First Time in Granada – 2 Day Itinerary to See it All

Granada is the capital city of the Granada province in Spain. While not a large city by Spanish standards (it is only the 13^th largest city in Spain), it is a big attraction for visitors to Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and at the merge of four rivers (Darro, Genil, Monachil, and the Beiro). Granada is most well known for the Alhambra, the ancient citadel and palace from the Moor dynasty. However, there is so much more to this ancient city of Spain. A two-day itinerary in Granada is perfect to explore the highlights and get a taste of what the city has to offer.

I designed this Granada itinerary to follow our Itinerary of Sevilla. While you can definitely do this on its own, I encourage you to read the Sevilla itinerary for some introductory information on Spain.

Granada: Day 1

Alhambra

The Alhambra is an iconic Moorish citadel and palace in Granada. This palace and its ornate architecture is a reminder of the Moor’s dominance of the Iberian peninsula between the 1^st and 15^th centuries AD. This palace started life as a citadel but grew into the lavish palace as the home of Granada’s ruling Moor emir. The key highlights of the Alhambra complex are the Palacios Nazaries and the Generalife gardens.

Alhambra Ticket Tips

Booking a ticket ahead of time will be key to being able to explore the Alhambra. Tickets sell out far in advance. The Alhambra does reserve a small number of tickets for the day of sales. However, these remaining tickets are generally bought by people lining up at the gate starting as early as 5 AM.

The Alhambra sells many different types of tickets (so many that it can sometimes get confusing). The General Day Visit ticket provides access to all areas, while other ticket types generally exclude some areas for a reduced price. The tickets most often exclude the Palacios Nazaries which you don’t want to miss out on. Because the Palacios Nazaries is so popular, tickets schedule a specific entrance time to this building. Access the palace based on the time printed on your ticket. It is important that you do not miss that time. The Alhambra staff will not admit you to see the palace if you missed your scheduled time. For this reason, I recommend scheduling the palace visit immediately upon arrival. This way you don’t have to watch your clock the rest of the time that you are at the Alhambra and you are free to sightsee as you chose.

Backpacks are prohibited in the Palacios Nazaries. Leave the backpack at home or arrive with sufficient time to put your backpack into a locker on-site. Better yet, I encourage you to bring a purse, messenger bag, or over-shoulder day bag that will be allowed in. Site staff frequent check identification so make sure you have this on you at all times.

Alhambra Quick Info

• Website: https://www.alhambra-patronato.es/en/visit
• Fee: €14/person for the entrance to all areas including the palace
• Hours of Operation:
  • Oct 15 – Mar 31 – 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Apr 1 – Oct 14 – 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
• Duration: 4.5 hours
• Suggested Timeline: 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Carrera del Darro

Carrera del Darro is a scenic and romantic walk along a cobblestone street. The street runs alongside and hangs over the Darro river. There are several picturesque arched bridges over the walkways. Towers and gatehouses also adorn the walkway.

The walk is relatively flat making for a leisurely stroll. Along the walk, there are numerous cafes, bars, and shops to browse. You can also see the Alhambra up on the hill from this walk giving another great vantage of the site you toured this morning.

Be warned that the street is narrow and can get crowded in some areas if you are traveling during the high season.

Carrera del Darro Quick Info

• Website: N/A
• Fee: Free
• Hours of Operation: N/A
• Duration: 1 hour
• Suggested Timeline: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Lunch

Hopefully, by now you have become accustomed to the Spanish mealtimes. As you wrap up your walk on the Carrera del Darro, prime lunchtime in Spain is approaching. Use 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM to find a nice spot for lunch and rest. Most restaurants do not open for lunch until 1:30 PM. If you are running ahead of this Granada itinerary, most restaurants will accommodate you between 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM for lunch.

Sacromonte

Saromonte is a neighborhood of eastern Granada most famous for its cave houses. A popular history of this neighborhood states that gypsies were the original creators and inhabitants of the cave houses. While they are still unusual and a sight to see, the cave houses are whitewashed and much more ornate today than their original construction would have been.

A visit to this area should start with a walk of the neighborhood to get a feel for the area. The architecture and streetscape feel completely different than anything else in Granada. From there continue to the Barranco de Los Negros (a central street in Sacromonte) and the Sacromonte Caves Museum (Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte).

The museum contains 11 cave houses that have been set up like they would have been in the past. The 11 cave houses display period pieces including ceramics, baskets, tools, and cloth. The museum also provides information on how the caves houses were constructed and on the people who called them home.

Sacromonte Quick Info

• Website: http://sacromontegranada.com/museo/
• Fee: €5/person for self-guided tour
• Hours of Operation:
  • Oct 15 – Mar 14 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Mar 15 – Oct 14 – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Duration: 1.5 hours
  • The museum visit will last approximately 1 hour. Use the other time to explore the Sacromonte streets and views of the Alhambra from this neighborhood.
• Suggested Timeline: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Plaza de San Nicolas

A somewhat steep hike through the Albaicin region of Granada will bring you to the Plaza de San Nicolas. This plaza is most well known for the view from its looking wall. The plaza and looking wall look west, so this is the perfect place to catch a sunset view over the Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the background.

Because this is such a good spot for sunset views, crowds will come from all over around that time. Come early if you want a seat or spot along the wall. Sit and enjoy this peaceful view as you wrap up the first day of your Granda itinerary.

Plaza de San Nicolas Quick Info

• Website: N/A
• Fee: Free
• Hours of Operation: N/A
• Duration: 30 minutes
• Suggested Timeline: Sunset
  • Look up sunset for the time of year you are traveling. Arrive ~30 minutes prior to sunset.

Dinner

Wrap up your first day of this Granada itinerary with dinner or tapas in traditional Spanish fashion.

Granada: Day 2

The second day of this Granada itinerary starts at 10 AM. If you stayed out late by American standards last night to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture, sleep a little later as most people in Spain will. If you find it hard to kick your American wake-up time, take some time this morning to relax at a coffee shop and observe early-morning Spanish life.

This is also the last day spent in Granada. You will want to ensure your bags are packed and ready to go on the train tonight. If you have to leave your room, leave your bags with the front desk or bellman, if available.

Basilica de San Juan de Dios

Fray Alonso de Jesus y Ortega erected the basilica to honor St. John who founded an order in this area to provide healthcare to the poor. The construction began in 1737 and completed in 1759. The interior of the basilica is quite lavish as almost every square inch is covered in gold and silver. The centerpiece is the golden altarpieces and frescos painted on the main church and chapel ceilings.

Basilica de San Juan de Dios Quick Info

• Website: www.basilicasanjuandedios.es
• Fee: €5/person
• Hours of Operation: 10 AM – 8 PM Monday – Saturday, 2 PM – 8 PM on Sunday. Closes at 7PM during Oct – May
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Suggested Timeline: 10 AM – 11 AM

Monasterio Cartuja

The Monastery of Santa Maria de las Cueva, also known as the Monastery of the Catuja, is a monastery from the 1500s. The monastery was built in a Baroque style and is remarkably ornate on the inside by monastery standards. While no longer an active monastery, it is worth the visit to see the building and grounds. The building is currently utilized by the Andalusian Center of Contemporary Arts and some of their collection is on display.

Despite its aesthetics and history, many visitors to Granada skip this site due to the popularity of Alhambra and the Granada Cathedral. This is to your advantage however since there will be fewer crowds. You will be able to explore the monastery without interruption.

This site is located a little way out of the town center. Walking will take approximately 30 minutes; however, a five-minute cab ride will get you from the city center to the front door.

Monasterio Cartuja Quick Info

• Website: N/A
• Fee: €5/person
• Hours of Operation:
  • Summer: 10 AM – 8:00 PM Sundays – Friday, Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM & 3 PM – 8 PM
  • Winter: 10 AM – 6 PM, Sundays – Friday, Saturday 10 AM – 1 PM & 3 PM – 6 PM
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Suggested Timeline: 11:30 – 1 PM

Alcaiceria

The Alcaiceria is the grand bazaar of Granada similar to what you might find in Morrocco. The bazaar was established under the rule of the Moors who arrived in Spain from North Africa. The Alcaiceria is a great way to shop or browse many different stalls. The shops along the main drag through the market can get somewhat repetitive. You may find that you want to venture off the main pathway to find more variety and authentic items.

If you do end up purchasing something don’t be afraid to haggle. Haggling isn’t a normal skill for Americans as it is generally frowned upon in the U.S. However, haggling for goods and services is a normal way of doing business in this marketplace.

Alcaiceria Quick Info

• Website: https://www.alcaiceria.com/
• Fee: Free
• Hours of Operation: 10 AM – 9 PM
• Duration: 45 minutes
• Suggested Timeline: 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Cathedral de Granada & Royal Chapel of Granada

The final stop on this Granada itinerary is the Cathedral de Granada and the Royal Chapel of Granada.

The Cathedral de Granada is a juxtaposition to the Alhambra showing the two histories of this region of Spain. The Alhambra displays the old Moorish Muslim rule of Spain. Similarly, the Catherdral de Granada displays the Christian Spanish Reconquest. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella built the Cathedral de Granada on the site of the old mosque after their successful campaign in taking Granada.

Located on the same property is the Royal Chapel of Granada. This chapel holds the tombs of the famous Catholic monarchs Ferdinand & Isabella.

Cathedral de Granada Quick Info

• Website: catedraldegranada.com
• Fee: €5/person
• Hours of Operation: 10 AM – 6:30 PM Monday – Saturday, 3 PM – 5:45 PM Sundays
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Suggested Timeline: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Travel to Madrid

If you are following our 10-day itinerary through Spain, the next stop is the capital of Madrid. Most high-speed trains between Granada and Madrid leave in the mid to late afternoon. Because of this, a Granada itinerary will need to be cut a little short on the second day to catch the train.

Grab lunch or snacks on the way to or in the train station. If you are short on time from sightseeing before leaving Granada, all trains allow you to bring food on board. Pick something up before you depart and eat it on the train as you move to the next location.

Please leave any questions or comments on this Granada itinerary below and I will try to respond. If you have been to the region and have suggestions for the community, please add those below as well.