Overview
Private Pool & Parking
Contact the Owners
Alhambra
Alpujarras Villages
Towns Near GranadaDirect bus from the airport
- Typical time
- About 2 h
- Typical price
- About €13 to €15
- Best for
- Daytime arrivals and tight budgets
Before you come
How many daysOne, two, three or four days compared: what fits, who it suits and how to plan around the Alhambra.
Best time to visitMonth-by-month weather, crowds and events, and the best months for sightseeing, heat and snow.
Getting to GranadaBy bus, train, car or taxi: typical journey times from Málaga, Seville, Córdoba and Madrid.
You are hereMálaga airport to GranadaBus, train, car and transfer compared, with typical times, prices and last departures.
Where to stayCentro, Albaicín, Realejo or Sacromonte: which area suits you and what to watch out for.
Granada on a budgetFree tapas, free sights, a set lunch and walking: how to enjoy Granada without overspending.Once you're here
Practical infoMoney, opening hours, tipping, plugs, water and getting around.
Getting aroundWalking, small buses, taxis and the metro, and what suits each hill.
Taxis and busesThe taxi tariff, what a ride from Terraza 6 costs, the minibus lines to the hills and the bus fares.
ParkingPark once in a public car park, then walk. The short version.
Is Granada safe?What to watch for, how to handle the Albaicín at night and which numbers to call.
Low-emission zoneWho the zone affects, the fine and what to do if you arrive by car.
Walking times from Terraza 6Minutes and distances on foot from our street to 25 places, from the Alhambra to the best tapas squares.
Accessible GranadaWhere Granada is steep, where it is flat, and how to plan a visit that suits you.Itineraries
Ready-made plans for one day to five, with times and walking routes.
See allBuild your Granada
Top 10 for first-timersThe ten things not to miss on a first visit, in a sensible order.
Foodie weekendFree tapas, local dishes, a market, a tea house and a slow lunch: two days of eating well.
Granada in 1 dayThe Alhambra in the morning, lunch in the Realejo, sunset from the Albaicín and tapas, hour by hour.Granada in 2 daysDay 1 the Alhambra and the Albaicín, day 2 the centre, the Realejo and a tapas evening.
Granada in 3 daysThe Alhambra, the centre and Arab baths, then the Sacromonte and a flamenco evening.How many daysOne, two, three or four days compared: what fits, who it suits and how to plan around the Alhambra.Things to do
Free things to doFree sights, viewpoints, gardens and the free tapa, with walking times from Terraza 6.
ViewpointsSan Nicolás, San Cristóbal and the quieter lookouts, with walking times from Terraza 6.
Mirador de San NicolásThe classic view of the Alhambra from the top of the Albaicín, and when to go.
Albaicín walkA 2.4 km loop from Plaza Nueva to the Mirador de San Nicolás, with minutes for each stretch.Granada CathedralA Renaissance cathedral begun in 1523, and how to visit it beside the Royal Chapel.
Royal ChapelThe burial place of Isabella and Ferdinand, built about 1506 to 1517, beside the cathedral.
Arab bathsEl Bañuelo, its opening hours and tickets, and the difference from a modern hammam.
Granada with kidsWhat children enjoy in Granada, and how to keep a pace that works for the whole family.
Albaicín stopsThe Albaicín and Sacromonte in 14 stops: how long each takes, what is free and what needs a ticket.
Central Granada stopsCentral Granada in 13 stops, plus 5 more: how long each takes, what is free and what needs a ticket.
Realejo stopsThe Realejo in 7 free stops: how long each takes and the walk from Terraza 6.Neighbourhoods
Day trips
Day trips without a carWhich day trips work by bus or train, roughly how long they take, and when a tour helps.CórdobaBus and car times, Mezquita-Catedral tickets and a plan for one day.
Alpujarras day tripSix Alpujarras stops, Órgiva to Trevélez: the drive from Granada, how long to stay and what fits in a day.
Near Granada13 villages, mountains and beaches within about 1 h 15 of Granada: drive time, how long to stay, the must-sees.Mountains and coast
Hiking near GranadaFour kinds of walk near Granada, from a gorge with hanging bridges to the high mountains.Los Cahorros de MonachilThe classic half-day gorge walk near Granada, with hanging bridges and an easier option.
Sierra NevadaSkiing in winter, hiking in summer.
The AlpujarrasWhite mountain villages south of Granada.
Beaches of the Costa TropicalSea and sun on the coast south of Granada.Culture & events
Culture and eventsHoly Week, the Corpus fair, the music festival and flamenco, with dates to plan around.Events calendarThe yearly events worth planning around, month by month, with a note on moving dates.Semana SantaDates for 2027, how the processions work and practical tips for visitors.
FlamencoCave shows in the Sacromonte, how long they last, what they cost and how to book.
Sacromonte cave flamencoWhat a cave show is like, and five questions to ask before you book.Lorca in GranadaThe poet’s summer house in Granada, his birthplace nearby, and how to visit.Eat and drinkFree tapas, typical dishes and where to start eating from Terraza 6.
Tapas bars25 tapas bars with Google rating, address and walking time from Terraza 6.
Tapas crawlsThree evening routes through 16 tapas bars, with the minutes on foot between them.
Restaurants28 restaurants by style, with Google rating, address and walking time from Terraza 6.Eat near the Alhambra16 places to eat near the Alhambra, with the walking minutes from the Puerta de la Justicia and the main entrance.Tapas areasFour tapas areas, each with its own mood, and how far each is from Terraza 6.Free tapasHow the free tapa with every drink works, how to order and where to start.
Typical Granada dishesWhat to order, from remojón to piononos.
Alhambra ticketsWhich ticket to buy and how to book it.
Opening hoursDay and night hours by season, closed days, the Nasrid Palaces time slot and what is open now.If tickets are sold outSold out for your date? The realistic options, from night tickets to the free areas.
Dobla de Oro explainedWhat the Dobla de Oro includes, its price, the three-day validity and who it suits.
Getting to the AlhambraOn foot, by bus, taxi and car to the gates.Alhambra parkingWhere to park near the Alhambra.The Alhambra with kidsWhat children enjoy and how long to plan.Tours & tickets
Alhambra tickets, guided tours and day trips, with the real prices and what is included.
See all
Granada CardThe city pass for the Alhambra, the cathedral, the Royal Chapel and more: four versions, official prices and when it pays off.Alhambra tickets and toursOfficial Alhambra prices, partner tickets and guided tours, with what each one covers.Tours and experiencesGuided visits, a hammam, the tourist train and flamenco in the Sacromonte, with what is included.Day tours from GranadaFive guided trips from Granada, from a gorge hike to a day on the coast, with what is included.About 2 hDirect Alsa bus
About €13–15Bus, one way
126 kmBy road on the A-92
€135–160Taxi or transfer, per car
From Terraza 6
From Granada bus station Terraza 6 is 4.9 km on foot, so a taxi is the sensible choice with luggage.
At a glance
The five options compared
Airport bus, then a bus from Málaga bus station
- Typical time
- 2 to 2.5 h with the change
- Typical price
- About €13 to €15 plus the airport link
- Best for
- Flights outside the direct bus times
Train via Málaga María Zambrano
- Typical time
- About 1 h 30 (3 direct trains a day), plus about 10 min to the station
- Typical price
- From about €18
- Best for
- Travellers who prefer trains
Rental car
- Typical time
- About 1 h 30
- Typical price
- Rental and fuel
- Best for
- Day trips and the Alpujarras
Taxi or private transfer
- Typical time
- About 1 h 30
- Typical price
- About €135 to €160 per car
- Best for
- Late arrivals, groups and luggage
Typical figures from operator timetables and local transport guides, checked in November 2026. Check the operator before you travel, because prices and timetables change.
The cheapest option
The bus in detail
- Operator
- Alsa
- Journey time
- About 2 h (the bus stops at Málaga bus station on the way)
- Typical price
- About €13 to €15 one way
- Online booking fee
- €2.90 per ticket on fares over €10; Alsa Plus members (free sign-up) pay none from their second purchase
- First departure
- From the airport around 05:30; from Granada to the airport 02:00
- Last departure
- From the airport around 22:45; from Granada to the airport 22:30
- Check the Alsa timetable the day beforeAirport departures are fewer than from Málaga bus station, and fewer on Sundays and holidays.
- Choose a service that ends at the airport stopSome buses run from the airport, others only from the city bus station. Ask the driver where to load your luggage.
- Arrive at Granada bus stationThe bus arrives at the bus station, not at Granada-Jaén airport. Take a taxi from there with luggage.
Comfortable, fewer departures
The train
Take the Cercanías C1 suburban line from the airport to Málaga María Zambrano station, about 10 minutes (trains about every 20 minutes), then a Renfe train to Granada. Three direct Renfe Avant trains a day each way take about 1 hour 30 (via Antequera and Loja). Other times mean a change at Antequera-Santa Ana and a much longer trip, so book the direct Avant on renfe.com.
Good
- Comfortable, with no traffic
- Online booking with no extra fee
- Good if you stay near the station
Less good
- Fewer departures than the bus
- Needs a change from the airport to the train station
- Only three direct trains a day each way
Door to door
By car or transfer
- Distance
- 126 km from Málaga
- Road
- A-92
- Drive time
- About 1 h 30
- Taxi or transfer
- About €135 to €160 per car
If you…
Which option should you pick
The last direct bus leaves the airport around 22:45.
About €13 to €15; Alsa Plus members (free sign-up) pay no booking fee from their second purchase.
Book one of the three direct Avant trains a day each way; other times mean a change at Antequera.
The A-92 is direct, and a car makes the mountains easy.
Shared, it costs roughly €34 to €40 each.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Málaga airport to Granada?
About 2 hours by bus, about 1 hour 30 minutes by car or taxi, and about 1 hour 30 minutes on the direct Avant train (three a day each way), plus the transfer to the train station.
Is there a direct bus from Málaga airport to Granada?
Yes. Alsa buses run from the airport to Granada and stop at Málaga bus station on the way, so allow about 2 hours. They are fewer than the buses from Málaga bus station, and the last one leaves around 22:45. Check the timetable first.
How much is the bus from Málaga airport to Granada?
About €13 to €15 one way. Booking online adds a €2.90 fee per ticket (fares over €10), and Alsa Plus members (free sign-up) pay no fee from their second purchase.
What if my flight lands late at night?
Book a taxi or a private transfer, about €135 to €160 per car, or sleep in Málaga and travel in the morning.
Is it worth renting a car?
Yes if you plan day trips, the Alpujarras or the Sierra Nevada. For a city stay, the bus is cheaper and easier.
Checked on 13 November 2026
Sources: Alsa bus timetables, Renfe train timetables, LoveGranada: Málaga to Granada transport guide, updated 30 July 2026
Keep exploring
Terraza 6 · Realejo
Stay in the middle of it
Terraza 6 is a private apartment with a pool and terrace in Realejo, a short walk from the Alhambra, the cathedral and the best tapas bars.
Book direct for the best price. No booking fees.