Granada public transport combines a Metro line, city buses and walkable central streets, so you can choose the best option for each part of your trip. The Metro connects several municipalities, while minibuses reach hilltop areas such as the Albaicín and Sacromonte.
- Metro line: Albolote, Maracena, Granada and Armilla.
- Metro fares: single journeys cost €1.35; a one-day tourist card costs €4.50.
- Hilltop bus routes: C30, C31, C32 and C34 serve visitor areas.
When walking is easiest in central Granada
Walking works well for central Granada, where several major sights sit within a short walk of each other. The Catedral de Granada, Royal Chapel and Puerta de Elvira are each about a five-minute walk from one another or less.
For a central route, start around the cathedral and Royal Chapel, then continue towards Puerta de Elvira. For a fuller itinerary, see this one-day walking route from Elvira.
Walking is less direct for steep or hilltop districts. Use a local minibus for the Albaicín, Sacromonte or the Alhambra, and combine it with a walk once you reach the area.
Using Granada Metro
Granada Metro is useful for journeys along its single line between Albolote, Maracena, Granada and Armilla. It is not a substitute for every central walking route, but it can help connect neighbourhoods along the line.
Single journeys cost €1.35 and return tickets cost €2.70; both allow up to 90 minutes after entry validation. A one-day tourist card costs €4.50 for unlimited journeys by one person on the day of purchase. The operator also offers 2-, 3- and 5-day cards, as well as a 30-day pass for €24.
Reusable cards are available from Metro ticket machines: the flexible contactless card costs €0.30 and the rigid card €1.80. A Metro wallet fare is €0.49 per journey; one wallet transaction can cover up to 15 people travelling together, provided the first and last validations are no more than 3 minutes apart.
Flexible cards can hold up to 9 single journeys or 8 return journeys, subject to the group-validation rules, and expire after one year.
Validate when entering and leaving underground stations. At surface stations, validate on the vehicle. Regular operating hours and train intervals vary by day, so check the official site before you go.
Buses and connections to hilltop areas
Granada’s city buses and minibuses connect central stops with the Alhambra, Albaicín and Sacromonte. The city tourism site identifies C30 for the Alhambra, C31 for the Albaicín, C32 between the Alhambra and Albaicín, and C34 for Sacromonte.
For a journey from the railway station, change at Catedral: take C32 for the Alhambra, C31 for Albaicín or C34 for Sacromonte. C32 serves stops including Generalife, Palacio de Carlos V and Puerta de la Justicia. For a closer look at the area, use this guide to Sacromonte’s abbey, caves and viewpoints.
A city-bus single ticket costs €1.60 and allows a transfer to another line within 60 minutes of purchase. You can pay the driver in cash or use ticket machines; the maximum accepted cash denomination is €10.
City-bus cards are multi-person cards, but validate once for every traveller, including when transferring. The city tourism site says single tickets can be paid by card from September 2024; check current payment details before travelling.
Larger city buses have ramps, and the minibuses serving the Alhambra, Albaicín and Sacromonte have ramps. If accessibility is important for your journey, confirm route details with the city tourism service before setting out.
How do you get from Granada’s stations into the city?
Granada railway station has several bus connections into central areas, while the bus station connects to the city by bus and Metro. Estación Ferrocarril, the stop for Granada railway station, is about a 16-minute walk from tuGuest Elvira Suites.
From the railway station
For bus 4, walk to Avenida de la Constitución and buy your ticket at the blue-grey machines; validate a card at the reader outside the stop. Another option is to walk 150 metres to the stop in front of Hotel Tent and take bus 21 or 33, paying the driver.
From the railway station, get off at Catedral for Gran Vía, Plaza Nueva, Albaicín or Realejo. For Puerta Real or Recogidas, use Acera del Darro 40. The station is at Avenida de los Andaluces, s/n, 18014 Granada, and connects with taxis, the Metro and urban buses.
From the bus station
Take bus 33 from in front of the main entrance. The single fare is €1.60, with a transfer allowed within 60 minutes. The bus station also has an Estación de Autobuses stop on Metro line 1.
The railway station has an accessible entrance and offers the Renfe ACERCA assistance service. Granada bus station has step-free access, elevators and toilets adapted for passengers with reduced mobility. For airport arrival options, see how to get from Granada Airport to the city centre.
Checking fares and service changes
Fares, payment options and operating details can change, so check the official site before you go. For Metro services, use the Granada Metro operator’s information; for bus routes and fares, consult Granada’s official tourism information. Adif and Renfe provide railway-station details, while Alsa covers the bus station.
Metro hours are listed as departures from the terminal stations, Armilla and Albolote. On weekdays, trains run every 6 minutes 30 seconds during 07:30–10:00 and 13:30–20:30, and every 8 minutes during 10:00–13:30; intervals vary at other times and on weekends. City bus tickets include a transfer within 60 minutes, but check current fare and payment arrangements before boarding.
FAQs
Can you get around central Granada on foot?
Yes. Several central sights are close together on foot. Hilltop destinations are better served by minibuses.
Which Granada bus goes to Sacromonte?
City minibus C34 serves Sacromonte. From the railway station, transfer at Catedral to board it.
Does Granada Metro reach the Alhambra?
The Metro line connects Albolote, Maracena, Granada and Armilla. For the Alhambra from the railway station, the city tourism site directs passengers to transfer at Catedral to bus C32.
How do you pay for Granada city buses?
Single tickets can be paid in cash to the driver or at ticket machines, with a maximum accepted cash denomination of €10. City-bus cards can be used by groups, with one validation required per traveller.