How to get to Granada
How to get to Granada? Find out how to reach Granada using different means of transportation and choose the one that suits your needs.
Granada is in the eastern region of Andalusia, 420 km from Madrid, 888 km from Barcelona and 248 km from Seville. If you plan to visit Spain and would like to include Granada into your itinerary, take into account that it is one of the most distant locations compared to the rest of the cities visited.
You will find next an outline of the main means of transportation that will take you to Granada.
How to get to Granada by plane
Granada has flights from Barcelona and Madrid. The flight time is approximately 1 hour and a half and 1 hour, respectively.
The airport of Granada, officially named Aeropuerto Federico García Lorca Granada – Jaén, is 17 km from the city center.
Leaving Granada airport by bus
There is a special bus (operated by Alsa) which connects the airport with the center of Granada. Depending on traffic, travel time is 45 minutes. Be cautious and always calculate a greater margin of time on the trip back to the airport, avoiding the anguish of being caught on a traffic jam. The airport bus stops at several points, including the bus station.
Leaving Granada airport by taxi
There is no flat rate to the city. The price of the ride can range from 25€ to 35€, depending on the time of day and the day of the week.
Getting to Granada by train
Spain has a large and constantly expanding rail network.
In fact, it is the expansion of the train network that is currently preventing the arrival of the train to Granada. Construction work in preparation for the arrival of the high-speed train in the city currently prevent trains from reaching Granada.
Even so, it is possible to buy train tickets to travel from Seville, Cordoba or Madrid to Granada.
The trip will be divided into two halves: the first, made by train to the Antequera-Santa Ana station; The second, made by bus, between the station of Antequera and the station of Granada.
The bus service is operated by Renfe and synchronized with the arrival of the trains. Shortly after arriving at Antequera station, you will be transferred to a bus. The change is smooth and well organized.
Be aware that the connecting bus will drop you off at the Granada train station, not at the bus station.
If you want to know more about AVE high-speed trains, an extremely comfortable and reliable means of transportation, we suggest you to read A Complete Guide About Train Travel In Spain.
Leaving Granada train station by taxi
The train station of Granada is situated to the west of the historical center of the city.
Taxis are just outside the station, waiting for passengers to arrive.
Due to the proximity to the center of Granada, the taxi is our preferred option to get out of the train station without major complications. As the rides in Granada are short, it’s a cheap option.
Leaving Granada train station by bus
If you are staying in the center of Granada and traveling light, you can reach your hotel by bus.
You need to leave the train station on Avenida de Andalucía and get to Avenida de la Constitución. Just to the right you will see a bus stop, where several bus lines (4, 21, 33) take you to the city center.
How to get to Granada by bus
There are numerous bus routes across Spain. They are an option for travelers with limited budgets, as the traveling time is usually long.
The journey time between Madrid and Granada is 4 hours and 30 minutes. The company that operates the service is Alsa and there are several departures throughout the day. Buses leave Madrid from the Estación Sur de Autobuses.
The travel time between Barcelona and Granada is 14 hours. The company that operates the service is Alsa and there are several departures throughout the day. Buses depart from Barcelona from Estación Barcelona Nord.
The journey time between Seville and Granada is 3 hours. The company that operates the service is Alsa and there are several departures throughout the day. Buses depart from Seville’s Estación Plaza de Armas.
The Granada bus station is called Estación de Autobuses de Granada. It is located to the west of the city, in the Avenida de Juan Pablo II.
Leaving Granada bus station by bus
If you are going in the direction of the city center, you should take the 33 bus line, which will drop you off near the Cathedral.
Leaving Granada bus station by bus
Taxis are just outside the station.
The taxi is an interesting option if you are in a group of 4 people or just don’t want to get a more complicated option. The ride to the city center is short.
Getting to Granada by car
On the section How to move around Granada we explain why having a car in Granada is not a good idea.
But then, you might be renting a car as part of a wider trip taking you to other destinations in Andalusia and elsewhere in Spain. If that is the case, bear in mind your car will not be of any use in Granada.
If you are spending a few days in Granada, our best advice is for you to choose a hotel providing a car park where you can leave your vehicle during the duration of your stay in Granada (for more information, read Where to stay in Granada).
Also be aware that the city hall operates many traffic restrictions in the city center. To avoid a fine, inform your hotel of your arrival so that it can ensure that your car is not fined.
Do you need more information on Granada?
This article is part of a complete guide about Granada where you can read all the information you need to plan your trip to this amazing destination in Spain.
Here is a complete summary of all the guide:
1. When to visit Granada
2. How many days to spend in Granada
3. How to get to Granada
4. How to move around Granada
5. Granada hotels: where to stay in Granada
6. What to eat in Granada
7. What to do in Granada
8. Tips to visit the Alhambra in Granada
9. How to buy tickets to the Alhambra in Granada
10. Alhambra tickets sold out. What can you do?
11. Is the Alhambra night visit worth it?
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