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Barcelona to Granada by train
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Cheapest Price AU$35.77
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30 days in advance AU$156.22
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7 days in advance AU$160.60
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First train06:45
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Last train08:35
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Avg changes0
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Fastest journey6hr 20m
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Distance680 kilometres
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Trains per day4
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Avg. journey time6hr 34m
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Train operators
Travelling by train from Barcelona to Granada
Ready to travel from Barcelona to Granada by train? Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned train traveller, this guide will provide you with all the essential information you need for a smooth, enjoyable ride.
Train cost for travel between Barcelona and Granada
The first thing many travellers ask before booking a trip is: 'How much will it cost?' While train travel combines comfort and cost, the price of a ticket depends on a few things.
For starters, how early you book your trip comes into play with the price tag. For this specific route, the cheapest fare is AU$35.77, but can go to AU$156 when purchased thirty days before your train departs, and AU$160 when locked in seven days before. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your trip. Instead, you can book these tickets 11 and a half months in advance.
Cheap train tickets with slower trains
Another factor that comes into play when it comes to ticket price is speed. Let us explain. Many travellers automatically opt for the high-speed train option because faster is always better, right? Not necessarily. As experienced train travellers ourselves, the Rail Europe team often chooses to go for the slower trains for a number of reasons, including the fact that these trains often:
Allow for more time to take in the city scapes and countrysides
Set a more leisurely pace to better soak up the travel experience
Stop in areas that are less-travelled, offering a more unique journey
Are less-crowded than their high-speed counterparts
Are an even greener travel option than high speed
Are the cheapest train tickets you can find
Whether you choose to go with a low-, medium- or high-speed train, Rail Europe compiles all train options so you can choose by cost, speed, timing and operator to find the best fit for your travels.
Barcelona to Granada departure timetable
On this route, 4 trains run daily, with the first one leaving Barcelona at 06:45 and the last leaving at 08:35 during the week.
For weekend travel to Granada, the earliest departure is at 06:45 and the last one is at 08:35. You will find that departures along this journey occur every 6 minutes.
Train travel time and distance from Barcelona to Granada
Trains can complete this route in as little as 6 hours and 20 minutes. The total distance travelled is 680 kilometres.
When do tickets go on sale between Barcelona and Granada?
You can start planning and booking your trip between Barcelona and Granada 11 and a half months before the departure date. Pro tip: buy your tickets as early as possible to save money.
Making the most of your trip to Granada
For a seamless train journey, head to our extensive help articles. Start planning your trip and explore travel ideas in our city guide: Granada.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it from Barcelona to Granada by train?
The train journey between Barcelona and Granada spans 680 kilometres.
How much does it cost to go from Barcelona to Granada by train?
The cheapest fare for this route is AU$35.77. When booking 30 days in advance, tickets cost AU$156. A ticket bought 7 days before travel typically costs AU$160.
When can I buy tickets for trains running from Barcelona to Granada?
Tickets for travel between Barcelona to Granada are available 11 and a half months before departure.
How long does it take to get from Barcelona to Granada?
The fastest jouney takes 6 hours and 20 minutes.
Other journeys to Granada View all journeys to Granada
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From Madrid to Granada From AU$11.68
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From Seville to Granada From AU$29.20
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From Córdoba to Granada From AU$11.68
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From Málaga-María Zambrano to Granada From AU$28.47
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From Valencia to Granada From AU$29.93
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From Antequera to Granada From AU$19.71
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From Pedrera to Granada From AU$32.85
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From Ronda to Granada From AU$37.23
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From Guadix to Granada From AU$16.79
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From Almería to Granada From AU$23.36
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From Paris to Granada From AU$293.46
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From Toledo to Granada From AU$84.68
Other journeys from Granada
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From Granada to Valencia From AU$29.93
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From Granada to Madrid From AU$11.68
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From Granada to Seville From AU$29.93
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From Granada to Córdoba From AU$11.68
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From Granada to Málaga-María Zambrano From AU$32.12
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From Granada to Antequera From AU$11.68
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From Granada to Bobadilla From AU$28.47
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From Granada to Ronda From AU$40.15
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From Granada to Osuna From AU$47.45
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From Granada to Zaragoza From AU$104.39
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From Granada to Almería From AU$46.72
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From Granada to Toledo From AU$105.12
Other journeys from Barcelona
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From Barcelona to Madrid From AU$9.49
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From Barcelona to Paris From AU$35.04
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From Barcelona to Seville From AU$17.52
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From Barcelona to Tarragona From AU$15.33
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From Barcelona to Benicàssim From AU$16.06
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From Barcelona to Perpignan From AU$45.26
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From Barcelona to Córdoba From AU$11.68
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From Barcelona to Ronda From AU$232.14
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From Barcelona to Zaragoza From AU$11.68
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From Barcelona to Almería From AU$175.93
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From Barcelona to Cáceres From AU$112.42
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From Barcelona to Málaga-María Zambrano From AU$18.25
There are various options for your train journey from Barcelona to Granada, with daytime routings via Valencia and Madrid, usually with one change of train along the way. The night train from Barcelona to Granada is presently suspended.
AVE & Media Distancia
The daytime journey from Barcelona to Granada by train is very easy. The route we recommend is less than 8 hrs long, not bad for a journey of almost 1200 km. The best option is the once-a-day connection via Antequera-Santa Ana. You start with the longest leg of the journey, travelling from Barcelona to Antequera on a high-speed AVE train. Along the way, you’ll skirt Madrid and cut through the rugged Sierra Morena to reach Andalucía. The second leg of the journey is on a regional train from Antequera-Santa Ana to Granada.
Bookings for this itinerary normally open a couple of months in advance. If the timings of our preferred route do not suit you, it is possible to depart Barcelona at lunchtime and travel via Madrid. It does however take a little longer. There is also, though not every night of the year, a direct overnight train from Barcelona to Granada.
The Spanish rail operator often releases tickets in batches, which means they can come available 120 days or more in advance. If you're having trouble finding tickets, contact us and we'll email you when booking opens.
Barcelona to Antequera-Santa Ana
The high-speed AVE train from Barcelona Sants will get you to Antequera-Santa Ana in about 5 hrs 30 mins. Only two trains a day make this long journey from the Catalan coast to the south of Spain, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The fast AVE service makes seven stops along the way, including at Zaragoza and Córdoba.
Antequera-Santa Ana to Granada
The station at Antequera-Santa Ana was built to give rural communities in Andalucía access to Spain's high-speed network. Take a Media Distancia train to travel to Granada, famous for the Alhambra Palace. An additional Altaria service runs at midday. All in all, there are about eight trains a day plying the route. The Altaria service goes non-stop, while Media Distancia trains stop once or twice on the way (including at Antequera-Ciudad). Both trains will get you to Granada in about 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs. The route becomes increasingly hilly as you travel east.
AVE via Madrid
The daytime journey from Barcelona to Granada by train is very easy. The route via Madrid takes just over 8 hrs, and involves an easy change of train at Atocha station. Your journey starts with a lunchtime high-speed journey to Madrid on an AVE train. The second leg of the journey is on an Altaria service from Madrid to Granada, getting you into Granada in the late evening.
If the timings of this route via Madrid to Granada do not suit you, it is possible to depart Barcelona earlier in the day and reach Granada by late afternoon. This is via Antequera-Santa Ana rather than Madrid (and is actually even quicker than the Madrid route). There is also, though not every night of the year, a direct overnight train from Barcelona to Granada.
Bookings for this itinerary normally open about four months in advance, though the Spanish rail operator will often release tickets in batches. If you're having trouble finding tickets, contact us, as the cheapest tickets are usually found when booking opens. We'll send you an email when tickets are released.
Barcelona to Madrid
Take a high-speed AVE or Ouigo train directly from Barcelona Sants station to Madrid Atocha. Trains that stop up to four times along the way may take 30 to 40 minutes longer. This journey along Spain's premier high-speed rail route reveals a variety of passing landscapes as you speed from Catalonia through Aragon to the Spanish heartland.
Madrid to Granada
Board one of the twice-daily high-speed Altaria trains that leave Madrid Atocha station for the direct run to Granada in Spain's Andalusian region. The train stops three to four times along the way, including a halt at Córdoba. The last part of the journey is a bit slower after the train leaves the dedicated high-speed line at Antequera-Santa Ana for the final run through the hills to Granada. The train station at Granada is a 20-min walk from the city centre.
Trenhotel
We are still awaiting confirmation as to whether this overnight service will run in spring and summer 2016. This train was suspended in September 2015 and we do not yet know if it will be reinstated.
Travel in comfort with the Trenhotel night train from Barcelona to Granada. The direct overnight train takes its name from the famous Moorish palace in Granada: the Alhambra. It runs nightly in summer but less often in other seasons - and sometimes not at all in winter. So check schedules well in advance. The journey takes 11 hrs 30 mins. Bookings normally open two months prior to travel.
One of the highlights on this journey is the moment when, by crack of dawn, the train slips through Despenaperros Pass to reach Andalucía. Once famous for brigands and bandits, this rugged chasm is still the stuff of romance.
Barcelona to Granada (night train)
The seasonal Trenhotel night train leaves Barcelona Sants station in the evening and gets into Granada by breakfast time next morning. The train stops 8 times on its overnight journey to Andalucía, including Tarragona, Valencia and Albacete. The reclining seats (butaca) are comfortable enough for hardy types, but if you treasure your sleep, it would be wise to invest in a sleeping berth (cama).