Granada / The verdict
Granada airport to the city: which way?
The ALSA airport bus is the pick for most arrivals: it does not leave until the flight has landed and bags are claimed, runs about 45 minutes to the Palacio de Congresos for 3.10 EUR, and stops at Gran Via and the bus station. A taxi or pre-booked car suits groups, late landings and anyone needing an adapted vehicle, while a hire car only pays off if you are heading straight out of the city.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Granada story
Granada is the Alhambra's city, and the fortress earns its reputation as Spain's best single sight: tickets sell out weeks ahead and it deserves a full morning. The city below repays staying on, with free tapas still arriving with every drink, the tea shops and view climbs of the Albaicin, and flamenco in the cave bars of Sacromonte, all at Andalusia's gentlest prices.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: Airport bus (ALSA line 245) (runner-up: Taxi or pre-booked transfer)
The ALSA airport bus is the pick for most arrivals: it does not leave until the flight has landed and bags are claimed, runs about 45 minutes to the Palacio de Congresos for 3.10 EUR, and stops at Gran Via and the bus station. A taxi or pre-booked car suits groups, late landings and anyone needing an adapted vehicle, while a hire car only pays off if you are heading straight out of the city.
Go if
- You want the cheapest ride into the center and your stop sits on the Gran Via, Triunfo, Palacio de Congresos or bus station run.
- You are weighing a 3.10 EUR fare against door-to-door time and luggage effort.
- Your hotel is near the bus station or Gran Via, both listed stops on the airport line.
Skip if
- You need an adapted vehicle: the city's tourism page says no wheelchair-accessible taxis are available at the airport rank, so book one from a city taxi association.
- You assumed a fixed timetable: the city page says departures follow flight arrivals, so check the day's times at alsa.es before relying on the bus.
- You want to pay by cash in advance: ALSA lists cash only at its sales points and on the bus itself.
The options
Airport bus (ALSA line 245) Go
You want the cheapest ride and your hotel is near Gran Via, Triunfo, the Palacio de Congresos or the bus station.
Good
- The consortium fare is 3.10 EUR, or 1.62 EUR with its card, and Aena puts the ride at about 45 minutes.
- Departures follow landings: the city's tourism page says the bus will not leave until the flight has landed and bags are claimed.
- Stops include the bus station, Gran Via de Colon and the Palacio de Congresos, so many onward trips need no change.
Watch out
- There is no fixed timetable, so gaps between departures follow the day's flights and you need to check alsa.es.
- If a delay makes you miss it, ALSA offers a change to the next service with free seats, but not for tickets bought with vouchers or passes.
- A signed stop on Avenida de Andalucia is not served by the bus to the airport, per ALSA's notice quoted in the local press.
Aena airport page: getting there by busRegional consortium fares for line 245ALSA buses to Granada-Jaen Airport
Taxi or pre-booked transfer It depends
You are traveling in a group, need an adapted vehicle, or land when no bus is timed to your flight.
Good
- The official rank is in front of arrivals, and city taxi associations take advance bookings (Radio Taxi Granada online, Radio Taxi Genil by phone).
- Door to door, with the Granada meter tariff in the cost table as a guide.
- Adapted vehicles are available only if booked in advance from a city association.
Watch out
- The city's tourism page says few taxis are available at the airport because only Chauchina drivers serve it.
- No wheelchair-accessible taxis serve the airport rank.
- The log holds no official airport fare, so confirm the price with the driver or booking service.
City tourism page: airport arrival by bus and taxiCompare fixed transfer pricespartner site
Rental car It depends
You are driving straight out to the Alpujarras, Sierra Nevada or Jaen, or touring the province rather than staying in the city.
Good
- ALSA lists car hire desks on Level 0 of the single-floor terminal, so pickup is simple.
- It suits a trip that heads straight out of the city to the province.
Watch out
- The log holds no official rental price, so compare before booking.
- If your stay is in the city, the bus fare is 3.10 EUR; a hire car adds rental, fuel and parking costs.
| Criterion | Airport bus (ALSA line 245) | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | Rental car |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official fare | 3.10 EUR single, 1.62 EUR with consortium card | Granada tariff: 1.60 EUR flag, 0.99 EUR per km by day; no official airport fare in the log | No official price in the log |
| Journey time | About 45 minutes end to end (Aena) | Not stated by an official source | Not stated by an official source |
| When it runs | Follows flight arrivals; leaves after landing and baggage claim | Rank in front of arrivals; advance booking through city associations | Desks on Level 0 of the terminal |
| Where it drops you | Stops include the bus station, Gran Via de Colon and the Palacio de Congresos | Any address you give | Wherever you park |
| Booking rules | alsa.es, the app, sales points or on the bus; cash only at sales points and on the bus | Radio Taxi Genil asks for a call the day before; Radio Taxi Granada books online | Book ahead with the rental company |
| What to watch | Check the day's times; a signed Avenida de Andalucia stop is not served to the airport | Few taxis at the rank; none wheelchair accessible | Only pays off if you leave the city |
What it costs
- ALSA line 245 airport bus, single fare: €3.10 (special Granada-Airport line 245 fare in the regional transport consortium table; ALSA sells tickets at alsa.es, in its app and on the bus). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- ALSA line 245 with consortium travel card: €1.62 (the rechargeable card has a one-off 1.50 EUR issue fee; only worth it for repeat trips). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Granada taxi meter, Tarifa 1 flag fall: €1.60 (2023 authorized tariff for Granada's joint taxi service area, signed 16 August 2023; the document loads over http only, and the airport rank is served by Chauchina drivers, so confirm the fare with the driver. Tarifa 2 (nights, Saturdays, holidays) starts at 2.02 EUR). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Granada taxi meter, Tarifa 1 per kilometre: €0.99 (same 2023 document; Tarifa 2 runs 1.18 EUR per km, and each bag or parcel adds 0.53 EUR). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 1 traveler reports (May 2025 to May 2025) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- The bus fare is an official 3.10 EUR, far below a taxi meter for a solo traveler.
- Aena lists a stop at the bus station and ALSA lists stops at Gran Via, Triunfo and the Palacio de Congresos, so many onward trips need no change.
- The bus waits for flights to land and baggage to be claimed, per the city's tourism page.
- ALSA describes a single-floor terminal with the bus stop, taxi rank and car hire desks on Level 0.
What people complain about
- Departures follow flight arrivals, so a quiet day means long gaps between buses, and you must check the day's times at alsa.es.
- Few taxis serve the rank and none is wheelchair accessible, per the city's tourism page.
- One local newspaper notes a signed stop on Avenida de Andalucia that the airport bus no longer serves.
How to do it right
- For the bus, leave the arrivals area: ALSA's airport page puts the stop on Level 0, signposted Autobuses / Bus. Buy at alsa.es or in the app, or pay on the bus (cash only at ALSA sales points and on the bus).
- The line runs about 45 minutes from Aena's listing, with stops including Avenida de Andalucia, the bus station, Gran Via de Colon and Paseo del Violon next to the Palacio de Congresos; ALSA also names Triunfo.
- Departures follow flights: the city's tourism page says buses will not depart until flights land and baggage is claimed, and that the bus will not leave for the city while passengers from a delayed flight have not arrived.
- If you miss the bus after a flight delay, ALSA says to contact its customer service or a sales desk to move to the next service with free seats, but tickets bought with free vouchers or passes are excluded.
- For a taxi, use the official rank in front of arrivals. The city's page says few taxis are available there because only Chauchina drivers serve the airport, and lists Radio Taxi Granada (online) and Radio Taxi Genil (call the day before) for advance bookings.
- Taxi meter tariffs are in the cost table, from a 2023 authorized tariff for the Granada service area; confirm the airport fare with the driver.
The trap to avoid
Expecting a printed timetable. The city's tourism page says bus frequency is based on flight arrivals, and a news item adds a second one: the old signed stop on Avenida de Andalucia is not served by the bus to the airport, so use the stops ALSA names.
Why this pick
Granada’s airport is small and its transfer question is mostly about timing. The ALSA airport line is the pick: the regional consortium’s fare table lists 3.10 EUR for a single ticket (1.62 EUR with its card), and Aena puts the ride at about 45 minutes to the Palacio de Congresos, with the bus station and Gran Via de Colon among its stops. The city’s tourism page adds that buses follow flight arrivals and will not leave until flights have landed and baggage is claimed.
The trade-off is that departures follow the day’s flights, so check the times at alsa.es. If a delay makes you miss a bus, ALSA says to contact its customer service or a sales desk to move to the next service with free seats, though tickets bought with vouchers or passes are excluded.
A taxi covers what the bus does not. The city’s tourism page says few taxis are available at the rank because only Chauchina drivers serve the airport, that none is wheelchair accessible, and that adapted vehicles must be booked in advance from a Granada taxi association. The Granada meter tariff in the cost table is a 2023 authorization for the city’s service area, so confirm the airport fare with the driver. A hire car is the answer only if Granada is a waypoint, since ALSA lists the desks on Level 0 of the terminal.
Timing and coverage
ALSA puts the bus stop on Level 0 in the arrivals area, signposted Autobuses / Bus. Buy at alsa.es, in the app, at sales points or on the bus. One local newspaper notes a signed stop on Avenida de Andalucia that the bus to the airport has not served since 1 June 2016, so use the stops ALSA names: Triunfo, Plaza de Europa or the bus station.
Book or check times
Aena airport page: getting there by busRegional consortium fares for line 245City tourism page: airport arrival by bus and taxiALSA buses to Granada-Jaen Airport
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Compare fixed transfer pricespartner site
Questions
How much is the bus from Granada airport to the city?
3.10 EUR, or 1.62 EUR with the regional consortium card, which has a one-off 1.50 EUR issue fee, per the consortium's fare table checked on 2026-10-07. Aena puts the ride at about 45 minutes.
Where do I find the bus at the airport?
ALSA's airport page puts the stop on Level 0, in the arrivals area after leaving the terminal, signposted Autobuses / Bus.
What happens if my flight lands late?
The city's tourism page says the bus will not depart until flights land and baggage is claimed, and will not leave for the city while passengers from a delayed flight have not arrived. ALSA says to contact customer service if a delay makes you miss your bus.
Is there a taxi rank at Granada airport?
Yes, in front of arrivals, but the city's tourism page says few taxis are available because only Chauchina drivers serve the airport, and no wheelchair-accessible taxis are available there. Book a city taxi association in advance for an adapted vehicle.
Can I pay the bus fare in cash?
ALSA lists cash as accepted only at its sales points and on the bus itself, with cards and online payment otherwise.
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