Cheap Flights from Granada to Madrid: What the Route Really Costs

Looking for cheap flights from Granada to Madrid? Search and compare GRX–MAD fares on TopTravelCentre before you book anything. The route is short — about 75 minutes in the air — but it serves very different kinds of traffic: Andalusians heading to the capital, and international visitors using Granada as the Alhambra leg of a Spain trip. Fares run from roughly €45–€100 round trip when you play it right, higher in the Alhambra high season. Here’s who flies it, the airports you’ll use, whether the train makes more sense, and how to push the price down.

The route at a glance

Fact	Detail
Direct flight time	~1 h 10–1 h 15
Origin airport	Granada–Jaén (GRX), Federico García Lorca
Destination airport	Madrid-Barajas (MAD)
Direct airlines	Iberia (regional operation); Air Europa at times
Frequency	Several daily flights, year-round
Round trip range	~€45–€100 typical
Cheapest months	January–March, November

Which airlines fly Granada to Madrid?

Iberia runs the corridor through its regional operation, with multiple daily departures in smaller aircraft. Air Europa has operated the route in past seasons, so both are worth searching. Low-cost carriers concentrate on Granada’s international links (the UK, notably) rather than the domestic hop to the capital — easyJet has flown GRX, and Vueling serves the city on other Spanish and European pairs, but neither runs a Madrid shuttle.

What that means for the price:

The fare follows calendar demand. With little low-cost pressure on the pair, booking window and day of week matter more than brand.
Hand luggage normally included on the regional product — real value versus budget carriers.
Connections at T4 toward the Canaries, the Balearics or Latin America are where this route shines. Check transfer times in the Barajas connections guide.

Because price dispersion is high, the smart move is a flexible-date search: compare Granada–Madrid fares across the month on TopTravelCentre.

Airports: Granada and Madrid-Barajas

Granada–Jaén Airport (GRX)

Federico García Lorca airport sits about 17 km west of Granada, close to the A-92 highway. Buses link the terminal with the city center and the bus station in roughly 30–40 minutes, and taxis cover the distance quickly at moderate cost. The terminal is compact: 60–75 minutes before departure is enough. It also serves Jaén province, hence the joint name — if your trip starts there, GRX saves you the drive to Seville or Málaga airports.

Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

Regional flights use T4. Getting into Madrid: the Barajas to city center guide compares the metro, Cercanías train and express bus so you can choose by budget and neighborhood.

Plane, train or bus from Granada to Madrid?

The corridor has three realistic options:

Plane: ~1 h 15 flight time; about 3–3½ hours door to door with transfers.
Train: Granada’s rail link to Madrid takes about 4 h 15–4 h 45 with the current service. Comfortable, city-center to city-center, and advance fares can undercut the flight.
Bus: about 5 hours on the highway — usually the cheapest seat, rarely the best trade for a short trip.

If Madrid is your final stop and fares are normal, fly. If airfare spikes or you booked late, the train is the strong alternative. Travelers building an Andalusian itinerary should also read how to fly into and around Andalusia — pairing Granada with Seville or Málaga by train often beats backtracking.

When is the cheapest time to fly?

Cheapest: January, February, March and November — round trips from roughly €45–€80, booked 3–6 weeks ahead.
Shoulder: April–June and October — good fares, and the best walking weather in Andalusia.
Most expensive: July and August (Alhambra and festival season), Easter week (Semana Santa in Andalusia is huge) and the Christmas break — €120–€160 round trip is common.
Day of week: Tuesday and Wednesday are normally the cheapest; Friday and Sunday carry a premium.

5 ways to pay less

Book 3–6 weeks ahead. This corridor punishes last-minute bookings, especially around Semana Santa.
Fly mid-week. Moving from Sunday to Tuesday routinely saves €20–€35 round trip.
Price the train as a rival. When the airfare is high, rail advance fares often win. The complete cheap flights guide shows how to compare modes fairly.
Consider Málaga as plan B. Spain’s fourth-busiest airport is ~1 h 20 by car or direct bus from Granada and has far more airline competition — fares there can be dramatically lower. Our low-cost airlines in Europe overview explains which budget carriers fly Spanish domestic routes from where.
Search flexible dates in one place. Run the comparison on TopTravelCentre and let the calendar find your cheap days.

How much do Granada–Madrid flights cost?

Checked on 15/08/2026. Prices verified on public flight search engines and official airline sites. Low season (January–March, November), booked 3–6 weeks ahead: €45–€80 round trip. Shoulder: €75–€105. Peak (July–August, Easter, Christmas): €120–€160. Indicative ranges — always check the live price for your dates.

👉 Check live Granada–Madrid fares for your dates

FAQ

How long is the flight from Granada to Madrid?

About 1 hour and 10–15 minutes non-stop, arriving at Barajas T4.

Which airlines fly direct?

Iberia through its regional operation is the mainstay; Air Europa has flown the route in some seasons. Budget carriers use Granada mostly for international routes.

Is the train better than flying?

Depends on the fare. The train takes just over 4 hours, city center to city center. Booked early it can be cheaper than flying; booked late, the plane usually wins on both price and time.

What is the cheapest month to fly?

January to March and November, on Tuesday or Wednesday, booked 3–6 weeks ahead. Avoid Semana Santa and peak summer if you’re price-sensitive.

Is Málaga airport a good alternative?

Often, yes. It’s about 1 h 20 from Granada by car or direct bus, has much more airline competition, and the savings can be substantial on peak dates.

Book your Granada–Madrid flight

Granada’s cheapest seats go to travelers who book early, fly mid-week and check Málaga before overpaying. Compare first, then book.

👉 Search and book your Granada–Madrid flight on TopTravelCentre — every option, best price, in seconds.

Prices are indicative and vary by date and availability.