Train to Malaga - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Destination station: Málaga María Zambrano, Av. Ingeniero Larios s/n, 29002 Málaga

• Documents: Spain is part of the Schengen area - a Polish identity card is sufficient, a passport is not required

• When to go: April-May and September-October - the daytime temperature is 19-26°C, tourist traffic is moderate and accommodation prices are lower than in summer

• Local transport: EMT buses and Cercanías regional trains serve the town and surrounding area - a single ticket is a few zlotys and a daily ticket is a dozen or so

• Character of the town: port town on the Costa del Sol, around 300 days of sunshine a year, beaches, Moorish Alcazaba from the 11th century and the Picasso Museum - the artist was born here

• How much to go for: a weekend (Friday evening - Sunday) is enough for the main attractions; 3-4 days allow you to add the beach and the surrounding towns on the Costa del Sol

• Practical tip: AVE train tickets from Madrid to Malaga should be bought in advance - the earlier, the better the price

The best choice is April-May or September-October, when daytime temperatures are 19-26°C and tourist crowds are smaller than in summer.

Spring (March to May)

• The daytime temperature is 19-26°C and the gardens in Malaga Park and the hills around Gibralfaro are in bloom.

• Semana Santa falls in March or April - processions pass through the old town, so it's worth booking accommodation early.

• In May, the beaches are already warm and accommodation prices are still moderate.

Summer (June-August)

• Daytime temperatures are 30-32°C and evening temperatures rarely drop below 22°C.

• The Feria de Agosto takes place in mid-August - this is when concerts, flamenco and fireworks attract many visitors, so trains and accommodation fill up quickly.

• In July and August, accommodation prices are highest and the beaches and attractions are the most crowded.

Autumn (September-October)

• Daytime temperatures are 24-28°C and the sea remains warm in September.

• The Bienal de Flamenco takes place in September and October in even-numbered years - you see performances in theatres and squares.

• Accommodation prices are 20-30% lower compared to August.

Winter (November-February)

• Daytime temperatures are 17-20°C and November is the rainiest month.

• There are few tourists and you enter attractions without long queues.

• Andalusia Day falls at the end of February - this is when many attractions in the region open free of charge.

• There are winter outdoor concerts on Sundays.

You will arrive in Malaga with several transfers via Germany or Austria, France and Madrid. On the Madrid-Malaga section you take the AVE train of the Renfe high-speed railway.

From Poznań to Malaga

• From Poznań Główny station, you travel approximately 27-30 hours via Berlin, Frankfurt, France and Madrid.

• At Madrid's Puerta de Atocha station, you change trains to AVE to Malaga; this leg takes about 2.5 hours.

From Gdańsk to Malaga

• From Gdańsk Główny train station you travel approximately 30-33 hours via Berlin, Frankfurt, France and Madrid.

• On some sections you travel overnight and in Madrid you change to the AVE to Malaga.

From Krakow to Malaga

• From Krakow Główny train station, you choose a route via Vienna or via Berlin, and continue through France to Madrid.

• The whole journey takes around 39-44 hours, depending on the variant and transfers.

From Warsaw to Malaga

• From Warsaw Central Station you travel approximately 40-42 hours via Berlin, France and Madrid.

• At Puerta de Atocha station in Madrid, you change trains to AVE to Malaga.

From Wrocław to Malaga

• From Wrocław Główny station you travel approximately 42-48 hours via Berlin, France and Madrid.

• In Berlin you change trains at Berlin Hauptbahnhof station and continue to Madrid and Malaga.

Booking a seat is compulsory for the overseas leg. You buy a ticket for the entire route on Europodróże without registration - just enter the route, date and email address. You receive your ticket by email and SMS, and a reminder with a link to your ticket arrives 30 minutes before departure. The earlier you buy, the greater the choice of seats and the better the price. The rules for refunds and exchanges depend on the carrier operating the section; see the refund and exchange rules page for details. On PKP Intercity sections, you can return a purchased ticket up to 20 minutes before departure, and exchange up to 30 minutes before departure.

From Málaga María Zambrano station, you can walk to the old town in a few minutes along Explanada de la Estación street. By public transport you can get there in a few minutes.

You get around the centre on foot - the main attractions such as the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and the Roman Theatre are all within a ten-minute walk. For further distances, you use the EMT buses or Cercanías regional trains, which connect Malaga with the Costa del Sol towns of Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola.

Taxi, Uber and Bolt operate in Málaga - a short ride from the train station to the old town costs a dozen zlotys. You can get from Málaga-Costa del Sol airport by regional train in a dozen minutes or by express bus.

Where to stay overnight:

• Centro Histórico - close to all the main attractions, so you start exploring straight away

• Soho - artistic neighbourhood with murals, close to the station and port, lots of restaurants

• La Merced - a quieter area around the square where Picasso was born, a few minutes from the Picasso Museum

Alcazaba

The 11th century Moorish fortress stands on the hillside of Gibralfaro. The tour takes 90-120 minutes - you pass through three rings of walls, gardens with fountains and halls with Moorish arches. There is an entrance fee and EU citizens enter free on Sunday afternoons. If you want to avoid the crowds and heat, go in the morning.

Gibralfaro Castle

The 14th-century fortress stands on a hill 130m above sea level, above the Alcazaba. The tour takes 60-90 minutes. From the top you can see the panorama of Málaga, the harbour, the corrida arena and the Costa del Sol, and on sunny days, Africa. There is an entrance fee. Take the bus to reach the gate itself, although the path from the Alcazaba is scenic.

Picasso Museum

In the museum you will see around 150 works by the Malaga-born artist - paintings, sketches, sculptures and ceramics. The tour takes 90-120 minutes. The museum is housed in the 16th-century Palacio de Buenavista in the heart of the old town. There is an entrance fee and on Sunday afternoons you enter free of charge. Check the current opening hours before visiting. A few minutes away, in the Plaza de la Merced, stands Picasso's birth house.

La Manquita Cathedral

The Renaissance cathedral has one completed tower, hence the nickname 'La Manquita'. The tour takes 60-90 minutes. You can climb the tower and see the city skyline up close. There is an entrance fee. The interior is distinguished by three naves, Renaissance choir stalls and Baroque side chapels.

Roman Theatre

The 1st century AD ruins, discovered by chance in 1951, lie at the foot of the Alcazaba. The tour takes 30-45 minutes. Admission is free. The theatre seated several hundred spectators and is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Andalusia. The interpretive centre next door explains the history of the site.

Centre Pompidou Málaga (El Cubo)

This is the only branch of the Paris Pompidou outside France, recognisable by the colourful glass cube by the harbour. Here you will see 20th and 21st century art - painting, sculpture, photography and video. The tour takes 75-120 minutes. There is an entrance fee. Check the current opening hours before visiting.

Beaches

La Malagueta is closest to the centre - you'll get there in a few minutes' walk from the Cathedral. It is a wide, sandy beach with chiringuitos, or beach bars. Pedregalejo and El Palo are further east - they're more local and less touristy, and at the chiringuitos you'll eat espetos, or sardines grilled over a fire in the sand.

Plan for day 1

Roman theatre (takes 30-45 minutes to visit, free entry) -> Alcazaba (takes 90-120 minutes to visit) -> Lunch - Menu del Día at a restaurant in the old town (set lunch for a dozen or so) -> La Manquita Cathedral (takes 60-90 minutes to visit) -> Picasso Museum or Centre Pompidou (takes 90-120 minutes to visit) -> Sunset at Plaza de la Merced or La Malagueta beach.

Plan for the weekend

You can arrange the first day in the same way as the 1-day plan. Day 2:

Day 2: Morning: Gibralfaro Castle (tour takes 60-90 minutes) - go early before it gets hot. Before noon: Atarazanas market - town market with Moorish entrance gate, fish, fruit and tapas stalls; closes around 2pm. Afternoon: Pedregalejo beach - espetos de sardinas in a chiringuito by the sea and swimming in the Mediterranean.

What to eat

Espetos de sardinas - sardines threaded onto a wooden stick and grilled over a fire in the sand by the beach. This is a Malaga tradition, and the best are eaten at chiringuitos in Pedregalejo and El Palo.

Boquerones en vinagre - anchovies marinated in vinegar with oil and garlic. This is a classic tapas dish, served in almost every bar in the old town.

Ajoblanco - a cold soup made from almonds, bread and garlic. It is white, creamy and tomato-free. In summer it is served with grapes or melon.

Ensalada malagueña - a salad of potatoes, salted cod and oranges. The sweet-and-salty combination is typical of Malaga's port cuisine.

Where to eat:

• Mercado de Atarazanas - the city's main market, open until around 2 p.m. You enter through a 14th-century Moorish gate. In the morning it has the most stalls selling fish, seafood, olives and takeaway tapas.

• El Pimpi on Calle Granada - a legendary bar with sherry barrels on the walls and photos of celebrities. It can get crowded in the evening, so it's better to come at lunchtime.

• Casa Aranda - a legendary café for churros con chocolate. It fills up quickly in the morning. The churros are crispy and the hot chocolate is thick.

Souvenirs

• Olive oil from Andalusia - the region produces more than half of Spain's olive oil

• Sweet Moscatel wine from the Malaga area - a local speciality

• Reproductions and catalogues from the Picasso Museum

For 1 day in Malaga you will spend between 175 and 1700 PLN, depending on the standard of accommodation, food and number of paid attractions.

Many attractions in Malaga offer free admission on certain dates. The Roman Theatre is always free. The Alcazaba and the Picasso Museum have free entry on Sunday afternoons for EU citizens. On Andalusia Day at the end of February and Museum Day in May, many institutions in the region open their doors free of charge.

In July and August, accommodation prices increase by 30-50% compared to spring and autumn. Winter, from November to February, is the period with the lowest accommodation prices in Malaga.