Things to do in Granada

The Things to Do in Granada article will show you some top things to explore in this magnificent Andalusian city. Furthermore, we’ll reveal some interesting facts connecting the town with the most famous events in Spanish and world history.

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Short intro to Granada

Granada is one of the most magical cities in Spain and Europe, where history comes to life, and old cobbled streets sit in the shadow of incredible Moorish palaces. Although it’s a city, it’s within touching distance of the most breathtaking nature; a beautiful river trickles off the mountainside where the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada sit in space. Grab free tapas with a local ‘Cerveza,’ relax on the river shore, or watch the sun go down from a hilltop viewpoint.

Granada is most famous for the stunning Moorish palace of Alhambra, drawing visitors from all over the globe because of its breathtaking beauty and fascinating history.

Doing a tour here can take around half a day, but aside from that, there are many other awesome things to do in Granada, Spain. Add the city to your Andalusia road trip and spend a few days here relaxing, wandering the beautiful streets, and soaking up this enchanting city’s chilled way of life.

Fairytale Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens

Alhambra is the absolute gem of Granada and one of the most majestic buildings we’ve ever seen.

The Alhambra is a beautiful complex of buildings and gardens. Its leafy tree-lined walkways provide pleasant shade and coolness, enhanced by abundant water flowing in its streams.

It was the most important political and aristocratic center of the Moslem West. The Palace premises comprise beautiful rectangular courtyards, numerous fountains, and the Nasrid buildings that served as living quarters for the monarchs and their servants. The oldest building is the Alcazaba Citadel. One of the most important structures is the La Vela Tower, which offers one of the loveliest views of the Alhambra. The courtyard of the Lions, with its fountains, is one of the most beautiful in the compound.

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Enchanting Albaicin

El Albaicín is the old Moorish quarter of the city, located on a hill facing the Alhambra palace, and there are panoramic views of this area from the palace’s famous rose gardens. The Zirid Monarchs established their court in the 11th century, although little remains from today’s era, apart from some crumbling remains of the wall.

At the height of splendor, in the last years of Nazarid dominance, the quarter had more than forty thousand inhabitants and thirty mosques.

With the reconquest, the Albaycin was left for Muslims as their residence. But soon, the population declined. Namely, constant revolts forced the monarchs to expel the Arabs who were practicing Muslims. They demolished the mosques and built churches on their sites.

The Albaycin is a neighborhood where you can experience the atmosphere of its bars and terraces and watch a red sunset over the Alhambra. So, wander through its narrow streets and discover things you won’t find in any guidebook.

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Arab baths – spa with a history

As the heir to the culture of Al-Andalus and the thousand-year-old tradition of the hammam, Granada is the ideal Spanish city to take the dip and try an Arab bath. These baths are areas where you can relax in warm water, accompanied by gentle background music. Massage rooms and tea rooms complement these traditional baths. So, you can find several Arab baths in the city. Enjoy a place where time seems to stand still.

Sacromonte

The Sacromonte is famous for the gypsy caves, but the gypsies were neither the first nor the last people to live in them. Long before the nomads arrived in Spain, the Arabs had discovered that the soft stone of the hill was ideal for carving out underground homes, and gypsies moved into them after the conquest as the Moriscos were expelled. In the 19th century, writers and artists of the Romantic Movement, most English and French travelers searching for picturesque oddities, immortalized the gypsies of the Sacromonte, who also inspired poets such as Lorca and De Falla.

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Granada Cathedral and Capilla Real

The Cathedral is located in the center of the Muslim area and dates back to 1523. Granada Cathedral was built by Queen Isabella immediately after the conquest of Granada on the site of the Mosque. This Cathedral is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance style.

The Royal Chapel is the last resting place of Spain’s Reyes Católicos (Catholic Monarchs), Isabel I de Castilla (1451–1504), and Fernando II de Aragón (1452–1516). Their monumental marble tombs (and those of their heirs) lie behind a 1520 gilded wrought-iron screen by Bartolomé de Jaén.

Interesting Fact: Did you know that Isabel of Castile was the mother of Catherine of Aragone, the famous English queen? You know, the one King who betrayed Anne Boleyn caused several turbulent events in the 16th century.

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Alcaiceria in Granada – an Ancient Arab Market

The Alcaicería Street is next to the Cathedral, from Plaza Alonso Cano to Ermita Street. It is a commercial area full of small shops, mainly dedicated to selling souvenirs and handicrafts from Granada.

The Alcaicería was founded in the 14th century next to the Great Mosque by Muhammad V. You could access it through nine doors closed at night to protect it.

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Experience the Flamenco show in Granada.

The Andalucían city of Granada is known as one of the birthplaces of flamenco. It makes for an excellent place to see a performance. Many of Granada’s best flamenco tablaos are in the old Roma gypsy district of Sacromonte up in the hills, high above the city. Most are housed in historic cozy cave homes, giving a more personal and passionate performance.

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Eating Out in Granada

The gastronomy of Granada represents the tradition of Arabo-Andalusian cuisine. On the one hand, the Arab heritage is evident in the use of spices and the wide variety of raw materials, determined by the significant differences in geography and climate in different regions of Granada.

One of the regional dishes of Granada is beans with ham, a pot of San Anton, the Sacromonte omelet, Andalusian gazpacho with garlic, and grilled sardines on the beaches of the Tropical Cost.

Some of the typical regional dishes of Granada are famous Trevelez ham, cured in the mountains, the Habas con Jamon (fava beans with serrano ham), olla de San Anton (the pot of San Anton), Andalusian gazpacho, choto al ajillo (a kind of sausage with wrapped intestines) and tortilla of Sacromonte (Sacromonte omelet).

Best Time to Visit Granada

When selecting the best time to visit, you should remember that Andalucia is among the hottest regions of Spain. Although the Moors designed the Alhambra to be an excellent refuge, with fountains and shaded arbors, exploring a historic monument in high summer can still be uncomfortably hot. Preferable seasons for a visit to the Andalucian city are late spring or early fall. At these times, temperatures are usually high, 25 degrees Celsius, warm enough to enjoy an al fresco dinner in a Granada restaurant without being too warm. Visiting outside the peak season also has the advantage of avoiding the large crowds of visitors that descend on Granada during summer vacations. In winter, the city takes on a different aspect, with quieter streets, a chill in the air, and snow on the peaks of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s an ideal time to discover the city’s hidden gems.

Where to stay in Granada?

First of all, Granada offers all types of good-quality accommodation. These places are located in quiet areas but are close to the main monuments and attractions of Granada.

Remember that on weekends from Easter to July, the capacities in Granada are usually packed. Therefore, it might be easier to find a room if you have booked a few weeks ahead. So, in this case, try the surrounding townlets such as Santa Fé (4 km from Granada) or Huétor Vega (1 km from Granada), where finding an affordable place to stay is easier.

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How to get to Granada?

Málaga is the closest international airport to Granada, with many flights. Furthermore, Málaga airport is around 125km from Granada, and it takes about 90 minutes to drive from Malaga to Granada.

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There are direct buses from Málaga airport to Granada bus station. The journey takes 2 hours and a half hours. Furthermore, riding by bus is the cheapest way to reach the city.

The Ave train to Madrid takes about 3 hours. Seville is 4 hours by train and from Malaga around 90 minutes. However, renting a car is the best way to discover Granada and Andalusia.

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Things to do in Granada – Final words

Granada is one of Spain’s most enchanting cities, so no wonder we put it on our list. Many people decide to visit just Alhambra, which is its primary site. Still, Granada has so much more to offer, so we decided to write Things to Do in Granada article for you.

And lastly, share with us your favorite things about this city in the comments. We’d namely love to read them.

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