutes. Zahara de la Sierra is among the most famous pueblos blancos in Cadiz: the imposing Moorish castle dominating the town from above and the wild nature surrounding it will stay with you. In the afternoon, get back in the car and in about 1 hour and 30 minutes you will be in the city of flamenco, Seville.
