Transport in Granada: A Comprehensive Guide
Granada, a charming city in southern Spain, boasts a well-organized and efficient transport system that caters to both locals and tourists. The city’s transport network includes urban buses, a tram system, and Consorcio buses that connect Granada with the metropolitam area and surrounding towns and villages. Here’s an informative overview to help you navigate the city and its surroundings with ease.
Urban buses
The urban bus system in Granada is operated by the company Transportes Rober, offering extensive coverage of the city. The buses are easily recognizable by their red colors. This network is essential for reaching key attractions like the Alhambra, Albaicín, and the city center.
Routes and frequency:
Urban buses cover most areas within Granada, including less accessible spots such as the hillside neighborhoods of Albaicín and Sacromonte. Key lines include the C30 and C32 (to the Alhambra).
Frequencies vary between 5 to 20 minutes depending on the line and time of day.
Granada offers a Búho service (night bus) on lines 111 and 121, ensuring transportation during late hours, typically running from midnight until 5:00 AM on weekends and holidays. This service is especially convenient for those enjoying Granada’s vibrant nightlife or needing late-night transit options.
On this page, you can plan your route and check which bus lines you need to take to reach your destination: Transportes Rober Route Planner.
Tickets and costs:
A single ticket costs €1.60 (as of October 2024) when purchased onboard. Night bus (búho) costs €1.70
The Credibus card, a rechargeable transport card, offers reduced fares based on the amount loaded onto the card. The cost per ride decreases as the recharge amount increases, making it more economical for frequent travelers. Using credibus card, the fare is around €0.90 per ride.
You can purchase or reload the card directly from the driver. The reload amounts available are €5, €10, or €20, and payment must be made in cash. For Line 4 (Chana-Zaidín): You can purchase or reload the card at the vending machines located at the bus stops. On these machines, you can pay either in cash or with a bank card.
Transfers within a 60-minute period are free when using the Credibus card.
Granada Metro (tram)
The Granada Metro is a modern tram system that connects the city with suburban areas such as Albolote, Maracena, Nevas Shopping Centre and Armilla along a 16-kilometer route with 26 stations. It blends tram and metro features while passing through central Granada. Key stops include Bus Station, Railway Station, Recogidas, and the Parque Tecnológico de la Salud (PTS). For accessing the city center, the Recogidas and Universidad stops are particularly convenient.
Operation time
The Granada Metro operates from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Thursday, and on Sundays and public holidays. On Fridays, Saturdays, and the eves of public holidays, it extends its service until 2:00 AM, making it a convenient option for late-night travel on weekends. The Granada Metro runs with frequencies ranging from 8 to 15 minutes, with the most frequent service (every 8 minutes) during peak hours, typically in the morning, midday, and late afternoon. Outside these times, the frequency is around 15 minutes.
On Saturdays, the Granada Metro runs with frequencies of 10 to 22 minutes, with the most frequent service (every 10 minutes) during the evening from 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM, while late-night service (from 11:00 PM to 2:00 AM) operates every 22 minutes.
On Fridays and eves of public holidays, the metro provides service every 15 minutes late at night from 9:30 PM to 2:00 AM, catering to evening and nightlife travelers.
On Sundays and public holidays, the metro operates every 15 minutes during late-night hours from 8:30 PM to 11:00 PM, with more frequent service (every 11 minutes) during the day.
Tickets and costs:
A single journey ticket costs €1.35, while a return journey ticket is priced at €2.70.
For more economical travel, you can use reloadable cards: The Flex card (paper) costs €0.30 to buy, and the Rigid card (plastic) costs €1.80. Both cards have a minimum recharge of €5, and using them each journey costs €0.82.
On the tram, you can also use the Consorcio card, with fares costing €0.82 per ride.
Finally, there is a monthly “bono” that costs €40 and offers unlimited travel for 30 days from the first validation. It is personal and non-transferable. You can request the card by filling out a form and submitting it either in person at the Customer Service Offices or via email.
Metropolitan buses (Consorcio)
The Consorcio de Transporte Metropolitano de Granada operates regional buses that connect Granada with nearby towns and villages. These buses are particularly useful for accessing the metropolitan area, Lecrin Valley region, and other scenic destinations around Granada.
Key routes:
The network covers towns like Santa Fe, Fuentevaqueros, Cúllar-Vega, Gúejar-Sierra Churriana, Los Ogijares, Monachil, La Zubia and many more, and towns in Lecrín Valley like Nigüelas or Talará.
You can check all lines here.
Tickets and costs:
Single fares depend on the distance and range between €1.50 and €3.05.
With a reloadable transport Consorcio card, the cost is significantly reduced. For instance, a journey to Monachil cost €0.42 with the card. You can purchase the Consorcio card at tobacco shops and authorised kiosks.
FAQ
Granada offers 3 types of reloadable cards:
- The Credibus card: Ideal for urban buses
- The Consorcio card: Suited for metropolitan buses, urban buses and metro.
- Metro cards: paper or plastic
You can buy and recharge transport cards at:
Credibus card: You can purchase or reload the card directly from the bus driver (cash payment only). For Line 4, you can buy or reload the card at the vending machines at the bus stops, where you can pay either in cash or with a bank card.
Metro card: Cards can be purchased and recharged at the vending machines located at the Metro stops.
Consorcio card: Available for purchase at tobacco shops (estancos) and other authorized sales points like kiosks.
- The initial cost of a card is 0,30 for Metro paper card, 1,80 for plastic card, €1,5 for Consorcio and 2 for Credibus.
- You need to load a minimum of €5 when purchasing a card.
Metro Cards can be recharged in increments of €5 at vending machines at Metro stations using cash or credit card.
Consorcio cards can only be recharged at tobacco shops, kiosks and Metro stations. They cannot be recharged from the bus driver.
Credibus card: You can reload the card directly from the bus driver (cash payment only) or at vending machines of Line 4, also using credit card.
Discounted Fares:
- Urban bus rides cost around €0.88 with the Credibus card (vs. €1.60 single ticket).
- Regional bus and metro fares are also reduced when using the Consorcio card.
Free Transfers:
- Enjoy free transfers within a 60-minute window between buses or between buses and the metro.
You can use the Consorcio card for both urban and regional buses, as well as the metro.
However, for the Credibus card, it is specifically for use on urban buses and it is not valid on metropolitan buses nor the Metro.
Similarly, Metro cards are exclusively for travel on the metro and cannot be used on buses.
The initial card cost is non-refundable. However, the remaining balance can usually be transferred to a new card if the original is damaged or lost.
Yes, the same card can be used for multiple passengers. Simply inform the driver and tap the card once for each person. On Consorcio and Metro de Granada cards, the card can be used by a maximum of 15 passengers within 3 minutes, provided they travel together.
Card balances can be checked:
- On the bus when you tap your card.
- At Metro station machines.
- At selling places like tobacco shops and kiosks
Metro flex card expires after 1 year
Metro is free for children aged 0-3 years.
Every metro station has a ticket vending machine where you can purchase all types of tickets and passes for the Granada Metro.
Taxi information
Taxis are always white with a green band on the door. There are no fixed rates. Make sure that taxi driver activates the taxi meter. On the screen you will see the price of the ride as it goes. Rates are different wheher is day, night, bank holiday or weekend. A taxi from the airport into the city centre will cost aproximately 25-30 euros form Monday to Friday and 25-35 euros on the weekend, to Almuñécar: 100 euros, to Lecrin Valley: 40-50 euros, to Sierra Nevada 60-100 euros and to Málaga 180 euros.
Granada operators:
Pide Taxi Granada. Tel: 958 28 00 00 (24 hours) www.pidetaxigranada.es.
Radio Taxi Genil. Tel: 958 132 323 (24 hours) www.radiotaxigenil.com.
Servi-Taxi. Service on Granada metropolitan area Granada. Tlf: 958 400199 (24 horas)
Train information
The main railway stations on the area are Granada and Málaga. Both offer high speed train service (AVE) (speed of 330 kilometers per hour).
Granada rail way station operates train routes to and from Almería, Barcelona, Córdoba, Madrid, Málaga, and Seville. Sometimes it is necessary to stop briefly or change train in Antequera or Cordoba, but your ticket will include it.
The trip to Madrid on Ave takes as little as 3 hours and 35 minutes.
There are discounts available for young people, individuals over 60, large families, and pensioners.
Granada railway station:
Location: Av. de Andaluces, 20, 18014
Teléfono: 912 320 320.
Operator: Renfe. Tickets can be bought on telephone: 912 320 320
Website:https://www.renfe.com/es/en