Granada is a beautiful and relaxing Spanish city destination that’s perfect for a long weekend break or a 2 to 3 day stop off as part of a longer southern Spain road trip. The Alhambra palace and fortress complex is by far the most popular thing to see, but don’t for one minute believe that Granada is a one trick pony. The city has much more on offer, for all types of traveler.
In this guide we show you the things you can’t miss in Granada, Spain based on our experience. Read more about us.
We hiked Los Cahorros Trail in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and it was super easy to reach from Granada if you fancy a hike. Otherwise, it’s all about eating, watching flamenco, walking around the town and relaxing. If you have the time, we recommend adding Cordoba and Ronda to your Andalusia trip.
We recommend a minimum of three full days to explore and discover Granada’s best kept secrets. But four days would take it down a notch from action packed to nice and relaxed. Okay, let’s begin!
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Prioritize The Alhambra
The Alhambra is probably top of your wishlist for your trip to Granada. It’s an absolute must on your itinerary and it’s one of the main reasons this city is one of the best places to visit in Spain. If we’re being honest, we thought the Alhambra more than lived up to its hype and we’re confident it will blow you away.
One of the most magnificent Islamic masterpieces in the world, the palace was built in the mid thirteenth century by Granada’s Moorish ruler ibn Nasr and thankfully it survived all who succeeded him.
It’s decorated with carved stucco featuring Arab inscriptions, tile mosaics, and wooden ceilings adorned with pattern. And the courtyards are peaceful thanks to the constant sound of running water from fountains.
If you can look past the rabble of tourists, you can just about imagine how tranquil it would have been in the Nasrid era.
The three main areas of the Alhambra are:
- Alcazaba
- Nasrid Palaces
- Generalife
The Alcazaba is the old fortress overlooking the city. Climb one of the towers for incredible views of the Sierra Nevada backdrop on one side and the city on the other.
The Nasrid Palaces are split into three areas, each as beautiful as the next. This is where the crowds will be busiest and most crammed in. Ticket times must be obeyed.
The Generalife gardens are stunning and will take quite some time to look around. See number 2 below.
Tips For Visiting The Alhambra
The Alhambra staff run a tight ship. If you choose to go to the palace, you will be given a pre-defined time slot. You must be on time otherwise you won’t be going in.
The whole complex works on a strict one-way system. If you leave one area with the intention of going back to see it again, wrong, think again.
Once you move through one area, that’s you done. We learned that the hard way.
You also have to show your ticket every time you move into a new area. Try to arrive in the morning to beat the big crowds. We left at 2pm and it was getting out of control by then.
Allow at least 3 hours. If it’s summer, take a few liters of water with you.
Opening Times:
- April 1st from October 14th from 8:30 to 20:00 every day
- October 15th to March 31st from 8:30 to 18:00 every day
Alhambra Tickets:
You can buy standard tickets at this website or you can buy skip the line tickets with Get Your Guide. Standard adult tickets are €14, children under 12 are free but this must be proved upon entrance.
Travel Tip: The Alhambra is Spain’s most visited monument. We highly recommend booking tickets in advance as they sell out quickly. If you’re visiting between May and September it’s even more important you book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Enjoy The Generalife Gardens
The Generalife is technically part of the Alhambra complex and the same ticket applies to both. However, it deserves a spot on the top things to do by itself.
The manicured flower gardens and water features are wonderful. The terraces are very romantic and provide superb views. There is so much to see, it’s easy to get lost in here.
The Palacio de Generalife was originally designed for the Sultans of Granada to spend their Summers. The gardens were built along with the Alhambra in the 13th century but much of what we see today was built in the 1930’s.
Allow a good hour to walk around the gardens, pack sun block and a lot of water! Ticket prices and opening times are the same as the Alhambra above.
Explore The Albaicin Neighborhood
Another must do in Granada is to explore the white washed winding narrow alleys in the Albaicin neighborhood. It is the polar opposite to the Nasrid rulers’ luxurious Alhambra.
The neighborhood has been declared as a World Heritage Site along with its wealthy counterpart. Albaicin is an authentic district of the city that retains its medieval past by the bucket load, hardly changing since the Moorish era.
This neighborhood is famous for its Arab style bath houses, such as El Banuelo, and the atmosphere that its Moorish origin exudes.
Are you a fan of sunsets, or just great views for that matter? Head up to Mirador de San Nicolas in Albaicin for fantastic views of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada mountains behind. It really is a picture perfect spot.
However, the secret is out and this place will not be quiet! Join the crowds and take a bottle of wine to enjoy a sunset to remember. If you want a seat on the wall to watch the sunset, be sure to arrive well before.
Travel Tip: If you have the time, take a 20 minute walk upwards into the higher part of Albaicin to Mirador de Dan Miguel Alto. It’s a much quieter proposition than Mirador de San Nicolas is if you’re not a fan of crowds.
See A Flamenco Show In Sacromonte
Head North East up the hill from Albaicin and you’ll eventually reach Granada’s gypsy community of Sacromonte. The residents still live in cave houses and put on flamenco shows in the evening. Here’s a flamenco show you can watch in Cuevas Los Tarantos.
Granada is considered the birthplace of flamenco after all. The catacombs, monastery and museum are the most interesting places to see in Sacramonte.
If you continue walking past the buildings for 5 minutes, you’ll eventually see a path leading up a hill to your left. A short climb will lead you to Abadia del Sacramonte, a medieval abbey with some ridiculously amazing views over the Alhambra and city. Walk to the end of the car park, sit on the wall and soak up the views in relative solitude.
We suggest walking up to the abbey early evening, then catching a flamenco show and dinner at Sacramonte on the way back down to the city. Yes, the flamenco shows are touristy, but they’re still a fun experience.
Are you interested in getting to know the Albaicin and Sacromonte areas in greater detail?
You can book either a daytime guided walking tour or a popular sunset guided walking tour of both Albaicin and Sacromonte to learn about the history of Granada’s oldest neighborhoods.
Visit Granada Cathedral
Following the conquest of Granada, Queen Isabella I had Granada Cathedral built on the site of the main mosque. The foundations were first laid in 1518, around the time the Gothic style was being superseded by the Spanish Renaissance style.
The cathedral is adjacent to a Royal Chapel, which was added as a mausoleum for Isabella I and Ferdinand II. What better way to send a message as to who was in charge following the Nasrid dynasty?
Walk The Carrera Del Darro
Carrera del Darro is a charming narrow road running alongside the banks of the Darro, right underneath the Alhambra. It dates all the way back to the 7th Century.
The road is narrow and does get very busy with tourists during the day, especially with Segway tour groups. When cars and small local buses pass, everyone has to hug the walls but things improve when it’s quiet again.
Once you pass the narrow part, it is perfect for a romantic stroll. It’s lined with shops, bars and restaurants and has a nice relaxed atmosphere early evening. Sipping wine with that view, not bad, right?! A lot of the walking tours and segway tours begin at the West end of the road.
Travel Tip: There is a back way to reach the Alhambra. If you walk East along Carrera del Darro, take a right over the bridge and head uphill. However, it is a bit steep.
Hike In The Sierra Nevada Foothills
If you can’t resist the call of the mountains peaking behind the backdrop of the city or you simply want to get out of the city to stretch your legs and get some fresh air, you’re in luck! The Sierra Nevada mountain range is on your doorstep.
Are you in town when the weather is comfortable? You can walk the Los Cahorros Trail, which runs alongside a river and gets quite adventurous at times.
There are hanging suspension bridges and metal hand rails built into stone to hold onto as you lean out over the river. But please try not to fall in. The trail is supposed to be child friendly, but having walked it ourselves, we would be inclined to disagree.
Are you in Granada for a winter trip? Monachil and the surrounding areas will be where you’ll spending most of your time skiing.
Take bus number 183 Monday to Saturday morning or number 181 Saturday afternoon, Sunday and holidays. You can catch the bus at Paseo de los Basilios, next to Puente Blanco.
The bus back may prove a long wait, but you can always grab a beer while you wait. Tickets were €1.50 each way in June 2018. Ahh, Monachil, what an adventure you were.
If you want to see the best of Granada’s Sierra Nevada mountains but don’t want to hike or mess around with taking the bus, why not go on a 6.5 hour top rated 4×4 tour of the Sierra Nevada mountains?!
Granada Attractions Map
Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, and scroll around. If you’d like to see a bigger version, click the “view larger map” icon in the top right, and if you’d like to see any specific attraction, click the arrow and square icon in the top left.
Best Time To Visit
We visited Granada at the beginning of June and it was already baking hot. In July and August you can expect temperatures of around 35°C (95°F) during the day. So it’s pretty tough to make it through the day without dipping into a tavern for a cold pint of beer!
April-May and September-October are generally cooler, less expensive and quieter. So it depends on how hot, expensive and busy you like it. But for us, those shoulder season months are far more appealing.
Events
San Cecilio is the day devoted to the patron saint of Granada. Tradition is to visit the catacombs and monastery of Sacramonte on the first Sunday of February.
Cruces de Mayo, where large crosses are made of flowers and hoisted up in many of the squares in Granada, takes place in the first few days of May each year.
Corpus Cristi is the big one in Granada and we were fortunate enough to be there for it in 2018. It’s a week long feast featuring bullfighting, processions, puppet shows, regional music performances, flamenco dancing, competitions, exhibitions etc. Corpus Cristi takes place in either May or June depending when Easter falls.
Two major processions take place in the week. On the Wednesday begins Tarasca, where a figure of a woman on a dragon accompanied by giants wearing paper-mache heads walk through the streets.
The Thursday sees the procession of Corpus Cristi and the whole city parties together! The streets have banners which mark the way for the procession (picture above).
Where To Eat
Granada is known as one of the cheapest places to eat tapas in Spain. The reason for that is because at many bars you actually get free tapas when you order drinks.
One of our favorite things about Granada was its free tapas with drinks scene! If you order a beer or wine, most places in Granada will also serve up some delicious tapas to accompany.
The place you have to try is Bodegas Castaneda, opposite the cathedral. Yes, it’s super touristy and not the most ‘local eat’ place in Granada, but it’s sure good.
It has a nice mix of locals and tourists, a great atmosphere and of course, free tapas with your drinks. You won’t know which tapas will be served up as it’s random every night. A top tip is to look around at which tapas everyone else is eating to anticipate what is coming up next.
The Plaza de Bib Rambla is the heart of the city’s social scene. In Summer, the square is filled with sidewalk cafes and overflowing restaurants.
It’s right behind the cathedral and close to the Moorish market Alcaiceria. There are plenty of tourist orientated restaurants in the plaza, usually offering up a tasty menu del dia.
Kristen ate enough churros to sink a ship and Mark acquired an acute enjoyment for taste for the local beer.
Where To Stay
When we visited Granada, we stayed 3 nights at Pension Londres on Gran via de Colon, 29. Our preference is to stay in budget hotels and we travel on a low to mid-range budget, looking for best value double rooms where possible.
One of our biggest recommendations for booking accommodation in Spain is that if you know your dates early, book early. We booked mostly a week or so before and in June there’s not much available, so we paid over the odds too often.
Pension Londres has an 8.5 on booking.com with a whopping 9.6 location score. The photo above shows the view from our window. It’s right in the middle of town, a 3 minute walk from the cathedral. We’d have to agree with that rating.
The room is basic but it is budget after all. However, we’ve saved the best part for last. The photo below shows the view from its communal rooftop terrace. It is magnificent. Grab a few beers, relax on the roof and look at that view.
More From Spain
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- 6 best things to do in Ronda Spain
- One amazing weekend in Barcelona itinerary
- How to plan a day trip to Segovia
- One day in Cordoba, Spain itinerary
Want more Spain content? Head to our Spain Travel Guides to explore more popular tourist destinations around Andalusia.
We hope this Granada day trip guide helps with planning your visit to northeastern Spain!
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.