Which bus number should I take from Granada city center to the bus terminal, and how long does it take?

You can take bus number 33 directly from Granada city center to the bus terminal without any transfers. It takes approximately 15 minutes by bus, and buses between the city center and the bus terminal run frequently.

What is the most reliable way to book ALSA bus tickets from Granada to Nerja?

Booking ALSA bus tickets via PC is the most reliable method. The ALSA app may have unstable features, such as issues with destination search. After booking, it's convenient to save the ticket to the app or print it out as a precaution in case of internet issues abroad.

Which side of the ALSA bus should I sit on to enjoy the scenery when traveling between Granada and Nerja?

When heading to Nerja, sitting on the left side of the bus will give you the best views of the scenery. When returning to Granada, sit on the right side to enjoy the scenery more closely.

Can I buy food or drinks inside the Granada bus terminal? What are the prices like?

There is a dedicated area inside the terminal where you can buy and eat food. You can purchase coffee, drinks, and Spanish sandwiches like 'bocadillos'. Prices are generally a bit higher than at bars or cafes in the city center.

Granada to Nerja ALSA Bus Guide 2026: Terminal & Travel Tips

Your Guide to a Nerja Day Trip from Granada

Essential Granada Bus Terminal Info & ALSA Bus Details

Hola! I'm Melissa, your Spanish travel blogger, ready to share some insider tips.

Today, we're diving into everything you need to know about the Granada bus terminal and catching the ALSA bus to Nerja.

Combine this post with my previous guides, and you'll be all set for an amazing trip to Nerja!

Contents.

1. Granada Bus Terminal Information

2. The Journey to Nerja

3. Returning to Granada

1. Granada Bus Terminal

Kick off your day bright and early by heading from your hotel to the Granada bus terminal.

The bus terminal is actually quite a distance from the city center. It takes about 15 minutes by bus, but don't worry – city buses run frequently between the center and the terminal, so you won't have long to wait.

At the bus stop, you'll find route information organized by bus number. There's also an electronic display, but it can be a bit tricky to read. Focus on the bus number at the far left and the "minutes remaining" on the far right. Bus number 33 will take you directly to the terminal without any transfers.

Interestingly, even Granada's city buses are operated by ALSA. You'll be riding one of those recognizable red buses!

📍 Granada ALSA Bus Terminal
Av. de Juan Pablo II, 33, Norte, 18014 Granada, Spain

Since the bus terminal is the last stop, you won't have to worry about missing your exit. Once inside, take the moving walkway down to the boarding area. The Granada bus terminal isn't huge, nor is it tiny, and it's fairly functional rather than pristine. Find a comfortable spot to wait for your bus.

*The terminal also offers lockers for luggage storage.

Inside the terminal, there's a dedicated area for food and drinks. If you're feeling hungry, just look for the large sign – it's easy to find.

You can grab coffee, drinks, Spanish-style sandwiches called bocadillos, and snacks. As you might expect, prices here are a little higher than at cafes and bars in the city center.

"ANDEN" means platform number, so confirm which platform your bus departs from before heading to the boarding area. My bus was departing from platform 14.

The bus boarding area pretty much looks the same everywhere, no matter the country. Look for the number above the bay, wait nearby, and when the bus doors open, show your ticket to the driver and hop on!

I wasn't planning to go all the way to Frigiliana, so I took the 9:00 AM bus to Nerja. If you want to explore Frigiliana as well, which requires another bus ride from Nerja, you might want to consider an earlier bus.

A quick heads-up: while the ALSA bus app is convenient, it can be a bit unstable at times, and sometimes destination searches don't work. For peace of mind, it's best to book your tickets on a computer and then save them to the app. I also recommend printing all tickets as a backup, especially when traveling internationally, in case your internet goes out or your phone battery dies.

2. The Bus to Nerja & Where to Get Off

The bus might look a bit like a regular city bus, but it was clean and comfortable. I found my seat according to the number on my ticket.

The bus had large windows, perfect for enjoying the scenery. Pro tip: For the best views on your way to Nerja, grab a seat on the left side of the bus. When heading back to Granada, aim for the right side to catch those stunning vistas up close!

Some travelers mentioned their tickets didn't have seat numbers. Don't worry, just find an empty seat, and if someone claims it, you can easily move to another. It's usually pretty relaxed.

On the way to Nerja, the bus makes a stop in a charming coastal town called Almuñécar. From what I saw through the bus window, it looked absolutely beautiful! Checking the map, it seems like a lovely little resort town with its own beaches. I'd never heard of it before, but next time, I might just choose Almuñécar over Nerja – it looked even prettier! The bus stops for quite a while, long enough that you could even hop off for a quick restroom break if needed.

Just a short while later, we arrived in Nerja. The bus you see above is the one I took. Remember this spot, as you'll catch your return bus from the exact same location!

Across the street from where we disembarked, there's a small stand with "ALSA" written on it. I initially wondered if I should catch the bus there, but it turns out that's not the correct stop for returns.

3. From Nerja Back to Granada

After a fantastic day exploring Nerja, I hopped on the 5:00 PM bus back to Granada.

At first, I looked around the stand across the street, thinking that might be the return stop. I asked a local person there, and they kindly confirmed that the bus departs from the opposite side of the street (where I originally got off). The 'AVISO' (notice) sign on the stand stated that tickets couldn't be purchased there and advised online booking instead.

The photo on the right shows the bus stop next to the stand, which offers much more seating and space. If you find the main Granada-bound stop crowded, you could wait here and cross over when your bus is due.

Once the Granada-bound bus arrived, I double-checked with the driver and then boarded after showing my ticket. Before the driver arrived, I even asked some friendly local grandmothers nearby, who, despite not knowing about the Granada bus (they were only going to Almuñécar), tried their best to help me. Such sweet Spanish ladies!

The bus for the return journey looked completely different from the one I took to Nerja – more like a larger, intercity coach with different seating. As I mentioned earlier, for the best views on the way back, try to grab a seat on the right side. Don't be surprised if the bus type varies; it's quite common!

Always make sure to book your bus tickets in advance. As I mentioned, the ALSA app can be a bit unreliable, so it's best to book via their website on a PC. You can then manually add your ticket number to the app for convenience. Annoyingly, even if you log in after purchasing on a PC, your tickets might not automatically sync to the app, so you'll likely need to register them separately. Just a little heads-up!

I wish you all a fantastic trip to Spain!

BUEN VIAJE!