Road Trip Barcelona to Granada, a Pleasant Drive
Our day one of Spain and Portugal Vacation was hectic. We got just half a day to tour Barcelona, where we managed to do the La Rambla Walk and tour the Cathedral of Barcelona. On day two we set off early morning, after stuffing ourselves with breakfast we set out for the road trip from Barcelona to Granada. It turned to be one of our best road trips in Spain.
Road Trip Barcelona to Granada
Drive distance from Barcelona to Granada is 853 km. We set aside the estimated time for the drive as 10 hours catering for the stops along Barcelona to Granada drive, though Google map suggested 8hr 26min.
We did encounter some tollbooths along the way. Thankfully, I found out that tolls in Spain are pretty straightforward to navigate. Either I’d take a ticket when entering and pay when exiting, or I’d pay upfront before getting on the freeway. The costs seemed to range from just a few euros to over 20, depending on the distance.
We had to pay a toll amount of 22 euros to drive along these superb roads. While paying I thought, the sights and scenes along the road better be good for this high toll fees. Payment can be done with either cash or card—I just had to make sure I kept track of the ticket to avoid any hiccups.
Other ways to get from Barcelona to Granada
Since we had hired a vehicle in Barcelona airport we drove along the scenic route. But there are other options to travel from Barcelona to Granada.
If you love train journeys, the best option would be to take the train from Barcelona to Granada. You can save a couple of hours, as it takes 6h approx. It would cost you €100 – €180. For the four of us, a family, it would be a huge expense, so hiring private car turned out budget friendly option. And the train journey to Granada from Barcelona wouldn’t be as scenic compared to road trip.
Alternatively, you can even hire a bus. That would cost €50 – €70 but would take a long time, about 15h 30m.
Flights are the other option. Flight tickets cost €25 – €100 and takes much lesser time, 4h 22m. (Please check up the prices once more. These were at the time of writing.)
Below is view of Balearic Sea from the road… it seemed so near yet so far!
Barcelona to Granada road trip
Initial part of the coastal drive along the Balearic Sea was scenic. This was the most pleasant part of the trip. At some of the places the sea would appear to be at the same level as the road.
After Valencia the scenes changed. It was more rugged. The church spires showed up as we crossed towns and villages.
After Valencia we crossed Bunol which is famous for La Tomatina – Tomato Throwing Festival. I was reminded of the movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’. But where is the time for halts like this. 500+ km still more to go and we planned to reach Granada before nightfall.
A church spire in one of the towns we crossed. Love the blue tiled dome.
Road trip sights in Spain
Stops between Barcelona to Granada Drive
If you have the luxury of time during your travel from Barcelona to Granada, consider making these enriching stops to fully soak in the scenic beauty and rich history along the way. Each destination offers its own unique charm and cultural treasures. Plus, fresh seafood lunches are a delightful constant at all these stops, so you’ll never be left craving a delicious meal!
SITGES
Sitges, 39.2 km southwest of Barcelona, is known for its Mediterranean beaches and seafront promenade lined with grand mansions. The streets are filled with shops, restaurants, and many gay bars and nightclubs. Interesting things to do are visit to Maricel Museum and Cau Ferrat Museum showcase Catalan and other Spanish art.
TARRAGONA
Tarragona is an excellent stop on a road trip from Barcelona to Granada! The Tarragona Amphitheatre, Roman Circus, and Pont del Diable (Devil’s Bridge) are must-sees. Walking through these ancient sites feels like stepping back in time. The city’s coastal setting is beautiful. I imagined taking a break from driving to stroll along the Balcó del Mediterrani, a scenic viewpoint offering stunning sea views. To me what made Tarragona even more appealing is that the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Barcelona to Granada drive Spain – Fun sign… wonder what he was trying to say.
SALOU
Salou, 108 km from Barcelona, is just a short drive from Tarragona. So you can easily combine both towns in one stop. It is a resort town is popular for windsurfing, sailing and golf.
VALENCIA
The port city of Valencia, 349 km from Barcelona, is known for its City of Arts and Sciences. I would have loved to halt here for the futuristic structures that include a planetarium, an oceanarium and an interactive museum, definitely worth stopping for families with kids. But then we were zipping across!
BUNOL
Buñol is a good stop if you’re interested in small-town charm, and the famous La Tomatina festival. The town has a charming medieval castle offering historical insights and lovely views of the surrounding area. If you’re looking to escape tourist-heavy destinations while covering the Barcelona Granada distance, Buñol provides a quiet, authentic Spanish experience (outside the festival period). The nearby Cueva del Turche and River Buñol offer picturesque spots for nature lovers, perfect for a refreshing break from driving.
Travel snacks, road trip lunches we had them all. Some quick bites we had along the way at a refuelling station for man and machines.
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- Barcelona to Granada road trip lunch
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- Travel snacks during road trip
It was exciting to cross the tunnels.
Road trip through tunnels in Spain
ALICANTE
Alicante is a port city in Costa Blanca, and the capital of the Alicante province. As we crossed it we caught a glimpse of medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, set on a hilltop.
Road Trip Barcelona to Granada – Spring is setting in… flower lined roads…
A casual click… the sign is adding so much mystery to the pic… I am unable to recollect what it actually meant.
Drive by sights
A bull billboard, we sighted several of them during the drives we took. Read more: Osborne Bulls along roads of Spain.
Osborne bull
We are almost there… Granada. This is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. It is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, between the rivers Darro and Genil. We planned to spend just one night here… very very less we realized later.
Read more: Granada: Best Things to Do
Granada street lamps
Conclusion
The Barcelona to Granada drive took us little more than 10 hours. We would return to Barcelona again at the end of our vacation after touring the attractions of central Spain, Salamanca – Avila – Madrid -Zaragoza. For now our focus was Granada.
If you have liked this drive route from Barcelona to Granada, please save and share to plan a trip for later.
One of a kind experience! Thanks for sharing those great pics, Indrani.
Great views!
The tolls are higher here in Italy…
Super!
moments to cherish ; have a nice Thursday
much love…
Beautiful moments captured. Yes 44 euros were worth spending for this road journey.
So beautiful!
Another grand post…awesome pictures! Thank you again, Indrani:)
Thats the best part about EU 887 kms and you don't feel fatigue! Nice clicks 🙂
Ooh I have a thing for delicious looking food!!! (don't we all!)
Nice post Indrani. I like this format better.
887 km! Great clicks, Indrani… 🙂
The food looks scrumptious!
nice clicks 🙂 i think worth the toll fee
More than anything else, what I liked were the snaps you took on the way. They were good to go with the actual post 🙂
It took us around 10 hours Ravish including halts for lunch and two small breaks.
Thanks for the comments friends.
Great captures, Indrani. Btw how much time it took to cover 887 kms there?
The man with the trishul! Enjoyed the pictures.
Very well put! Lovely pictures…the food looks yummy too 🙂
Seems like you are having loads of fun Indrani 🙂
I liked the blue tiled dome and also the fun board. What what he was trying to say???:)
Sounds that you had a wonderful time! Amazing clippings…
Brilliant captures with brief explanations.
Thank you …
Lovely captures of the drive!!
As usual , Very well written !
Some of the pics are awesome.
Beautiful roads.
Amazing!!!
The food looks divine and your views of Spain are amazing! What a wonderful trip!
Even though the tolls are high, these toll roads are usually the fast way to get to your destination! Lovely images seen along the highway. I love the pretty dome, sculpture and the bull. And the flowers are pretty. Thanks for sharing your trip! Enjoy your new week!
Loved these pics. The food looks delicous
Your captures of Spain do take me back to when I lived there!! Lovely memories of a lovely place!! Hope you have a great new week, Indrani!
Nice views all the way!
Brilliant showing of Spain Indina.