Curator’s statement
Granada is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Andalusia, Spain. This magical city is famous for its rich Moorish heritage, tapas culture, and stunning architecture. I first visited Granada after living in Spain for just one month, and it left a big impression on my heart. I immediately fell in love with the vibe of this city—it’s something you have to experience and feel for yourself. Any trip to southern Spain is incomplete without spending a few days in Granada, and I hope this guide will help you make the most of this inspiring place.
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Day 1: Explore Granada
Wandering the streets of the Albacin
Whether you arrive by car, train, bus, or plane, you can easily navigate Granada by using local taxis, Uber, or the city bus system.
Check in to your hotel in the city center and then head out on a walking tour to get the lay of the land and start to feel the city’s vibe.
Head to Plaza Nueva and enjoy the city’s streets. From here, you can walk along the Darro River. This beautiful walk is a narrow winding road with views of the river and many historic bridges. You’ll pass the Convento de Santa Catalina de Zafra, where you can buy cookies made by the convent’s nuns to enjoy on your walk
Alternatively, if walking uphill is not for you, then take the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus.
Continue the river walk up to the viewpoint Fuente del Paseo de los Tristes, where you will have a gorgeous view of the famed Alhambra. This is a great spot to stop for a cold drink and a rest before continuing your exploration.
Next, you’ll start walking up the hill to your left and explore Albacin, Granada’s oldest neighborhood. Just wander from here—you really can’t take a wrong turn. Around every corner and down each winding street, you will be greeted by gorgeous historic homes, blossoming patios, and endless views of the city as you climb higher up the hill. Find the Arco de las Pesas to enjoy feeling like you are walking through a Moorish castle.
As you wander, I recommend making your way to Mirador de San Nicolas or Mirador Morente (higher up the hill) for the sunset. This is the best spot in the city to see the Alhambra during the golden hour. Sit and let the magic light dazzle you!
After sunset, walk back down to the city via Calle Caldereria Nueva. This narrow street is humming with tourist shops, Arab tea houses, bars, and spice shops. You’ll feel like you are walking through a chapter of Arabian Nights!
Enjoy a flamenco show in the Sacromonte neighborhood’s caves and learn about the roots of this art form.
Day 2: Tour the Granada Cathedral and Alhambra
Sunset at the Alhambra
Start the day with a tour of the Granada Cathedral. It’s a beautiful cathedral that feels light and uplifting compared to so many of the dark, cold ones in other European cities. This was the first cathedral by children ever saw and now after seeing about 12 others, this is still their favorite one!
From the cathedral, you can walk along the Darro river again and connect with the path that leads up to the Alhambra. Or if you are too tired from your walk yesterday, you can also take a taxi or city bus.
The Alhambra has a variety of tours you can book depending on how much time you want to spend there. This is considered by many to be the 8th wonder of the world, and I could not agree more! You can easily spend half a day wandering through this fortress that includes the incredible Nasrid Palaces. It’s no wonder this is Spain’s most visited monument!
After the Alhambra, take a rest or head to one (or multiple!) of Granadas famed tapas bars. You could also do a tapas bar tour as a great way to get to experience multiple spots as they tend to get VERY busy and have long waits. With a guided tour, you won’t miss out on the best spots to experience tapas culture.
Day 3: Enjoy an ancient bathing experience
Wandering through Granada
Today will be all about enjoying the Hammam Al-Andalus’ famous Arab bath experience. This ancient bath therapy has you alternate between hot and cold baths followed by a relaxing massage.
After enjoying the spa, spend the rest of the day soaking in the beauty of the city by walking through your favorite places again, shopping for souvenirs, or enjoying an Arab tea house such as Caravan Coffee&TeaShop.
Alternatively, if you aren’t one for spas, you can take a tour up into the Sierra Nevada mountains with a driver who will make stops in the little villages along the way
Need to know
Restaurant recommendations
Breakfast:
Stories: A quaint little cafe that has wonderful breakfast and pastries.
Epicureum Cafe: This gorgeous cafe has the best coffee in the city plus a decked-out avocado toast that is a great way to start your day.
Lunch/dinner:
Los Manueles Restaurante Catedral: This traditional Spanish restaurant is located right by the Cathedral and offers a wonderful patio to enjoy when the weather is nice. My favorites were the croquetas and paella.
Perromedio: Tiny and intimate, this is my favorite place to eat in Granada. It feels like stepping into a warm hug! Everything on the menu is spectacular, especially the pork loin with figs in olive oil. Treat yourself to their homemade cheesecake, too. I still dream about it to this day!
Tapas bars:
Bodega Castaneda: This place takes you back in time and is a full Spanish experience! Not only will you enjoy cold drinks and wonderful tapas, but you’ll also be treated to a show. Watching the bartenders and waitstaff fly around this 1920s bar is like seeing a work of art being made. They entertain the crowd while practically jumping over each other as they rush to serve everyone. Definitely sit inside to see all the commotion and feel the true tapas bar vibe.
La Sitarilla: A classic Spanish tavern known for their terrace and tapas. This place is always busy, so make a reservation ahead of time (something your travel advisor can help with!) to be sure you get to enjoy it. You can fill up on the free tapas or order the grilled cuttlefish, an Andalusia specialty.
Traveler tips
Consider seeing Granada during spring, fall, or winter. Summers in southern Spain get very hot!
Book your cathedral and Alhambra tours ahead of time! This is so important and working with a travel advisor will help make sure you get everything planned ahead of time. The Alhambra is known to sell out months in advance.
Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to hike. Granada is a hilly city, especially if you want to walk up to the Alhambra or take in all the hidden corners of the Albacin by foot, both of which I highly recommend. Plan accordingly so you don’t suffer while exploring. Take water with you as well.
Granada is a busy tourist city, so be prepared for crowds, especially during the holidays or before Easter (Holy Week).
For those not familiar with Spain, it is worth mentioning meal times. Typically, breakfast is from 9–11 am. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day from 1–4ishpm, and then dinner or tapas from 8–11 pm.
Another note on time: many stores will close for siesta time each day from 2–5 pm, and restaurants typically close from 5–8 pm. Also, many places are closed on Sundays.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Granada page.
Travel Advisor
Aubrey Glascock
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