Málaga to Granada by bus, train or car: times, prices and tips

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The short answer: fastest, cheapest, easiest

Málaga to Granada takes about 1 h 30 to 2 hours by Alsa bus, from Málaga bus station to Granada bus station. Buses run all day, so for most travellers we think the bus is the simplest option.

• Fastest: the direct Avant train (Renfe), about 1 h 20, but only a few a day, from about €15–40
• Cheapest and most frequent: the Alsa bus, 1 h 30–2 hours, about 20–30 a day, from about €10–15
• Easiest with a group or luggage: a car, about 1 h 30 on the toll-free A-45 and A-92
• From Málaga airport: Alsa runs direct buses from the airport to Granada, about 2 hours. There is no direct train from the airport.
• Just visiting the Alhambra? A day tour from Málaga includes transport and entry. Either way, book your Alhambra ticket first.

Comparison table (bus, train, car, tour)

There are no flights between Málaga and Granada. A taxi costs roughly €150–180 and only makes sense if shared.

Step by step

By bus from Málaga

1. Go to Málaga bus station (Estación de Autobuses, Paseo de los Tilos), right next to María Zambrano train station and about 15–20 minutes’ walk from the old town.
2. Take an Alsa bus to Granada. Direct buses take about 1 h 30; some stop on the way and take up to 2 hours or more, so check the duration when you book. Alsa’s Supra buses cost a little more and have wider seats.
3. Buy your ticket online or at the station. We’d book a day or two ahead in summer, at Easter and at weekends, when popular buses fill up.
4. In Granada, buses arrive at the bus station on Avenida Juan Pablo II, about 3 km north-west of the centre. City bus 33 goes to the Gran Vía and the cathedral area in about 15–20 minutes; a taxi is quicker.

Compare times and prices on Omio.

From Málaga airport

Alsa runs direct buses from Málaga airport to Granada, several a day, in about 2 hours. They leave from the bus stops outside arrivals and end at Granada bus station. Book ahead and allow at least an hour between your landing time and the bus, in case of delays.

If the timing doesn’t suit you, take the Cercanías C1 train from the airport to Málaga María Zambrano (about 10–15 minutes), walk to the bus station next door and take one of the more frequent buses from there. See Málaga airport transfers.

By train

1. Go to Málaga María Zambrano station.
2. Take a direct Renfe Avant to Granada station. The trip takes about 1 h 20, but there are only a few a day, usually in the morning, late afternoon and evening. Direct trains were suspended for several months in early 2026 after a wall collapsed near Álora, and ran again from 30 April 2026, so check the current timetable.
3. At other times, Renfe sells journeys with a change at Antequera-Santa Ana, a station in the countryside outside Antequera. These take 2 hours or more with the wait, and the bus is usually faster.
4. Bags are scanned before boarding. Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure.
5. Granada station is about 20–25 minutes’ walk from the cathedral, or a short taxi ride.

Book on the Renfe website or compare on Omio.

By car

The quickest route is about 125–130 km on toll-free motorways: the A-45 north from Málaga towards Antequera, then the A-92 east past Loja to Granada. Allow about 1 h 30 without stops.

The alternative is the coast road: the A-7 east to Motril, then the A-44 north to Granada. It is about 165 km and 1 h 45 to 2 hours, also toll-free, and, in our view, worth it only if you want to stop in Nerja or Salobreña on the way. Antequera is, in our view, a good stop on the main route.

• Hire car: pick-up at Málaga airport is the cheapest and easiest. See car hire at Málaga airport and compare prices on DiscoverCars.
• In Granada: we wouldn’t drive into the Albaicín or the centre. They are access-controlled zones with number-plate cameras, and Granada also has a low-emission zone. Use a public car park (about €20–30 for 24 hours), the car park at the Alhambra’s main entrance, or a hotel with parking. See the parking tips in where to stay in Granada.

By day tour

We think a guided day trip is the easiest way to see Granada from Málaga if you don’t have an Alhambra ticket. Tours leave Málaga (and often Costa del Sol resorts) in the morning, include the coach, the Alhambra entry and a guide, and return in the evening. Expect about €100–170. Compare Granada and Alhambra day trips from Málaga.

For other ideas, see day trips from Málaga.

Which option to choose

• Staying a night or more in Granada: we’d take the bus, or the direct train if the times suit you.
• Arriving at Málaga airport and going straight to Granada: the direct Alsa airport bus.
• Day trip with your own Alhambra ticket: the first bus or train in the morning, and the last one back in the evening. Book both ways.
• Day trip without a ticket: a guided tour, as tours often have Alhambra entries when official tickets are sold out.
• Touring Andalusia: a car, then park it for your stay in Granada. See our Andalusia road trip.

Book the Alhambra first

The Alhambra is the reason most people make this trip, and it is the part that can go wrong. Official tickets cost about €22, carry your name and ID number, give you a timed entry to the Nasrid Palaces and often sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn.

We recommend buying your Alhambra ticket before your bus or train, then plan the journey around your palace time. Leave at least an hour between your arrival in Granada and your entry slot: the Alhambra is uphill from the centre, and late arrivals lose their palace entry. See Alhambra tickets.

Both directions

Granada to Málaga works the same way in reverse:

• Bus: Alsa from Granada bus station to Málaga bus station, 1 h 30–2 hours, many a day.
• To Málaga airport: Alsa’s direct buses from Granada to the airport take about 2 hours. Leave a generous margin for your flight, as traffic on the Málaga ring road can be slow.
• Train: the few direct Avant trains from Granada to Málaga María Zambrano, about 1 h 20; from there, the Cercanías C1 goes to the airport.
• Car: A-92 and A-45, about 1 h 30.

We think Granada deserves at least one night, ideally two. See where to stay in Granada and our Granada guide. For Málaga itself, see our Málaga guide.

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