Cidade Turismo
Spain
Granada

Andaluzia · Spain

Granada

The city of the Alhambra, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, with the Albaicín's Moorish streets and bars where a tapa usually comes with the drink.

South

In the photo: Palácio do Partal in the Alhambra

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Granada lies in the eastern part of Andalusia, at about 700 meters above sea level, between the Darro and Genil rivers and at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. It was the capital of the Nasrid kingdom, the last Muslim state on the Iberian Peninsula, until its conquest by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492.

From that period comes the Alhambra, a palatial city built from 1238 on the Sabika hill. It and the Generalife were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984, and the Albaicín neighborhood opposite was included in 1994. The Christian city left the Cathedral, the Capilla Real with the tombs of Isabel and Fernando, and monasteries such as San Jerónimo and the Cartuja.

Visiting the Alhambra requires planning. The ticket is nominal and must be shown together with the original ID, and entry to the Palacios Nazaríes is at a fixed time that cannot be changed. In high season the palace time slots usually sell out in advance, so it's worth buying the ticket before you finalize accommodation.

The climate is one of contrasts. From June to August the afternoons are very hot and dry.

Dinner starts after 21:00, and going for tapas at night around the center and the Albaicín is part of the city's routine.

This destination brings together 1 city: Granada.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Granada is
Granada

Contornos: IGN/CNIG, unidades administrativas, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Granada

✈ Aeropuerto Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén (GRX), in Chauchina · 19 km to Granada

By train there are direct high-speed services from Madri, departing from Atocha, taking about 3h15 to Granada station. Granada-Jaén airport (GRX) has few flights and is about 19 km from the center. The Málaga and Madri airports are commonly used entry points. Check before buying.

The local experience

Things to do in Granada

Alhambra
Granada · Andaluzia · Palace

Alhambra

Palatial city of the Nasrid kings on the Sabika hill, with the Alcazaba fortress and the Palacios Nazaríes, where the Patio de los Arrayanes and the Patio de los Leones are located. World Heritage Site since 1984.

Generalife
Granada · Andaluzia · Garden

Generalife

Country retreat of the Nasrid sultans on the slope of the Cerro del Sol, next to the Alhambra, with the Patio de la Acequia, the Patio del Ciprés de la Sultana and terraced gardens overlooking the Albaicín.

Palacio de Carlos V
Granada · Andaluzia · Palace

Palacio de Carlos V

Renaissance palace within the Alhambra, with a square plan and circular courtyard, designed by Pedro Machuca for Emperor Charles V. It houses the Museo de la Alhambra and the Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada.

Albaicín
Granada · Andaluzia · Historic neighborhood

Albaicín

A Moorish-origin neighbourhood on the hill opposite the Alhambra, with stone streets, white houses with walled gardens—the cármenes—and cisterns from the Nasrid period. World Heritage since 1994.

See 14 more places in Granada
Mirador de San Nicolás
Granada · Andaluzia · Observation deck

Mirador de San Nicolás

Square at the top of the Albaicín, next to the church of San Nicolás, with the best-known view of the Alhambra and the Generalife, and the Sierra Nevada in the background.

Sacromonte
Granada · Andaluzia · Historic neighborhood

Sacromonte

A neighbourhood of cave houses dug into the slope of the Darro valley, birthplace of Granadan flamenco, with the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte and views of the Alhambra.

Catedral de Granada
Granada · Andaluzia · Cathedral

Catedral de Granada

Renaissance cathedral dedicated to the Incarnation, begun in 1523 and redesigned by Diego de Siloé, with a circular presbytery under a dome and a façade by Alonso Cano.

Capilla Real de Granada
Granada · Andaluzia · Church

Capilla Real de Granada

Gothic chapel built between 1505 and 1517 to bury the Catholic Monarchs, with marble tombs of Isabel and Ferdinand, of Joanna and Philip, a crypt and a museum housing Early Netherlandish painting.

Alcaicería y Plaza de Bib-Rambla
Granada · Andaluzia · Market

Alcaicería y Plaza de Bib-Rambla

Former silk market of Nasrid Granada, today a maze of alleys with craft shops, next to Plaza de Bib-Rambla, a rectangular square with the Fuente de los Gigantes and flower stalls.

Corral del Carbón
Granada · Andaluzia · Monument

Corral del Carbón

Former inn and merchants' warehouse from the 14th century, the only alhóndiga nazari preserved intact on the Iberian Peninsula, with a decorated portal and a vestibule covered with muqarnas.

El Bañuelo
Granada · Andaluzia · Monument

El Bañuelo

11th-century Arab bath on Carrera del Darro, with vaulted rooms and star-shaped skylights.

Carrera del Darro y Paseo de los Tristes
Granada · Andaluzia · Street

Carrera del Darro y Paseo de los Tristes

Stone-paved street that runs along the Darro river, between Plaza Nueva and Paseo de los Tristes, with old bridges, Moorish houses and views of the Alhambra's walls.

Monasterio de San Jerónimo
Granada · Andaluzia · Monastery

Monasterio de San Jerónimo

Renaissance monastery from the 16th century, largely the work of Diego de Siloé, where the Gran Capitán is buried; it has a main altarpiece by Pablo de Rojas and two cloisters.

Monasterio de la Cartuja
Granada · Andaluzia · Monastery

Monasterio de la Cartuja

Carthusian monastery begun in 1506, with an austere interior and a church, a Sagrario, and a sacristy in exuberant Baroque by Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo and Antonio Palomino.

Carmen de los Mártires
Granada · Andaluzia · Garden

Carmen de los Mártires

The largest carmen in Granada, with over seven hectares of romantic gardens, a 19th-century small palace, a lake with an island and views over the city, the Vega and the Sierra Nevada.

Huerta de San Vicente
Granada · Andaluzia · Museum

Huerta de San Vicente

Summer house of Federico García Lorca's family from 1926 to 1936, now a house-museum with furniture, objects and artworks from the period, in the middle of Parque Federico García Lorca.

Parque de las Ciencias
Granada · Andaluzia · Museum

Parque de las Ciencias

Interactive science museum opened in 1995, with pavilions on the human body, the Earth and the Universe, a planetarium and outdoor area — a good program for families.

Estación de Esquí y Montaña de Sierra Nevada
Granada · Andaluzia · Mountain

Estación de Esquí y Montaña de Sierra Nevada

The southernmost ski resort in Europe and the highest in Spain, about 30 km from Granada, with the village of Pradollano at 2,100 meters and a snow season that typically runs from December to April.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From March to May and from September to November temperatures are usually pleasant for climbing the slopes of the Albaicín and the Alhambra. From June to August the afternoons are very hot. From December to February it is cold, especially at night, and the Sierra Nevada often has snow for skiing. Holy Week and Corpus Christi crowd the city.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days are the comfortable minimum: one for the Alhambra and the Generalife, another for the Cathedral, the Capilla Real, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte. With three days you can add the Cartuja, San Jerónimo, Lorca's house and, in winter, a day of snow at the Sierra Nevada.

Which city to stay in

The center, between the Cathedral, Plaza Nueva and the Gran Vía de Colón, leaves almost everything within walking distance and has buses to the Alhambra and the Albaicín. The Albaicín overlooks the Alhambra and has very steep cobbled streets, bad for luggage. The Realejo, between the center and the Alhambra hill, is residential and has many tapas bars. Travelers arriving by train and continuing their journey can stay near the station, about 1.5 km from the Cathedral. The historic center is closed to private cars.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Granada

How far in advance should I buy the Alhambra ticket?

As early as possible. Advance sales are done on the official ticket website and by phone, and in high season the time slots for the Palacios Nazaríes usually sell out quickly. Ticket offices only sell for the same day, subject to availability. The ticket is nominal: provide the passport number when buying and bring the original ID on the day. Date and time cannot be changed after purchase.

How many days should you stay in Granada?

Two days allow you to see the Alhambra at a relaxed pace in one day and the center, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte on the other. Three days add the Cartuja, the Monasterio de San Jerónimo, the Huerta de San Vicente and the Parque de las Ciencias, or a day in the snow at the Sierra Nevada when the season is open.

Does it snow in Granada? Can you ski near the city?

Snow in the city is rare, but winters are cold. The Sierra Nevada ski resort is about 30 km away, and the season usually runs from December to April depending on snow. There is a regular bus from Granada's bus station. Check piste openings before you go.

Is it true that a tapa comes with the drink in Granada?

In many bars, yes. It is a local custom to serve a tapa with each drink ordered, and in some bars the offering becomes more elaborate from the second round. Outside kitchen hours, which are usually at lunch and from around 20:00, the tapa may be just olives or potato chips.

Do I need a car in Granada?

No. The center, the Albaicín and the Realejo are closed to private cars, and the Alhambra is served by minibuses and by walking routes. A car only helps to get to the Sierra Nevada outside bus hours or to continue travel through the Alpujarras and along the coast.

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