Are you planning a day trip to Alhambra from Malaga?
In that case, this article is exactly what you need!
I visited Alhambra three times, and I live in Southern Spain – close to Malaga actually, so this article is the best place to get local tips based on personal experience.
In short, there are four options to do this day trip: by car, by bus, by train or doing an excursion with a local tour company. Each has advantages, but the easiest option for this day trip is booking a local tour company with a pick up in Malaga. Check the one I recommended below.
I will offer detailed instructions for each option in the article.
Don’t forget to check the end of the article for my one-day itinerary for Granada if you want to make the trip on your own.
I also included practical tips for making the most out of your time in Alhambra and Granada, don’t skip this part.
Let’s dive in!
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DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Can You Take a Day Trip to Granada from Malaga?
Yes, you can!
I know you might wonder if one day will be enough and you will have plenty of time to see more than just Alhambra. Yes it is!
Granada is only about 120km away from Malaga, which is close enough for a convenient day trip. It’s also well connected to Malaga with trains and buses, so you have an option to plan your day trip with public transport.
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Alhambra Day Trip from Malaga: Best Options
There are four different ways you can see Alhambra on a day trip from Malaga.
1. Alhambra Excursion from Malaga with Tour Company
In my opinion, this is the most convenient option that saves you a lot of hassle and time.
In addition to fast and easy transport to Granada, the tour also includes skip the line tickets to Alhambra, local guide, free time in Granada, and a guided tour of the Alhambra.
It’s one of the most efficient ways to see Alhambra without the added stress of commuting and trying to secure tickets on your own.
The tour is also a great option if you want to visit Alhambra on a last minute notice, because its almost impossible to get tickets with a few days notice. You can either join a group tour I linked below, or book a small group private tour from Malaga here.
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport to and from Malaga | Pick up only from old town Malaga | |
| Dedicated tour guide for Alhambra tour | Cost of the tour | |
| Skip the line tickets to Alhambra | ||
| Free cancellation for the tour | ||
| Option to book now and pay later | ||
| Verified reviews for this tour | ||
| Free time in Granada |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You’re fully in charge of your trip itinerary | You need to get tickets to Alhambra in advance |
| Arrive and leave when you want | Parking in Granada might be a problem |
| Easy drive to Granada and back | You still need to take a bus or taxi to get to Alhambra |
| Visiting Alhambra without a big group | If you add up cost of petrol, parking & car rental it might be quite expensive |
| No tour guide unless you get one in Granada |
3. Malaga to Alhambra Day Trip by Bus
There is a frequent and inexpensive direct bus services from Malaga’s main bus station.
When planning your trip with public transport, please remember that tickets to Alhambra have a dedicated time entry slot, and if you miss it, they won’t let you in to see the Nasrid Palace (but you can see the rest of the complex).
Below is a suggested bus itinerary for departures and return journey from Malaga, which will give you enough time to see the beautiful city of Granada and also the Alhambra.
There are buses leaving every 30 – 60 minutes, so these are just a few good options:
| Departure from Malaga | Departure from Granada | Total Time in Granada |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM (arrive 8:45 AM) | 6:00 PM (arrive 7:45 PM) | 9 hours |
| 8:30 AM (arrive 10:15 AM) | 6:30 PM (arrive 8:15 PM) | 7 hours |
| 9:00 AM (arrive 11:00 AM) | 8:00 PM (arrive 9:45 PM) | 7 hours |
For your bus ticket, you can get them at alsa.es, and you will need to save it on your phone so you can show the QR code to the driver together with your ID. On some journeys they also let you rerseve your bus seat.
I’ve done this trip with bus five times and it’s one of the easiest ways to commute.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable transport, from 9.90 euros one way | You need to plan your arrival carefully |
| Relatively short travel time | You need to get Alhambra tickets well in advance |
| 15 – 20 departures per day | Taxi from bus station to Alhambra |
| Easy commute | No tour guide for Alhambra |
| Station is close to the center of Granada | No refund if you miss your bus or Alhambra slot |
4. Malaga to Alhambra Day Trip by Train
Similar to buses, there are very good train connections also from Malaga, from the Malaga Maria Zambrano station.
Below are suggested train times based on the current schedule.
| Departure from Malaga | Departure from Granada | Total Time in Granada |
|---|---|---|
| 8:25 AM (arrive 10:15 AM) | 6:35 PM (arrive 7:59 PM) | 8 hours |
| 9:25 AM (arrive 10:43 AM) | 7:25 PM (arrive 9:12 PM) | 8.5 hours |
You can get your tickets at the Renfe.es website, and save them on your phone. They will only scan the QR code at the station, and you need a valid ID to show with your ticket.
On the train stations, they scan the luggage both ways, similar to an airport, so be prepared and arrive at the station earlier so you dont miss the train.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Shorter travel time compared to bus or car (1hr 18mins) | More expensive than bus (from 18.50 euros one way) |
| You can plan your own day itinerary | You need to get Alhambra tickets well in advance |
| Visit Alhambra without a big group | You need to plan your arrival carefully |
| No tour of Alhambra | |
| Limited departures per day | |
| Malaga train station is far from the center of the city |
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Can I Buy Alhambra Tickets on the Day?
You almost certainly cannot.
Alhambra is one of the most visited monuments in Spain, and due to the demand, its almost impossible to get tickets on the day, even in the winter. You can’t get the tickets online or even in person at the ticket booth.
I highly recommend getting your Alhambra tickets as soon as you know the dates for your travel, to avoid disappointment.
If you happen to be in Malaga and don’t see any available tickets for Alhambra, your best option is to book a day tour with a local company, as that already includes tickets to the monuments and a guided tour.
They prebook the tickets in advance, so you’re guaranteed to get there on time and see the Alhambra with an expert guide.
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Can You Visit Alhambra in One Day?
Yes, you can!
Alhambra is a Unesco World Heritage site and a huge complex, but you can certainly see everything it has to offer in just one day.
I personally recommend to allow at least 3 – 4 hours for your tour of Alhambra. Please remember that the tickets to the Nasrid Palace have a dedicated time slot, don’t miss it otherwise they won’t let you in!
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Guided Tour of Alhambra from Malaga & Costa del Sol
I already mentioned that the tour of Alhambra from Malaga is easiest to do with a local tour company. In this section you will learn everything about what the tour includes and the cost.
If you’re doing the day trip on your own, feel free to skip to my suggested one day itinerary for Granada further down.
PLEASE NOTE: in the summer months this specific day trip sells out really fast, and its only available two times per week, so book your spot as soon as you can via the link below.
Online booking for a day trip like this has a lot of advantages, for example:
- Late cancellation policy – you can cancel up to 24 hours before the trip, and get a 60% refund
- Guide in English included
- Pick up and drop off in a central location in Malaga, so you don’t have to commute anywhere to reach the pick up point
- Skip the line tickets to the monument included, so no need to worry about securing your own tickets
- Honest reviews included on the booking page
- Activity duration of 10 hours, which is perfect for a day trip like this
- Option to explore the city of Granada on your own after visiting the palaces
Tickets & Cost for a Full-Day Alhambra Tour
The tickets for this excursion are available online, and I linked them throughout this article.
The price ef the tickets starts at 95 euros for adults, for kids 85 euros and babies under 2 years old are free. Please check the practical visit tips at the end fo the article if you’re traveling with kids.
What’s Included in Your Exursion to Alhambra
- tickets to the Alhambra Palace – full complex access included ( Nasrid palaces, Alcazaba, palace of Charles V and Generalife gardens)
- guide in English and Spanish
- transport to Granada, from pick up locations in Malaga (these are specific locations, not your hotel and no pick up from Malaga port)
- headphones to listen to your guide (not audio guide)
- free time in Granada
Itinerary For Your Excursion to Alhambra from Malaga
- departure from set pickup spot in Malaga, at San Jacinto Street, 1, door of the NH Malaga Hotel at 9am
- drive to Granada via the highway in a comfortable air-conditioned bus, the journey should take about an hour
- once you arrive in Granada, you will head straight to the Alhambra with priority skip-the-line tickets included in your day trip
- the day trip also includes a guide in Spanish and English, which will take you through the Alhambra palace and Generalife Gardens
- after the visit, there is free time to explore the city of Granada, before returning back to Malaga
Guided Tours of Alhambra from Cruise Ship Port
If you want to book a sightseeing tour and you’re arriving at the cruise ship port, there are no departures for this day trip directly from the port.
The easiest and hassle free way to see the monument is to book the guided tour below, and get to the pick up location at San Jacinto Street 1 (old town Malaga) on foot (15 – 20mins) or by taxi (5 mins).
You will find taxi stand right next to the big roundabout at Muelle Uno, or you can also book an Uber which is available in Malaga.
The cruise ships arrive at Muelle Uno, and from there its about 15 – 20 minutes walk to the pick up location for the tour, at San Jacinto 1. See the walking route below.
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Practical Tips for Visiting Alhambra from Malaga
I have been visiting the palaces of Alhambra three times now, each time in a different season and in a different way.
Here are some of my tips for making the most out of your trip.
Tickets & Planning
- If you’re planning your stay in Malaga, look at the day trip options to Granada at the same time, as tickets to Alhambra often sell out weeks in advance, which means your day trip options will be also pretty limited
- The day tour option I linked above runs twice a week, so check your dates early enough to ensure you can get a spot as tickets sell out pretty fast, especially in the summer months
- For booking this excursion, you will need to provide details for the travellers including their date of birth and passport number – the tickets are issued as personal ones and checked against the ID at the entrance, don’t forget to bring your ID with you for this trip
- You will need to provide the same details if you’re getting the Alhambra tickets yourself, it’s super important to bring your ID with you, they won’t let you in without it!
- If you’re visiting with a baby under 2 years old, you need to pick up a physical ticket from the ticket booth before you enter. You book the ticket online with the other tickets, but need to pick up the physical receipt on the spot.
Alhambra Facilities & Tips
- There are small local buses leaving from Plaza St Ana that will get you to Alhambra.
- Taxi to Alhambra from Albaicin is around 8 – 10 euros.
- Wear comfortable shoes for exploring Alhambra and the gardens, the complex is pretty big
- Take water with you to keep hydrated, especially in the summer months.
- There are some vending machines between the Nasrid palace entrance and the Alcazaba courtyard, that’s where the toilets also are
- No food is allowed inside the complex, you can have a snack in the courtyard between the Charles V palace and Alcazaba, there is also a small kiosk to buy coffee, drinks and snacks
- No backpacks are allowed inside the Alhambra complex (bigger than 40×40 cm), there are lockers near the vending machines but the number of available ones is pretty limited – please keep this in mind!
- Baby prams are also not allowed inside the complex, you will have to leave them in the luggage storage room
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Granada Day Trip from Malaga: Perfect Itinerary
To plan your one day itinerary for Granada, you should first check your time slot for entry to the Nasrid Palace in Alhambra.
You want to make sure you are there well ahead of the time as you need to wait in the line for your tickets to get checked. After that, you can plan the rest of your day in Granada.
Morning in Granada
Start your day in Granada by planning around a quick morning meal break and right after that your Alhambra visit. I recommend scheduling your arrival so you are there are least 30 minutes before your entry slot and visiting the exquisite Nasrid Palaces first.
The tour of the Nasrid Palace would take about an hour, but if you have a local guide it could be up to couple of hours, it’s a great way to learn more about the history of Granada and the monument without reading everything from the books. You will see the famous landmarks like the court of the lions, stunning gardens and marvel at the details of the Moorish architecture.
After that, cross the main courtyard and head over to the Alcazaba fortress, which will take about 30 minutes to visit, and leave around 1 – 2 hours to see the lush Generalife Gardens which are quite extensive, and a 10 minute walk from the Alcazaba.
Once you done with the tour, take a bus or taxi back downtown and head over to Paseo de los Tristes for a quick bite.
The restaurants in here are not the height of culinary experience, but they are good enough for a cheap easy lunch, most importantly, they have amazing views of the Alhambra.
Afternoon in Granada
For your afternoon in Granada, you should check off at least two of the important landmarks – the Royal Chapel of the Cathedral of Granada, and I also highly recommend leaving some time to explore Albaicin and Sacromonte district.
The Royal Chapel is accessible with a special ticket upgrade you need to get in advance online, and you shouldn’t have any issues getting it even on the same day. It also has a dedicated time slot and a separate entrance at the back of the Cathedral.
In Albaicin, I recommend exploring the Carrera del Darro street, and walking up Calle Caldereria Nueva, where you will see local teterias where you can stop for afternoon snack with traditional tea (Kasbah is my favourite), and walking your way up towards the Mirador St Nicolas, the most famous viewpoint in Granada.
From there, you can continue walking towards the Sacromonte district, and if you have time left, I recommend walking up the hill to see the Sacromonte Caves museum.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, the climb uphill is quite steep and you might struggle in teh heat – in that case I recommend taking a short taxi ride to Sacromonte Abbey, which is another local hidden gem well worth exploring (see photo below). It has a hidden church in the caves under the abbey, gorgeous courtyard and has amazing views.
You can easily walk your way back to Albaicin from there on foot, I’ve done this twice already.
DAY TRIP TO ALHAMBRA FROM MALAGA
Frequent Questions: Day Trip To Alhambra from Granada
How Many Hours Do You Need in Alhambra?
I recommend allowing at least 3 – 4 hours for visiting Alhambra.
Is This Trip Suitable for Kids?
I would say you can easily take kids with you if they will be comfortable (or you) with the 1 hour journey to Granada and then back to Malaga.
If you have a small baby that requires a pram, keep in mind that these are not permitted in Alhambra, so taking a baby carrier is a good idea. The premises of the palace get crowded easily, especially in the summer, so make sure you keep an eye on your kids while inside.
What is the Cheapest Way to Get from Malaga to Granada?
The cheapest way ot get from Malaga to Granada is by bus. One way tickets start at around 9.90 euros per person.
Can I Visit Alhambra Without Ticket?
No, you cannot visit the Alhambra without a ticket, but there are some public areas in Alhambra where you can come without any tickets. This is for example the courtyard between the Nasrid Palaces and the Alcazaba, which are easily accessible to public.
What Should I Do in My Free Time in Granada?
If you book a local tour, you will get some free time to explore Granada on your own, in which case I recommend exploring the Albaicin and Sacromonte district.
In case you travel on your own without a tour company, then follow my one day itinerary for Granada I shared earlier.
Is There Barrier-Free Access in Alhambra?
Alhambra is not barrier-free and if you use wheelchair, you will struggle accessing most parts of the palace.
Is Alhambra Worth Visiting in Rain?
You can easily see Alhambra even if the weather is not great, as most of the exploring is indoors. The only issue is seeing the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba fortress.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article provided a good overview of what you can expect on this recommended online booking for a day trip to Granada!
I hope you will enjoy this trip and will be keen to hear your feedback or any other questions you might have in the comments section.
Here is a last link to book the tour if you haven’t done it yet:
Other Day Trips from Malaga
Day Trip To Gibraltar From Malaga – the most popular day trip from Malaga
Day Trip from Malaga to Morocco – a fun and easy way to see Africa
Malaga To Ronda Day Trip – experience stunning traditional Andalusian village
Day Trip from Malaga to Cordoba – another bucket list destination in Southern Spain
Caminito Del Rey Day Trip From Malaga – active exploring with stunning views
Southern Spain Travel Tips
Find Hotels
I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and it’s the best place to book your hotel.
Find Car Rental
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award-winning price comparison site for car rentals.
Book Your Tour
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
Book Local Transport
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
Hi, I'm Lucia
At Viva La Vita, I will help you to discover Southern Spain like a local!
I've been living on Costa del Sol since 2020, and fill these pages with first-hand insights, personal experience and practical tips that will help you plan a wonderful trip to Spain.
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