6 best day trips from Granada

Day trips compared

The day trips

33 km · About 45–60 minutes by bus

1.Sierra Nevada

Spain's highest mountain range rises behind the city, and the Sierra Nevada ski resort at Pradollano is one of the southernmost in Europe, usually open from late autumn to spring. In summer, trails lead towards Mulhacén, the highest peak on the Spanish mainland.

Getting there

Bus from Granada bus station to Pradollano

Best for

Families, First-timers, Couples

70 km · About 2 hours by bus

2.The Alpujarras

White villages of flat-roofed houses cling to the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the Poqueira gorge, with walking trails between them, rug-weaving workshops and Trevélez, famous for its cured ham.

Getting there

Bus from Granada to Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira; or car

Best for

Quiet stays, Couples, Food lovers

60 km · About 1 hour by bus or train

3.Guadix

Guadix has one of Europe's largest communities of cave homes, with chimneys poking out of the hills, plus a striking cathedral and a Moorish fortress. Some caves can be visited, and several are rented to visitors.

Getting there

Bus or train from Granada

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays, Families

200 km · About 1.5 hours by train

4.Córdoba

The Mezquita-Catedral, a vast forest of striped horseshoe arches with a cathedral inside, the Jewish quarter and the Alcázar gardens make Córdoba Granada's natural partner on an Andalusian trip.

Getting there

High-speed train from Granada station

Best for

Culture, First-timers

17 km · About 30 minutes by bus

5.Fuente Vaqueros

Federico García Lorca was born in this farming village on the Vega plain in 1898; his birthplace is a small museum with family belongings, photographs and manuscripts.

Getting there

Local bus from Granada

Best for

Culture, Quiet stays

70 km · About 1 hour by bus

6.Salobreña and the Costa Tropical

On the coast south of Granada, Salobreña is a white town heaped on a rock below a Moorish castle, with long beaches and sugar-cane fields around it. Almuñécar, nearby, has a seafront and Roman remains.

Getting there

Bus from Granada bus station

Best for

Beach, Families, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Take the minibus up to the Alhambra or the Mirador de San Nicolás and walk down.
• Granada station has high-speed trains to Madrid and connections to Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask