Granada to Barcelona
 

Hi,

Looking for suggestions on the cheapest way to travel from Granada to Barcelona. We are a family of 4. So far the options that we've seen are:

A. RENFE train with 40 euro promo (but no seating assignment option)
B. Flights that cost over 100 euro per person
C. ALSA bus

Are there any other options apart from these?

Cheaper than Alsa (19 EUR/pax)? Probably not!

Hi Neckervd,

Thanks for the tip.
Any idea about the night train from granada to barcelona?

I think the Granada- Barcelona night train I took several years ago has been scrubbed - at least can't find any on www.bahn.de/en. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. I'd fly rather than do an all-day bus or train trip.

You could rent a car. It would be a long drive but might be cheaper. We've rented cars in Europe from Autoeurope and Kemwel. You might want to check their rates.

Thank you very much for the link, PalenQ.
Thank you very much for the car option, KTtravel.
I have tried to book at Renfe train, the one with 1 change and decided not to buy because it say seat automatically assigned.
Any idea about the sitting option ( I'm afraid that we will not be assigned side by side )? And luggage compartment? Any special requirement about the alhambra promotion price ( 40 euro )?

The earliest you can book RENFE is 62 days in advance of the trip.

Although we have been to Spain many, many times and will be there again in April, I have only made the trip from Barcelona to Granada once and that was after Queen Isabel died. I have rented cars in Spain countless times. If you rent do not get the car until you leave Granada and get rid of it as soon a possible in Barcelona. The trains are buses in Spain are much more reliable and comfortable than in the US.

Hi IMDonehere,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Spain transportation system.

Did you check Vueling airline? It was very cheap when we took it a few years ago.

NIGHT TRAINS IN SPAIN:
There remained just 3 of them:
Barcelona - La Coruna (with some ramifications)
Madrid - La Coruna (with some ramifications)
Lisboa dp 21.25 - Medina - Madrid/Hendaya (with connecting trains from Madrid to Geneva ar 20.31 and a so called connecting TGV from Hendaya to Paris ar 18.08 after a almost 2 hrs layover)
Lisboa - Irun

Just book the train! It's centre to centre, it's comfy, it's interesting - most will be on a high-speed AVE train with power sockets at all seats & cafe-bar.

The fact that seats are assigned is a minor detail - it'll almost always put you together by default. No big deal!

You'll find it easier to book at www.loco2.com or www.trainline.eu than renfe.com

Buses are generally the downmarket option in Europe, flying is hassle and misses out the journey experience. The train goes at up to 186mph (300 km/h) so is a lot quicker!

thanks neckervd for that update and yes night trains dying out all over Europe with high-speed day trains and cheap flights.

I have travelled 2 weeks ago with my family (6 pax) from Seville to Barcelona and the best alternative for us was Vueling. Prices vary according to date and time but you can find prices starting from 40 euros. It is 1 hour and a half flight.

Seville to Barcelona is a long six hour ride - nice to break up in Madrid or if not I'd fly - well I would not because I love trains but would recommend flying to those who do not so much.

Hi Everyone,

We finally booked our ride from Granada to Barcelona with Renfe. Gladly our assigned seat are very conveniently located.

Thank You All for your help.

Ren

You did get the 40 euro tickets? If so great deal - I don't care how much cheaper a bus is for such a long journey - trains at least easy to get up stretch legs, walk around, go to cafe/dining/snack bar car, etc. and better views IME than bus.

Flying is quicker but then you do not see the Spain in between the two- unremarkable as it may be after cresting over mountains from Granada.

Yes, 40 euro. Same idea about how much cheaper a bus will cost, but for convenient, train is better. This should be better than the night train ( sleeper ) we tried from Venice to Vienna.

Thanks, PalenQ

Venice to Vienna is one of the better night trains in Europe!

The ride is comfortable, but the problem is when you are sleeping on the top bed it's too shaky. Hehehe....

Thanks, PalenQ.

could be shaky but top bunk in couchette is my favorite since all my bags and myself are out of reach of any would be thieves.