Are you traveling from Malaga to Granada in Spain by train?
I have plenty of experience with this journey and I have prepared this comprehensive guide to share all the details and practical tips that will make your journey smooth, convenient and hassle-free.
Let’s dive in!
What is the Distance from Malaga to Granada?
The distance between Malaga and Granada is 89 km, however, if you’re driving the shortest distance is around 134 km.
Malaga to Granada by Train: Essential Info
I used this train connection a few times and it’s a super easy and convenient way to commute to Granada. Here are the essential details you need to plan your journey!
Direct Trains from Malaga to Granada
There are direct Renfe trains running to Granada from Malaga Maria Zambrano, but not all the trains you will see are direct. Out of 8 connections per day, only 3 to 4 will be direct trains with no change required. These are not the super high-speed trains you would normally see on connections for example from Malaga to Madrid, just standard commuter trains.
The changing station for the connecting trains is Antequera Station, just outside of Malaga.
Unfortunately, the station is outside of the village, so if you have a long wait time in between you can’t take a stroll in the village. In most cases that’s not an issue though as the wait times are kept to a minimum.
Train Connections
The train schedule would normally offer 4 to 8 connections per day, depending on the season and day of the week – in the summer you have more train connections, but they also book up faster. At weekends there are not as many connections.
If the train gets fully booked, you will see fewer connections available online and the prices will likely also increase.
Train Times Malaga to Granada
The trains run almost always at the same time, but you can check the most accurate departures directly on Renfe website by typing in your destinations and your travel date.
The current departures to Granada are at 8.58 am, 9.10 am, 9.25 am, 14.15 pm, 15.50 pm, 16.13 pm and 20.25 pm.
The faster trains out of the options above are the 9.25 am, 15.50 pm and 20.25 pm with a journey duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Train Journey Duration
The train journey will vary depending on what train you take, the shortest journey is 1 hr 45 mins, and the longest ones are around 3 hours.
The difference in the train journey comes from the fact that you have to change trains at Antequera St Anna, which is a small train station near the village of Antequera, north of Malaga.
The station is in the middle of nowhere, with not many facilities around, so I would advise against choosing a train with a long waiting time in between.
Train Ticket Prices
The price of the train ticket depends on the time of the year, time of the day and the duration of the trip.
The early morning trains or those with longer travel times usually are much cheaper. Cheap train tickets for this journey start as low as 12.40 euros per person, one way, but can go as high as over 50 euros one way.
Tickets are much cheaper when purchased in advance as I said earlier.
Renfe has basic tickets and then Elite and Premium (business class). Elite tickets normally include seat selection and some other perks.
You should always check the terms for your selected ticket, but they normally include luggage (up to 3 pieces) and the ability to change the ticket holder for an extra charge (40 euro per ticket).
Malaga to Granada by Train: Practical Tips
Where to Buy Train Tickets
Train tickets to Granada are available on the national rail company website – Renfe. Simply add in your destination and dates, and you will be presented with a number of travel options.
The tickets can be printed or simply shown as a QR code on your phone.
Malaga Train Stations
There are two train stations in Malaga – Malaga Centro and Malaga Maria Zambrano.
The trains to Granada depart from Malaga Maria Zambrano, which is a much bigger train station with better travel connections.
The train station is also well connected to the airport, you can catch a train to the station just outside of the arrivals terminal and there are only a few stops between the airport and the main Malaga train station.
Train tickets to Granada can be also purchased at the train station, the ticket offices are next to the entrance to the tracks. They also have customer service there in case you need help with your tickets.
How to Get to the Train Station
If you’re staying in Malaga, the easiest way to get to the train station is by taxi. It would be a lot of hassle navigating through public transport.
If you’re coming from the airport, as I mentioned the train stops at the airport, and it’s only a short walk from the arrivals terminal. There is also a taxi rank outside the airport and the trip to the train station shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.
Granada Train Station
The main train station in Granada is relatively small, and not well equipped – I was surprised by that considering what a big city Granada is. Upon departure back to Malaga, they scanned all luggage through security scanners used at airports.
There are a handful of places to buy some snacks and food, but otherwise, the station has very limited facilities and there aren’t many shops or restaurants near the train station.
Granada Monuments Tickets & Tours
Here are a few guided trip options for visiting the main sights in Alhambra. To check availability and prices please click on the link below.
- Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Fast-Track Ticket – enjoy a fast-track access to all the sights within the grounds of Alhambra, including the Generalife Gardens. Does not include a guide.
- Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces, and Generalife Tour – fast track entry to the Alhambra complex with a private or shared tour guide.
- Nasrid Palaces & Generalife Ticket with Audioguide – the same tickets to Alhambra this time including an audio guide in the language of your choice.
- Sacromonte: Flamenco Show at Cuevas Los Tarantos Tickets – entry tickets to the popular flamenco performance in the Sacromonte district of Granada
Malaga to Granada by Train: Frequent Questions
How to get from Malaga to Granada by train?
You can take the direct or connecting trains from Malaga Maria Zambrano train stations. The tickets start at 12 euros per person one way and can be purchased online. The shortest travel time with a direct train is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Can you get to Granada from Malaga by train?
Yes, there is a direct train connection to Granada from Malaga Maria Zambrano station.
How do I get from Malaga airport to Granada by train?
You will need to take the local commuter train C-1 towards Malaga Centro from outside of the arrivals terminal. The journey will take around 10 minutes and cost just a few euros. You will get off at Malaga Maria Zambrano, which is the main train station. From there you have between 8 to 10 train connections to Granada each day, with direct and connecting trains. The journey ranges between 1 hour and 15 minutes, up to 3 hours depending on which train you take.
What to See in Granada?
Here are some of the places I loved when visiting Granada:
A Baroque Masterpiece Covered in Gold: Basilica San Juan de Dios, Granada
The Queen’s Home: Palacio Dar al-Horra, Granada
The Botanical Gardens of the University of Granada
The Palace of Charles V in Alhambra, Granada
Visiting the Monastery of San Jerónimo, Granada
Huerto del Loro: The Best Views of Albaicin, Granada
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.
I can’t see any direct trains from Malaga to Granada after mid October?
Hi Nick, I would try looking up the trains later, it’s very unlikely that they dropped the connection entirely, just didnt make the tickets available yet. They normally have a winter schedule with different departures, so it could be a delay in getting that live. There is also a direct bus option which is only about an hour. Lucia