Visit Granada Spain – Best Things to Do

The grand monuments of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation were the primary reason to visit Granada during our vacation in Spain. With lots of forethought and meticulous planning  we focused on just the best things to do in Granada in one day. We had to rush through at some places but we managed to stroll through major tourist attractions in Granada Spain and set off for the road trip to Seville by late evening.

Measuring about 88sqkm Granada can be toured in two days with good planning. If you wish to visit attractions in the outskirts like the Science Park for kids or the Cartuja monastery for the spiritually inclined tourists you should plan to spend 3 days in Granada.

Read on to know the best things to do in Granada Spain. I have shared best tips to see the top attractions and the different accommodation options depending on your budget in Granada.

My One Day Tour of Granada Spain

Here is how our tour of Granada shaped out through the day. After we checked in at the Hotel Universal the previous night, the hotel staff had enquired about our tour plans. When they came to know we hadn’t booked the tickets to Alhambra they were alarmed. They advised us to go very early in the morning as the queue for tickets can get quite long.

It hadn’t occurred to us then the nail biting wait for the tickets we would have the next day. Nevertheless we hit the bed early and set off for Alhambra by 6.30 Am. Read about the tense moments we had here: How We almost did not get the Tickets for Alhambra.

On hindsight had we bought the tickets online we could have saved the two hours we stood in line for the Alhambra tickets.

Hot tip: Book your tickets to Alhambra as the tickets for day sale are limited to just 200. The Alhambra has limited access and is often sold out weeks in advance.

Here is how my tour of Granada shaped out through the day. After we checked in at the hotel the previous night, the hotel staff had enquired about our tour plans. When they came to know we hadn’t booked the tickets to Alhambra they were alarmed. They advised us to go very early in the morning as the queue for tickets can get quite long. It hadn’t occurred to us then the nail biting wait for the tickets we would have the next day.

Nevertheless we hit the bed early and set off for Alhambra by 6.30 AM.

Granada Things to Do

After we got the tickets we set off on a self guided walking tour of the must see attractions of Granada. Here is a list of best things to do in Granada, in one day. All distances to the places mentioned are with Alhambra as reference point. They all are within walking distance.

Granada Cathedral – This cathedral is enormous, beautiful, and tall with graceful columns. Inside the art work and details are lovely. Granada Cathedral is one of the best examples of this architectural style. It is not a free sight; there was an admission fee of 5 Euros per person. We toured inside for an hour, but I would recommend two hours or more to soak in this holy ambiance.

Read more: What to see in Granada Cathedral
Granada Cathedral is 1.9 km from Alhambra, 24 min by walk.

Royal Chapel of Granada – From Granada Cathedral walk towards the Royal Chapel. This is the burial place of the Catholic Monarchs. The Royal Chapel is located between Granada Cathedral, the old Fish Market and the Church of Sagrario. Tickets to Royal Chapel cost 5 Euros per person. Recommended time to tour is 2 hours. We had to give it a miss because it was really a tight schedule for the day.

Stroll through the Piazza and Market Street – We spent time strolling through the historic square, Plaza de Bib-Rambla. It was the center stage of all of Granada’s history. The trail took us through Alcaicería, the old Moorish silk bazaar. We paused at the handicraft and souvenir shops, taking care not to spend too much time (and money).

The facades of the buildings there had little balconies with flowering pots. Not a rare scene, yet a beautiful sight. We enjoyed our stroll through the streets of Granada.

Souvenir Shopping in Granada – The manner in which the souvenir stalls and tea and spices shops were lined up on both sides of streets helped us scan and browse through the variety of stuffs they had. The shop owners are open to tourists scanning through their stuffs and there was no pressure to buy them.

The fridge magnets were mostly themed on Alhambra. There were colorful scarves, capes, and laces. All weren’t expensive; there will be something or other to suit your budget.

…munching on small eats

I splurged on some snacks even though I was full after the breakfast. Whole beans, carrot and potato slices, all lightly salted: they were so tasty and crunchy. We bought 100gms of different varieties and it was hard to decide which was tastier. Between the four of us the whole pack vanished in no time. Only the pics remain and along with that some nice memories.

At one spot I was intrigued by the rows of black leather bags. On asking the sales person he explained it can be used as water bottle in broken English, at least that is what I deciphered from his speech.

Leather water bags for travelers as souvenirs

Mirador de San Nicolas – Ever since ex-US president Bill Clinton visited Mirador de San Nicolas in 1997 and said it has “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, the place has become a must-see for tourists. The viewpoint here is scenic. Weekends and evenings are quite crowded.

Imagine this amazing scene: the location facing the Alhambra and the Generalife, the city sights stretching below, and the magnificent Sierra Nevada in the background. It is a place full of history, filled with quaint narrow streets, a small outdoor market, old stoned cobblestone streets, stairs and sidewalks – worth exploring.

You can drive to Mirador de San Nicolas or walk up the hill through some very pretty little Albayzin streets. It is at a distance of 1.6 km from Alhambra, walking time of 24 min.

Lunch at Taversa Divisa Blanca, read –> how I paid 5 Euros for just ‘salt and pepper’.

Cartuja Monastery – This was formerly a Roman cemetery. In 1506 the Great Captain donated land to the monks for building their own monastery. The ceilings of the monastery are absolutely breathtaking, one main reason to add it to your itinerary.

Alhambra to Cartuja Monastery is 13.4 km a circuitous road if you drive (6-8 Euros by taxi from city center). It is at a walking distance of 3.5 km, time taken 47 min to an hour. The monastery is open to tourists on Thursday, Friday and Sunday: 10:00 – 14:00. And Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00. We were touring Granada on Tuesday hence missed visiting it.

Sacromonte – Cave houses of Sacromonte are must see sights. A large group of Roma, the Spanish gypsies (also known as Gitanos) settled here in the 15th century. They made cave homes in the hills. Even today you will find modern gypsies in these caves. Sacromonte is also known as the place of origin of Spanish Flamenco, a dance created by Spain’s Romani community.

Take bus up to the Abbey in the hills. Get to the viewpoints to enjoy the most amazing views of Granada and the Alhambra. Or you can just walk up and down the streets, stroll around, explore and observe. Visit the Ethnographic Museum of the Sacromonte Caves. It is rich with information on what the habitat and lifestyle was like. Tickets are: 5 Euros per person.

Sacromonte is located 1.5 km north of Alhambra, a walking time of 23 min. It is 750 m from Mirador de San Nicolas.

Visit Granada Spain

Watch Flamenco Dance – An absolute must do thing in Spain. Flamenco dance is inspired by the Andalusian gypsy culture. What better place to watch it than its place of origin in Granada.

To visit the flamenco shows it is necessary to book in advance which we missed out. But we made up for it in Seville. Do read about here – Flamenco Dance Show in Seville

Carmen de los Martires Garden – This is very close to Alhambra, a walkable distance of 500 m, that can be covered in 3 min. Touring the garden will take an hour or more. It is a treat for eyes! Just in case you run short of time and miss visiting this garden, fret not. The Generalife Garden in Alhambra should more than compensate you for this loss.

Alhambra Granada – Coming all the way to Granada and not making a visit to Alhambra would be a sin! Seriously! Alhambra is the must see sight in Granada. Give everything else a miss but not Alhambra, particularly Nasrid Palaces! Those who have seen it will agree with me. Tickets are on the expensive side but nevertheless worth every penny!

Do read detailed information on Alhambra here:

Nasrid Palaces Granada
Charles V Palace Granada
Alcazaba Fortress Alhambra
Flowers of Alhambra Gardens

How many days for Granada?

Definitely one day for Granada will be less if you want to do justice to the beautiful city. Plan full two or three days so that this itinerary can be spaced out well and also you are able to include more sight. But if Alhambra is your prime destination, then one day should suffice for Granada.

Is Granada safe for tourists?

We toured the city feeling absolutely safe. But then, it is always wise to be cautious of your personal belongings. Petty thefts and pickpockets do occur.

What not to miss in Granada Spain

Andalusia region of Spain has the most number of heritage sites. When you plan the visit to Granada for 2 to 3 days you can consider including day trips to other cities around. Visit other highlights of Andalusia such as the cities of Malaga, Cordoba and Seville. Read more:

Cordoba: Places to Visit
Seville Free Things to Do
Malaga – Top Attractions and Things to Do

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Granada Things to Do Spain

Alhambra Generalife Gardens Granada Spain
How we almost did not get the Alhambra Tickets

40 Responses to “Visit Granada Spain – Best Things to Do

  • Jitaditya
    6 years ago

    Wonderful to views… Granada feels like a completely unique world on its own. Leather bags I am sure are more ecofriendly than a plastic bottle. Lightly salted vegetables! Wish everyone sold such healthy snacks.

  • The colors of this city are stunning. What a great place to spend an afternoon walking. Do you know how the beans and carrots are prepared? I’ve never seen any dried that still keep their color like that.

  • Ami Bhat
    6 years ago

    If I ever go here, the first thing that I will buy is one of those Fridge magnets. They are uber cute. Followed by those water bottles. They are so unusual. I know that they would make great gifts as well. I am glad you shared these street scenes for a lot of us tend to miss those out in the quest for the bigger sights.

  • We spent all our time in the Granada Alhambra and hardly had a chance to explore the streets of the town. Now I know what we missed. Maybe next time we are closer to the town..

  • I’ve wanted to visit Granada for so long, mainly because of the Alahambra Palace, but it is amazing to know that the streets are so beautiful and full of life too! I love the leather water bottles, I’ve never seen something like that before and they’d surely make a unique present or souvenir!

  • The dry kiwi fruits are sweet. Isn’t it? I like this kind of snack anytime during the day, munching on small bites! Granada Spain is a calming pretty city to explore. The facades is too cute to take a picture of.

  • It looks like such a beautiful place to explore. I’d be nibbling away on those veggie snacks all day long too!

  • I would eat those veggie snacks all day long (and convince myself that I was being healthy).

  • It’s easy to see how charming the streets of Granada are by reading your post. I am also always thrilled by the souvenirs, magnets, local snacks.
    But you know what’s interesting? 🙂 Being from Europe, when I go to the Middle East or Asia, I usually get the feeling that it’s better not to ask for the price, because the shopkeeper is probably going to take all the shop inside out for me and I would have to buy something, because I’d be embarrassed not to after all that effort of his. (That’s how I ended up with some viagra-like herbs in one of the Syrian souks years ago, even though being – a female! 😀 )
    And there you are here, in the South of Spain, saying that the shopkeeper “didn’t mind” you asking about the product. Don’t you just love these small “differences”! 🙂

  • Heading over to Granada in a few days for two weeks. This post has got me even more excited about my trip!

  • This just made me smile. Your style of writing makes me feel like you understand the type of experiences we people are hoping to have. I’ve spend two days reading your articles and jotting down every place we’ll be and have also written your recommendation. Thanks for writing that upgraded my research on Granada-tour.

  • Indrani leather water bags have been very useful in Rajasthan–they keep water cool.I think they must be in use in rural areas even today.

  • Wonderful informative post,with colourful images of stalls lining the road,beautiful facades of buildings,cruchy snacks and beautiful embroidery.

  • A good Post Indrani.. Nice to know about your Travel experiences!

  • So many varieties of tea, phew! Loved those magnets. It is wonderful to read your travel experiences and here the clicks are so colorful..loved these 🙂

  • Simply Marvelous.

  • Wonderful street photography Indrani.

  • Enjoyed reading your experience about strolling in the streets of granada. And lovely, colorful pictures 🙂

  • Wow! Great place. Wonderful captures!

  • Beautiful images Indrani!

  • Beautiful photos ! I have never been in Granada.

  • Hello Indrani, I enjoyed your description of your tour of Granada. The balconies are beautiful and I love the street vendors like the blends of tea. Wonderful post, thanks for sharing your trip! Have a happy weekend!

  • Awesome photos..

  • Wow, Strolling and capturing the daily life in a foreign land is an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing with us 🙂

  • Excellent shots.Mouthdrooling snacks.Love those magnets.

  • so colorful and nice 🙂

  • Colourful Spain, love it.

  • This post has one of the best collection of images at a single place ….Loved each and everyone 🙂

  • Your pics made me go crazy for Spain

  • Very informative post about the street side shops of Granada in Spain.different variants of tea are really for me a tea addict . The designer leather bottles are there to show but these were also present in India , infact in my area of Aligarh (UP). But now these are almost meaningless and nobody used these items. it you can give me time to tell bout it . These were actually used by water carriers mostly at the time of wheat crops in april -may to water those farmers who were working in their fields under the sunshine. in the form of cost they took some kilograms of wheat from the landlord. I was usually present there with my parents in fields but still remember.

  • Nice article with such lovely street pics 🙂

  • Very informative post about the street side shops of Granada in Spain.

  • Loved the water bottles, fridge magnets and the yummy snacks!! I want to visit!!

  • colourful post

  • You have evoked nice memories of the place. Each of these pics are reminding me of Spain. I have similar magnet, have munched on those snacks and yes strolled as well. 🙂

  • nice street pics Indrani. Strolling on the streets is an enjoyable experience in Europe and UK as there is ample space to walk on the footpaths. 🙂

  • Ravish Mani
    9 years ago

    A vivid description of strolling through beautiful clicks. 🙂

  • Beautiful street side photos. Great.

  • Marvelous, colorful captures for the day, Indrani!! And they bring me so many wonderful memories of my time in Granada!! Thanks so much for sharing!! Wishing you a lovely weekend!!

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