TravelManiac
Hotels in Granada

The Alhambra, free tapas and mountains above the city

Granada

LanguageSpanish
CurrencyEUR
TimezoneEurope/Madrid
Temperature12-32 °C
Dial Code+34
Population47.6M
Area505,990 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Granada

Granada is a city in Andalusia below the snow-capped Sierra Nevada and is famed for the Alhambra, a palace complex of the thirteenth century that was the last seat of the Moorish rulers in Spain. It is a UNESCO site and one of the most visited monuments in Europe. Beneath it lie the Albaicín, a white Moorish quarter with narrow lanes and the San Nicolás viewpoint, and Sacromonte, where flamenco is played in cave houses. Granada is also a city where tapas is served free with a drink, so you can eat cheaply and well. It is a university town, young and lively, with excellent cooking. The nearest airport is Granada-Jaén, but most travel via Málaga, ninety minutes by bus. From Prague you fly to Málaga in three hours. The best time is March to May and September to October; in summer it is over thirty-five degrees. In winter you can ski in the Sierra Nevada, only forty minutes from the city.

What to see

The places worth your time in Granada, and what to expect at each

The Alhambra

The Alhambra

above the city

A palace complex of the thirteenth century on a hill above the city, the last seat of the Moorish rulers in Spain. It includes the Nasrid palaces with ornate ceilings, the Alcazaba fortress and the Generalife gardens. It is the most important monument of Islamic architecture in Europe.

Tip: Book tickets months ahead on the official site; in season they sell out. The Nasrid Palaces have a fixed entry time. Entry costs about fourteen euros.

Admission:
about €14
Time needed:
3–4 hrs
The Generalife

The Generalife

by the Alhambra

The summer palace and gardens of the Moorish kings with fountains, courtyards and terraces overlooking the Alhambra. Water plays the leading role and the air smells of jasmine and citrus. It is the calmest part of the complex.

Tip: The gardens are loveliest in spring and in the evening. Entry is part of the Alhambra ticket; bring a hat and water.

Admission:
part of ticket
Time needed:
1–2 hrs
The Albaicín

The Albaicín

opposite the Alhambra

A white Moorish quarter on a hill opposite the Alhambra, a UNESCO site, with narrow lanes, courtyards (cármenes) and small churches. It is the best place for a walk and a view of the Alhambra. The quarter is calm and picturesque.

Tip: Go on foot; the lanes are steep, so wear comfortable shoes. It is loveliest at sunset.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Mirador de San Nicolás

Mirador de San Nicolás

Albaicín

A viewpoint in the Albaicín with the most famous view of the Alhambra against the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. At sunset hundreds of people gather and street musicians play. It is the iconic photograph of Granada.

Tip: Come an hour before sunset to get a good spot. In the evening it is lively; watch for pickpockets.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1 hr
Sacromonte

Sacromonte

Sacromonte

A quarter of cave houses where Romani people live, the home of flamenco. In the caves (cuevas) live flamenco performances are held in the evening. There is a museum and viewpoints.

Tip: A performance costs about twenty-five euros including a drink; book in advance. Avoid the cheapest offers on the street.

Admission:
show ~€25
Time needed:
2 hrs
The Cathedral

The Cathedral

centre

A Renaissance cathedral of the sixteenth century, one of the largest in Spain, with a tall nave and rich decoration. Beside it is the Royal Chapel with the tomb of Isabella and Ferdinand. It is the symbol of Christian Granada.

Tip: Entry costs about five euros. Combine the visit with the Royal Chapel, where the Catholic monarchs are buried.

Admission:
about €5
Time needed:
1 hr
The Alcaicería

The Alcaicería

centre

A former Moorish bazaar by the cathedral with small shops selling ceramics, lamps and souvenirs. The lanes are narrow and fragrant. Today it is a tourist quarter with cafés.

Tip: Prices are bargained; ask about the origin. Quality ceramics cost more, but are worth it.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
1 hr

Free Tapas

centre

Granada is one of the last cities where tapas is served free with a drink. With each beer or wine you get a small portion and the more you drink, the bigger the portion. It is the ideal way to eat cheaply and well in the evening.

Tip: Go from bar to bar; prices are lower in Realejo and the Albaicín than near the cathedral. Dinner costs about ten euros.

Admission:
free tapas with a drink
Time needed:
evening
The Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada

30 km from Granada

The highest range of mainland Spain with the peak Mulhacén at 3,479 metres, only forty minutes from Granada. In winter there is a ski resort, in summer hiking. From the city you can see snow in winter.

Tip: In winter you can ski from December to April and return to Granada in the evening. A lift pass costs about forty euros.

Admission:
pass ~€40
Time needed:
full day

Photos: The Alhambra — Jebulon (CC0) · The Generalife — Daderot (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The Albaicín — Bert K. (CC BY 2.0) · Mirador de San Nicolás — Slaunger (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Sacromonte — Superchilum (CC BY-SA 3.0) · The Cathedral — Ingo Mehling (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The Alcaicería — Kolforn (CC BY 3.0) · The Sierra Nevada — Lopezsuarez (CC0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Centro and Realejo

Best for: tapas and the cathedral

The area around the cathedral, the Alcaicería and the Realejo quarter with hotels and tapas bars. Everything is at hand. Best for a first visit.

Albaicín

Best for: picturesque and calm

A white quarter on a hill with narrow lanes and views. It is calm, but there are hills and cobbles. A good choice for couples.

Sacromonte

Best for: flamenco and caves

A quarter of cave houses and flamenco. It is authentic, but farther from the centre. Suits those who want atmosphere.

Cartuja and the university

Best for: students and cheapness

A modern district with the university and cheaper hotels. It is lively and prices lower. Suits the young.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

Granada has the Federico García Lorca airport (GRX), but most travel via Málaga (AGP), ninety minutes by bus. From Prague you fly to Málaga in three hours. An Alsa bus runs from Málaga airport to Granada in an hour and a half. A train from Madrid takes three and a half hours. By car from the Czech Republic it is about three thousand kilometres.

Málaga Airport (AGP) · 130 km

  • Bus to Granada· 1 hr 45 min· €12
  • Transfer to Granada· 1 hr 30 min· €90
  • Car rental· at the airport· €35

Granada Airport (GRX) · 17 km

  • Bus to the centre· 40 min· €3
  • Taxi to the centre· 20 min· €30

Around town

The centre of Granada can be walked; the hills in the Albaicín are steep. Minibuses run through the Albaicín and to the Alhambra. Taxis are cheap. For the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras a car or bus is handy.

On footThe centre is compact.
Minibus C32 and C34To the Albaicín and the Alhambra. · €1.4
TaxiAround town. · €7
Car rentalFor the Sierra Nevada. · €35

Useful apps: Google Maps, Moovit, Alsa, Cabify

When to go

Granada has a continental climate with a hot dry summer and a cold winter. In July it is around thirty-six degrees, in January around thirteen and it freezes at night. The best time is March to May and September to October. In winter there is snow in the Sierra Nevada.

Best time

March to May and September to October

What to avoid

July and August (heat above 36°C)

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day13°15°19°21°26°32°36°35°30°24°17°13°
Night2°3°5°8°11°16°19°19°15°10°6°3°
Rainy days4040305040153520456045

Food & drink

Granada cooking is Andalusian and Moorish: ham, fish, tapas and sweets. With a drink tapas is served free. A main dish costs ten to twenty euros. People drink wine, sherry and beer.

What to try

Free tapas

With a drink you get a small portion free, often ham, croquettes or tortilla. The more you drink, the bigger the portion.

Jamón ibérico

Dry-cured ham from the black pig, cut into thin slices. The best jamón is from Trevélez in the Sierra Nevada.

Tortilla del Sacromonte

An omelette with calf's brains, potatoes and ham, a traditional dish of Sacromonte. For the adventurous.

Habas con jamón

Stewed broad beans with ham, a traditional spring dish. Found in every bar.

Piononos

Small sweet cakes soaked in syrup and topped with cream. Originating from Santa Fe near Granada.

Moorish pastries

Moorish sweets of honey, almonds and dough. Sold in the Alcaicería.

Tea and tea houses

Moorish tea houses (teterías) in the Albaicín, where mint tea is drunk and sweets served. A pleasant afternoon.

What it costs

Espresso

€1.5–2.5

Tapas with a beer

€3–4

Menu del día

€10–15

A beer

€2.5–4

The Alhambra

€14

Flamenco in Sacromonte

€25

3★ hotel (night)

€70–160

Bus from Málaga

€12

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water in Granada is drinkable and of good quality, from the Sierra Nevada. Most tourists drink it without worry.
TippingTipping is not obligatory; rounding up or leaving a few euros suffices.
Driving on theright
SafetyGranada is safe. Watch for pickpockets and false guides in the Albaicín and in front of the Alhambra. The Albaicín at night is better walked in a group. The emergency number is 112.
Opening hoursShops are open from ten to eight, with a siesta at midday. Restaurants serve lunch from one and dinner from nine. The Alhambra is open daily.
Customs & etiquetteSpaniards dine late. The Alhambra is entered with a booking. In churches cover shoulders and knees. Do not photograph flamenco with a flash.
A few local wordsGood morning — Buenos díasThank you — GraciasPlease — Por favorHow much is it? — ¿Cuánto cuesta?Cheers — ¡Salud!The bill, please — La cuenta, por favorWhere is the toilet? — ¿Dónde están los servicios?

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Granada

  1. 1Morning the Alhambra and Generalife.
  2. 2Lunch with tapas.
  3. 3Afternoon the Albaicín.
  4. 4Sunset at San Nicolás.
  5. 5Evening flamenco in Sacromonte.

2 days

Two days: Granada and the cathedral

  1. 1Day one as above.
  2. 2Day two morning the cathedral and Royal Chapel.
  3. 3Afternoon the Alcaicería and tea houses.
  4. 4Evening tapas.

3 days

Three days: Granada and the Sierra Nevada

  1. 1Days one and two as above.
  2. 2Day three the Sierra Nevada or the Alpujarras.
  3. 3Afternoon the village of Pampaneira.
  4. 4Evening return.

Day trips

Sierra Nevada

30 km · 40 min by car

A ski resort in winter and hiking in summer, with the highest peak of mainland Spain. It suits a full-day trip.

Alpujarras

70 km · 1 hr 30 min by car

A valley of white villages on mountain slopes where ham is made. It suits a full-day trip.

Málaga

130 km · 1 hr 30 min by bus

A seaside city with the Alcazaba fortress, the Picasso Museum and beaches. It suits a full-day trip.

Frequently asked questions

How do I buy Alhambra tickets?+

On the official site Alhambra-patronato.es, ideally months ahead. In season they sell out. The Nasrid Palaces have a fixed entry time. Entry costs about fourteen euros.

How many days should I stay in Granada?+

Two to three days suffice for the Alhambra, the Albaicín and the cathedral. For the Sierra Nevada or Alpujarras add a day. For relaxation four days.

When is the best time to visit?+

March to May and September to October. In summer it is over thirty-five degrees. In winter it is cold, but you can ski in the Sierra Nevada.

How do I get from Málaga to Granada?+

By Alsa bus in an hour and a half for twelve euros or by car in an hour and a half. It is the cheapest and most convenient.

Is Granada expensive?+

It is cheap: tapas are free with a drink, lunch costs ten to fifteen euros, a hotel seventy to a hundred and sixty euros a night. Cheapest is accommodation out of the centre.

What is free tapas?+

With a drink you get a small portion of food free. The more you drink, the bigger the portion. It is a tradition of Granada's bars.

Is Granada safe?+

Yes, it is a safe city. Watch for pickpockets and false guides in the Albaicín and in front of the Alhambra.

What should I eat in Granada?+

Free tapas, jamón from Trevélez and habas con jamón. With them piononos and Moorish sweets. Tea in a tea house in the Albaicín.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police112Ambulance112Fire112

Language

Spanish

Currency

EUR

Timezone

Europe/Madrid

Dial Code

+34

Population

47.6M

Area

505,990 km²

Voltage

230V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

Top Hotels in Granada

Live prices from 500+ properties

Loading hotels...

Plan your trip – Granada

More destinations in Spain

AlicanteBarcelonaBenidormCosta BravaCosta del SolFuerteventuraGran CanariaIbizaLanzaroteMadrid

Planning a trip to Granada?

Compare hundreds of hotels, find the best price, and book with free cancellation on TravelManiac.