By Lucía Moreno, Granada Travel Editor · Updated July 2026
Quick answer: Málaga Airport (AGP) is about 130 km from Granada. The simplest option is the direct ALSA bus from the airport to Granada bus station, around 2 hours and typically €12 to €25. A private transfer does it door to door in about 90 minutes from roughly €150 to €200 per car. The train works too, but needs a change at Málaga María Zambrano, so it rarely beats the bus. And if you can find a sensible fare into Granada's own airport (GRX), take it: you land 15 to 20 minutes from the city instead of two hours away.
Granada has its own small airport, but most international travelers land at Málaga (AGP), the big coastal hub with hundreds of routes. The good news: the onward trip to Granada is easy and well-served. Here is every realistic way to do it in 2026, and an honest answer to the question travelers ask first: which airport should you actually fly into?
At a glance
| Option | Time | Price (2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALSA direct bus | ~1h45-2h15 | ~€12-25 | Budget, simplicity |
| Train (via María Zambrano) | ~2-2.5h with change | ~€6 + €20-40 | Rail fans, comfort |
| Private transfer | ~90 min | from ~€150-200/car | Families, groups, luggage |
| Rental car | ~90 min | from ~€30-50/day | Andalusia road trips |
| Fly into GRX instead | 15-20 min to city | varies | When fares are reasonable |
The direct ALSA bus: simplest and cheapest
ALSA coaches leave from Málaga Airport itself (follow signs to the bus stops outside arrivals) and run directly to Granada bus station several times a day. The ride takes around two hours on the A-92, with luggage stowed underneath, and single tickets usually land between €12 and €25; booking online a few days ahead gets the better fares. From Granada bus station, a city bus or a short taxi ride takes you to the centre. No changes, no station transfers, and you cannot really get it wrong: that is why it is our default recommendation.
The train: comfortable, but not direct
There is no direct train from the airport to Granada. First take the C1 local train from the airport station to Málaga María Zambrano (about 12 minutes, a few euros), then a Málaga-Granada train, which takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. Trains are comfortable and air-conditioned, but once you add the change and waiting time, the total trip usually runs 2 to 2.5 hours and costs more than the bus. Worth it if you love rail or the bus times do not suit; otherwise take the coach.
Private transfer or taxi: fastest door to door
A pre-booked private transfer meets you in arrivals and drives you straight to your Granada hotel in about 90 minutes, usually from around €150 to €200 for a standard car. For a family of four with bags, that price per person starts to compete with four bus tickets plus a taxi across Granada, and it saves an hour or more. A regular metered taxi over the same distance costs a similar amount or above, so if you want a car, book it ahead.
Rental car: for the road-trippers
The drive is easy: A-45 out of Málaga, then the A-92 east to Granada, about 90 minutes in normal traffic. A rental makes sense if Granada is one stop on a bigger Andalusia loop, and it turns the day trips around Granada into simple drives. Remember that the historic centre has restricted traffic zones, so choose a hotel with parking or use the public car parks on the edge of the old town.
GRX vs AGP: which airport should you choose?
The honest rule: if Granada's own airport (GRX) has a route from your city at a reasonable fare, take it. You land 15 to 20 minutes from the centre, and getting from GRX into Granada is quick and cheap. Fly into Málaga (AGP) when the fare difference is clear or GRX simply has no connection: AGP has vastly more routes and often lower prices, but you pay with a two-hour ground transfer each way. As a rule of thumb, AGP wins when it saves you more than the transfer costs in money and time, which for solo budget travelers it often does, and for families with a fixed schedule it often does not.
Which should you choose?
On a budget, or traveling light: the direct ALSA bus. With family, luggage or a late arrival: a pre-booked transfer. Planning to explore Andalusia: a rental car. And once you are in the city, start with our guide to visiting the Alhambra, because those tickets sell out long before bus seats do.
