Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada: Top Tips [2023]

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Are you staying in Torremolinos and want to explore Granada? In that case, you’re at the right place!

In this article, you will find detailed information about day trips from Torremolinos to Granada, with lots of practical insights and tips, you can only get from a local living on Costa del Sol (I’ve been living in Fuengirola for over 3 years now!).

If you prefer to book this day trip right away without reading all the details, I have included a link to my recommended local travel company below – feel free to click the link and check the available dates and prices from the calendar.

BOOK ONLINE: Day Trip from Torremolinos to Granada with Alhambra Tickets & Guide

Your Options for Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada

There are four ways you can plan day trips from Torremolinos to Granada, here they are!

Option 1: Booking Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada with a Local Travel Company

I think this is the easiest hassle-free option to see Granada with access to Alhambra, and often the most cost-effective too.

This trip is super convenient with pick up from Torremolinos, tickets to Alhambra already included in the price, with a guide to take you through the Nasrid Palace, and free time to explore Granada on your own. After you’re done, you can just rest on a comfy bus on the way back to Torremolinos, without having to worry about the hassle of navigating the local traffic and finding parking spots.

The trip I linked below runs 4 times a week, but sells out pretty fast as you can imagine it’s pretty popular! You can reserve your spot now, and all you need is just your details and ID – don’t forget that you have to take your ID with you as they check the Alhambra tickets against your ID.

BOOK ONLINE: Day Trip from Torremolinos to Granada with Alhambra Tickets & Guide

Option 2: Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada with Rented Car

If you already rented a car for your stay in Torremolinos, 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 145 km and you can drive there in 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on the traffic
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
I recommend taking the Mediterranean highway A-7 road as its more pleasant to drive and with better views, even though it may be a tiny bit slower
be mindful of your speed, there are traffic cameras everywhere
check parking options in Granada in advance, and 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

Option 3: Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada with Public Transport

If you prefer using public transport, it’s certainly an option and it only means changing the trains in Malaga, but you have to make sure your train times (or bus time) align correctly so you can get to Granada on time, especially if you purchased tickets to Alhambra which have a dedicated time slot (entrance to Nasrid Palace, the rest of the monument you can explore anytime).

Here is everything you need to know:

to get to Granada, you need to take the local C-1 cercanias (commuter) train to Malaga Maria Zambrano. The trains run every 20 minutes and cost under 8 euros return. The journey takes 30 minutes.
once you get to Malaga Maria Zambrano, you have the option to either take the train to Granada, or walk across the street to the main bus station and take the bus from there. In both cases the journey to Granada takes about 1 hour
I used both options and found the buses cheaper and more convenient, and they also run more often
in both cases I also recommend buying your tickets for the train or bus online in advance, it works out cheaper and you’re guaranteed a seat on the bus for example
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
to get back to Toremolinos, you only need to check your trains or buses back to Malaga, as the trains from Malaga to Torremolinos run until midnight, so that shouldn’t be an issue

Option 4: Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada with Uber or Taxi

The final option is the most costly one – a trip from Torremolinos to Granada would cost you between 140 euros to 180 euros, depending on the company and time of travel.

While it’s certainly not cheap, if there are more people sharing the trip it might be not just convenient but also affordable.

Tips for Booking Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada

No matter which of the options you choose to plan your day trip, it’s absolutely essential that you check the available tickets to Alhambra before you start planning.

The tickets to Alhambra are very popular, and not just in high season (Summer), and they tend to sell out weeks in advance. It’s virtually impossible to get tickets on the day, even from the ticket office – which nobody does anyway.

So if there is one piece of advice I would ask you to take, it is to get your tickets as soon as possible.

BOOK ONLINE: Skip the Line Tickets to Alhambra Monument with Guide

Using the local travel company for this trip has a number of advantages, including:

entrance to Alhambra is already included in the price, so no need to chase your own tickets
skip the line tickets to the monument
drive in a comfortable air-conditioned bus
no hassle navigating the local traffic and finding parking with a rented car
local tour guide in the English language so you learn a lot about Granada and Alhambra on your trip
convenient pickup location in Torremolinos
this trip runs 4 times a week
total duration of the trip is just 10 hours, which is perfect for a day trip

BOOK ONLINE: Day Trip from Torremolinos to Granada with Alhambra Tickets & Guide

Practical Tips for Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada

Here are some of my tips for making the most out of your trip:

The day trip option I linked above runs four times a week, so you have plenty of availability to choose a day that works for you!
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 with you for this 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
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

BOOK ONLINE: Day Trip from Torremolinos to Granada with Alhambra Tickets & Guide

Frequent Questions About Day Trips From Torremolinos to Granada

Is this trip suitable for kids?

Older kids would be fine with this trip, but smaller ones might struggle with the bus journey. The palace can get quite crowded, so if you’re travelling with kids make sure you keep an eye on them at all times.

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.