Best Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra: Expert Tips [2024]

Best Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra: Expert Tips [2024]

Are you looking for the best way to do a day trip from Seville to Alhambra (Granada)?

In that case, you came to the right place!

I have visited the Alhambra already three times, and as a local living in Southern Spain, I can also offer lots of practical tips that will make your trip a delight.

Let’s skip to the chase – the easiest and hassle free way to see the Alhambra on a day trip is booking a tour from a local company. Check the one I recommended below.

If you prefer driving or using public transport, I have included detailed instructions for these options further down the article.

PS: this article contains affiliate links, I will earn a small fee if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping me run this blog!

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Book the best option to do this day trip – with a local tour company with transfers and entrance to Alhambra included!

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Is Alhambra Worth Visiting on a Day Trip?

Yes, it most certainly is!

Alhambra, a heritage of the Nasrid dynasty, is the most visited monument in Southern Spain, and seeing it is an unforgettable experience.

A day trip from Seville will give you plenty of time for a full tour of the Alhambra, including the beautiful gardens, the Palace of Charles V and the Alcazaba fortress.

You will also have time to explore the narrow streets of the old town of Granada (Albaicin) either at your own pace, or as part of a walking tour with a professional guide.

3 Reasons for Booking a Tour From Seville To Alhambra

Generalife Gardens, Granada Spain
Palace inside the Generalife gardens
generalife gardens

If you’re not 100% whether to drive or book a local tour, here are a few things you should consider:

1. Hassle Free Transport to Granada

With a local tour company, you don’t have to worry about navigating traffic between the cities and finding parking near Alhambra (which is not easy btw).

The area close to Alhambra (Albaicin) has limited access to cars, and parking is even more limited, so having someone drive you there directly and show you the way will save a lot of time and frustration.

Instead of wrestling with the navigation, why not enjoy the scenery and let someone else drive you there?

2. Skip the Line Access to Alhambra

Getting tickets to Alhambra can be notoriously difficult, especially in the main season.

With a tour company, they already have a prebooked number of tickets, so you’re guaranteed you will be able to get in without struggling with the booking system yourself.

The tickets are for dedicated time slots and your guide will ensure you can get in without spending an hour in the queue.

3. Often the Cheapest Option

If you consider adding up the costs of the entrance fees, car rental, petrol, parking fees, any potential toll fees and tour guides, you will find that in most cases it’s actually cheaper to book a tour.

Another added bonus is a free cancellation for your trip – if your plans change, you can cancel up to 5 days before for a full refund – how great is that?

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Book your trip from Seville to Granada online with free cancellation.

Main Attractions on This Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra

Alhambra
Alhambra tour from Fuengirola

So what are you going to see on this day trip? Here is the run down!

The Famous Alhambra

Alhambra is a palace complex built in the 13th century by the Moorish rulers, and one of the best preserved examples of Islamic architecture.

Tour this UNESCO World Heritage Site and learn everything about it’s history from your local guide. The tour includes entrance to all parts of Alhambra – the Nasrid Palace, Generalife Gardens, Alcazaba and Charles V Palace.

Albaicin District of Granada

Albaicin is an absolute highlight of any trip to Granada – the oldest part of Granada will charm you with narrow cobblestone streets leading up to the hill, from where you can see the Alhambra peaking from around the corner.

You will get an option to have a 45 minute guided tour of Albaicin where you can learn more about this stunning part of Granada.

Arc of Elvira

This will be a short stop on your journey through Granada – Arc of Elvira was the former entrance to the city built during the Islamic rule.

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Book your trip from Seville to Granada online with free cancellation.

Best Time of Year to Do a Tour From Seville To Alhambra

As I mentioned I visited Alhambra already three times, and have been to Granada six times.

I think there are great reasons to visit almost any time of the year, but if you could choose, I recommend late summer or early autumn.

In the winter months, there are no pretty flowers or green foliage which takes away quite a bit from the experience.

In the summer, the temperatures in Granada climb close to 40C, so you need to keep this in mind when planning your trip.

Itinerary For Your Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra

  • pick up in Seville, at a designated meeting point (pick up location), usually between 6am and 7.30am
  • you will notify the local company which one is the closest pick up to your hotel
  • drive to Granada in a comfortable bus, the travel time one way is three hours, with a short break after 1.5 hours at a service area
  • once you arrive in Granada, you will first do the Alhambra tour with priority skip-the-line tickets included, and also an official guide
  • as part of the tour, you will see all parts of the Alhambra, including the famous Palacios Nazaríes and the Court of the Lions (patio de los leones), the tour lasts around 3 hours
  • there is crowd control in place for Alhambra, so they limit the number of people in the palace by having dedicated time of entry for each visitor
  • time to explore the historic center of Granada and lunch (own expense)
  • guided tour of the Albaicin district (45 mins)
  • return journey back to Seville, with a break at a service station after 1.5 hours

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Book your trip from Seville to Granada online with free cancellation.

Practical Tips: Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra

  • For the booking, 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 (original passport) with you for this trip.
  • They will NOT let you in without checking your passport or ID.
  • This is a full-day trip, so you will be back in Seville late in the evening
  • With this tour you get also cancellation insurance – you can cancel up to 5 days before the trip for a refund, a peace of mind insurance
  • Latest 24 hours before your tour, you will need to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time with the tour operator (instructions are provided on the booking)
  • 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 and also toilets between the Nasrid palace entrance and the Alcazaba courtyard
  • 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

What to Explore in Your Free Time in Granada

As I mentioned I have visited Granada already six times and spent a lot of time exploring every corner of the city.

There are some places that I love the most and I recommend you check them out.

My favourites are:

Sacromonte Abbey in Granada, Spain
Sacromonte Abbey
Basilica San Juan de Dios, Granada
Basilica San Juan de Dios, Granada

Private Tour from Seville to Alhambra

If you prefer a private tour with a private transport, you can also book this experience as a private day trip.

I recommend checking out this option which includes private transport for up to 4 people, pick up in your hotel and tickets with tour of the Alhambra.

Other Day Trip Transport Options

Don’t want a tour? Here are other options for this day trip!

Day Trip with a Rental Car

You can also organize your own day trip by renting a car in Seville, and then driving to Granada on your own.

You will still have to get tickets to the Alhambra monument, find a place for parking and pay for the rental and petrol, on top of navigating big city traffic in a car.

A lot of car rental places also charge an extra surcharge for one-day rentals. It might end up costing you a lot more than option one, and the added stress of driving.

Day Trip with Public Transport

This is another option if you don’t like driving and would like to use public transport.

There are train services available from Sevilla Santa Justa, however, the train journey is around 2.5 hours one way, and the tickets will cost you between 20 to 60 euros one way, per person.

The longer in advance you book your train tickets, the cheaper they are usually, but they also limit the times at which you can take the trains.

You will have to take into account the timing of the arrivals, and your transport from the station to the monument, as the tickets to Alhambra have a dedicated time slot, so you can’t be late.

Book Online in a Few Clicks

Book your trip from Seville to Granada online with free cancellation.

Frequent Questions About Day Trip From Seville To Alhambra

Is this trip suitable for kids?

I would probably advise against taking very young kids on this trip, as the bus journey alone is quite long (all together 3 hours one way).

What should I do in my free time in Granada?

There is some free time in Granada included in this day trip, I think with the limited time you have, the best use of it is to take a stroll through the streets of Albaicin and take in the views of Alhambra from one of the higher points.

You can also sit down for a drink and enjoy the old custom of free tapas with every drink served, pretty much anywhere in the city.

If you’re looking for some restaurant recommendations, my favourite ones are in this article.

Is there barrier-free access in Alhambra?

As far as I remember there isn’t and this day trip is not recommended for wheelchair users or people with reduced mobility.

Can you do this trip in bad weather or on a rainy day?

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.

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 in the comments section.

LOVE it? SAVE it for Later!

If you’re not ready to book your trip yet, feel free to save it in your Pinterest board with Seville day trip ideas!

pinterest image showing the courtyard of Alhambra and Generalife gardens, with a headline: day trip from seville spain to Alhambra, best day trips from Seville
pinterest image showing the interiors of Alhambra and courtyard of the lions, with a headline: day trip from seville spain to Alhambra, best day trips from Seville

Southern Spain Travel Tips

Find Best Hotels

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

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.

Find Cheap Flights

Get the best flight deals when you book early via Skyscanner.com

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.

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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