Arab baths sprang out in Granada, in the former Al Andalus region, as meeting points for the local residents. They are the descendants of old Roman baths.
In addition to serving the practical benefits of personal hygiene, they also have a spiritual meaning – in the Muslim religion, water was a purifying element that help to wash off the sins against the precepts of the Koran.
The oldest one of the four Arab Baths in Granada and also best preserved is the El Bañuelo, which is located close to the Darro river in the Albaicin district. It dates back to the 11 century with three well-preserved rooms beautifully restored and available to the public.
The baths were known as Baños del Nogal or Baños de los Axares (‘of health’), and they are one of the finest preserved examples of Arab baths in Spain. During the conquest of Granada and following Christians taking over the city, many of the city’s Arab baths were destroyed as they considered them a place of sin and questionable morals.
El Ba̱uelo escaped this fate because it was considered a public bathhouse, and therefore remained largely intact. There are three well-preserved rooms in El Ba̱uelo today Рa small lobby leads to a cool room, followed by a warm or main room, and finally a hot room (what you would call a sauna today!).
If you’re strolling along the Darro river, you will reach it in just 5 minutes and it’s well worth the 2 euro entry investment – for most of the time, it’s also pretty empty! I have added some images below.
Bonus tip: if you get a ticket to the Andalusian Monuments, you can get in here for free, if you visit within the same day.
Opening hours: 15 Sept – 30 April Monday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, 1 May – 14 Sept Monday to Sunday 9am to 2.30pm (siesta break) and 5pm to 8.30pm.
Location:
Granada Monuments Tickets & Tours
Here are a few guided trip options for visiting the main sights in Alhambra. To check availability and prices please click on the link below.
- Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Fast-Track Ticket – enjoy a fast-track access to all the sights within the grounds of Alhambra, including the Generalife Gardens. Does not include a guide.
- Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces, and Generalife Tour – fast track entry to the Alhambra complex with a private or shared tour guide.
- Nasrid Palaces & Generalife Ticket with Audioguide – the same tickets to Alhambra this time including an audio guide in the language of your choice.
- Sacromonte: Flamenco Show at Cuevas Los Tarantos Tickets – entry tickets to the popular flamenco performance in the Sacromonte district of Granada
Explore More in Granada
A Masterpiece Covered in Gold: Basilica San Juan de Dios, Granada
The Queen’s Home: Palacio Dar al-Horra, Granada
Dining with a View: Restaurante El Mirador de Tato, Granada
The Botanical Gardens of the University of Granada
Autumn Sunrise at Mirador De San Nicolas, Granada
La Piccola Carmela: The Best Italian Restaurant in Granada
The Palace of Charles V in Alhambra, Granada
Visiting the Monastery of San Jerónimo, Granada
How to Spend One Day in Granada, Spain: The Highlights Itinerary
Southern Spain Travel Planning Guide
Is it safe to drive in Spain?
YES! The roads in Southern Spain are generally in very good condition, with modern highways connecting the biggest cities. To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, which will get you the best deals on your car rental for your trip.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DRIVE?
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — Southern Spain has a well-established and modern network of trains and buses. To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
DAY TRIPS — If you don’t like the hassle of using public transport, local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
WHERE SHOULD I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?
BOOKING.COM — I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and have never had any negative experiences. Their reviews are very accurate and you get the best deals even on apartments, not just hotels.
ARE THERE LUGGAGE STORE OPTIONS IN THE CITIES?
YES — If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, before heading to the airport, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage options in almost all the destinations in Southern Spain.
DO I NEED TO BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD FOR THIS TRIP?
YES – You can, of course, use your own card if you have roaming data available. If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards, avoiding the hassle of sourcing local physical sim cards and extra roaming charges anywhere you go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
