Granada – Sierra Nevada bus (Autocares Tocina)

The line

Autocares Tocina, a Granada coach company based in Albolote, runs the regular line between Granada and the Sierra Nevada ski resort, at Pradollano. It leaves from Granada bus station, on the Jaén road, from platform 3. During the ski season it also stops at the Granada Conference Centre, on Paseo del Violón, about 15 minutes after leaving the station.

Timetables

The company publishes two timetables, one for the ski season and another for the rest of the year.

Winter, during the ski season

• Granada to Sierra Nevada, Monday to Friday: 8:00, 10:15 and 17:15.
• Granada to Sierra Nevada, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 8:00, 10:15, 15:00 and 17:15.
• Sierra Nevada to Granada, Monday to Friday: 9:15, 16:00 and 18:30.
• Sierra Nevada to Granada, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 9:15, 13:00, 16:00 and 18:30.

Summer, outside the ski season

• Granada to Sierra Nevada: 9:15, every day.
• Sierra Nevada to Granada: 17:00, every day.

The resort's website gives 9:00 as the first return from Pradollano, and Tocina's gives 9:15: if you are counting on that bus, allow extra time. Timetables change from one season to the next, so confirm them on Tocina's website or on 958 46 50 22 before travelling.

Autocares Tocina is based at Calle Luis Crovetto Martínez 1, in the Juncaril industrial estate in Albolote, and also answers by email at [email protected]. The company says it has coaches adapted for people with reduced mobility; if you need one, say so when you buy your ticket.

Tickets and price

The ticket is bought at the bus station ticket office or on the company's website. According to the ski resort, it costs €10 return and €5.50 one way. To board, show the ticket if you bought it at the ticket office, or the booking reference and ID card if you bought it online. Changes and cancellations of tickets bought online are made online or on the Movelia telephone, 913 40 00 84.

How to make the most of it

With the winter timetable you can go up first thing, ski all day and come down at 16:00 or 18:30, without worrying about chains or Pradollano parking. If you are going to ski in Sierra Nevada several days in a row, another option is to sleep up there, at the Hotel Telecabina or the Inturjoven Hostel, and use the bus only to go up and down.

In summer, the day's only bus goes up in the morning and comes down in the afternoon, which gives a full day for walking in the high mountains. Once up there, the Pradollano town bus takes you round the village and as far as Los Peñones for €2.