Getting around · Granada · Spain
Getting around Granada
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Central Granada is compact but hilly: the cathedral area is flat, while the Albaicín, Sacromonte and the Alhambra are steep climbs. Small minibuses climb to the hill districts from Plaza Nueva and Plaza Isabel la Católica, city buses cover the rest, and a single light-rail metro line runs north–south through the city. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- GRX, AGP
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Granada Card
Ways to get around
Walking
Walking is the best way to explore the centre, the Albaicín and Realejo; allow extra time for steep, cobbled lanes and stairs.
Bus
Small red minibuses run from the centre up to the Alhambra, through the Albaicín and into Sacromonte, and larger city buses serve the rest of Granada, including the Parque de las Ciencias.
Take the minibus up to the Alhambra or the Mirador de San Nicolás and walk down.
Metro
The single metro line runs from Albolote in the north to Armilla in the south, via the railway station and Calle Recogidas; it is useful for the station and the Pedro Antonio de Alarcón area.
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive and useful for the Alhambra entrance and late returns from Sacromonte, though cars cannot reach many Albaicín lanes.
Train
Granada station has high-speed trains to Madrid and connections to Córdoba, Seville and Málaga.
Tickets and passes
Granada Card
A city pass that bundles a timed Alhambra visit with the cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the monasteries and bus rides; it must be booked ahead and depends on Alhambra availability.
From the airport
Federico García Lorca Granada Airport is about 17 km west of the city; buses timed with flights reach the centre in about 40–45 minutes, and a taxi takes about 20–25 minutes. Many international travellers fly into Málaga, about 130 km away, and take a direct bus of about two hours.
Do you need a car?
No. Driving and parking in the centre are difficult and much of the old town is restricted to residents. A car helps for the Alpujarras villages, but buses reach the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarras and Guadix.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Nevada | About 45–60 minutes by bus | Bus from Granada bus station to Pradollano |
| The Alpujarras | About 2 hours by bus | Bus from Granada to Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira; or car |
| Guadix | About 1 hour by bus or train | Bus or train from Granada |
| Córdoba | About 1.5 hours by train | High-speed train from Granada station |
| Fuente Vaqueros | About 30 minutes by bus | Local bus from Granada |
| Salobreña and the Costa Tropical | About 1 hour by bus | Bus from Granada bus station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Granada?
No. Driving and parking in the centre are difficult and much of the old town is restricted to residents. A car helps for the Alpujarras villages, but buses reach the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarras and Guadix.
+How do you get from the airport to Granada?
Federico García Lorca Granada Airport is about 17 km west of the city; buses timed with flights reach the centre in about 40–45 minutes, and a taxi takes about 20–25 minutes. Many international travellers fly into Málaga, about 130 km away, and take a direct bus of about two hours.
+What is the best way to get around Granada?
Walking: Walking is the best way to explore the centre, the Albaicín and Realejo; allow extra time for steep, cobbled lanes and stairs.