Granada is one of the Spain’s most charming southern destinations. Here’s everything you need to know to spend a perfect one day in Granada, Spain!
The moment we arrived in Granada, I was in love. The beautiful cobblestone streets, old buildings, and ancient Moorish fortresses were something I had never seen before.
As the budget-friendly travelers we are, we decided to see everything on foot and skip some of the pricier tours. Being the spontaneous, last-minute trip goers we happen to be as well, some of the tours we would have normally taken were sold out and not available. That’s the price you pay for spontaneity! Below are my favorite sights from the trip!
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How many days in Granada are enough?
Granada is a small Spanish town that you can easily see in a single day if you’re short on time. However, you could easily spend 3-4 days exploring and soaking up the beauty of Granada if you wished. I personally spent 24 hours in Granada, and stopped by as part of a trip from Seville to Malaga, Granada and back to Madrid. Highly recommend!
↠ Read More: How to Spend 2 Days in Málaga
How to Get to Granada
Granada is located in southern Spain and is part of the gorgeous Andalusia region. Thanks to Spain’s well-connected network of public transportation and Granada’s place as one of the country’s most beautiful destinations, it’s fairly easy to get to Granada whether you’re coming from Madrid, Seville, and more.
Madrid to Granada
Via train: Those coming from Madrid can hop abroad the high speed train that leaves a few times a day from Madrid’s Atocha Station to Granada. The ride varies between 3.5-4 hours long, and tickets range in price from €25-€50+ for one leg, slightly cheaper if booked as a round trip. Tickets can be purchased online in advance on Renfe.com to guarantee a spot or in person.
Via bus: It’s also possible to take a bus from Madrid to Granada, which takes between 5-6 hours total. It may be a slightly cheaper option, but not always. I recommend checking out the website Omio for the best routes and times.
Seville to Granada
Via train: It’s very easy to reach Granada from Seville via Renfe train. The ride takes about 2.5-3 hours and tickets start around €45 for a one way. There are many departures each day, making it easy to arrive on your own schedule or visiting Granada in a day trip from Seville.
Via bus: For those who prefer bus, buses leave from Seville’s main bus station arriving in Granada 3 hours later. Tickets start around €25 one way.
↠ Read More: 3 Days in Seville: Guide to A Perfect Weekend in Seville
Where to Stay in Granada: Best Granada Hotels
If you decide to stay the night to truly enjoy a full day in Granada (which I recommend), here are some of the best hotels based on location and overall ratings:
- De Boca en Boca is a popular and budget-friendly hostel in the center of Granada. Although cheap, the hostel grounds offer guests free coffee, cozy hammocks, and an onsite bar and kitchen.
- Hotel Mirador Arabeluj is a reasonably priced hotel with Andalusian flair located a five-minute walk from the Alhambra that rocks a cool rooftop terrace with excellent views of Granada.
- Hotel Granada Center is a four-star hotel in the heart of the city with modern facilities and a fabulous buffet breakfast included in some bookings.
- Palacete 1620 is a gorgeous, palatial apartment-style hotel housed in a 17th century building featuring a courtyard and old-world charm. This hotel is five minutes from the Granada Cathedral.
8 Best Things to Do in Granada in One Day
With only one day in Granada to spare, it’s time to put on your walking shoes and check off all the very best things to do.
1. Marvel at the beauty and ancient history found at Granada’s Alhambra
Visiting the Alhambra is one of the absolute best things to do in Granada. This impressive fortress and complex of palaces dates back to the Moors and was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. It sits atop a hill overlooking the entire city offering fantastic views. Not to mention, the Alhambra’s architecture is unbelievably beautiful and worth seeing.
Tickets book up quickly so it’s highly recommend to book in advance. Additionally, you have a few different options when it comes to your visit and can book tickets to see the entire grounds, witness the beauty of the gardens and exterior landmarks only, and more.
Tickets cost between €10-€30 per person.
2. Enter the beautiful Granada Cathedral
The Granada Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Church in the heart of the old town. This beautiful landmark dates back to the early 1500s and was built on the site of the old city’s main mosque after the city was recaptured by Spanish Catholics. The style of the cathedral is largely an example of Spanish Renaissance and Baroque design elements.
Tickets to the Granada Cathedral cost €5 per person. You can buy them to the cathedral in person or online.
3. Go back in time at the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte
The Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte is an incredible place to see how local Roma people once lived in the 18th century. The museum is an open area where old cave homes have been set up with pottery, tools, etc, to demonstrate how they looked back in the day.
Tickets to the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte are €5 per person. To reach the museum, you can walk 25 minutes from the city center, or hop on a bus that takes about 12 minutes.
4. Take in the epic views from the San Nicolas Mirador
The San Nicolas Mirador is the highest point in Granada and has great views of the city below. We stopped at the cute little rooftop café called El Huerto de Juan Ranas that rocks one of the best viewpoints. We sipped tinto de veranos and enjoyed couscous and rice! A little pricey, but we thought we would treat ourselves while enjoying the beautiful view.
5. Treat yourself to delicious Spanish fare on Granada’s Tapas Street
The famous tapas street in Granada is Calle Navas. It’s here you can find bars and local eateries serving up classic Spanish tapas, which are free small plates served with drinks in Spain. Granada is especially famous for their tapas because they are so large that they are basically meals! And it’s not hard to see why—what’s not to love about free and delicious small plats served alongside wine?
Classic tapas are olives, nuts, or bar mixes, but in Granada they’re bigger and better. While on our tapa crawl, we were served mini focaccia sandwiches, burgers, croquettes, and more. It was amazing. Make a meal out of it and come hungry.
6. Get lost wandering the cobblestone streets and see Granada’s famous landmarks
This was honestly one of my favorite things we did in Granada. Because the city is home to a mix of cultures and Moorish, Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architecture, there’s so much beauty to see simply by wandering. We would purposefully take the long down narrow cobblestone streets and stumbled upon so many beautiful sights.
Some of the best landmarks in Granada to see include:
- The Plaza Nueva: a main city square with terrace seating
- The Alcaicería Market: an indoor market selling local fares and goodies
- The Albaicin neighborhood: a hilltop neighborhood with views of the Alhambra
- Carmen de los Martires garden: a lush and sprawling park with statues and gardens
- San Juan de Dios basilica: an ornate and historic Roman Catholic Church dedicated to St. John
7. Treat yourself to a relaxing experience at a Granada Hammam
Thanks to the rich Arab tradition in Granada, one of the best things to do is visit a Hammam. A hamman is a traditional bathhouse that looks straight out of Turkey. They typically offer various hot and cold pools, saunas, massages, and other treatments. The best one in Granada is the Hammam Al Ándalus, and I highly recommend treating yourself to a visit if you have the time.
8. Spend the evening at a traditional Flamenco Show
Flamenco is a Spanish dance that originates from southern Spain, which makes Granada a great place to see a live show! You have a lot of options available when it comes to witness Flamenco dancing, but some of the most popular places to see the dance include the Caves of Sacromonte, the Zoraya Gardens, and the Casa del Arte Flamenco.
Spending more than one day in Granada?
If you decide to spend longer than a day in Granada, there are many wonderful day trip destinations to consider. Granada is close to beautiful destinations like the beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains, incredible hiking of El Caminito del Rey, the charming small town of Ronda, and more.