Two hours thirty-five minutes on the Altaria, or three hours on the ALSA bus from €12. Two of Andalusia's three essential cities, reachable from each other the same day.
Seven years resident in Granada. Specialist in Nasrid architecture, Al-Andalus history, and Andalusian walking routes.
Published
The train is the right call. The Renfe Altaria links Granada station with Sevilla Santa Justa in 2 hours 35 minutes, arriving at the heart of both cities. It runs four times a day, which means you need to plan around the timetable — but book early and fares start at €45, which is reasonable for a journey that puts you in Seville before most museums open.
The bus is the budget option. ALSA runs 12 services per day between the two cities, with tickets from €12 booked in advance. Journey time is 3 to 5 hours depending on whether the service is direct. The Seville bus station is less central than Santa Justa, but it is manageable.
This guide covers both options in plain terms, plus driving, and deals with the practical question of whether a day trip is worth attempting or whether you should stay the night. For general transport options into and out of Granada, the getting to Granada guide covers every route. For how Seville fits into a wider trip, see the Andalusia multi-city itinerary.
Is the journey worth making?
Seville is the obvious companion city to Granada. The two sit at either end of the A-92 corridor, connected by the Renfe Altaria in under three hours. Granada gives you the Alhambra and the Moorish city; Seville gives you the Alcázar, the cathedral, the Barrio Santa Cruz, and a riverside culture that operates at a different tempo.
Anyone doing an Andalusia trip of four days or more should seriously consider combining both. The journey is short enough that you do not lose a travel day. What you get is a contrast: Granada is compact and vertical, built on hills, with a skyline defined by one fortress; Seville is flat, broad, and Baroque, with the largest Gothic cathedral in the world at its centre.
Granada to Seville at a glance
Train (Altaria): 2h35m–2h57m, 4 departures/day, €45–80. Bus (ALSA): 3–5h, 12 departures/day, €12–45. Car: ~2.5h, 200km via A-92/A-4. No toll on most of the route. Train station: Granada Estación (Av. de los Andaluces) to Sevilla Santa Justa (Av. Kansas City). Bus station Seville: Estación Plaza de Armas, ~1.5km from Cathedral.
By train — Altaria, 2h35m
The Altaria is Renfe's long-distance intercity service — not an AVE high-speed train, but faster than a regional rail service. The Granada–Seville route was opened before the AVE network reached this part of Andalusia, and it still uses the Altaria equipment. Comfortable, air-conditioned, with seats in both first and second class.
Journey time
2h 35m
Direct, Granada Estación to Sevilla Santa Justa. Up to 2h57m on some departures depending on rolling stock and route.
Fare range
€45–80
Yield-priced. Book 3–4 weeks out for the lower end. Peak Friday/Sunday trains hit €70–80. Book at renfe.com.
What to know about the Altaria timetable
Four trains per day in each direction. Departures cluster in the morning (around 7:00–10:00 AM) and late afternoon (around 4:00–6:00 PM), with gap in the middle of the day. If you want to travel at midday, the bus is your only option. Check the current timetable at renfe.com before finalising plans — schedules change seasonally.
Sevilla Santa Justa station is on the northeast edge of the city, about 2km from the Cathedral and Alcázar. The metro Line 1 stops there (2 stops to Plaza Nueva); taxis from the forecourt take about 10 minutes to the historic centre.
Book early — four trains is not much margin
Altaria tickets on the Granada–Seville route sell out on popular travel days, particularly Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Three weeks ahead at minimum for spring and autumn travel. Book directly at renfe.com.
By bus — ALSA, from €12
ALSA runs 12 buses per day from Granada to Seville. The advantage over the train is frequency: departures every two hours throughout the day, with no gap in the middle. The disadvantage is time — direct express services take 3 hours, but some routes stop at Antequera, Málaga, or other intermediate towns and run to 4 or 5 hours. Check whether your ticket is direct (directo) before booking.
ALSA standard
From €12
Direct services run in 3 hours. Comfortable coaches, no frills. Tickets bought at the station cost more than online prices — book at alsa.com to get the best fare.
ALSA Comfort
From €20
Available on selected departures. Wider seats, footrests, Wi-Fi, and an on-board WC. Worth paying the extra €5–8 if you are doing the full journey. Book specifically for "ALSA Comfort" at alsa.com.
Bus station logistics
Granada bus station: Carretera de Jaén s/n, about 500 metres from the train station. A taxi from the city centre costs €5–8; urban bus Line 33 runs from Gran Vía de Colón.
Seville arrival: Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas, on the river, 1.5 km from the Cathedral. A 20-minute walk through the Arenal district, or one metro stop on Line 1 (Príncipe Pío direction).
By car — 200km via A-92/A-4
The drive from Granada to Seville runs west on the A-92 across the flat Andalusian plain, then north on the A-4 into Seville. The A-92 is free motorway for most of its length; there are minimal toll sections. Journey time is around 2.5 hours in normal traffic, longer on summer Friday afternoons when the road fills with people heading to the coast.
A car makes most sense for groups of three or more, or if you plan to stop en route. The Sierra Nevada section leaving Granada is the most interesting part of the drive — the road climbs briefly before dropping into the valley. After Loja, the landscape flattens into olive groves and cereal fields for 150km.
Parking in Seville
Seville's historic centre has low-emission zones and restricted access. Underground car parks near the Cathedral and Alcázar (Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, Avenida de la Constitución) cost €15–25 per day. The Triana neighbourhood west of the river has more accessible parking and is a 20-minute walk across the Puente de Isabel II. If staying overnight, check whether your hotel has parking before driving in.
Day trip or one-way?
A day trip to Seville from Granada is possible on the early morning Altaria. Leave Granada at around 7:00 AM, arrive by 9:45 AM, and you have roughly 6–7 hours before the last practical return train. That covers the Real Alcázar (2–3 hours, book tickets at alcazarsevilla.es the day before), the cathedral exterior, and a proper lunch in the Barrio Santa Cruz.
What you miss on a day trip is significant: Seville after 6 PM, when the temperature drops and the Sevillanos come out. The Feria de Abril, if you are visiting in late April. The tapas bars in Triana, which are a 30-minute walk from the historic centre and not usually on a day-tripper's route. The view of the Torre del Oro from the river at dusk.
Day trip works if...
You take the earliest Altaria (arrive before 10am)
You pre-book Alcázar tickets for 10:00 AM entry
You skip Triana and focus on the Barrio Santa Cruz / Cathedral block
You are on a tight itinerary and cannot extend your Granada stay
One night is better if...
You want to see the Alcázar and the cathedral properly, without rushing
You want to eat dinner in Seville (the city starts at 9 PM)
You are continuing on to another destination rather than returning to Granada
You are visiting in April–May, when Seville is at its best
Seville highlights worth your time
If this is your first visit, three things earn the time: the Real Alcázar, the Catedral de Sevilla, and the walk through the Barrio Santa Cruz. The Alcázar is the most important — a UNESCO palace complex that draws on the same Nasrid architectural tradition as the Alhambra. Construction began in the 10th century under Caliph Abd al-Rahman III and continued through the Christian period; the Mudéjar Palace, added by Pedro I of Castile in 1364, has tiled interiors and carved plasterwork that visitors familiar with the Nasrid Palaces will immediately recognise.
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
The most essential sight. Book tickets at alcazarsevilla.es at least 48 hours ahead — walk-up queues are long from March to October. Allow 2–3 hours for the palace and gardens. Entry is €13.50 for adults; the upper royal quarters require a separate timed slot (€4.50 extra, limited numbers). Monday morning is the least crowded time.
Cathedral and La Giralda
Built on the site of the Almohad Grand Mosque between 1401 and 1507, the Catedral de Sevilla is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world by floor area. La Giralda — the 104-metre bell tower — is the former minaret, converted in 1568. The ramp inside (no steps — designed for horseback ascent) takes about 20 minutes. Ticket €12, buy online at catedraldesevilla.es.
Barrio Santa Cruz
The former Jewish quarter adjacent to the Alcázar, a compact labyrinth of whitewashed alleys and tiled courtyards. Best walked without a map — the streets are short and you will always find your way back to a landmark. The oranges on the trees in late winter fill the air; the courtyard at the Callejón del Agua is a quiet spot away from the main pedestrian flow. No entry fee.
Comparing Seville and Granada
Seville and Granada attract different searches: Seville for architecture, tapas culture, and flamenco shows; Granada for the Alhambra, the Albaicín, and mountain proximity. The cities are different enough that seeing both on the same trip is genuinely additive. For a direct comparison, the Granada vs Seville guide covers what each city does better.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does the train from Granada to Seville take?
The Renfe Altaria service runs the route in 2 hours 35 minutes to 2 hours 57 minutes depending on the specific departure. Only four trains operate per day, so check the timetable before planning. Book at renfe.com — prices range from €45 to €80 and tickets are yield-priced, meaning early booking saves money. The service departs from and arrives at central stations on both ends: Granada Estación and Sevilla Santa Justa.
What is the cheapest way to get from Granada to Seville?
ALSA runs 12 buses per day between Granada and Seville, with fares starting at €12 if you book ahead. Journey time is 3 to 5 hours depending on the service and number of stops. ALSA Comfort class (WiFi, footrests, on-board WC) is available on some routes. The main catch: Granada's bus station sits about 2 miles north of the city centre, which adds a taxi or bus leg to the journey. Book at alsa.com.
Is a day trip from Granada to Seville possible?
Possible but not ideal. The Altaria leaves Granada at around 7am; arriving in Seville by 9:30am gives you roughly 6–7 hours before a sensible return departure. That covers the Alcázar (book tickets in advance), the cathedral and La Giralda, and a proper lunch. What you miss is Seville's atmosphere after the day-trippers clear — the Barrio Santa Cruz in early evening, dinner on a terrace. If you can stay one night, do.
How often do buses run between Granada and Seville?
ALSA operates 12 services per day between Granada and Seville. Departures run roughly every two hours from early morning through evening. The journey takes 3 hours on direct express services, up to 5 hours on routes that stop at intermediate towns. Book at alsa.com; tickets are often cheaper online than at the station desk. Some evening departures are limited to certain days of the week — check the schedule before relying on a specific return.
Where do trains depart from in Granada?
Estación de Granada on Avenida de los Andaluces, on the north side of the city — about a 20-minute walk from the Cathedral and historic centre, or 8 minutes by taxi. The station has luggage storage, a café, and car hire desks. The bus station is 500 metres away on Carretera de Jaén, useful if you want to combine transport modes. For general transport options to and from Granada, the getting to Granada guide covers all routes in detail.
Should I go to Granada or Seville first?
Fly into Málaga, take the bus to Granada, spend two nights, then take the Altaria to Seville. That direction has two advantages: you visit Granada while still fresh, and the journey moves from the dramatic Nasrid landscape into Seville's Baroque grandeur rather than the other way around. If you are flying out of Seville or Madrid, the Granada–Seville leg naturally fits mid-trip. The Andalusia multi-city itinerary guide covers sequencing in detail.
Reporter notebook
Insider tips
Practical observations gathered the way a local journalist would keep them: short, specific, and more useful than brochure copy.
Booking tip
Four Altaria trains per day — the schedule is not forgiving
The Granada–Seville Altaria runs four times daily. If you miss your train, the next one may be three hours away and your ticket may not be transferable. Check the exact departure times on renfe.com when planning, particularly on Sundays when one morning service is often removed from the schedule. The 7:00 or 7:30 AM departure gives you the longest day in Seville; the 9:30 or 10:00 AM train is more comfortable if you are not on a tight schedule. Book at renfe.com, not aggregators — Renfe releases cheap fares in batches and they appear on the official site first.
Money tip
Bus fares drop to €12 if you book a week ahead
ALSA Seville buses fill up on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings when people return to work. Book at least a week ahead for weekend travel. The cheapest fares (€12–15) appear when you book 7–14 days out; the same ticket costs €35–45 on the day. ALSA Comfort class costs €5–8 more and gets you a wider seat, footrest, and on-board Wi-Fi — worth it on a 3+ hour journey. The bus station in Seville arrives at Estación de Autobuses Plaza de Armas, about 1.5 km from the Cathedral.
Best time
Go in April or October — not July
Seville in July regularly hits 40°C. The Alcázar gardens are exposed and shadeless; walking between sights at midday is punishing. April and October give you 22–28°C, comfortable humidity, and Seville at its best: Feria de Abril is late April (crowded, extraordinary), and October feels like a well-kept secret. If you go in summer, arrive on an early train to get the morning cool and head indoors for the 13:00–17:00 block.
