13 Best Things To Do in Granada

There are few places with more charm and beauty than Granada to enjoy a special getaway. Its fascinating history, its magnificent art, its delicious tapas and the joy of its people are all reasons enough to discover the city with the most beautiful sunset on the planet.

In the capital of the ancient Nasrid kingdom there are many dream places to see. Here are some of them!

The Alhambra is a cultural reference point for Hispano-Muslim art in the West and one of the most beautiful monuments in Spain. There is no doubt that it is the first monument that you have to see when you arrive in Granada.

The Alhambra is a jaw-droppingjewel of universal art and it is logical that it arouses the interest of millions of travellers who head to Andalusia to admire the charms and beautiful views of this ancient Andalusian palatine city.

How to visit the Alhambra in Granada?

Given its immense extension and its large number of spaces, my advice is to book a guided tour of the Alhambra to visit the entire monumental complex without missing any detail, learning about its history.

Many of the secrets of the Alhambra in Granada would go unnoticed without the help of a guide, as there is so much to see in this unique monument.

How to book your tickets?

I recommend getting tickets for the Alhambra in Granada at least a month or two in advance of your travel date, as it is a very popular monument with limited places that tend to sell out quickly.

Getting the most out of the Alhambra

To see the Alhambra, Spain's most visited monument, it is advisable to find out everything you need to know before you go. Take a look at these posts where I give you the best tips to get to know the Alhambra:

• Ticket prices of the Alhambra
• Night visits to the Alhambra
• Timetable of the Alhambra in Granada
• Duration of the Alhambra Tour
• Visit the Alhambra in Granada with children
• Where to eat near the Alhambra
• How to get to the Alhambra
• How to get free or discounted tickets to the Alhambra
• Tickets to visit the Generalife in Granada
• Tickets to visit the Nasrid Palaces of Granada

Another of the essential things to do in Granada during a getaway is to contemplate the sunset from the San Nicolás viewpoint. "The most beautiful in the world" according to Bill Clinton, President of the United States, during a fleeting visit to the Andalusian city in 1997.

He wasn't wrong! From here you will have the best panoramic view of the Alhambra in Granada with the imposing Sierra Nevada in the background. You will also enjoy unbeatable views of the Nasrid palaces, the Alcazaba and the Generalife.

In fact, the views are wonderful at any time of day, but the sensation of watching the sun slowly set behind the Alhambra as it colours its walls, towers and palaces in reddish tones is simply magical.

How to get to the San Nicolás viewpoint?

This viewpoint is located in the highest part of the Albaicín neighbourhood in Granada. You can get there by walking up the Paseo de los Tristes or by bus on lines C1 or C2.

Another option is to cross the Plaza Larga and take the Alhacaba slope. And of course, you can always book a tour of the Albaicín to get there in the company of a guide and a group of tourists.

The Albaicín and Sacromonte neighbourhoods are two of the most fascinating and ancient places to explore during your trip to the capital of the Nasrid kingdom.

In fact, if you haven't walked through them many people say that you can't say you've been to Granada because this is the soul of the city.

If you are one of those travellers who love to get to know a city by getting lost in its streets to discover its most authentic and real side, one of the things to do in Granada that I highly recommend is to book a tour of the Albaicín and Sacromonte.

It is true that the Alhambra is the queen of all eyes, but during my trip to Granada, one of the biggest surprises I had was to contemplate the majesty of the cathedral, the second largest cathedral in Spain and a must-see in the city.

At the end of the Reconquest, the Catholic Monarchs chose the site of the city's main mosque to build this temple as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity over Islam and over the last Muslim kingdom in Spain.

You can simply go inside and visit it or book a tour of Granada Cathedral to learn all about its history and architecture.

Why visit Granada Cathedral?

There are many churches in the city, but this cathedral is an icon because it is one of the greatest works of the Spanish Renaissance. It is also a temple that impresses with its sheer size and the sight of it towering over the centre of Granada is an unforgettable sight for the traveller.

Dedicated to Santa María de la Encarnación, the cathedral is impressive on the outside because of its towers and its great baroque façade, although, in my opinion, it is the interior decoration that takes your breath away.

Everything about it is spellbinding.

Attached to the cathedral is the Royal Chapel, a space for history lovers. Here you will find the Gothic-style tomb where the remains of the Catholic Monarchs, their daughter Juana I of Castile, her husband Philip the Handsome and their grandson, the infant Michael of Portugal, rest.

The history of the city has been closely linked to the Catholic Monarchs since they arrived in Granada in 1482 to complete the Reconquest of Spain. After the victory, the couple decided to dedicate their lives forever to Granada and build their tomb chapel here.

You can also take the opportunity to visit the Museum-Sacristy of the Royal Chapel inside. In this case I also recommend that you book a visit to the Royal Chapel and the Cathedral, otherwise the experience will not be the same.

It is difficult not to be overwhelmed by the beauty of this unique natural landscape, full of springs and dotted with a multitude of picturesque white villages hidden in deep valleys at an altitude of more than 1,200 metres.

Visiting the Alpujarras is a wonderful opportunity to delve into the history of the last Moorish populations that inhabited Spain and to enjoy a day outdoors doing something different.

Once there, you can take the opportunity to explore the Sierra Nevada Natural Park, home to the highest mountain range in southern Europe and the imposing Mulhacén peak - the highest in the Iberian Peninsula!

How is the excursion to the Alpujarras?

I highly recommend you to book a day trip to the Alpujarras, as everything is organised for you to relax and make the most of this trip to nature.

You can visit some of the most beautiful villages of the Alpujarras such as Bubión, Capileira and Pampaneira, Pórtugos, Lanjarón and Trevélez (the best producer of Serrano ham in the Alpujarras), among many others.

Other places to visit during your trip to Granada

If you have a few days to travel, it might be the perfect opportunity to visit other Andalusian cities. For this reason, here are some suggestions and I'll explain how to get to charming places such as Nerja or Cordoba.

Tapas in Spain is an art form, but in Granada it's something out of this world. And if you ask me about the essential things to do in Granada, you can never miss going out for tapas in the city centre.

For those who don't know, tapas in Granada works like this: you go to a bar, order a drink and with it you get a free tapa. It's as easy as that! In fact, you can eat tapas for lunch and dinner for less money than in a restaurant.

But the trick to tapas in Granada is to know where to go so that the quality of the tapas is strong. For example, there are places where you can choose your tapas with your drink, places where you will be assigned the tapas you want and bars where the quality of the tapas you are served will increase as you order drinks.

Where to go out for tapas in Granada?

• Taberna Gamboa (Calle Lepanto, 11)
• Los Diamantes (Calle Navas, 28)
• Bella Kurva (Calle San Jerónimo, 19)
• Bodegas Castañeda (Calle Almireceros 1-3)
• La Bella y la Bestia (Calle Cárcel Baja, 14)
• La Sitarilla (Calle San Miguel Alta, 7).

At the end of your tapas tour, what about booking a flamenco show in Granada? It's the perfect plan.

If after so much sightseeing around the city you feel tired and need a break to recharge your batteries, I suggest you book a visit to the Arab baths in Granada to enjoy the ancient Andalusian hammam ritual and all its health properties.

It's amazing! If you have never been to the hammam before, this trip to the ancient Nasrid kingdom can be a good opportunity to have fun with an original and different plan to do in Granada.

What are the Arab baths in Granada?

It is not a typical spa, but the Arab baths are characterised by bringing to the present the philosophy of the traditional hammam that was practised in Al-Andalus during the Middle Ages.

Moreover, its Andalusian-style decoration creates a very pleasant and intimate atmosphere.

Why do I recommend this activity?

If there is one thing that fascinated me about the hammam ritual, it was the relaxed atmosphere you can feel in its rooms, where time seems to stand still and silence reigns, only interrupted by the murmur of the water in the thermal pools.

Your senses will be awakened by the perfumed air and the Andalusian music playing lightly in the background. You will feel for a moment that you have travelled back to the splendour of ancient Al-Andalus!

There are many ways to get to know Granada, but doing it on board a tourist bus is a comfortable and easy way to see its main tourist attractions.

In my experience, you will enjoy the visit much more and you will learn a lot about history, art, legends and curiosities, as they usually have an audio guide.

I recommend you to book a place on the Granada tourist train to avoid running out of seats and to start organising your route based on what you are going to see on it.

There is nothing better than going to Calle Calderería Nueva in the Albaicín neighbourhood to enjoy an authentic Moorish tea and the best Arab pastries in the city.

Also known as Calle de las Teterías, this place is full of shops with some of the goods on display outside, reminiscent of the souks of the Middle East, but without leaving Granada.

As well as sipping tea in its Andalusian-style premises, you can also take the opportunity to buy some souvenirs of your stay in the ancient capital of the Nasrid kingdom. There's a bit of everything! From postcards, shishas and lamps to sarongs, bags and costume jewellery. You're sure to find what you're looking for.

If you are looking for thrills during your trip and you don't have vertigo, one of the best things to do in Granada is to take a balloon ride.

Can you imagine flying over the city at dawn while you have a bird's eye view of the Alhambra, the Albaicín neighbourhood, the Sacromonte caves and the Sierra Nevada? Aboard the balloon you will see the city from a privileged and unusual perspective, one that very few people get to know.

No one who has not ridden in a balloon before can describe that feeling of floating gently in the air, letting yourself be carried through the wonderful blue sky of Granada as the city begins to awaken and the sun radiates an incandescent glow over the mountains.

Granada is a unique city in itself, but one of the places that contribute to give it that magical air is the Paseo de los Tristes, one of the most beautiful and historic corners of the Nasrid city.

It is a beautiful avenue that follows the course of the Darro River between the Chirimías and Aljibillo bridges and has privileged views of the Alhambra at its foot.

The fame of the Paseo de los Tristes is well deserved as it is one of the most beautiful and bohemian places to see in Granada for a romantic stroll, especially in the moonlight and among the surrounding vegetation.

Did you know that...?

Its official name is Paseo del Padre Manjón but it is nicknamed this way because it used to be the way to the city's cemetery and the scene of sad funeral processions.

Although Granada is a small city, it is home to an unrivalled architectural and artistic heritage. It's no wonder that the cultural and museum offer in the city is so varied and wide-ranging - there's something for everyone! Here are some of my favourites:

• The Museum of Fine Arts: it is the most important art gallery in the city with pieces dating from the 15th to the 20th century.
• Museum of the Alhambra: here you can see the Hispano-Muslim art objects recovered from the Alhambra and the Generalife.
• Archaeological Museum: it houses the archaeological finds of different peoples (Iberians, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs) who left their mark on Granada.
• Casa de los Tiros (House of the Shots): it traces the history and traditions of Granada through images, engravings, paintings, bibliographic collections, plans and pieces of local craftsmanship.
• Manuel de Falla House-Museum: it is the place where the composer lived and you can see his personal objects, the original furniture, his piano, among others.
• Lorca House-Museum: it was the summer residence that the poet Federico García Lorca had on the outskirts of the city and where he wrote works such as "Romancero Gitano" or "La casa de Bernarda Alba".
• Science Park of Granada: it is the first interactive science museum in Andalusia and a highly recommended plan to do with the family.

Visiting this beautiful Andalusian city will be magical whenever you go, but if you organise your trip with the best possible plans according to the time of year, you are sure to have an unforgettable trip. Read on to find out what the best activities are:

• 10 things to do in Granada in summer
• 10 things to do in Granada in autumn
• 10 things to do in Granada in winter
• Or, if you are thinking about going at Christmas, here is this post: 10 things to see and do in Granada at Christmas time.

Maybe you prefer to know which are the best months to visit Granada:

• 10 things to do in Granada in January
• 10 things to do in Granada in August
• 10 things to do in Granada in September
• 10 things to do in Granada in October
• 10 things to do in Granada in December