Granada Travel Guide & Granada 2-Day Travel Itinerary

Granada is most famous for being home to The Alhambra but, in this Granada Travel Guide, I’m going to show you that there’s so much more to discover in the city.

Granada is located in the Southern Spanish region of Andalusia at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, making it an idyllic location for a city break adventure.

In this guide, I’ll be sharing all of my top tips to make your trip to Granada the best it can possibly be.

How to Get to Granada

Taking a trip to Granada takes a little more planning than other cities in Spain because there are no direct flights from the UK to Granada.

Instead, you will need to fly into a nearby city and then take the train to Granada.

The best options for flights are:

• Málaga
• Seville
• Madrid

The easiest option is to fly to Málaga. From the airport, take a short 15-minute taxi ride to Málaga Maria Zambrano train station and then a 90-minute high-speed train to Granada.

If you’d rather head to Granada straight from the airport, you could splash out on a private transfer. This is what I did on my recent trip to Granada. I pre-booked a transfer with the company SolHop, which cost around €200. This is expensive, but split between your group, it might just be worth it.

Seville is another good option, although flight options tend to be more limited. From Seville, take a 20-minute taxi to Sevilla Santa Justa train station, and then a 2-hour 45-minute high-speed train to Granada.

Madrid is the furthest of the three airports mentioned but, thanks to Spain’s extremely efficient high-speed train network, it is another great option for getting to Madrid, especially for those travelling from outside of Europe.

From Madrid Barajas Airport, take the metro to Atocha Station and then a 3-hour 30-minute high-speed train to Granada.

Where to Stay in Granada

The best place to stay in Granada is either in the Albaicín (the old town) or near Granada Cathedral.

These two locations will put you within walking distance of all the places you’ll want to visit in Granada, except for the Alhambra. And, no matter where you stay, you’ll probably want to take a taxi to the Alhambra anyway.

I stayed at the Sercotel Palacio de los Gamboa, which is a short 5-minute walk from Granada Cathedral.

This hotel offers the perfect combination of old-world charm and modern facilities. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the hotel surroundings are beautiful. Basically, I can’t recommend staying here enough.

Granada 2-Day Travel Itinerary

2 days is just about enough to explore the best of Granada. This 2-day Granada itinerary is designed based on a Friday to Sunday night visit, but can be adapted to other schedules.

DAY 1

08:30: Breakfast

09:00: Corral de Carbón

The first stop of the day is a very quick visit to the Corral de Carbón, a 14th-century warehouse and inns used by travellers and merchants.

The building is worth a visit to see the intricate Islamic arch that serves as its entrance. The inside is not much to write home about, but it is free if you want to take a quick peek inside.

09:15: Explore the Outside of Granada Cathedral

Granada Cathedral is a must visit on any trip to city. But, before the cathedral open, take 20 minutes or so to walk around the outside of this massive building and admire its architecture.

Granada Cathedral dates back to the 16th century and was built on the site of the city’s former Grand Mosque. The building combines Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles and is a truly imposing structure at the centre of the city.

The best places to view the cathedral’s façade are:

• Plaza de las Pasiegas
• Calle Oficios

10:00: San Jerónimo Monastery

Located just a 10-minute walk from Granada Cathedral is the San Jerónimo Monastery, a 16th-century Renaissance-style monastery.

Inside, the monastery is home to a beautiful cloister, offering views of its many façades, and a church. The church is the clear highlight of the visit and features intricately-painted walls and ceilings and a stunning golden altar.

The church is a little hard to find, but it is located behind an unassuming door just off the main cloister.

You can buy individual tickets for the monastery, but I recommend buying the Granada Cristiana Ticket. This is a mix-and-match ticket option allowing you to buy combined entry to up to 6 religious buildings across the city.

For a short trip, I recommend buying a combined ticket for 3 attractions:

• Granada Cathedral
• Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)
• San Jerónimo Monastery

The combined ticket for this costs €16.50 and is FREE for under 12s accompanied by an adult.

You will have to select a timeslot to visit each of the monuments and the great thing is that they can be visited on different days. But, for this itinerary, I recommend selecting to visit all three monuments in the morning session (10am-2pm).

11:00: Granada Cathedral (Inside)

After spending around an hour exploring San Jerónimo Monastery, make the 10-minute walk back to the centre to visit the inside of Granada Cathedral.

Granada Cathedral is just as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside. The main nave is lined on either side by pristine white stone columns and a white ceiling.

The most impressive part of the cathedral is the dome above the altar, which comprises several layers of frescos with gold detailing in between. Standing there, it is incredible to comprehend the detail that goes into the building of cathedrals like this.

Granada Cathedral might not be the most famous cathedral in Spain, but it is a fantastic building to visit and a must on any trip to the city.

Just like the San Jerónimo Monastery, you can choose to buy individual tickets for the cathedral or buy the Granada Cristiana Combined Ticket.

12:00: Capilla Real (Royal Chapel)

Next door to Granada Cathedral is the Royal Chapel, the final resting place of the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel.

In case you didn’t know, Ferdinand and Isabel were on the throne when Spain became a unified country in 1492 after a multi-century reconquest of the Iberian peninsula from the Moors. Granada was the last Moorish stronghold which is why Ferdinand and Isabel chose to be buried here, at the site of their biggest achievement.

No photography is allowed inside the Royal Chapel and the visit is very quick but, if you are interested in Spanish history, it is worth a visit.

12:30: Alcaicería

Just before lunch, spend 20 minutes exploring the Alcaicería, a small bazaar located across a few streets next to Granada Cathedral.

Nowadays, the bazaar is home to mostly souvenir shops, so it’s a great place to pick up a memento. Even if you’re not into shopping, it’s worth a quick look for the Islamic archways lining the various entrances to the bazaar.

13:00: Lunch

Enjoy a quick lunch in one of the squares next to the cathedral or along the Gran Via, one of the main shopping streets in the city.

13:30: Calderería Nueva

After lunch, it’s time for more shopping, this time on the Calderería Nueva, a street in Granada’s Albaicín neighbourhood that makes you feel as if you’ve been transported to the streets of Marrakesh.

This is another great place to find souvenirs as well as to sample some delicious baklava.

14:00: Carrera del Darro

From the top of the Calderería Nueva, head down into Plaza Santa Ana, which leads straight onto the Carrera del Darro.

The Carrera del Darro is a riverside walkway offering views of the Alhambra on one side and of the cobbled streets of the Albaicín on the other. It only takes 15-20 minutes to walk all the way up the streets, and it is one of the most popular activities among visitors to Granada.

Along the way, you’ll see stone bridges, beautiful buildings and even a few churches.

At the top of the street is the Paseo de los Tristes, a square lined with outdoor cafés, each offering great views of the Alhambra on the hill above. After such a busy morning exploring Granada, it is definitely a good idea to take a break and enjoy a coffee here.

15:30: El Bañuelo

On your way back down Carrera del Darro, it’s worth visiting El Bañuelo, Granada’s old Arab baths.

El Bañuelo is thought to date back to the 11th century and is the best-preserved hammam in Andalusia. A visit only takes about 15 minutes, but it is an interesting place to learn about what life was like in Moorish Granada.

Top Tip: to buy tickets for El Bañuelo, you will need a passport of valid ID. I had a picture of my passport on my phone, which worked fine.

Entry to El Bañuelo costs €7 and includes three other monuments since it is part of the Monumentos Andalusíes:

• Palacio de Dar al-Horra
• Corral de Carbón
• Casa Morisca

16:00: Head Back to Hotel

17:30: Mirador San Nicolás

After a quick rest at your hotel, take a taxi or a bus to the most famous viewpoint in Granada: Mirador San Nicolás.

Taxis and buses both take approximately 15 minutes to reach the viewpoint. You can catch the bus (C31 or C32) from the bottom of Carrera del Darro.

Once you get there, you’ll be treated to an unrivalled view of The Alhambra. If you can, plan to get there just before sunset so you can see the view during the day and as the sun sets in just one visit.

The views of the Alhambra with the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains are magical, and a great way to get excited for visiting the palace the next day. Of course, it goes without saying that the Mirador San Nicolás is a very popular place to visit, so be patient while waiting to take that perfect photo.

19:00: Dinner

End your day in Granada with a nice meal in the centre of town. I can highly recommend La Piccola Carmela, an Italian restaurant in Plaza Nueva.

But, before dinner, I recommend walking down from the Mirador San Nicolás through the Albaicín.

On such a short trip, there is not too much time to explore the Albaícin, Granada’s oldest neighbourhood, in detail. However, by making the 20-minute walk down through the district, you can at least get a flavour of what the area is like.

DAY 2

Day 2 is all about The Alhambra.

The Alhambra is such a sprawling complex that you’ll want to spend the whole day exploring. Its sheer scale and popularity also mean that a visit also takes a little more planning than your average attraction.

Booking Tickets for the Alhambra

Booking tickets for the Alhambra in advance is a MUST.

The Alhambra is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain and, as such, tickets will often sell out weeks or even months in advance. So, my recommendation is to book your tickets as soon as you know when you’ll be visiting Granada.

When booking my tickets, I also found that there were several sites claiming to be the ‘official’ Alhambra website. So, make sure you book your tickets through the right vendor – https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/.

For the best experience, you’ll want to book the ‘Alhambra General’ ticket, which includes access to the entire complex.

And don’t forget to bring your passport or national ID with you to the Alhambra. You will not get in without it!

Alhambra Travel Itinerary

07:30: Breakfast

You’ll want to get an early start on the day you visit the Alhambra so that you can get to the complex in time for opening. For this reason, it is probably best to book breakfast at your hotel.

08:00: Take a Taxi to the Alhambra

Taxis can drop you off at two different entrances:

• Alhambra Ticket Office (all visitors)
• Puerta de la Justicia (only visitors with pre-booked tickets)

I didn’t know this before my visit, so my taxi driver automatically dropped me off at the Ticket Office just in case. But, if you do have pre-booked tickets, it is probably better to head to the Puerta de la Justicia first as it is closer to the Alcazaba and the Nasrid Palaces.

08:30: Alcazaba

I recommend starting your visit to the Alhambra at the Alcazaba, the oldest part of the complex.

If you enter via the Ticket Office, you will need to walk for 10 minutes to reach the main section of the complex. If you enter via the Puerta de la Justicia, the Alcazaba is located just to your left as you enter.

The Alcazaba is a 13th-century military fortress located on the Western end of the Alhambra complex.

The most impressive part of visiting the Alcazaba is the views from its many towers down to the city of Granada below. You can see everything, from the cathedral and the Albaícin to the mountains on the outskirts of the city. It is a truly awe-inspiring view.

My particular highlights were:

• Views from the Torre del Cubo
• Views from the Torre de las Armas
• Architecture in the Plaza de Armas

A visit to the Alcazaba takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, and is a great way to start any trip to the Alhambra.

09:45: Queue to Enter Nasrid Palaces

With your ticket, you can visit most areas of the Alhambra whenever you want throughout the day, except for the Nasrid Palaces.

The Nasrid Palaces are the main reason to visit the Alhambra and their popularity means that, when you book your tickets, you have to book an exact timeslot for the palaces.

These timeslots are very strict, so I recommend queueing up at least 10 minutes before your time so you don’t miss it. So, for this itinerary, I would recommend booking your tickets for the Nasrid Palaces for 10am, and getting in the queue no later than 09:50am.

10:00: Nasrid Palaces

As I said, the Nasrid Palaces are the highlight of any visit to the Alhambra. As an architecture lover, it is absolutely mind blowing to experience room after room of such intricate Islamic design.

The Nasrid Palaces complex is home to three palaces, each of which dates back to the 14th century. The entire visit is amazing, but these were my highlights:

• Patio de los Arrayanes
• Salón de los Embajadores
• Patio de los Leones

The Nasrid Palaces are very busy, so it will take you some time to navigate your way through the rooms. However, I thought the crowd level was manageable. Yes, there are lots of people, but if you wait your turn, you can easily see everything and get all the pictures you want inside.

A visit to the Nasrid Palaces takes 45 minutes to 1 hour.

11:00: Palacio Partal

After leaving the Nasrid Palaces, you exit into the Palacio Partal, which is a beautiful garden area.

It will only take you 15-20 minutes to explore, but it is yet another stunning corner of the Alhambra where you’ll find yourself wanting to take a picture a minute.

11:30: Palace of Charles V

When exploring the Alhambra, you’ll probably notice a large square-shaped building at the centre of the complex. That building is the Palace of the Charles V.

The palace was built in the 16th century and was commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, who wanted to live beside the beautiful Nasrid Palaces.

The most famous part of the building is its circular courtyard, which is free to enter for all visitors to the Alhambra complex. Again, the visit will only take 10-15 minutes, but it’s a nice add-on to your Alhambra experience.

12:00: Lunch

Lunch at the Alhambra is a bit of a difficult one. There are no cafés or restaurants on site, but you can get sandwiches, drinks and snacks from the gift shop opposite the Palace of Charles V.

You can also get some snacks and drinks from the small kiosk outside the Alcazaba. This was more than sufficient for me on my trip. It’s just worth going in knowing that you’ll be eating somewhat of a lighter meal for lunch.

Side note: next to the gift are the main toilets at the Alhambra. These are very clean and there are plenty of cubicles even when it is busy.

12:45: Generalife

The final section of the Alhambra to visit is the Generalife Gardens. These are located a 10-minute walk away from the main area of the complex, back toward the Alhambra Ticket Office.

To be honest, the Generalife was the least interesting part of the Alhambra visit for me. The gardens are ok, but I’ve seen much better landscaped gardens on my various trips to Andalusia.

However, the Generalife does provide lovely views back over the rest of the Alhambra complex, which makes it worth the visit alone. Plus, there is a small palace at the top of the gardens (Palacio de Generalife) to explore.

A visit to the Generalife usually takes less than an hour, but you could choose to spend longer here by sitting and enjoying the view for a while.

This marks the end of the 2-day Granada itinerary. The itinerary finishes earlier than normal since you will need more time to get back to the airport from the city centre.

Getting Around Granada

Granada is a very walkable city, so you won’t need to rely on transport too much during your visit.

The one exception to this is getting to the Alhambra. Its location on the hillside on the edge of town makes it fairly inaccessible on foot.

So, it is best to take a taxi straight from your hotel up to the Alhambra. The journey takes 15-20 minutes from the centre and is fairly cheap. You can also generally take a taxi down from the Alhambra back to Granada. Just factor in a potential 15-20 minute wait for a taxi to arrive at the Puerta de la Justicia.

The only other time you may want to use transport in Granada is to get to the Mirador San Nicolás. The viewpoint is located in the Albaicín, which is very hilly, so if you’re not good with walking uphill, it is best to either take a taxi or the bus.

Taxis will take just 10 minutes from the city centre. You can also catch the C31 or C32 bus from Plaza Nueva.

Day Trips from Granada

Málaga

Málaga is Spain’s 6th largest city and is located just a 1-hour train ride from Granada. This makes it a great day trip or even a great place to spend time before or after visiting Granada.

Málaga combines city and beach vibes and there is something for everyone to enjoy there. Highlights of a visit include:

• Málaga Cathedral
• Alcazaba
• Castillo de Gibralfaro
• La Malagueta Beachfront

Córdoba

Córdoba is a 1-hour 45-minute train ride away from Granada, but it is still doable as a day trip.

Córdoba is a city lost in time. The cobbled streets lined with colourful flowers make Córdoba a beautiful city to explore on foot. And, of course, Córdoba is home to the incredible Mezquita – a Mosque-Cathedral decorated on the inside with more than 850 red and white archways.

Other highlights of a visit include the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Puente Romano.

Jaén

Another great day trip option for architecture lovers is Jaén. Jaén is a 1-hour coach ride away from Granada and is home to a beautiful cathedral and a castle.

Should You Visit Granada?

The Alhambra is a unique monument and that alone makes Granada worth a visit. I was blown away by the intricacy of the architecture and design inside, particularly in the Nasrid Palaces, and it is truly one of the best things I’ve seen in Spain.

However, Granada is so much more than just the Alhambra. The Cathedral is beautiful inside and out, the Carrera del Darro offers lovely views and the Mirador San Nicolás is breathtaking.

So, if you only have 1 day in Granada, you should of course prioritise the Alhambra. But if you can spend 2 days in the city, you will have an amazing time exploring everything else it has to offer.

That’s it for today’s post.

If you have any questions about visiting Granada, leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you.

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Thanks for reading, and see you next time!