Córdoba to Granada train with Renfe AVANT

Transportation experience

You can buy your tickets on the Omio app. This is a handy travel app where you can search for your trip, select your preferred journey, and make a secure payment before receiving your tickets. You can access your train tickets both in the app and by email. The tickets contain a QR code, which you can use to get through the gates at both Cordoba and Granada stations. The app is convenient because you can store all your Omio bus and train tickets in one place. For this journey, I highly recommend taking the train to Granada. The Cordoba to Granada bus takes 2 hours and 30 minutes, but isn’t as comfortable as the train. There are also no Cordoba to Granada flights.

Front facade of Córdoba train station

Schedule & frequency

There are usually around 7 direct trains per day between Cordoba and Granada. Most services are operated by Renfe AVE and Renfe Avant, with journey times of about 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes. The first train typically departs around 8:31 AM and the last around 9:50 PM. I took the 9:25 AM train, which got me into Granada at 11:06 AM. This timing was ideal for me, as I could enjoy a relaxed morning and still arrive in Granada in time for lunch.

Onboard experience & services

This was a high-speed Renfe AVE service that had begun in Madrid and continued to Cordoba and then Granada. I was seated in Standard Class, and the leather reclining seats were comfortable with plenty of legroom. Each seat also had a power outlet and a fold-down table. I chose a window seat so I could see the foothills of the Sierra Morena and Andalucía’s olive groves along the way. I didn’t visit the restaurant car this time because I had already bought a sandwich at Cordoba Station. There is a café-bar carriage on these AVE trains where you can purchase drinks and simple snacks. Restrooms were available near the carriage doors, and they were kept clean and stocked during the journey. Renfe allows passengers to bring one large suitcase plus two pieces of hand luggage. For storage, there are overhead shelves and larger luggage racks near the carriage doors. On the train from Cordoba to Granada, you also get access to the PlayRenfe portal with free Wi-Fi. It provides some streaming options, although I didn’t watch any of the shows. I did use the internet briefly to check the live maps, and it seemed to be working well.

Ticketing advice & budget breakdown

Traveling from Cordoba to Granada by train can get a little expensive closer to the travel date. For this reason, I’d recommend purchasing your tickets in advance, especially if you’re traveling at peak times. I booked mine three weeks early.

Top tips & recommendations

• Don’t take a taxi from Granada: Unless you have mobility issues or a lot of baggage, it’s usually easier and quicker to walk.
• Book your tickets in advance: Although it’s a short journey, this train goes all the way from Madrid, which means that they can sometimes sell out or become more expensive.
• Choose a window seat: The views from both the left and right-hand side are impressive!
• Take an early train: Spain tends to wake up later than other countries, so the earlier trains are often quieter.

Conclusion

The Andalucian cities of Cordoba and Granada are both worth a visit, and can easily be combined on the same trip with Renfe AVE trains. The journey is quick and pleasant, with glorious views at nearly every turn. Trains run throughout the day, making it easy to fit the trip into almost any travel itinerary. Compare train schedules and fares on Omio and book your journey from Cordoba to Granada by train today!