Is Granada worth a visit? Need some inspiration to plan your weekend or vacation in Andalucia?
At the foot of the Sierra Nevada, this dynamic city is famous for its Alhambra, a masterpiece of Arab architecture. This palatial complex served as a stronghold for the last Muslims in Spain, at the time of the Reconquista by the Catholic Monarchs. But Granada also boasts magnificent religious buildings and picturesque neighborhoods (Sacromonte, Albaicín…) along the River Darro. We’ve found it to have a very special charm!
In this article, we give you our 8 reasons to visit the city, and a few points to keep in mind.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We made our own choices, visited the area anonymously, and paid our bills in full.
Is Granada worth a visit?
Granada is a charming town in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Dynamic, it’s alive with events all year round. It’s famous for its Alhambra, of course, but there are many other treasures, including sumptuous religious buildings and troglodyte houses!
We list the reasons in more detail below, or you can check out our selection of the city’s top attractions.
Reason 1 – The Alhambra
You won’t want to miss the Alhambra. Perched on a hill, this palatial complex stands out against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. Surrounded by 2200m of ramparts, it features several palaces. The Nazrid Palaces, dating from the 13th century, are the most famous. However, we were disappointed with the visit, as over-visiting the site is putting it at risk. During your visit, be careful not to touch the decorative ornaments, which tend to disappear. Nearby, you can enter the Alcazaba, an 11th-century fortress, the 16th-century Palace of Charles V, and the Generalife, with its magnificent gardens! Spain’s most visited monument, entry to the museum is booked several months in advance.
WHERE TO STAY IN Granada
Our favorites: hotels and neighborhoods
Downtown
Hotel Luna Granada Centro – See prices, photos and availability
Hotel Corrala del Realejo – See prices, photos and availability
At the Alhambra
Alhambra Palace – See prices, photos and availability
See our complete selection of the best hotels in Granada
Reason 2 – Its historic center
We really enjoyed wandering around Granada’s historic center. In addition to numerous sites of interest (Capilla Real, Palacio de la Madraza…), its narrow streets are home to a multitude of boutiques. As you stroll along, you’ll come across a number of pleasant squares, starting with the Plaza bib-Rambla. This square is surrounded by restaurants and bars with shady terraces. Next to the cathedral, you can pass through the Alcaicería, an ancient souk where silk fabrics were sold in the Middle Ages. Today, there are many souvenir stores, which we found to be of low quality. On the other hand, we were charmed by the architecture of the streets and buildings.
Reason 3 – Its magnificent churches
Granada is home to some very fine religious buildings. Of course, you can also visit the cathedral. We found its proportions to be colossal, especially its Baroque choir, nearly 45m high, and its 5 naves! But the cathedral is most famous for being Spain’s first Renaissance cathedral, which served as a model for those in Guadix and Jaén. However, we preferred to visit the even more breathtaking Basilica San Juan de Dios. We were stunned by the profusion and exuberance of the decorations in this 18th-century Baroque monument.
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Reason 4 – Its sumptuous monasteries
We enjoyed visiting Granada’s two great monasteries. The first, the monastery of Saint Jerome, is still in operation. You can explore only the ground-floor rooms, as well as a magnificent church. In our opinion, it’s a clever blend of Gothic inspiration and Renaissance style that’s well worth a look. The coffered ceilings are impressive, teeming with figures. After looking up, admire the main altarpiece, a masterpiece of the late 16th century. The La Cartuja monastery is a little far from the city center, but well worth a visit! It features a splendid Baroque church dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. We were struck by the beauty of its trompe-l’œil frescoes, and its sacristy with its magnificent marquetry.
Reason 5 – The troglodyte houses of Sacromonte
The Sacromonte district lies to the east of Granada. Isolated on its hillside, it is home to troglodytic houses, historically inhabited by gypsies. Flamenco developed in these atypical settings. Dance performances are organized in these houses along the main road. We also climbed to the top of this district. Here you’ll find the Sacromonte museum of cave dwellings. We recommend this visit, which will enable you to understand the way of life of the inhabitants, the organization of these houses thanks to reconstructions, and the development of flamenco. Access to the museum is difficult. It’s a steep climb, but you’ll still get great views of the Alhambra.
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Reason 6 – Its museums
In addition to the Sacromonte cave-dwelling museum, Granada boasts a number of cultural venues. If you’re a history buff, we recommend a visit to the Royal Chapel Museum, which houses the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, and the Archaeological Museum. If you appreciate religious art, you can explore the San Juan de Dios museum, which is a good complement to a visit to the basilica of the same name. Art lovers can enjoy temporary exhibitions at the José Guerrero contemporary art center, the Garcia Lorca center or the Fine Arts Museum in the Alhambra. However, our favorite is the Parc des Sciences, with its many fun exhibits, the animals in its “BioDomo”, its planetarium and its 50m-high panoramic observation tower! It is one of Granada’s finest museums.
Reason 7 – Its magnificent surroundings
We loved Granada’s location, in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, Spain’s highest mountain range. So you can see the snow-capped peaks even from downtown! Granada’s hills include the Alhambra, where you can visit the Carmen de los Martires garden. We were delighted by our stroll through this large, lush garden punctuated by sculptures and fountains, which offers magnificent panoramic views over the city. Finally, we found it very pleasant to walk along the Río Darro river, below the hilly districts of Albaicín and Sacromonte. So if you’re a nature lover, we think you’ll love Granada!
Reason 8 – Sierra Nevada villages
Granada’s location in the Sierra Nevada will allow you to visit some of Andalucia’s famous white villages with their breathtaking scenery! Our favorite is Montefrio, which can be reached by bus or car in about 1 hour. This small commune seemed magical to us, with its impressive rocky outcrop. Culture lovers will be delighted to discover numerous monuments, including a Nasrid Arab fortress. We also recommend exploring the villages of Pampaneira, Bubion, Capileira and Alhama de Granada! You can also go hiking.
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Some disadvantages of a trip to Granada
Tourists
Granada is very busy, especially the Alhambra, Spain’s most visited site. In spring and summer, visitor numbers are very high. We therefore recommend visiting Granada in winter, for greater peace and quiet. You can even enjoy the snow-covered Sierra Nevada! Some places, such as monasteries, are much less popular with tourists, despite their beauty. You’ll be able to enjoy it with peace of mind all year round!
The weather
Granada’s weather is different from other Andalucia cities, as it is located at an altitude of 738m. As you can see, it can snow if you go to Granada in winter, with temperatures averaging around 7°C. December is generally the wettest month, although this remains reasonable (7 days of rain maximum over the month). In spring and autumn, temperatures hover around 20° to 25°, while in summer, the thermometer climbs to 35°, which isn’t much compared to other cities like Sevilla!
How to get to Granada
You can get to Granada by train, which is well served by Spain’s other major cities, including Málaga (1h15), Sevilla (2h30), Madrid (3h30), and Barcelona (6h30). You can book your tickets on the Renfe website here. If you’re travelling from France, trains now run between Barcelona and Paris, and Madrid and Lyon. Visit the official scnf website here to find out more. To get to Granada station from the city center, we recommend you take a cab.
If you’re flying in, you can come from Sevilla or Málaga airports, both of which are served by major European cities, including Paris, London, Amsterdam and Vienna.
Granada is easily accessible by car, with major highways such as the A-395 and the E-902.
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