Madrid to Granada train with AVE

Trains from Madrid to Granada

Travellers planning a trip south from the Spanish capital to Andalucia can take direct trains from Madrid to Granada seven days a week. Connections on the AVE high-speed network take a little over three hours to reach Granada. Daily departure times from Atocha Station in the capital include morning, afternoon and evening services.  

Madrid to Granada train time: daily departures

The Renfe schedule for high-speed AVE trains from Madrid to Granada provides three departures daily, seven days a week. Departure times from Madrid are in the early morning, mid-afternoon, and mid-evening. Indirect journeys to the Andalucian city are not a practical consideration, due to lengthy diversions and long waits between connections.   

How long is the journey by train from Madrid to Granada?

The afternoon AVE service from Madrid to Granada takes three hours and 17 minutes to cover the 257-mile route south from the capital to Granada. The morning and evening departures take two minutes longer to complete the trip to the Andalucian city.  

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Madrid to Granada?

Departure train station: Madrid Atocha Station is located on the south-east side of the city centre, served by Metro trains and buses taking about 10 minutes to get to the terminus from downtown. Facilities on the station concourse include restaurants, tapas bars, luggage storage lockers, a shopping mall, mini-markets, florists, ATMs and free WiFi. 

Arrival train station: Granada station is located a short walk south of the historic centre, with bus links to the main tourist sites taking around 10 minutes. The station has a cafe-restaurant, a newsagent, ATMs, car rental desks, luggage storage facilities and taxi stands. 

Which train companies travel from Madrid to Granada?

The Spanish state rail operator Renfe is the only company providing trains from Madrid to Granada. All services from Madrid Atocha to the Andalucian city are AVE express services operating on the high-speed line to southern Spain. 

Renfe: Madrid to Granada

Renfe's AVE trains depart three times a day, seven days a week from Atocha Station in the capital, reaching speeds of up to 205 mph on their journey south to Andalucia. Journey times to Granada are three hours and 17 minutes or three hours and 19 minutes. 

Madrid to Granada trains: services on board

Renfe's AVE trains from Madrid to Granada offer passengers a choice of seating in two classes, Preferente or Turista. Trains are equipped with cafe-bars and WiFi. Passengers with limited mobility have access to dedicated wheelchair spaces on board AVE trains and staff are available to assist passengers with boarding, alighting and transit through stations. Pets are allowed on AVE trains, but must weigh no more than 10 kg and travel in a pet carrier. A pet ticket is free for Preferente class passengers, or 25% of the cost of a Turista class fare. Cyclists can only transport their bikes on AVE trains if it is foldable and placed in a bike carrier. 

How to find cheap train tickets from Madrid to Granada?

AVE train services are dynamically priced, meaning it pays to book well in advance. With only three trains a day from Madrid to Granada, the cheapest tickets on the high-speed route to Andalucia tend to be snapped up well in advance. Travellers who have a little flexibility in their schedule will often find they can make savings by taking the evening departure rather than the morning train, but those with fixed plans should take care to book online well before their intended travel dates.