Located about 15kms (nine miles) west of the centre of the city, Granada’s Federico García Lorca Airport is one of the major gateways to Andalusia and is the primary means by which international visitors reach the city. The airport is relatively small but still handles regular connections from domestic cities such as Barcelona, Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, as well as from a small number of EU destinations including Paris, Rome, Milan and London. From the UK, Ryanair offers the largest number of services, with flights from London Stansted, Liverpool and the East Midlands.

The airport operates a single terminal and has a reputation for speed and efficiency in handling both arrivals and departures. Terminal facilities are fairly basic but sufficient for an airport of this size. There are ATMs and a post office available as well as a restaurant, café and two shopping outlets.

For transportation to the city, passengers can make use of a bus service that picks up from a stop outside of the terminal. The usual timetable for the service is 08:00, 09:00, 10:50, 16:15, 17:15 and 19:00, but this is subject to change at weekends and on public holidays so it’s wise to call the airport (phone: +34 958 245 223) first to confirm the schedule. The alternative to the bus is a taxi, also found outside the terminal. Cabs are metered and a minimum charge is imposed.

Granada’s public transport system is comprised of buses only, although the network is fairly extensive and spreads across the city and out into the urban areas so it provides a pretty efficient means of getting around and an economical one at that.

Frequent bus users can save money by purchasing a special ticket that’s valid for a total of 21 journeys. These tickets can be bought at the bus station at Carretera de Jaen. There is also such a thing as a Granada City Pass that offers discounted bus travel as well as cheaper entry to certain attractions and reduced hotel and restaurant bills.

The chief alternative to the bus is to take a taxi, with cabs readily available from stands located at bus and train stations and outside the larger hotels. A green light on top of the cab implies that it’s available for hire. Few taxi drivers speak English, so passengers are wise to carry a map and phrase book.

If you plan on doing a lot of moving around during your trip, then it might be economically sound to rent a car. There are popular car hire companies operating at the airport and smaller, independent providers in the city also.