10 Things to Do in Granada in January

With the arrival of winter, Granada does not lose its magic, on the contrary. In this wonderful city, full of history and traditions, you will have plenty of options for fun and enriching activities and places of interest in Granada.

Whether you are a fan of history, gastronomy, arts or sports, visiting Granada in January you will be able to experience all this and much more, without rushing, at your own pace and without endless queues to get into the main monuments. Find in this link some of the activities that Granada has for you.

Granada thanks to its geographical location has a very pleasant climate even during the winter months, so outdoor activities can be carried out without any problems.

Also, as it is low season, you won't find thousands of tourists around and this allows you to experience the best of the city without stress. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is the ideal time to do so as the heat in the high season months can be oppressive, whereas January allows you to do and see as much as you want in comfort.

Do you want to know what activities Granada has in store for you in January? Here are the top 10 of the best things to do in Granada in January.

The 2nd of January is commemorated as the day of the Taking of Granada. The city dresses up to remember the day on which the Catholic Monarchs regained control of the city of Granada in 1492.

The celebrations begin with a tribute to the Catholic kings at their tombs, followed by a mass and then a parade through the streets of the city, which ends at the Town Hall. If you happen to be visiting the Alhambra on 2 January, you can hear the ringing of the bells to commemorate this historic event.

If you travel with children to Granada in January there is one activity you can't miss, or your little ones will never forgive you. Every January 6th, the Three Kings Day Parade takes place. This parade is the oldest one in Spain, and has been repeated every year since 1917.

On this day, there is a parade of around twenty floats with decorations alluding to the period, on a route that varies every year but is generally more than 8 kilometres long to avoid crowds of people. It is a spectacle of music, fun and colour that lasts until the evening and in which more than a ton of sweets are distributed among those who attend the show.

When we talk about Granada, the first thing that comes to mind is the marvellous set of monuments, palaces, walls and gardens of the Alhambra. It has been the residence of kings and sultans since the 13th century and dazzles all who visit it.

January is the ideal month to visit the Alhambra as it is huge and there is a lot of walking, so in summer it can be a bit overwhelming. A great advantage is that there is no set entrance time, you can enter at any time and without shifts, except for the Nasrid Palaces which do have shifts. You can buy the most complete ticket for around 15 euros. There are also other options for ticket prices and visits.

If you are passionate about literature, following in the footsteps of Federico García Lorca in the city of Granada is a must. You can visit the most emblematic places related to Lorca scattered throughout the city. There is a lot to see, so it is an excellent idea to do it in January to avoid the sultry heat.

I especially recommend visiting the Huerta de San Vicente, where Lorca wrote many of his most important works and lived his last days of freedom before his arrest and subsequent assassination.

This neighbourhood breathes history. It is the Moorish quarter of Granada and despite its centuries of existence, it still preserves its typical cobbled streets and medieval traces.

There are several cafés and restaurants where you can enjoy the gastronomy of Granada while you take a break from your walks. You can also enjoy incredible views of the Alhambra. In the Albaicín you can buy presents for your family and friends as there are many shops selling typical Granada ceramics.

During the month of January, a walk through the Albaicín is more pleasant thanks to the weather. As it is a medieval quarter, most of the tour must be done on foot and in summer with the high temperatures the walk is not very enjoyable. In winter, on the other hand, you can explore the whole area and also benefit from interesting discounts in the handicraft shops.

It has been more than 600 years since the gypsies first arrived in Spain and settled in what is now the Sacromonte neighbourhood. The mixture of Arab culture and gypsy customs gave birth to the ex libris music of Granada, the Flamenco.

In Sacromonte you will be able to see many traditional flamenco shows in one of the many restaurants, cafés and bars that offer, along with their gastronomic offer, shows of an excellent level.

The great advantage of visiting Sacromonte in January is that you can enter the different venues with flamenco shows without having to make reservations in advance and you can even enter the places that are always busy during the high season.

Granada in January offers its visitors the chance to visit the Sierra Nevada, a place that will take your breath away with its unparalleled beauty. In Sierra Nevada you will be able to enjoy its beautiful landscapes and practice different winter sports.

The Sierra Nevada ski resort is among the best in Europe, with excellent infrastructures and services. In addition to skiing you can also practice other sports such as ice skating, snowboarding and tobogganing, there are sports activities for all tastes.

On the 17th of January, the day of San Antón is celebrated in Granada. This saint, protector of animals, is highly venerated in Granada and is traditionally linked to pork. Olla de San Antón is a dish made with pork, especially on the 17th of January, but can be found on the menu of many restaurants throughout the month.

It is a pot meal, similar to a stew, with many calories, ideal to face the cold of the mountains, it was created centuries ago by the peasants at the time of the slaughter of the pigs and harvesting of the olives to be able to withstand the low temperatures.

Believe it or not, you can enjoy the beach in Granada in January. On the so-called Costa Tropical of Granada there are temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius even in the middle of winter, so it is possible to enjoy a few hours on the beach in the middle of January.

On the Costa Tropical of Granada there are many beaches with sand and clean water that invite you to relax even in winter, and you can tell your friends and family that you skied in the Sierra Nevada and also bathed on a beach on the same day!

Granada is steeped in history and as Spain is one of the most Catholic countries in the world, religion is an important part of Granada's culture.

If you are a fan of religious tourism, you should not miss a visit to the Encarnación Cathedral and the Royal Chapel. The month of January is ideal for these visits because you avoid the huge crowds of tourists in other months and you can appreciate the religious art in all its splendour in good time and without having to wait to get in.

As you can see, Granada in January offers activities for all tastes, sports, history, gastronomy, poetry, music, traditions and lots of fun. There are many advantages if you decide to travel to Granada in January.

On the one hand, you will have the possibility to make the trip of your dreams at a much lower price. Airline tickets are much cheaper at this time of year and hotels also have low season fares because travel prices are greatly reduced in the winter months, especially in January. Many of the attractions also have promotional prices in the low season and you can even take advantage of special packages that some city tour agencies offer at this time of year.

In addition, there are things you can only do in Granada in January and not in other months of the year, such as enjoying some of the city's traditional festivals like the Día de la Toma or the events for New Year's Day and Epiphany. Winter sports are also at their best in January, when the Sierra Nevada is dressed up to welcome snow lovers.

Unlike other European cities, even within Spain itself, Granada has a very friendly climate in winter. During the month of January you will find many sunny days with clear skies. Being a dry climate, the cold is not felt as much as in other regions so you can enjoy many walks and outdoor activities as rain is not very frequent at this time of the year.

At night, temperatures do drop quite a bit, so it's always a good idea to bring a coat if you're going out at night. There may also be frost during the night hours, so remember these details when packing your bags.

In Granada during the summer there are days when temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius, making outdoor activities very difficult. Take the opportunity to visit Granada in January if you want to get to know this wonderful city in total comfort, without rushing, without crowds and with a pleasant climate.