As two of the gems in Andalucía’s glittering crown, Seville and Granada are essential stops on a first-time itinerary of Southern Spain. But what is the best way to get from Seville to Granada?
This is where I can help. I have travelled between these two historic cities using different means of transport, and have learnt what works best.
Remove the guesswork with my guide to travelling between Seville and Granada.
Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.
In a nutshell
How I did it (& my recommendations)
I have travelled between Seville and Granada twice.
In the early noughties, I did a road trip of Southern Spain and visited Granada as a day trip by rental car. Whilst this was perfectly feasible, I felt a little short-changed.
There are more things to see in Granada than the Alhambra Palace and it deserves at least a few days of your Andalucía itinerary. That said, if a day is all you have then go for it.
More recently, I took the train from Seville to Granada and stayed for three nights. The journey was easy, quick and comfortable.
With a journey time of 2 hours 30 minutes, the train was the quickest way of getting from Seville to Granada. Although I did consider taking the bus, this took three hours and Granada’s bus station is around two miles from the city centre. However, if you are travelling on a budget, going by bus can save you a tidy sum of money.
If I were considering a day trip to Granada again, I would consider joining a group tour. Not only will this maximise the available time but it will also include ticket reservations for the Alhambra.
The train from Seville to Granada
Thanks to high-speed direct trains, getting from Seville to Granada by rail is easy.
Reaching speeds of up to 155 miles per hour, the super speedy Avant and AVE trains run between Granada and Seville around six times a day. The journey time can be as little as 2 hours 30 minutes.
Train services
Spanish trains are run by the national rail operator Renfe.
Renfe trains are amongst the best in Europe. They are clean and comfortable and have storage spaces for luggage, usually on the racks above your head and at the end of each car. Air-conditioning, free wifi and power sockets usually come as standard.
Renfe offers two classes of travel: Standard or Turista (2nd class) and Comfort or Turista Plus (1st class). Within these travel classes, three fare types are on offer on the high-speed AVE trains:
- Básico (Basic): The cheapest fare for travel in Standard class.
- Elige (Choice): A semi-flexible fare. You can choose between Elige (2nd Class seat) or Elige Comfort (1st class seat).
- Premium: The most flexible fare. For this, you get a Comfort (1st class seat) with the option to add an at-seat meal if available.
In my experience, Standard class on Spanish trains is more than adequate.
Buying train tickets
I recommend booking your train ticket from Seville to Granada in advance. These are popular destinations and prices usually increase the closer you get to the time of departure.
Booking your train ticket through Renfe, the national rail operator, gets you the best prices. However, the Renfe website often doesn’t play nice. On more than one occasion it refused to recognise major destinations for me and it can be a little picky about non-Spanish credit and debit cards.
For a stress-free experience, I use Omio for Spanish train travel. You will pay a small booking fee but it’s a clear booking engine and a lot less hassle.
>> CHECK TRAIN TIMES & PRICES HERE
Where is the train station in Seville?
Trains for Granada leave Seville’s main Santa Justa station, located northeast of the city centre. It’s a 25-minute walk from Seville Cathedral in the heart of the city’s Old Town.
Where is the train station in Granada?
Granada has a small railway station that is located in Avenida de Andaluces, in the heart of the city. It’s a 20-minute walk from Granada Cathedral on the edge of the Albaicín.
The bus from Seville to Granada
Buses are the most cost-effective way of getting from Seville to Granada.
Alsa operates bus services between Seville and Granada. The journey time is 3 hours.
I have used these buses on other routes and found them very comfortable. A one-way non-flexible fare can cost as little as €12; expect to pay more for a fully flexible fare.
You can check bus times on Alsa’s website here. I don’t recommend using Omio to book your bus ticket as they only offer the more expensive flexible fares.
Where is the bus station in Seville?
Buses leave Seville’s Plaza de Armas Bus Station, just under a mile northwest of the Old Town. It’s a 20-minute walk from Seville Cathedral.
Where is the bus station in Granada?
Granada Bus Station is on the Carretera de Jaen, about two miles north of the city centre. You will need to take the number 33 bus from outside the bus station via Gran Via.
Buses leave every 15 minutes and the journey takes between 10 and 15 minutes. You can buy your ticket from the driver.
Driving from Seville to Granada
For the ultimate convenience and flexibility, drive from Seville to Granada.
Following the main A92 road through the towns of Osuna and Mollina, this journey will take you less than three hours.
Day Tours
For a stress-free day trip to Granada from Seville, join a day tour.
Someone else takes care of all of the arrangements, you benefit from the knowledge of a local guide and it is affordable. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the day.
Day tours to Granada from Seville include your tickets to the Alhambra Palace (a day tour is also a way to bag a reservation if tickets are sold out on the day you wish to visit).
There is a valuable bonus. The loneliness of solo travel is real and day tours are one of the best ways to meet other travellers.
For instance; this comprehensive 13-hour excursion has been highly rated by other travellers and includes guided tours of the Alhambra Palace and the Albaicín. Tickets for the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife Gardens are included.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICE & BOOK
Find Out More
If you want to discover more about Seville, take a look at these articles I have written about this glorious city:
- One Day in Seville, Spain: The Best Itinerary
- A Perfect 3 Days in Seville, Spain: Itinerary & Best Things to Do
- 10 Things to Know Before Visiting the Real Alcázar of Seville
- 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Seville Cathedral
To get the lowdown on Granada, here are a few articles from my most recent visit to this gem of a city:
- The Best 2-Day Granada Itinerary: More Than The Alhambra
- 15 Essential Tips for Visiting the Alhambra, Spain
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.