I am traveling at the end of October going from Madrid to Granada (on a Saturday). I know I can take a bus but it is a 5 hour trip. The information on taking a train is shaky. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
The train works fine and schedules are published through October, so I'd have no issue with choosing that.
Madrid-Puerta de Atocha Fr, 28.10.16 dep 11:35 AVE 2112 AVE, Direction: Malaga, Subject to compulsory reservation
Antequera-Santa Ana Fr, 28.10.16 arr 13:52
Transfer time 48 min.
Antequera-Santa Ana Fr, 28.10.16 dep 14:40 IR 13065 Interregio, Direction: Granada Subject to compulsory reservation , 2nd class only (this is probably a bus right outside the station)
Granada Fr, 28.10.16 arr 16:10
Duration: 4:35; runs daily.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
They are currently working on the AVE high speed link between Madrid and Granada. Until this is finished, trains stop at Antequera, where you transfer to a bus to complete to journey to Granada. This is all coordinated - everyone will be getting off the train and onto the bus at Antequera, so it should be very easy.
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Thanks Harold and Laura. Your responses were very useful. Much appreciated!
Posted by
California 🦋
5294 posts
Jc,
Laura & Harold have given you sound advice.
We took a bus from Córdoba to Granada, but you can easily take the train which will be an AVE-BUS combination.
As Harold has mentioned, you will take the AVE train from Puerta de Atocha (Madrid) to Antequera Santa Ana Station, where you will transfer to a bus which will take you the rest of the way to Granada.
BTW, buses in Spain have comfortable seats, A/C, & most also have a small WC.
You may want to read this helpful article before booking your tickets on the Renfe website.
- Don't forget to book your Alhambra tickets soon! October is a popular month to travel in Andalucía.
Have a wonderful trip!
Posted by
OP
17 posts
That was more useful info. That Renfe article is a short book. I need to spend some time with that. We are about 45 days from our first train (from Barcelona to Valencia), but I will be purchasing tickets over the weekend. All of this helps me a lot.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Yes, that TripAdvisor article is invaluable. I couldn't have booked Renfe without it, but with it everything went smoothly. Do be sure to use PayPal rather than a credit card to book, so your transaction goes through.
In the end, I realized it took me 5 websites to book my Spanish rail tickets - Renfe, Bahn (to get complete schedules for connecting trains, which Renfe didn't show), Paypal, TripAdvisor, and Rick Steves (to learn about the others!). But, it did work.
Posted by
California 🦋
5294 posts
Jc,
You may also find this website helpful: http://www.spainatyourpace.com/how-to-buy-renfe-train-tickets-online/
If you have trouble with the Renfe website, you can try this website: https://www.captaintrain.com
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
Just to add - the bus station in Granada is farther from the old city center than the train station. If you take the train, the Renfe bus connection takes you to the train station. It may also be easier to use the metro or cercanias in Madrid to get to Atocha station than taking a taxi or bus to the bus station. For instance from Plaza del Sol, the cercanias has an elevator and escalator from street level to the platform, is faster and usually less crowded than the metro which you have to access partly by stairs