💡 The Short Version: Three direct Avant trains a day run each way in 82 to 94 minutes, and the 07:36 out and the 20:20 back leave over 11 hours in Málaga. An Alsa coach is the alternative, from the bus station to Málaga’s bus station or the airport. The Alcazaba is €7, or €10 with Gibralfaro castle; the Cathedral is €10; the Picasso Museum is €13. The Alcazaba is free from 14:00 on Sundays and the Picasso Museum in its last two hours. GetYourGuide lists no tour from Granada to Málaga. Carry a passport or photo ID. Prices are in euros. Or book a tour in Granada: the Alhambra guided tour with ticketsad is from €49 and the Albaicín and Sacromonte sunset walkad from €15 (GetYourGuide).
Getting there compared
| Option | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe direct Avant | 82 to 94 minutes | Three a day each way, to Málaga María Zambrano; check Renfe for the fare |
| Alsa coach | See Alsa | Granada bus station to Málaga’s bus station or the airport; Alsa’s app has the timetable |
| Tour | None | GetYourGuide lists no tour from Granada to Málaga |
As of November 2026 the Avant trains leave Granada at 07:36, 13:25 and 18:29, and the last train back leaves María Zambrano at 20:20. The 07:36 arrives at 09:05. Granada’s train station is on Avenida Andaluces in the centre (Granada public transport), and Granada bus station is on Avenida Juan Pablo II. Renfe’s route page is Málaga to Granada. The same train is the way from Málaga airport to Granada, with the Cercanías ride to María Zambrano first: Granada airport to the city has it.
Renfe trains at Málaga María Zambrano station. Photo: Alan Grant, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0.
The sights
The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro
€7 · €10 with Gibralfaro · free from 14:00 on Sundays
The Alcazaba and the Castillo de Gibralfaro are run by the Ayuntamiento de Málaga. The Alcazaba is €7, the combined ticket with Gibralfaro €10, and the reduced prices are €3 and €5 for European Youth Card holders, EU citizens over 65, retired or unemployed, EU students, people with a disability of 33% or more and large-family card holders. Children under 6 are free, and so is everyone on Sundays from 14:00. From 1 November to 31 March the site is open 09:00 to 18:00 with the last entry at 17:00, and from 1 April to 31 October 09:00 to 20:00 with the last entry at 19:00 (Alcazaba y Gibralfaro).
The gate and brick towers of the Alcazaba. Photo: Fedoce1 (Fernando Domínguez Cerejido), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Cathedral
€10 with an audio guide · closes at 18:30 on weekdays · opens at 14:00 on Sundays
The Cathedral’s ticket includes an audio guide in ten languages and is the same price online as at the door. Other prices are €9 for over-65s, €7 for students aged 18 to 25 and €6 for ages 13 to 17. From 26 October to 29 March it closes at 18:30 on weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays and opens at 14:00 on Sundays, and the last entry is 45 minutes before closing. It is closed on 25 December and 1 January. Dress modestly (Catedral de Málaga).
The front of Málaga Cathedral, with its one finished tower. Photo: HervilleMelman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Picasso Museum
€13 · €11 reduced · open every day · free in the last two hours on Sundays
The Museo Picasso Málaga is in the Palacio de Buenavista on Calle San Agustín, in the historic centre close to the Cathedral, the Alcazaba and the Roman Theatre. A ticket includes an audio guide on your phone. Hours are 10:00 to 19:00 from March to June and in September and October, 10:00 to 20:00 in July and August and 10:00 to 18:00 from November to February, with the last entry 30 minutes before closing. It is closed on 25 December, 1 and 6 January, and open to 15:00 on 24 and 31 December and 5 January. Entry is free in the last two hours on Sundays (Museo Picasso Málaga).
Planning the day
- Book the train on Renfe, and carry a passport or photo ID.
- The Alcazaba and Gibralfaro first, then the Cathedral and the Picasso Museum, which are close together in the old centre.
- A Sunday: the Cathedral opens at 14:00 and the Alcazaba is free from 14:00, so keep both for the afternoon.
- The 20:20 train is the last of three; the 18:29 out of Granada is too late for a day.
Málaga is one of the day trips from Granada; Córdoba is the other fast train, and Nerja and Frigiliana is the coast by Alsa coach. Granada public transport covers the way to the station, and what to book before you go to Granada lists the sights that need tickets. Where to stay in Granada compares the areas.
Common questions
How long is the train from Granada to Málaga?
82 to 94 minutes on the three direct Renfe Avant trains a day in each direction, to Málaga María Zambrano. As of November 2026 they leave Granada at 07:36, 13:25 and 18:29, and the last train back leaves Málaga at 20:20.
Is there a bus from Granada to Málaga?
Yes, Alsa runs coaches from Granada bus station to Málaga's bus station and to Málaga airport. Its app has the timetable and the fare for your date.
Is Málaga a good day trip from Granada?
Yes. The 07:36 train and the 20:20 back leave more than 11 hours in Málaga, enough for the Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, the Cathedral and the Picasso Museum with time to eat.
How much is the Alcazaba in Málaga?
€7 for the Alcazaba alone and €10 for the combined ticket with Gibralfaro castle. Entry is free every Sunday from 14:00. The Alcazaba is open 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March, with the last entry at 17:00.
How much is the Picasso Museum in Málaga?
€13 for a full ticket and €11 reduced. Entry is free on Sundays in the last two hours before closing. The museum is open every day, from 10:00 to 18:00 from November to February.
Is there a tour from Granada to Málaga?
GetYourGuide lists no tour from Granada to Málaga. The Málaga tours run the other way, into Granada.
