Are you wondering if it’s worth visiting Granada?
The short answer is YES!
Granada is an important historic city in Andalusia in Southern Spain, with the world-famous Alhambra attracting millions of visitors every year. If that wasn’t enough, it will charm you with the beautifully preserved historic old town (Albaicin), centuries-old monasteries, authentic flamenco shows in the Sacromonte district and stunning views anywhere you go.
If you have more time to explore, you can venture all the way to the Sierra Nevada mountain range to enjoy some winter sports or hiking in the summer.
This article will cover all the questions you might have before visiting Granada.
Where is Granada in Spain?
Granada is located in Southern Spain, in the autonomous region of Andalusia. The closest airport to Granada is the one in Malaga.
Granada is just on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, making it a popular destination not just for history lovers, but also for those who like hiking and winter sports.
Distances from Granada:
- Granada to Malaga – 125 kilometres
- Granada to Seville – 248 kilometres
- Granada to Marbella – 178 kilometres
- Granada to Cordoba – 162 kilometres
See the location of Granda on the map below.
What Region is Granada in?
Granada is located in the autonomous region of Andalusia. It is one of its biggest cities and one of the oldest ones too.
Is Granada Worth Visiting?
YES!
Granada is certainly worth a visit if you’re planning to explore Southern Spain. It is one of the most important and oldest historic cities in the region of Andalusia.
Even if you can only make it for a day trip, you can squeeze all the main higlights into a single day of exploring – just prepare to walk a lot!
The highlights of Granada include:
- Alhambra, with Nazaries Palace and its gardens
- Generalife Gardens
- the Alcazaba
- Albaicin – the old town
- Sacromonte district
- Granada Cathedral
There is plenty more to discover in Granada in addition to the highlights mentioned above. Scroll down lower to see recommended things to do in Granada.
What’s the Weather Like in Granada?
The weather in Granada is very different from the coastline at Costa del Sol. It could be 20C and sunny on the coast, but very cold and as low as 12C by the time you get to Granada.
I made the mistake myself when I assumed the weather will be similar without checking the forecast. Safe to say I was freezing and had to buy some extra warm clothes!
If you’re visiting Granada in the summer, the temperatures are much higher than by the coastline, and there is no beach to cool yourself off.
Average temperatures in Granada throughout the year:
- January: 12C
- February: 14C
- March: 18C
- April: 20C
- May: 24C
- June: 30C
- July: 34C
- August: 35C
- September: 29C
- October: 22C
- November: 16C
- December: 13C
What To Do in Granada, Spain
Even if you’re planning to spend more than 3 days in Granada, I’m pretty confident you won’t run out of things to do.
I’ve been in Granada already twice, I have still not covered all the opportunities it has to offer. Below is a short list of the highlights.
Things to do in Granada:
- The Alhambra Complex (Palacio Nazaries, Gardens, the Alcazaba and Generalife Gardens & Palace)
- Albaicin district
- Sacromonte district
- Flamenco show (in Sacromonte)
- Roman Baths (Albaicin)
- The Cathedral of Granada
- Plaza de Toros de Granada
- The Science Museum
- Visiting Miradors in Granada (viewpoints)
- AbadÃa del Sacromonte
- Carmen de los Martires (gardens)
- Tapas Tour of Granada
- The AlcaicerÃa (The Great Bazaar of Granada)
- Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción “La Cartuja”
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
How Many Days do You Need to Explore Granada in Spain?
If you’re in a rush, you can see the highlights of the city in one full day.
In one day, you can manage to see the Alhambra including Generalife Gardens, and much of the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts, which are considered the main tourist highlights of the visit.
Ideally, though, you would have at least 2 – 3 days to see the city and what it has to offer at a slower pace and to be able to take it all in.
Where to Park in Granada?
I have always visited Granada by train or bus, so I don’t have personal experience with parking, however, this website lists some recommended parking options in Granada, along with prices and locations.
If you’re staying in a hotel, they will probably offer you a parking spot, but do keep in mind that it’s almost impossible to find parking in the Albaicin district since most of it is just narrow residential streets.
Is One Day Enough to Explore Granada?
One day is enough time to see the highlights of Granada – see my post below for the full one-day itinerary. If you want to explore the city better and experience more of what it has to offer, a weekend break would be ideal.
READ MORE: How to Spend One Day in Granada: The Highlights Itinerary
Where to Eat in Granada? What are the Best Restaurants?
If there is one thing Granada is known for, it’s also the food!
In particular, the old habit of tapas with every drink. Something that I very much appreciated on my visits.
As soon as you sit down and order a drink, a small plate of food arrives promptly at your table. It could be a small piece of baguette with jamon, or as big as a bowl of Russian salad.
Food is a very personal concept and everybody has different expectations, so what I like might not be to taste to somebody else. However, when I look for restaurants, I want not only good food, but also a beautiful setting to enjoy it in. Below are some of the places that tick both of the boxes!
Restaurante Mirador de Morayma, Granada
Restaurante Carmen St Miguel, Granada
Restaurante El Huerto de Juan Ranas, Granada
Where to Stay in Granada?
Granada has plenty of options for accommodation, whether you’re looking for a posh hotel, hostel or an apartment in the old town.
The only practical tip I would give is that if you’re booking accommodation in the old town (Albaicin), the access to most of the properties is limited and the taxi won’t be able to drive you right to the door in most cases. That means you might have to drag your suitcases up the hill yourself.
At the same time, I think staying in Albaicin gives you a chance to find a place with beautiful Alhambra views!
One of those places I stayed first time was Hotel Casa 1800, set in a stunning historic building that will make you feel like you’ve been transported in time. It’s also a short walk from the main pathway next to the Darro river and the perfect place for exploring Albaicin, and for access to the Alhambra entrance.
Explore More in Granada
Generalife Palace & Gardens, Granada
The Charming Albaicin Neighbourhood of Granada
How to Spend One Day in Granada, Spain: The Highlights Itinerary
Getting from Seville to Granada: Your Detailed Transport Guide
13 Beautiful Photography Locations in Granada: Tips from a Local Expat
How to Get from Malaga to Granada: Your Detailed Transport Guide
Visiting Alhambra in Granada: The Complete Guide
The Alcazaba of Alhambra, Granada
Carmen de los Martires, Granada
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.
