Granada is famed for the Alhambra Palace, and it is indeed spectacular and absolutely the top of your list for places to visit. But there is SO much more to Granada and Granada province. Here are some of our favourite places to visit:

THE ALHAMBRA PALACE

You need to book tickets for the Alhambra at least 2 weeks before your visit (although they do release some tickets every day so always worth having a look) The official website to buy tickets is: https://tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/

You need to be in the Nazrid Palace queue at least 15 minutes before your entry time.

Don’t forget to take your passport. They will not let you in without it!

It will take about 3 hrs to walk round the palace, towers, gardens and the Generalife.

GARDENS

Carmen de la Victoria Carretera del Chapiz, 9

Situated between the Albaicin and Sacromonte quarters, this is a lovely garden with great views of the Alhambra. It is ‘hidden’ secret, not known by many people. You have to ring the bell beside the gate, and it will be opened. There is a cafe; service can be a bit slow, but the views are worth it, and the gardens are lovely. Entrance is free.

Carmen de los Mártires Puerto de los Mártires

A large, park-like garden close to the entrance to the Alhambra. There is a manor house, a beautiful walled garden and then an extensive park with small lake and many beautiful trees. This is an oasis of calm, and the perfect place for a hot summer’s day. Entrance is free. Just below the gates to the park, you will find the Manuel de Falla Concert Hall and there is a cafe here for morning coffee and drinks throughout the day. Great views. Entrance is free.

MUSEUMS

There are many museums, but these are a couple of our favourites as we love history and ethnography.

Casa de los Tiros Calle Pavaneras, 19

A 16th Century manor house opposite a pretty square, this lovely museum has many rich architectural features and contains paintings and sculptures.

Museo Arqueológico y Etnológico de Granada Carrera del Darro, 43

Granada’s Archaeological Museum is a beautiful building in its own right. The museum is housed in the 16th Century Casa de Castril, the home of Hernando de Zafra, secretary to the Catholic Monarchs. There are many fine exhibits and a fascinating timeline of Granada Province dating back 1.5 million years.

Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte Barranco de los Negros

At the far end of the Sacromonte quarter, you will see signs to the Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, and if you’d like to learn more about Flamenco, and how it came to Andalucia, then this is a fascinating museum. You will wander around caves that were the homes of gypsy settlers, learn about their life in Granada, and the origins of the Flamenco dance, music and art form.

Science Park Parque de las Ciencias. Avda. de la Ciencia s/n 18006 Granada. Tel: +34 958 131 900.

This is a huge and very well put together science museum for both young and old(er). There is a biodome and planetarium and many more visiting exhibitions. Well worth a visit. Entrance from €7.00

MONUMENTS

Granada Cathedral is vast and well worth a visit, but we found the adjacent Capilla Real more interesting and more intimate. Built between 1505 and 1517 as an annexe to the Cathedral, the chapel is the resting place of Isabel and Fernando, the Catholic Monarchs, and their daughter Juana ‘la Loca’ and her husband Philip I of Castile.

BARS & RESTAURNTS

Coffee and Churros:

Gran Cafe Bib Rambla Plaza Bib Rambla

There are many great cafes for a morning coffee, churros or tostada con tomate, but this is consistently good and has a lovely terrace in the square - ideal for people-watching.

Lunch:

*Remember that Spanish lunch is normally from 14:00, so if you want to get a good table in a popular restaurant, aim to go at around 13:30. Some bars and restaurants will not open before 13:00.

La Tortuga Boba Plaza Romanilla

There are lots of bars and restaurants around this pretty, lively square close to the Cathedral. This is one of our favourites, with tables set beneath palm trees and views up to the tower of the Cathedral. Another great spot for people-watching.

Saint Germain Calle Postigo Velutti

A small wine bar tucked well off the beaten track, not far from the Cathedral and the old part of Granada University. The interior is small and cosy but the bar also has an outside space in a very ‘real’, small square. Good tapas and good selection of wines.

Mercado de San Agustín Pl. de San Agustín, 2, 18001 Granada

This is the main Granada food market. As well as some delicious local produce there are restaurants and bars throughout the market where you can stop for a wine/beer/vermouth and taste the products as tapas. 

Dinner - tapas and raciones (larger, sharing plates):

Enoteca Pacurri Calle Gracia, 21

Quite possibly our favourite bar in the whole of Granada. The bar is small and very popular, and there is a restaurant downstairs. However, our suggestion is to get a seat at the bar and just have tapas and raciones (larger plates of food). The wines are fabulous and the staff will always make suggestions. The chef is very good, and the tapas are delicious.

Los Diamantes Bib-Rambla Pl. de Bib-Rambla, 2, 18001 Granada

Los Diamantes is a granada instition and there are a few more in the city but this one is in the lovely Plaza Bib Rambla. The speciality here is sea food. Stop here for a beer and a tapas on your way to dinner, and if you like it you may end up staying for longer. The freshest tastiest seafood you’ll taste in Granada! 

Tapas and formal dinner:

Restaurante Mirador Carmen San Miguel Plaza Torres Bermejas, 3

Great for lunch and dinner, particularly if you have been to the Alhambra as this restaurant is located at the top of the Realejo area, not far from the Alhambra. The terrace is fabulous, with views across Granada.

La Botilleria Calle Varela, 10

A lovely restaurant in a lively, food-centric corner of the city at the bottom of the Realejo area. Sit at one of the high table or at the bar for good tapas; ask for a table inside or out for a more substantial dinner. The restaurant has a very good selection of Granada wines.

An experience:

Bodegas Castañeda Calle Almireceros, 1 and 3

One half of this old and very traditional establishment is the bar and the other is the restaurant. It is as traditional as it can get, and it does get very busy. The tapas is good, you can order raciones and the atmosphere is wonderful. Go, even if it is just for one drink.

Bar la Trastienda Plaza de Chuchilleros

The name means ‘The Bar behind the Shop’ and you have to walk around the back of the delicatessen counter to get to the bar (there is also a small terrace out the front). This is a traditional and characterful place where you can enjoy a glass of wine and a platter of Granada cheeses or cold meats. 

Casa de Vinos La Brujidera Calle Monjas del Carmen, 2

A great wine bar with a huge blackboard of the wines they have available by the bottle or by the glass. This is a great place to experiment and learn something about the many delicious wines of Spain. Tapas is simple, but you go here for the wine.

La Auténtica Carmela Calle Colcha, 13

Almost next door to La Brujidera, this is the the original Carmela (there are now several around the city). Good tapas, a spacious terrace and lovely cold beer! Abondigas (meatballs) are their speciality.

Vinauro C. Cárcel Alta, 18010 Granada

A fantastic venue just off Plaza Neuva where you can discover lots of new wines from all over Spain including a good selection from Granada. Also an art gallery.

Dinner or Lunch with a view:

Restaurante Mirador de Morayma Calle Pianista Garcia Carrillo, 2

A formal restaurant with an amazing terrace, shaded from the hot summer sun and with spectacular views of the Alhambra. This restaurant is in a quiet corner of the historic Albaicin, so it’s worth booking a table for dinner, having a wander through the lanes of the Albaicin, visiting the Mirador de San Nicholas to watch the sun set and then walking down to the restaurant for dinner.

Restaurante mirador Casa Paco Av. Santa María de la Alhambra, 18009 Granada

Perched on the edge of the road up to the Alhambra car park. Spectacular views over the city on the roof terrace, perfect to watch the sunset with a tinto de verano and tapas.