Guide to see Granada; 12 essentials in 2 or 3 days

Surely you trip to Granada will have as its main objective visit the Alhambra, that impressive monument Heritage that has positioned the Andalusian city among the most outstanding destinations in Spain and the world.

But I'm telling you right now that I'm going to show you a Granada that goes far beyond the Alhambra.

Perhaps the biggest mistake that tourists make when visiting the city is thinking that the only thing there is to see in Grenada It is the Alhambra.

And I assure you that it is a city that you need at least 2 days to visit.

One dedicated to the Alhambra and another to the city.

Beyond know the Alhambra, It is essential to walk through the neighborhoods of the Albaicin and Sacromonte, see an important monument of the Andalusian city such as its cathedral with the corner of the Royal chapel, in addition to walking through its streets that are full of beautiful corners that I am going to show you.

And of course, stop to eat on one of the numerous terraces because Granada is one of the best places in Spain to go for tapas and also one of the cheapest.

Although it is a city that we had already visited a couple of times years ago, the truth is that until one of our most recent trips we had not had the opportunity to get to know the city in depth. from Granada.

So that you can plan your own visit to the city, below we are going to give you some Useful tips for visiting Granada from the experience of all our trips to this beautiful andalusian city.

12 best places to see and visit in Granada

While Grenada It is a city of almost 250.000 inhabitants, the area where you are going to concentrate your tourism visit It extends between two hills.

On the one hand, the hill where the Alhambra and the Generalife palace, and on the other, in front of it, the slope where the old Arab neighborhood of Albaicín, as well as that of sacromonte.

In between, in the valley where the river runs largely underground. Darro River, they follow one another from north to south walk of the sad, new Square and Avenue of the Catholic Monarchs.

In this area of ​​the city you will find the grenada cathedral and Carmen Square, where its town hall is located.

This is where your visit will take place, which you can do on foot, although you have the option of using public minibuses that allow you to overcome some of the steep routes to be taken.

Alhambra of Granada

Visit the Alhambra will, without a doubt, be the main reason that will lead you to travel tourism to Granada, and around this visit you should plan this trip.

The first thing you should keep in mind is that to visit this great monument Heritage There is a limited capacity of no more than 8.000 people per day.

Therefore, in practice it is essential book tickets to visit the Alhambra as far in advance as possible, because the daily quota fills up quickly.

And if you want to visit it on a very specific date, the advice is to book them several weeks before your trip.

For get to know the Alhambra you can opt for the free visit, which will take you a full morning.

But without a doubt the most recommended option is to sign up for the guided tours provided by several tourist companies in the city, just as we did on our most recent trips.

During these visits you will see the entire palace complex, that is, the Nasrid palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife.

These visits last approximately a little more than three hours, and when you reserve and pay for their services, the company is responsible for obtaining your tickets, the amount of which is already included in your rate.

Here you have the information about the guided tours of the Alhambra, and in case it doesn't work as it happened to us on our last visit, here you have another alternative to visit the Alhambra that we have also used to our satisfaction.

• How to buy Alhambra tickets
• What to see in the Alhambra
• Guided tours of the Alhambra
• Visit of the Alhambra alone

Nasrid Palaces

Tu visit of the Alhambra Its main axis is the Nasrid palaces, and specifically, the palaces of the Lions and Comares.

There you will find the best examples of the artistic wealth of this lavish monument.

The Alcazaba 

En The Alhambra You must also access the Alcazaba, fortification from whose walls you will have the best panoramic views of the Albaicín neighborhood.

In addition to walk through the gardens of the Alhambra, you also have the option of entering the palace of Charles V, an unfinished and imposing Renaissance building.

The Generalife

This palace currently houses the Alhambra museums and Fine Arts of Granada, with works by Granada artists since the fall of the nasrid empire until now, and with Alonso Cano as the main protagonist.

The visit must be completed in the Generalife palace and gardens, rest residence of the nasrid sultans.

Albaicín neighborhood in Granada

Another essential visit What should you do in your tourism trip to Granada is to walk through the old Arab neighborhood of Albaicín.

Also declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco, you will not be disappointed by the charm of walking through the steep and narrow streets of this neighborhood of white houses, typical of Arab and Mediterranean countries.

• Visit to the Albaicín neighborhood

Shops and tea shops in Calderería Nueva

If you start your walk from the center new Square, when going up the street New Boilerwork and the adjacent ones will give you the sensation of finding yourself in places as exotic as the souk of a Moroccan city, with a succession of shops. remembrances and Arab tea shops.

I warn you that this place is beautiful and I admit that to a large extent it reminded me of the Tangier medina.

On your walk you will always have in mind the Alhambra monument, of which you will have different perspectives from streets and small viewpoints.

The Carmens 

You will also find the characteristic Carmen is so typical of Granada.

They are houses of Arab origin with small gardens, typical of the Albaicín, and that some of them are now charming accommodations or restaurants, always with the terraces facing the Alhambra.

If you want special viewpoints of the Alhambra you just have to look in one of the carmens in the neighborhood.

Saint Nicholas' lookout

And, of course, you must get to the Saint Nicholas' lookout, one of the most visited places by tourists in Spain, who take the opportunity to see the Alhambra at sunset.

It is usually full of people, even with live improvised flamenco-type music, so keep that in mind.

Next to the viewpoint is the church of San Nicolás, which gives its name to the viewpoint, and the Great Mosque of Granada in case you want to see them.

Zambras in Sacromonte de Granada

Near to Albaicín is the Sacromonte neighborhood, famous for its houses in caves, which will be very easy for you to distinguish.

With a majority gypsy population, this neighborhood is the essential place to go at night to some of its zambras.

These are caves arranged as small tablaos, where you can enjoy the flamenco dance known as zambra, whose origins date back to the wedding rituals of the Moorish in the sixteenth century.

From the sacromonte you will also have spectacular ones views of the Alhambra from a less common perspective.

Granada Cathedral

Near the new Square, at the foot of The Alhambra, Is the Granada Cathedral, which is considered the first Renaissance temple in Spain, and which was ordered to be built by the Catholic kings.

With an interior where white prevails on walls, columns and ceilings, to visit it you have to enter through the Pasiegas Square, where the main façade is located.

Royal chapel 

Annex to the grenada cathedral, but with separate access, you find the Royal chapel, imposing place that is actually the Pantheon of the Catholic Monarchs, who ordered it to be built.

In your visit of the Royal Chapel, in the center of a single nave you will see the majestic sculptural tombs of Fernando of Aragon, Isabel de Castillo, Mrs. Juana I y don Felipe.

In a crypt located under these tombs you will be able to see the coffins where the coffins are located, each one identified with its name.

Old Hamman of Granada

Perhaps one of the most interesting sites that can be seen in Granada, and very representative of the culture that dominated the city for more than 700 years, is the ancient Hamman.

We are talking about real Arab baths that luckily have been preserved.

Next to the river, to supply water, the city's important Arab baths were located where temperatures, smells and sensations were played with.

A space of relaxation and purification that we are lucky to be able to visit in a fairly good state.

By visiting it it is possible to understand perfectly what this cleaning ritual so valued in Arab culture consisted of.

How to go to a Hamman in Granada

And since I just told you about the old Hamman of Granada, a highly recommended way to complete your day of tourism in Granada is to enjoy the new hamman Al Andalus.

It is a very charming establishment that, with a warm Arab atmosphere and Nasrid-style decoration, will allow you to relax thanks to the combination of hot and cold baths, as well as a massage.

• This is the experience of visiting Hamman Al Andalus

Where to sleep in Grenada

And as for the accommodation on your trip to GranadaIn this tourist city you have a wide range of hotels and tourist apartments.

In my case I opted for a very nice apartment in the Albaicín, which is the best way to enter the atmosphere of this beautiful Andalusian city.

Guided tours in Granada

If you are going to visit Pomegranate on your own It will be useful for you to have the information schedules of monuments and museums in Granada, where you also find the ticket prices.

But you also have the option to sign up for guided tours in spanish like the one mentioned before Spanish tour of the Alhambra.

If it is of your interest, here you have information about a complete tour of Granada, during which you will visit The Alhambra, the Albaicín and Sacromonte (this was the visit we signed up for on our last trip).

Or also to a tour in Spanish to the Alpujarra Granada, during which you will visit its most picturesque towns, such as Lanjarón, Órgiva, Pampaneira, Trevelez y Capileira, during an excursion that will take you eight hours.

• Tour in Spanish through the Alhambra of Granada
• Complete Tour of Granada
• Tour in Spanish through the Alpujarra

Other visits in the Province of Granada

Granada is not just the city, the province has a lot of interesting places to see.

We were recently able to discover one of them that amazed us.

And on the coast of the province of Granada is the town of Salobreña.

For those of you who don't know anything about this place, you should know that Salobreña is in an area with such a particular microclimate that they refer to it as the Tropical Coast.

Fruits that do not grow in other parts of Spain such as Avocado or Mangos are grown here.

I recommend an article that we wrote about our visit in which we tell you more about this special place located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada on the shores of the sea.

• What to see in Salobrena