Granada is built around the Alhambra, the Nasrid palace-fortress on its hill, with the Albaicín, Spain's old Moorish quarter, spread across the valley opposite. Add Sacromonte's cave flamenco and the tradition of a free tapa with every drink, and you have one of the most rewarding small cities in Spain. Here are the best things to do in Granada, with the practical detail that matters.
The best things to do in Granada start with the Alhambra; plan the main sights around it, then spread the rest across the Albaicín, the city center and the hills. If you are building a wider route, our Spain itinerary shows where Granada fits, and things to do in Seville covers the other great Andalusian city.
The Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces
The Alhambra is a hilltop fortress-palace city built largely by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries, and it is among the most visited monuments in Spain. It has three parts: the Nasrid Palaces, with carved stucco, tilework and muqarnas ceilings around quiet courtyards; the Alcazaba, the military fortress with views over the city; and the Generalife, the royal country estate and gardens. Give it a full morning or afternoon, and allow extra time for the walk between the entrance and the palaces.
Alhambra tickets: how to book
Book on the official site, tickets.alhambra-patronato.es, and do it as early as your dates allow, because popular days sell out.
- General ticket. The complete visit: Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife.
- Gardens ticket. Covers the gardens, the Generalife and the Alcazaba, but not the palaces. A sensible fallback if palace slots are gone.
- Night visits. Offered separately for the Nasrid Palaces and for the gardens; confirm what is currently on sale.
The Nasrid Palaces are timed-entry. The entry time is printed on your ticket and you can only go in at that time, so arrive at the palaces ahead of it. The rest of the complex can be seen during general opening hours. Prices and opening hours change by season, so check them on the official site rather than relying on a guide, including this one.
Generalife gardens
The Generalife stands on the hillside above the palaces and was the Nasrid rulers' summer retreat. Its long Court of the Water Channel, with arching jets over a central canal, is the best known space, and the terraced orchards and rose-lined walks reward a slow stroll. It sits outside the timed palace slot, so it works well before or after your palace entry. Late afternoon, when the light softens, is the loveliest time.
Albaicín: Granada's old Moorish quarter
Across the Darro valley, the Albaicín is a hillside of steep cobbled lanes, whitewashed walls and hidden carmenes, the walled garden houses of old Granada. It is part of the Alhambra's UNESCO World Heritage listing. Calle Calderería Nueva, lined with teterías serving mint tea and Moroccan sweets, is the liveliest lane. Wear flat shoes and let yourself get lost; the streets climb steeply, and a small local bus also loops through the quarter if your legs tire.
Sunset viewpoints
The Mirador de San Nicolás is the classic spot: from its terrace the Alhambra glows against the Sierra Nevada, and a few musicians and a lot of visitors gather at dusk. Arrive well before sunset to claim a place on the wall. For a quieter view, walk up to the Mirador de San Cristóbal, higher in the Albaicín, or look back at the palace from Paseo de los Tristes beside the river. Start with a late-afternoon walk up the Albaicín and let the sunset be the end of it.
Sacromonte caves and flamenco
Beyond the Albaicín, the Sacromonte hillside is dotted with whitewashed cave homes, long associated with Granada's Romani community and its zambra style of dance. Evening shows are staged in cave venues, among them Zambra María la Canastera and Cueva La Rocío. The rooms hold only a few dozen people, so you sit within a few meters of the dancers and the guitar, which a large stage cannot reproduce. Book ahead, and ask whether transport or a drink is included.
Best tapas streets in Granada
In most traditional Granada bars, a drink arrives with a free small plate, and the kitchen chooses what you get. Order a caña or a glass of wine and the tapa might be a montadito, a stew, jamón or something fried. Round two usually brings a bigger, different plate. Good areas to graze:
- Calle Navas and Plaza Nueva. Central and busy. Los Diamantes on Calle Navas, open since the 1940s, is known for fried fish.
- Calle Elvira. Lively, student-friendly bars on the edge of the Albaicín.
- Realejo. The old Jewish quarter below the Alhambra, with more local crowds and fewer tour groups.
Offers change from bar to bar, and the free tapa is the bar's choice, not yours. If you want more guidance, a guided tapas walk is an easy way to find the better counters.
Royal Chapel and Granada Cathedral
The Capilla Real is the burial place of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, the Catholic Monarchs who took Granada in 1492, alongside their daughter Joanna and her husband Philip. The sacristy displays royal regalia and part of Isabella's collection of Flemish paintings. Next door, the cathedral, begun in the early 16th century on the site of the city's main mosque, has a rotunda-style main chapel attributed to Diego de Siloé, giving it a lighter, rounder interior than most Spanish Gothic cathedrals. Visit them on the same outing; they stand side by side, and together they make a good rainy-day stop.
Walk the Carrera del Darro
The Carrera del Darro follows the Darro river through the gorge between the Albaicín and the Alhambra hill. It is one of the prettiest strolls in Spain, with old stone bridges, Renaissance houses and the 11th-century Arab baths of El Bañuelo. Entry rules and ticketing for the baths have changed over time, so check the current arrangements with the Alhambra Patronato before planning a visit. The walk continues to Paseo de los Tristes, where cafes have terrace seating under the walls of the Alhambra.
Monasterio de la Cartuja
On the northern edge of the city, the Carthusian monastery is best known for its sacristy, finished in the 18th century, an exuberant Spanish Baroque interior in which marble and richly worked surfaces cover almost everything. It is out of the way, which keeps it far quieter than the city-center sights. Take a taxi or a bus and combine it with a stop in the nearby university district.
How many days in Granada
You can cover the main things to do in Granada in two days; three lets you add a day trip or slow down.
- One day. Alhambra in the morning with your timed palace slot, a late lunch of tapas, then the Albaicín and San Nicolás at sunset.
- Two days. Add the Capilla Real and cathedral, the Carrera del Darro, an evening of Sacromonte flamenco and a longer tapas crawl through Realejo or Calle Elvira.
- Three days. Add the Cartuja or a day trip to the Sierra Nevada, the Alpujarras or Guadix. If you are choosing a season, see our guide to the best time to visit Spain.
Day trips from Granada
Sierra Nevada
The mountains above the city hold Spain's southernmost ski area, and the season typically runs from around December to April, depending on snow. A regional bus links Granada's bus station with the resort base for ski days, and in summer the high routes suit hikers; the peak of Mulhacén, at 3,479 meters, is the highest in mainland Spain. Check the operator's current schedule before you travel.
Las Alpujarras
On the southern slopes, whitewashed villages such as Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira cling to the valley sides, with flat-roofed houses and tall chimney pots. The area sheltered Moriscos after the Reconquista and keeps a distinct, almost North African character. Regional buses serve the villages from Granada, but the connections are infrequent, so many visitors take a guided day trip or hire a driver.
Guadix
East of Granada, the town of Guadix has a district of cave homes that people still live in, and a small museum house you can tour. It is reachable by regional bus or on a guided excursion, and it makes an easy half-day or day out.
Plan the rest of Spain
Pair Granada with Seville and Córdoba using our best places to visit in Spain, then see where to stay in Spain and the Spain destination guide as you build the route.