Quick answer: The direct Renfe Avant train is the best all-round choice between Granada and Seville: about 2 hours 35 minutes station to station, usually €30 to €45, with advance fares from around €20. The ALSA bus is the cheapest at roughly 3 hours and €12 to €32. A private transfer takes about 2.5 hours door to door and most quotes fall between €250 and €320 per vehicle, which makes sense for groups, heavy luggage or early flights.
Granada and Seville sit about 250 km apart, and the two cities anchor almost every Andalusia itinerary. The good news is that you no longer need a car to link them: since Renfe restored direct trains on this corridor, the journey has become genuinely easy in both directions. This guide compares the train, the ALSA bus, a private transfer and self-driving, with 2026 fares and times, and covers the return leg from Seville as well. If you are starting your trip at Granada Airport, our guide to getting from the airport into the city explains the first step.
How does the train from Granada to Seville work?
Renfe runs direct Avant services between Granada and Sevilla Santa Justa, typically four or five per day in each direction. The direct trains take about 2 hours 35 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes, running west through Loja and Antequera before joining the high-speed line towards Cordoba and Seville. A few extra itineraries in the Renfe planner involve a change at Antequera Santa Ana and stretch to 3 hours or slightly more, so check the "direct" filter when you book.
Fares move with demand. Booked two or three weeks ahead you can find seats from around €20, while most departures sell in the €30 to €45 range; walk-up tickets on a busy Friday can cost more. Slower Media Distancia combinations sometimes appear a few euros cheaper, but they add a change and noticeably more time, so the Avant is the sensible default. In Granada, trains leave from Estación de Granada on Avenida de Andaluces, a 15 to 20 minute walk or a short taxi ride from the cathedral area. Seville's Santa Justa station sits just northeast of the centre, about 20 minutes on foot from the Alameda or a €8 to €10 taxi from the old town.
The first departures leave in the early morning and the last direct train usually goes in the early evening, around 18:00 to 19:00. That evening cut-off is the train's one real weakness, and it matters for day trips, as we cover below.
Is the ALSA bus a good alternative?
Yes, especially on a budget. ALSA operates the Granada to Seville coach route from Granada's Estación de Autobuses on Carretera de Jaén to Plaza de Armas station in Seville, right on the edge of the old town by the river. Direct services take close to 3 hours; slower runs that call at towns along the way can stretch to 4 or even 5 hours, so read the duration line before you pick a departure.
Frequency is the bus's quiet advantage: depending on the season there are roughly 7 to 12 departures a day, starting before dawn and finishing later than the last train, with the final evening coach typically leaving around 19:30. Booked ahead, tickets start at about €12 to €19; closer to travel day expect €25 to €32. Coaches carry luggage in the hold at no extra charge, seats are assigned, and the A-92 motorway keeps the ride smooth. The trade-off is comfort over 3 hours: less legroom than the Avant, no cafe, and arrival at a bus station rather than a rail hub, although Plaza de Armas is actually closer to Seville's main sights than Santa Justa.
What about a private transfer or driving yourself?
A private transfer is the door-to-door option: a driver collects you at your Granada hotel or at Granada Airport and drops you at your Seville address in about 2.5 hours, with no station transfers at either end. In 2026 most operators quote between €250 and €320 per standard car, with minivans for five to seven passengers somewhat higher. Split between four people that is roughly €65 to €80 each, which starts to look reasonable once you add taxi costs to and from stations, and it is the only realistic option for a 6 a.m. start or a late-night arrival.
Driving yourself is straightforward on paper: the A-92 covers the roughly 250 km in about 2 hours 40 minutes, toll-free, with an easy detour to Antequera or Osuna on the way. Rental cars from Granada Airport are usually cheap by European standards. The catch is Seville itself. The historic centre is largely closed to non-resident traffic, street parking is scarce and regulated, and underground car parks near the old town often charge €20 or more per day. Rent a car if Seville is one stop on a longer road trip through the countryside; do not rent one just for this city pair.
Which option should you choose?
For most travellers the train wins: fastest station to station, comfortable seats, luggage racks, and a fair price if you book ahead. Choose the bus when the fare gap matters, when the train times do not fit, or when you want to arrive right next to the old town at Plaza de Armas. Families with small children and anyone travelling with bulky luggage, golf bags or a wheelchair tend to find the private transfer worth the premium, because it removes every connection between doors.
Timing is the other deciding factor. If you land at Granada Airport in the morning, you can be in Seville by mid-afternoon using the airport bus into town plus an afternoon train. If your flights actually arrive via Malaga, which is common for international routes, see our guide to getting from Malaga Airport to Granada before planning the Seville leg. And if you are still deciding whether Seville deserves an overnight stay or a long day out, our roundup of day trips from Granada puts it alongside Cordoba, Ronda and the coast.
How do you get back from Seville to Granada?
The return leg mirrors the outbound one. Direct Avant trains leave Sevilla Santa Justa four or five times a day and reach Granada in about 2 hours 35 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes; ALSA coaches depart Plaza de Armas throughout the day and take around 3 hours direct. Fares are the same in both directions, and round-trip train tickets sometimes shave a little off two singles.
One planning note matters more on this leg: the last direct train of the evening leaves earlier than many visitors expect, so if you plan a full Seville day ending with dinner, the late ALSA coach or a pre-booked transfer is the safer ride home. And if your Granada schedule is built around the Alhambra, protect that booking: arrive back the night before rather than the morning of your visit. Our guide to Alhambra tickets, times and tips explains why the entry slots are so unforgiving.
When should you book, and what else helps?
Book the train as soon as your dates are fixed. The cheapest Avant fares sell out first, and around Easter, the spring ferias and summer weekends the direct departures can sell out entirely. Renfe releases tickets a couple of months ahead; buying on renfe.com or the app avoids resale mark-ups. Bus tickets hold their price longer, but the useful direct departures still fill on Fridays and Sundays, so a few days of notice helps. Private transfers are best reserved at least 48 hours ahead, and earlier in high season, since fleets in Granada are small.
Two small practical points: carry your passport or ID, as Renfe checks names on Avant tickets, and at Santa Justa allow ten extra minutes for the luggage scanner at the platform entrance. Neither is a problem, but both catch out first-time visitors running for a train.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avant train | €20 to €45 one way | About 2h35 to 2h45 direct | Most travellers, comfort and speed |
| ALSA bus | €12 to €32 one way | About 3h direct, longer with stops | Budgets, late evening travel |
| Private transfer | Roughly €250 to €320 per car | About 2h30 door to door | Groups, luggage, early flights |
| Rental car (A-92) | Rental plus fuel; parking from about €20/day | About 2h40 driving | Road trips with rural stops |
About the author. Lucía Moreno writes practical guides about Granada Airport and Andalusia transport for international travellers.
Fares and timetables reflect Renfe and ALSA information as of July 2026 and change seasonally. Verify current schedules before you travel.
