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.