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Transit & logisticsBy Clever Tourists · Published
Take the direct Renfe train if one fits your day: about 2.5 hours from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Granada, with booking-site fares typically around €40 (≈ $45) and up. The ALSA bus is the cheap and frequent fallback: about 3 hours, from roughly €20 to €45 (≈ $22–50), with many departures a day. There are only a few direct trains, so the bus often wins on timing. Driving is about 250 km on the A-92, around 2.5 to 3 hours. We were in Granada from 10 to 14 August 2022 and in Seville from 16 to 21 August, with Córdoba in between, which is the order our Andalusia rail itinerary recommends; this page covers the direct leg for people doing it the other way or skipping Córdoba.
Last checked 27 October 2026. Fares are approximate; dollar figures convert at our committed exchange-rate snapshot.
| Option | Time | One-way price |
|---|---|---|
| Train Direct Renfe via Antequera Renfe | 2h 30m–2h 45m | 40–95 EUR (≈ $45–106) |
| Bus ALSA | 3h | 20–45 EUR (≈ $22–50) |
| Car / taxi | 2h 30m–3h | — |
Planning more legs? Use the route finder.
Since the high-speed line to Granada opened in 2019, Renfe runs a handful of direct trains a day between Sevilla-Santa Justa and Granada station, using the line through Antequera-Santa Ana. Booking sites list journey times of about 2 hours 30 to 2 hours 45 minutes.
Other services require a change at Antequera-Santa Ana or Córdoba and take longer. Fares vary with demand: aggregator listings show roughly €40 to €95 (≈ $45–106) one way, with the lower fares going to those who book early. Book on the Renfe website or app, or through Trainline or Omio, which resell Renfe tickets.
Santa Justa is about 1.5 km east of Seville's old centre; Granada station is on Avenida de Andaluces, roughly 1.5 km west of the cathedral, with city buses and taxis outside.
Direct trains are few, so book this leg as soon as your dates are firm, especially at Semana Santa and in summer.
ALSA runs the Seville to Granada coach, mostly from Plaza de Armas bus station next to the river on the edge of Seville's old centre; some services also call at Santa Justa or the airport. Journeys take about 3 hours direct, longer on services with stops.
Booking-site listings show many departures a day and fares from roughly €20 to €45 (≈ $22–50), depending on the service and how early you book. Buy on the ALSA website or app or at the station. Seats are assigned, and luggage goes in the hold.
Granada's bus station is on Avenida Juan Pablo II, about 3 km north of the centre. City bus lines and taxis run into town; allow 15 to 20 minutes to reach the cathedral area.
The bus is the better choice when the direct trains do not fit your times or fares have risen near the date.
It is about 250 km on the A-92 motorway, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours, toll free. A car is useful if you want to stop at Antequera for its dolmens or detour to Ronda or the white towns.
Parking is the problem at both ends. Granada's Albaicín and the streets around the Alhambra have restricted-access zones with camera fines, so pick a hotel with parking or use a public car park. Return the car before Seville if you can.
Going Granada, Córdoba, Seville (or the reverse) avoids backtracking because Córdoba sits between the two on the rail map: Granada to Córdoba is about 1.5 hours and Córdoba to Seville about 45 minutes. That is what we did in August 2022, with 4 days in Granada, 2 in Córdoba and 5 in Seville.
If you skip Córdoba, the direct train or bus is the way. Either way, fix your Alhambra date first, because the Nasrid Palaces slots sell out; see our Alhambra tickets guide. For Córdoba, see the Mezquita tickets guide.
• Summer heat: August highs average around 35°C in Seville, so travel early in the day with water; Granada is higher up and a few degrees cooler at night.
• Semana Santa: trains and buses fill up around Holy Week, and Seville's processions close streets near Plaza de Armas; see Semana Santa 2027.
• Is it a day trip? At about 2.5 to 3 hours each way, Granada from Seville is a long day, and the Alhambra needs a timed ticket. Stay at least two nights.
• Cards: Renfe and ALSA accept cards online and at stations.
• Luggage: luggage racks on busy Renfe services fill up, so board early and check Renfe's current luggage rules if you carry more than one large case. On ALSA, larger bags go in the hold and are tagged at boarding.
• Onward from Granada: if you continue east to Almería or the coast, ALSA buses are often the only practical public option; going the other way from Seville, Cádiz is about 1.5 hours by train.
For more Spain planning, see our 2-week Spain itinerary, the Spain guide, Spanish food and do I need a visa for Spain.
Yes, Renfe runs a handful of direct trains a day via Antequera, taking about 2 hours 30 to 2 hours 45 minutes. Other services involve a change.
About 3 hours on direct ALSA services from Plaza de Armas, longer on buses with stops.
The ALSA bus is usually cheaper, from roughly €20 (≈ $22), while direct train fares listed on booking sites start around €40 (≈ $45).
It is possible but a long day at 2.5 to 3 hours each way, and the Alhambra needs a timed ticket. Two nights or more is better.
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