3 Days in Granada, Spain

TravelSpain
Written By Nina Hoeberichts

Granada is an amazingly beautiful city in Spain, located close to the Sierra Nevada mountains.

This Andalusian city contains one of the most famous sites in Spain: The Alhambra. It’s definitely the main attraction of the city, but there are plenty of other activities and things to see in this gorgeous place.

I think 3 or 4 days are plenty to discover this city and below you’ll find some tips on things to do, see and where to eat!

Quicklinks:

Things To Do & See

Visit Alhambra

Inside an arabic palace in Granada

Of course, you can’t miss visiting the famous Alhambra - Spain’s most visited point of interest! The Alhambra is one of the best preserved palaces of the historic Islamic World and consists of various different buildings. For the most famous palace of the estate, the Nazaries Palace, you will need to book a timed entry ticket. The rest are free to visit at your own pace. The estate also features examples of the Spanish Renaissance period.

It’s recommended to book your Alhambra ticket a few days in advance because they do sell-out pretty fast! When buying your ticket online, don’t forget to bring your passport or ID card - as this is needed to actually get in.

You can also get your tickets via GetYourGuide, which also includes a tour guide, which is handy if you want to learn more about the historic details of the Alhambra.

Check out the availability of this tour below:

Go to a Hammam and soak in the Arabic baths

One of my favourite things I’ve done while in Granada, was visit the Hammam baths!

I went to the Hammam Al-Andaluz - which features beautiful underground Hammam baths. I booked the package with a 30 minute massage included, plus an hour in the baths, which was absolute heaven! I also thought the price was really decent for what you get. I definitely recommend going, especially if you’re in Granada in the winter.

Walk around the old city

Spanish houses along a small river in Granada

The old city in Granada is really beautiful and has that Andalusian charm. Get lost in the winding and steep little streets, listen to the people playing Spanish guitar and check out the little stores and cafes, especially the ones selling Arabic treats, such as Baklava.

Watch a Flamenco Show

A flamenco dancer on a stage with a red dress and red shoes

Andalusia is famous for the flamenco culture, and also in Granada there are many flamenco shows you can attend. You can even find flamenco dancers on some of the main squares!

Go to a viewpoint and enjoy the view

View over the Alhambra in Spain and mountains in the distance

Because Granada is quite hilly, there are many viewpoints within the city that are easy to reach and give you a stunning view over the city and the Alhambra, which also sits on top of a hill. The views are gorgeous, especially at sunset, as you can see the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.

My favourite viewpoint that I found was Mirador de San Nicolas, which had a gorgeous view over the Alhambra and the mountains.

Check out Museums in Granada

There are a few nice museums in Granada that you can check out, including:

Where To Eat

Tapas spots

Spanish tortilla, olives and bread on a wooden cutting board

In Granada, it’s definitely a thing to go to a tapas bar, order a drink and get a free tapas with your drink.

Here are a few tapas recommendations:

Breakfast & Specialty Coffee

A flat white and a croissant on a black table

There are a few really nice breakfast and specialty coffee spots in Granada.

Here are some of my favourites:

☕ Also check out my blog post on Best Specialty Coffee Places in Granada.

International Cuisine

If you’ve had too much tapas and Spanish food, then try these international restaurants:

  • Tio Urban Smash, Takeaway Burger - I thought this was a really nice burger - if you love a smash burger then this is the place for you in Granada

  • Wild Food, Health food - A vegan restaurant right in the city centre

Where To Stay

Spanish houses and palm trees in Granada

I would recommend you to stay in the city centre of Granada, so that it is easy to get to all the main sights. If possible, try to find an accommodation in a small side street so that it’s not too noisy at night.

Granada is quite a popular place so there are loads of hotels, apartments and other accommodations to choose from.

Here are a few recommendations for hotels:

Check out all available accommodations on Booking.com, including apartments:

When To Go

View on Granada city from the Alhambra

Granada is a beautiful destination all year round. However, there are a few times that might be better than other times in the year.

Spring and Autumn are probably the best times to go as it’s not too hot and not too cold. It’s also not the high season then, so prices are relatively okay.

I think the winter time is also quite pleasant - even though it’s colder, it’s still around 8 - 18C and it’s usually very sunny (Spain being Spain!). And if it does get cold, you can always warm yourself up at the Hammam Spa. Additionally, the winter time is also low season; so there will be fewer crowds and more affordable prices.

How To Get Around

Granada is relatively small and you can get to most sights by foot. Other than that, you also have a pretty decent bus system that can basically get you anywhere within Granada. You can buy a one-way ticket directly on the bus with cash or card, which costs 1.60 euros.

There’s also a special tourist shuttle, that takes you to all the main sights in Granada (mostly Alhambra).

How To Get There

Granada does have a small airport (GRX) but unfortunately, there are not so many flights going there. The airport that is most used is Malaga, and from there you can either take the bus to Granada, which takes about 1.5 hours, or rent a car to drive to Granada.

If you’re staying in Malaga, you can also take the train from there to Granada, which takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Renting a car can be a good idea, especially if you want to visit surrounding areas or towns.

Check out how to best get to Granada via Omio:

Nina Hoeberichts
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Best Specialty Coffee Places in Granada