Alhambra day trip from Malaga: How to spend one day in Granada

Can you take a day trip to Granada and visit the Alhambra from Malaga? The answer is yes. Here’s how to make the most of one day in Granada and tick the Alhambra off your travel bucket list!

Can you take a day trip to Granada from Malaga?

View from the Alcazaba tower, Alhambra

Granada is about 120km away from Malaga, which makes it a possible destination for a day trip. If you have a car, it will take you about an hour and a half to get there with good traffic.

But you can get there as quickly via train, if you pick the right one! Whilst many trains going from Malaga to Granada take up to 3 hours, there are a couple of fast trains.

At the time of writing this article (November 2022), I took the 09:25am train from Malaga and arrived in Granada at 10:37. I then took the train back at 18:50 and got back to Malaga at 20:00.

This option is definitely worth exploring as you don’t need to worry about parking and you can relax on the train. Book your tickets in advance on the Renfe website then download the app the be able to scan the QR code at the station.

Another solution, if you’re mostly interested in visiting the Alhambra, is to opt for a guided tour departing from Malaga.

View from Generalife Gardens

Alhambra day trip from Malaga: what is the best option?

Guided tour from Malaga

There are a few guided tour options departing from Malaga which may interested you if you want the most stress-free experience or if planning a day out isn’t really your thing.

Everything is taken care of, you just need to book the tour, bring your ID and board the bus. Your two main options are either an Alhambra tour only or Alhambra and a few other Granada sights.

If you just want to visit the Alhambra then go back to Malaga, I would recommend this tour:

If you’d like to visit the Alhambra but also explore the city centre of Granada, this tour includes some free time to stroll around the old town at your own pace before going back to Malaga:

“DIY” option via car or train

If you’d rather go at your own pace, you can absolutely get to Granada via car or train then visit the Alhambra by yourself. You’ll also have the option to get an audioguide there so you can do your own guided visit.

Make sure to book your ticket in advance via the official website. Some tour websites look official, but they’ll overcharge you.

I personally did this and took the train then made my way to the Alhambra.

Generalife Gardens

Alhambra visit tips

Whether you’re booking a guided tour from Malaga or going by yourself, you will need to bring:

• Your original ID, they really do check it

• A digital copy of your ticket with QR code

• I’d also recommend bringing water and snacks. There aren’t many shops and vending machines once you’re there.

They recommend to allow at least 3 hours. I spent almost 4 hours there and I didn’t feel like I was being very slow. There is just a lot to see, photos to take and you’ll also want to take a few breaks.

Make sure to check the instructions on your email confirmations as there are quite a few restrictions. For instances, selfie sticks and big backpacks are not allowed.

I was very glad to have brought my portable charger with me, as I always do when I go out for the day, so that I don’t have to worry about running out of battery / finding a plug to charge my phone. It’s a must-have when you’re spending a day out somewhere.

Generalife Palace

Granada day trip from Malaga: how much can you see in one day?

I had a total of 8 hours in Granada before making my way back to the station for the 18:50 train. If you’re coming by car you can spend more time there, but here is what you can expect to do and see in 8 hours.

Nasrid Palace

Morning and early afternoon: Albaicín and Alhambra

This area is about 3km away from the train station. You can either get a taxi or decide to walk and tick off a few sights on the way. This is what I did, and I first headed to the Cathedral of Granada. I then made my way to the Mirador de San Nicolás, a viewpoint offering impressive views of the city and the Alhambra.

Getting to the mirador is a little strenuous but it will give you a good idea of the Albaicín neighbourhood. Expect a labyrinth of teeny tiny streets, loads of stairs and uphill paths. Definitely wear good walking shoes!

I then headed to the Alhambra. I decided to start by the Generalife Gardens and Palace, followed by the Alcazaba (stunning panoramic views of the city).

I saved the Nasrid Palace for the end of my visit and I would absolutely recommend doing it this way. It’s the most stunning part of the Alhambra and the level of detail is breathtaking.

Nasrid Palace

Nasrid Palace

Mid-afternoon and evening

I left the Alhambra after 3pm and walked back to the Cathedral area. I had brought snacks to save time and didn’t have to stop for lunch.

I then had time to visit:

• The Royal Chapel

• Calle Calderería Nueva which is a shopping street, and all the vibrant little streets around.

• La Alcaicería which is like a little bazaar. Just look, don’t buy.

• Fuente de los Gigantones ( a really nice fountain)

• Plaza de Bib Rambla and the neighbouring streets, an area with shops and restaurants

I spent too long wandering around, taking photos of all the beautiful buildings as a result I didn’t have time to visit El Bañuelo, which is an 11th-century Arab baths turned into a museum. It’s a short visit so if you can, go there.

I then found an empanada shop to buy some dinner for the train journey back home and walked back to the station.

Ensure to get there with some time to spare as you need to go through security (most Spanish train station have a similar system to airport security), get your ticket scanned and get on the train.

If you are driving and don’t have a train to catch, I would suggest staying in Granada for the evening to watch a flamenco show or go to a tapas restaurant.

Overall, you can definitely see a lot of Granada in one day and it’s a great destination for a day trip from Malaga!

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