Are you looking for the best options for day trips from Nerja to Granada?
In that case, you’re at the right place!
I have been living on Costa del Sol for over three years now, and visited Granada already four times, so in this article, I will share all my insights and local tips that will help you plan the perfect day trip.
Are you ready to explore your options?
Below you will find all the options for day trips from Nerja to Granada, with a detailed breakdown and info for each.
Your Options for Day Trips from Nerja to Granada
Here is a quick breakdown of the available options for this day trip – I included detailed information for each of these in the sections that follow.
Day trips with a local travel company – there is one company that offers this day trip, complete with transport and entrance to Alhambra. You can book it here.
Day trip with a rental car – if you already rented a car, getting to Granada will be fairly easy! All you need to remember is that if you’re visiting Alhambra (highly recommended), you should get your tickets as soon as possible as they sell out pretty fast.
Day trip with public transport – if you’re on a tight budget, using public transport is certainly an option but you need to plan your connections correctly to arrive in Granada on time for your dedicated entrance slot to Alhambra.
Day trip with a taxi or uber – for those who prefer convenience!
1. Day Trips from Nerja to Granada with a Local Travel Company
If you’re looking for a convenient and hassle free way to see Granada and Alhambra, booking a trip with a local company is an easy and affordable solution.
Here are a few benefits of booking this trip:
- Pick up in Nerja (Marinas de Nerja)
- Transportation to Granada
- Skip the Line tickets to Alhambra included in the price of the trip
- English-speaking guide for Nasrid Palace
- Runs only once a week, don’t miss out!
- Free time to explore Granada
- Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned bus
- Book online in just a few clicks – all you need is your ID and payment card
IS IT SOLD OUT?
If you checked the day trip option and you don’t see available dates anymore, you still have the option to go to Granada on your own, with a rental car or train/bus, BUT you should get your Alhambra tickets as soon as possible if you want to see the palace, as the tickets do sell out quite fast.
BOOK ONLINE: Skip the Line Alhambra Palace Tickets with Audio Guide
Option 2: Day Trips from Nerja to Granada with Rented Car
If you already rented a car for your stay in Nerja, it makes the most sense to do this day trip with the car. I have outlined the journey in the map below.
Here are a few things you should know:
- first of all, get your tickets to Alhambra well in advance before you get to Granada
- the distance to Granada is about 95 km, which would be 1-hour 15-minute drive one way – I have outlined the journey on the map below
- some of the roads may be toll roads (the ones with “P” in the name), so have some cash ready in the car in case you hit the toll booth
- be mindful of your speed, there are traffic cameras everywhere
- check parking options in Granada in advance, especially so if you’re planning to get to Alhambra – in that case, it may be much easier to park somewhere in central Granada and take a local taxi there
BOOK ONLINE: Skip the Line Alhambra Palace Tickets with Audio Guide
Option 3: Day Trips from Nerja to Granada with Public Transport
For those who are on a tight budget, this may be the most cost-effective option. The only thing you need to remember is to check your travel connections early, and secure your tickets to Alhambra well in advance.
The entrance to the Nasrid palace has a dedicated time slot you can’t miss, so give yourself plenty of time when checking your bus arrivals in Granada.
BOOK ONLINE: Skip the Line Alhambra Palace Tickets with Audio Guide
Here is everything you need to know:
- The only public transport option to get to Granada is using local buses, there are no train connections from Nerja
- There are roughly 6 to 8 connections per day with local bus operator Alsa
- The journey time will vary depending on which bus you take, as some make more stops along the way – the fastest buses take 1 hour 50 minutes, and the slowest ones 2 hours 45 minutes
- The tickets start just under 10 euros one way
- Check the departure options on the Alsa website in advance, to make sure you can get to Granada in the desired time, especially if you have tickets to Alhambra which have a dedicated time slot
- Once you get to Granada, just take a local taxi to Alhambra to get to the entrance of the Nasrid palace on time, within your dedicated time slot. The journey should take about 15 – 20 minutes directly to the Alhambra entrance.
Option 4: Day Trips from Nerja to Granada with Uber or Taxi
The final option is a taxi ride, which would take just over an hour and cost around 110 euros – while that may seem like a lot, it could be actually the cheapest option available especially if you’re travelling with a group of up to 4 people and can split the costs.
Practical Tips for Day Trips from Nerja to Granada
Here are some of my tips for making the most out of your trip:
- Granada is pretty big and beautiful – if you have free time I would recommend exploring the Albaicin district and Sacromonte
- Granada is one of the last remaining places in Andalusia where you get free tapas with every drink, so do a bit of restaurant hopping and tapas tasting to enjoy this old tradition – I would recommend sitting down in any of the restaurants at Paseo de los Tristes so you can enjoy your drink with nice views of Alhambra
- Wear comfortable shoes for exploring Alhambra and the gardens, the complex is pretty big
- Don’t forget to bring your IDs with you when entering Alhambra – the tickets are issued against your ID number and they do check them as you get in!
- 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
Explore More in Nerja
Hostal Casa Mercedes, Nerja – Spain
Frigiliana, Spain: The Most Beautiful Village in Andalucia
Is Frigiliana Worth Visiting? All Your Questions Answered
Southern Spain Travel Tips
BEST CAR RENTAL
To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, an award winning price comparison site for car rentals.
BUS & TRAIN TICKETS
To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
LOCAL TOURS
Local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
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.
LUGGAGE STORE
If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage in all the destinations in Spain.
LOCAL SIM CARD
If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards.
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.
