Granada Metro, public transport in the City of Granada, Andalucia, Southern Spain

Granada Metro

The Granada 16km-line crosses Granada from north to south and also connects the towns of Albolote and Maracena (north-east), and Armilla (south-east). The line serves 26 stations in total, of which just three - Méndez Núñez, Recogidas, and Alcázar del Genil - are located underground in central Granada, close to the river Genil.

Construction of the line began in 2007. The metro was initially planned to open in early 2012 at a cost of 500m euro. By May 2011 when the line was 70% completed funding ran out as a result of the Spanish economic crisis. Remaining funds were secured through a 260 million loan from the European Investment Bank in 2012. A further funding round was required before the metro finally opened at noon 21st September 2017.

Stations of the Granada Metro

Granada Metro Line Map

The metro also conveniently connects the bus station with the railway station but not other tourist attractions. Those wanting to head for the city centre can take the metro to Recogidas and walk up Calle Recogidas to Plaza Isabel la Catholica (for C30 micro bus to Alhambra) or the Cathedral or the Albaicin.

These are the stations served by the Granada Metro (north to south):

Albolote: Albolote, Polígono Juncaril
Maracena: Vicuña, Anfiteatro, Maracena
Granada: Cerrillo Maracena, Ctra. de Jaén, Estación de Autobuses, Argentinita, Luis Amador, Villarejo, la Caleta, Estación de Trenes, Universidad, Méndez Núñez, Recogidas, Alcázar del Genil, Hípica, Andrés Segovia, Palacio de Deportes, Estadio Los Cármenes, Dílar
Armilla: Parque Tecnológico, Centro Comercial Nevada, Fernando de los Ríos, Armilla.

The Metro serves an estimated 133,000 people who live within 500m of a station. In the first year (2017/18) the predicted use 11m passenger journeys, rising to 13m in the third year (2019/2020). In 2018 the actual passenger use was 10.2m passenger journeys.

Running times and frequency

Monday to Thursday: 06.30 to 23.00 hrs
Friday and days before a holiday: 06.30 to 02.00 hrs
Saturday: 07.30 to 02.00 hrs
Sunday and holidays: 07.30 to 23.00 hrs

Frequency:
Monday to Friday 07.30 to 09.30, Monday to Sunday 09.30 to 20.30: every 10 minutes
Friday and Saturday 23.00 to 02.00: every 30 minutes
At other times: every 15 minutes

The total travel time between the two termini, Albolote and Armilla, is 47 minutes.
Each of the 15 trains has a capacity for 220 people; they are equipped with air-conditioning and video surveillance cameras.
The average speed, which includes 20-second stops at metro stations, is approximately 20 km / hour, with speeds of 50 km / h above ground (83% of the line is above ground, with 17% below ground).

Ticket cost

One-day tourist card
This is the most useful card for visitors to the city: for 4,50 euros you can travel as much as you want during one day. There are also options for 2, 3 and 5 days, with the proportional price. The one day tourist card and other tickets can be purchased from the ticket matching on the metro station platforms.

A single ticket costs 1,35 euros, return ticket 2,70 euros.

With a rechargeable pass (bono), each journey costs just 0,82 euros. You can recharge from a minimum of 5 euros, up to 50 euros.

Tram tickets and red local bus tickets are not interchangeable.

On the Granada metro there are no pricing zones - one journey costs the same price however far you travel on the line. The tickets should be validated in the machine when you bard the metro. This is not necessary of you board at one of the three underground stations in central Granada (Méndez Núñez, Recogidas, and Alcázar del Genil) as there are ticket barriers to enter the platform.

A bicycle can be taken on the tram hen it is quiet.

Archaeological Site

The city center underground station Alcázar Genil is the site of a moorish water-tank where naval battles were recreated in near full scale model ships for the entertainment of the Almohad rulers. The project architect Antonio Jiménez Torrecillas redesigned the stairs and access and structure so that the station sits in the ancient water tanks.

Urbos tram card

Gramada metro runs with 13 Urbos 3 trams are a successful low floor (14" above street level) standard gauge, articulated tram which can be configured in two to nine car units although three cars is the most common. Capacity is 129 to 327 depending on the length. Max speed is 70 km/hr. Power is 750 volt overhead catenary collected from pantograph.

Urbos is a family of trams built by CAF, the Basque train manufacturer. CAF built 16 trams for Metrovalencia im 1999 as a variant of a Siemens design. They were also sold to Lisbon Trams in 1995 when CAF decided to design and build the Urbos in-house. There are three generations of the CAF Urbos, known as the Urbos 1, Urbos 2, and Urbos 3. The Urbos 2 serve the Seville Metro (17) and the non running Velez-Malaga tram (3). The Urbos 3 serve Malaga Metro, the Seville CentroMetro (4) with dual overhead and battery models, having replaced the Urbos 2 models.