Best Things To Do in Granada

Visiting the Alhambra

This one goes without saying. A visit to Granada would not be complete without a visit to Alhambra Palace, a UNESCO heritage site, situated on the top of a hill opposite the Albaicin neighbourhood. The name Alhambra comes from Arabic, meaning “The Red Caste” which is a reference to its red walls. Transformed from a fortress and into a palace in the 13th century, it became a royal residence. Now, the Alhambra is one of the most visited tourist attraction in Spain. The palace is stunning – there are so many incredible details, beautiful gardens, courtyards, as well as great views of the city.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, as the number of visitors allowed each day is limited. Tickets can be purchased here. The time on your ticket is the time you must enter the Nasrid Palace, which is the main attraction. I recommend showing up around 15 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket to get a good spot in the line. They check everyone’s ticket and ID’s so if you’re among the last people in the line for your time slot, you may end up spending a lot of time waiting. You must bring a physical ID (you can’t show them a photo of it on your phone) and it must be a government issued ID, such as a passport.

Once you have entered the Nasrid Palace, there are no time limits for the rest of your visit so you can explore at your own pace. I would allow at least 3.5 hours for the visit. After exiting the Nasrid Palace, there isn’t really a fixed route that will take you to the other parts of the Alhambra. Instead they have a bunch of staff whose job is to guide lost visitors through this “maze“. They could just put up signs, but often in Spain they don’t really care for doing things efficiently 🙂

Trying Arabic food

Arabic influence is present throughout Granada, and as such, it is home to a variety of Arabic restaurants. My favourite plate was the falafel I had at a restaurant called Puerta de Syria (the above photo in the middle). They offer very tasty Arabic food at a super affordable price (around 7€ for a meal and a drink). Here is a list of other top rated Middle Eastern and Arabic restaurants in Granada.

Enjoying the view from a rooftop bar

the view from Monasterio Chill-Out Copas rooftop bar

Visiting a rooftop bar during your stay in Granada is a must! We choose a place called Monasterio Chill-out Copas, which is located on the 7th floor on top of Hotel los Jerónimos. Their outside terrace has great views of the city as well as the cathedral, and the drinks were good and pretty affordable. Would definitely recommend it!

Other nice rooftop bars in Granada include B-Heaven at Barceló Carmen Hotel, Eurostars Gran Vía and Hotel Alhambra Palace.

Wandering around Albaicin

One of the cute narrow streets in Albaicin! Edited with the **Film preset pack**

Narrow cobblestone roads, fascinating plazas and plenty of historical sites are some of the things you can expect to find in the Albaicin neighbourhood. This is also the old Moorish neighbourhood of Granada, and as such it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage side. But that’s not all there is to Albaicin – because of its location in a hill opposite the Alhambra, you have views of the Alhambra almost everywhere you go. We loved wandering through this neighbourhood, admiring the cute narrow streets and sitting down at a picturesque plaza for some drinks.

Visiting Plaza de San Nicolas

Plaza de San Nicolas is situated high up in a hill at the heart of the Albaicín neighbourhood, requiring a fairly steep walk, but well worth it! This plaza is one of the most iconic viewpoints in Granada, featuring stunning views of the Alhambra, the city of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountains. If you’re lucky you’ll get a space at the wall to sit down.

A little tip – make sure to also visit the plaza at night! Not only to see the Alhambra lit up, but also for the lively atmosphere as the locals gather at the plaza to dance and play music.

Sign up for guided tours

Exploring a city with a local guide is a great way to get to know more about the history & culture, as well as seeing things you otherwise might miss! Check out these tours to get to know Granada a little better.

Having a coffee at Tetería del Bañuelo

When you need a break from wandering around the Albaicin neighbourhood, this Moorish style tea room is the perfect place to do so. Here you can sit down, relax and take in the gorgeous views of the Alhambra while enjoying a drink and perhaps a crepé. We visited around 2pm and had the terrace to ourselves for the most part, which I believe was just luck. This was our favourite coffee stop in Granada, definitely a must try!

Indulging in one of the Arab bath houses

As a part of the Arab influence, Granada preserves some of the oldest Arab baths in Spain. Some are still functioning as such , while others have been turned into monuments. The Arab baths consist of steam rooms and baths that each have different temperature, offering a very relaxing experience. A visit to Baños de Elvira or Hammam Al Ándalus would be the perfect way to unwind after a long day of walking! You can even book a massage if you’re feeling a little extra.

Wandering through the Alcaicería market

The Alcaicería market // edited with the **Soft Tones** presets/filters

The Alcaicería market is the biggest of its kind in Granada. It was once the market place of the Moors, now it’s a pretty touristy place, where you can find everything from souvenirs to traditionally painted ceramics to jewellery and even Moroccan teas. Although it’s the largest market in Granada, it’s not very large. You can expect to spend anywhere from 15-60 minutes browsing through it, depending on how closely you want to observe what the market has to offer.

Final thoughts on Granada

I think Granada is well worth a visit. It’s a fun mix of Spanish and Arabic culture that you won’t really find elsewhere. It’s perfect to combine a trip to Granada with other interesting destinations in Andalucia, such as Sevilla, Cordóba and Málaga.