From touring the historic Alhambra to enjoying a flamenco performance, here are the best experiences in Granada 漏 Westend61 / Getty Images
Granada is Spain鈥檚 cultured, creative southern city; a place with a storied past centering on the Alhambra, one of the world鈥檚 great human-made wonders.
To the Moors it was a paradise on Earth, to the Reyes Cat贸licos (Catholic Monarchs), who succeeded them, Granada became the seed from which a global empire grew.
Today, the legacy of Granada鈥檚 historic diversity remains the key reason to visit. There are former Jewish (El Realejo), Roma (Sacromonte) and Muslim (Albaic铆n) neighborhoods of winding cobbled streets waiting to be explored, where you might hear the plaintive arpeggios of a flamenco guitar fluttering through the warm air. There are also attractions for gourmands, history buffs and appreciators of all things musical and literary. Make the most of your trip with these top things to do in Granada.
1. Witness Moorish perfectionism at the Alhambra
Granada is best known for its world-class Alhambra, a majestic hilltop stronghold, consisting of ornately decorated palaces (Palacios Nazar铆es), robust fortifications (the Alcazaba) and graceful gardens (the Generalife). As you wander through its lavishly stuccoed palace rooms, and courtyards anchored by burbling marble fountains, it鈥檚 easy to imagine the emirs reclining in the shade, savoring life鈥檚 finer things. That was the underlying philosophy behind such exquisite buildings: that life is transitory and best appreciated in the present.
Planning tip: Entry to the Nasrid Palaces is (usually an hour after your purchase) so start your visit at the Alcazaba, then proceed on time to the Nasrid Palaces and end your visit in the Generalife gardens. Book online in advance to grab an earlier time slot, before the masses descend.
2. Visit interred royals at the Capilla Real
Although nothing that the conquering Reyes Cat贸licos built, after recapturing Granada from the Moors in 1492, rivals the Alhambra, the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) comes closest. While the Moorish palace was built to celebrate life, the finest post-Reconquista building is dedicated to death. Within the Gothic chapel, which adjoins Granada Cathedral, the ornate marble tombs of the revered monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella lie behind a protective wrought iron barrier. Most of the royal remains are boxed up in lead coffins in the crypt below.
3. Wax lyrical about Lorca鈥檚 Granada
Nobody has encapsulated the alluring landscapes and haunting culture of 础苍诲补濒耻肠铆补 quite like Federico Garc铆a Lorca (1898鈥1936). A little sliver of his 鈥淧arched land, quiet land, of immense nights鈥 can be explored at . It was here in his summer house on the western edge of the city, surrounded by the bucolic poplars, palms and ponds of Parque Federico Garc铆a Lorca, that he wrote many of his finest poems and plays. Visits are by guided tour only from Wednesday to Friday, apart from in August, when the house is closed.
Detour: For a deeper dive into Lorca lore, head out to in the village of Fuente Vaqueros, 17km (13 miles) from Granada. This was the indomitable poet鈥檚 birthplace, where he spent his early childhood years.
4. Add too much sugar to your mint tea at a 迟别迟别谤铆补
You won鈥檛 find clusters of 迟别迟别谤铆补s in most other Spanish cities because they鈥檙e a remnant of the Moorish culture that the emirs left behind when Boabdil was sent packing into the Sierra Nevada mountains. Arabesque flourishes at or the excellent Middle Eastern cuisine, such as mutabal and baba ganoush, of Teter铆a Palmira uphold the theme. Locals load up on mint tea (spare the milk but be liberal with the sugar), poured into glasses from stainless steel pots.
Planning tip: The densest concentration of 迟别迟别谤铆补s is around the intersection of calles Elvira and Calderer铆a Nueva, two blocks east of the cathedral.
5. Crawl the tapas bars for free food
Perhaps even more astounding than the timeless beauty of the Alhambra is the fact that it鈥檚 still possible, in this day and age, to chow down on free tapas in Granada. The practice of providing a small plate of food with every drink purchase was once widespread in Spain. Now it鈥檚 almost exclusively limited to Granada and its environs. Stalwarts like even have a menu offering a choice of over 10 dishes, including estofado de carne (piri-piri pork stew) or ensalada de garbanzos (chickpea salad).
Planning tip: There are bars offering free tapas throughout the city, although if you head to the Realejo neighbourhood, southwest of the Alhambra, you鈥檒l find plenty of traditional-style bars, such as on Calle Navas. A useful phrase to remember is vamos a tapear, or loosely: let鈥檚 go tapas bar hopping.
6. Notice the blend of architectural styles in Mud茅jar buildings
Formerly a mosque, the is a fine example of the religious one-upmanship typical of 础苍诲补濒耻肠铆补鈥檚 historic buildings. While the Catholic Baroque style is mostly in evidence, look up to see the exquisitely carved wooden artesonado ceilings. Other fascinating remnants of heritage from this era include the Corral del Carb贸n, so named for its former use as a coal warehouse, but which began life as a 13th-century caravanserai. Nearby, the Palacio de la Madraza, sited beside the cathedral, may have a Spanish Baroque exterior, but the arabesque stucco within is undoubtedly Mud茅jar.
7. Experience one of Spain's finest views
Practically every vista towards the snowcapped Sierra Madre peaks from Granada鈥檚 Albaic铆n neighborhood is dominated by the imperious Alhambra. Complete a late-afternoon stroll of the Albaic铆n鈥檚 narrow, cobbled streets at a mirador (lookout point) in time for the sunset. The most impressive view is from Mirador de San Nicol谩s, although many visitors to Granada book their accommodation in the Albaic铆n, too, so that they can start and end their day with this vista.
Planning tip: The streets in this area include steep sections and lots of steps so bring appropriate footwear. Hotels higher up the hill, north of the Darro River, offer the best views. Good options include and .
8. Attend a flamenco performance in a Sacromonte cave
Romani heritage is in fine evidence throughout the Sacromonte neighborhood in Granada鈥檚 northeast. Many of the oldest homes were built in the naturally abundant caves of these Sierra Nevada foothills. The caves nurtured an arrestingly emotive version of the flamenco artform, where every guitar-backed grito is suffused with the pain of an oppressed existence. Today there are dozens of nightly shows in the Sacromonte playing this form of flamenco called Grana铆na, many of which benefit from the unique acoustics of their cavern settings. Among them are , and .
Planning tip: There are plenty of other great places to catch a flamenco performance elsewhere in Granada. These traditional, non-cave flamenco theaters are known as tablao. Some offer dinner and a show, such as , while others focus purely on the art.
9. Brush up on Inquisition history at Palacio de los Olvidados
For a long time, the Inquisition remained a shameful and unacknowledged passage of Spain鈥檚 past. These days, it can still feel like an unresolved issue, but museums such as the go some way towards examining the period of deadly extremism that followed the overthrow of the Moors in Granada, as a way of quelling anti-Catholic sentiment. The museum鈥檚 main exhibit is of torture devices used during this time, coming close to, but not fully achieving an honest appraisal of this shameful era, but without trivializing it either.
10. Shop for rare ceramics at Fajalauza
If you鈥檙e planning to explore the upper reaches of the Albaic铆n and are looking for other fun things to do, be sure to stop by . Rumors have persisted for years that this final bastion of Grana铆na ceramics is due to close its doors. In operation since 1517, the family-run factory has passed through dozens of generations. The exhibition and sales room is an ideal place to find a unique, hand-painted souvenir.