GRANADA, SPAIN | 17 Fun Things To Do In 3 Days - Itinerary Ideas & Tips

Are you going to Granada in southern Spain? Based on our own trip we're going to show you some of the very best things you can see and do on a three-day visit. Along the way we'll incorporate valuable tips and at the end of the video we'll add extra practical information to help you feel well prepared for your own Granada trip. Let's start with the star attraction of Granada which is of course the Alhambra. This magnificent complex of palaces, gardens and fortifications towers high above the city and is no doubt at the very top of your Granada to-do list. It was originally built in the 13th century by the Nasrid dynasty which was the last muslim dynasty to rule the Iberian peninsula and today it proudly holds the distinction of being a UNESCO world heritage site. Imposing on the outside and total paradise on the inside, the Alhambra's incredible beauty loves visitors from all across the globe. Most people spend around four or five hours at the Alhambra although some visitors do spend a full day there. As there is so much to see we'd suggest putting aside the morning and afternoon of your first day in Granada for your visit to the Alhambra. We definitely don't want to encourage you rushing through. There are three main ticketed areas of the complex. The Alcazaba which is the military area that used to guard the Alhambra. You will of course get some great views over the city from the watchtowers. There's the Generalife which was the summer palace getaway for the Nasrid rulers where you walk through lush gardens filled with flowers and water features. And of course there is the Nasrid palaces. This has to be the most beautiful part of the Alhambra and certainly the part of the complex that you really don't want to miss. There are a few things you'll want to know before visiting the Alhambra so we've included a section on the Alhambra in the practical information section at the end of this video. I've also created a map of all the attractions mentioned in this itinerary and linked it in the description below. And when it's ready I'll also include a free written travel guide for bonus planning information. After spending several hours walking around the Alhambra we would suggest having a break and what better way to do that than going for some tapas. Here you'll find that tapas are typically offered for free with your drink. A glass of beer or wine will typically set you back around three euros and then throw in a plate of delicious tapas and that makes this really great value for money. If you're craving something specific or you want something a little heartier then you can always order additional dishes off the menu but you will need to pay for those separately. Our favourite tapas spots were all conveniently located just a short roll away from each other. I've included them on the map of attractions and in the travel guide linked below. Extend your leisurely break by heading to one of Granada's bustling plazas. Give your tired feet a rest, enjoy the moment and watch the world go by. As the day gradually mellows into evening head towards the Mirador de San Nicolas which is renowned for offering one of the best views of the Alhambra. Time your visits just right to catch the red stone bathed in the warm ethereal hues of the setting sun. However the Mirador de San Nicolas is not just about the view. Street performers and musicians flock to this small square creating a really fun and lively atmosphere as you watch the sun go down. Another awesome sunset point is Mirador de San Miguel. It does take a bit more effort to reach compared to the Mirador de San Nicolas but trust me the effort pays off handsomely. From here you'll get far reaching views across the entire city including the Alhambra. There's also more space up here so if you prefer somewhere a bit less crowded then this might be the perfect lookout for you. A quick tip is that as you reach the top the paving stones can be pretty slippery so make sure you wear shoes with a decent grip or be prepared to shuffle back down on your bum. Let's start day two exploring the Albicene which is Granada's picturesque Moorish quarter. Stroll up and down the hilly cobbled streets where every turn reveals hidden treasures from Islamic houses and gardens to cafe line squares. For us one of the best things about exploring the Albicene was unexpectedly stumbling across numerous viewpoints along the way so keep your camera to hand. I'll add all the places I'm showing you to the map of attractions that is linked in the description but the highlights for us were probably the 11th century baths, Palacio da El Hora, I'm sorry I really can't pronounce that one, which is a 15th century residence of a Nazarite queen, and Casa del Chapiz which is a Moorish style house with really pretty gardens. Some of the attractions are included in the Andalusian Monuments Ticket which you can either buy online when you purchase your Alhambra ticket or in person from any of the monuments on the day. Make sure you check opening hours as many attractions close for a few hours during the afternoon. While you're exploring the Albicene make sure you take a leisurely stroll along the picturesque River Darrow. Follow this cobbled street from Plaza Nueva to the idyllic Paseo de la Triste, arguably one of the most beautiful streets in Granada. Take a walk down Calle Elvira. Start at the Gate of Elvira and follow the sweet aromas down a street lined with tearooms. Take a break to sample fragrant teas and delicious Middle Eastern dishes. We stopped at a cozy tearoom that was on a lively pretty street just off Calle Elvira. We tried fresh mint tea and a selection of desserts, baklava, a chocolate nest as well as Pianono which is a sweet sponge cake from Granada. It's really good! One thing to know is that the tearooms tend to not open until at least 12 so don't try to visit a tearoom in the morning. Head to Sacramento Cave Museum where you can walk around several unique caves, each meticulously recreated to show how Granada's Roma community once lived. These man-made caves each have different themes and are filled with items from people who actually lived there. Walk through the bedroom, kitchen, stable and workshops and browse the old black and white photos on the walls. That night experience the raw emotion, soul-stirring music and passionate dance of a live flamenco show. As part of the cave museum is dedicated to the origins of flamenco, we would recommend visiting the museum before attending a live performance as we found it really helped us appreciate the flamenco show even more. There are several places you can go in Granada to watch a performance but we went to Zambra Maria La Canastera, a small theatre set in a cave just down the hill from the museum. The venue was really intimate and the walls were absolutely covered with old photographs so take a moment before or after the show to have a closer look. We paid 24 euros which included a drink but there are other options if you want to pay for a ticket that includes dinner or transport. Start your morning with what has to be our favourite local breakfast, pan con tomate which is bread with tomato. This beloved Spanish classic is a simple yet flavourful dish that consists of toasted bread rubbed with garlic and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with a pinch of salt. You can get different toppings like cheese and ham and tuna which might cost you a little bit more but the classic tomato was our personal favourite. Two cafes we would recommend for breakfast are Mumo Cafe near the cathedral and Cafe Folgatos in the Albacene. After breakfast, visit the enormous Granada Cathedral. Built in the 1500s on the site of a mosque, this Renaissance-style cathedral took over 180 years to complete. The high ceilings and white marble makes the inside feel really spacious and airy. Take your time walking around and look out for the amazing gold pipe organs. There is a free audio guide that you can download to your phone so make sure you bring headphones. After the cathedral, you can visit the neighbouring Royal Chapel of Granada which serves as the final resting place of the Catholic Monarchs King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I. Just a brief stroll from the cathedral and Royal Chapel is Coral de Carbon, a historic monument from the 14th century that once served as a merchant's warehouse and lodging. Do spare 15 minutes to wander through the grand horseshoe entrance and into the cobbled courtyard shaded by a leafy canopy. Across from Coral de Carbon is the Alcaicería, once the epicentre of Granada's silk trade, now transformed into a lively market teeming with crafts and very touristy souvenirs. To be honest, the shops do start to get pretty samey and not all the items are made quite as well as others, so we didn't linger for too long. Still, I think it's worth a quick look around. We enjoyed exploring the Real Ejo district, which is the former Jewish neighbourhood of Granada. Here you can find the works of the famous street artist Raúl Ruiz who is known by the nickname El Nino de la Pinturas. While you will probably come across some street art without even trying, one of our favourite areas was around a small square named after Joe Strummer from The Clash. Next to the square you'll find an abandoned house adorned with huge murals. If you look just past the square and walk along the neighbouring street, you'll also see some truly impressive artwork on the corner house and along the walls below. Calle Molinos is also an excellent spot to view remarkable murals, both on walls and shutters. Conveniently, it's also on the way to our next destination on the itinerary. We researched plenty of things to see and do in this neighbourhood that we just did not get around to, so I'll add those to the attractions map in case you want to visit any of these yourself. A couple of the attractions are included in the Granada City Card, which I'll be covering later in this video. Carmen de las Materas is a romantic set of gardens filled with plants, trees and flowers, as well as elegant fountains and ponds. It's really quiet here, so perfect if you're looking for a bit of tranquility on your otherwise busy city break. The gardens close in the afternoon and reopen at 6pm, so depending on the time of year, if you aim to get there around 6, then you can experience how pretty they look in the early evening light. I'd like to add a suggestion for a dinner that we really enjoyed on our last night in Granada, which was at a restaurant called Betula Nana. We shared Cod Ceviche on a bed of guacamole, followed by curried pork cheek with roast potatoes. Our meal wrapped up with a lemon mousse and cinnamon cheesecake on a Biscoff base. It's only a small place which is great because it's really cosy, but it is popular, so I would recommend booking in advance, which you can do through WhatsApp. We had a few more sites on our maybe list that we didn't visit, which I haven't mentioned yet, so I'll make sure to add them to the attractions map as well. Now it's time to cover a few more bits of practical information that I haven't mentioned yet. When you're planning your visit to the Alhambra, it's crucial to get your tickets well in advance. This iconic attraction tends to sell out fast, especially during the peak tourist season. So, as soon as you're certain about your trip to Granada, don't hesitate to book your Alhambra tickets. It's not worth the risk of missing out. There are several ticket options to choose from, but for a first-time visit, I'd recommend the General Ticket. This one covers all ticketed areas within the Alhambra complex, including the Nasrid Palaces. Alternatively, you might consider the Dabla d'Oro General Ticket, which not only includes access to the entire Alhambra complex, but also four other monuments in Granada. When you're booking your Alhambra ticket, they will ask you to choose a specific entry time for Nasrid Palaces. If you're staying in Granada, I'd suggest booking your Nasrid Palaces ticket for the earliest morning time slot. Although we arrived well before 9am at the Alhambra, we only booked our Nasrid Palaces ticket for mid-morning and we regretted it when we saw all the early birds entering ahead of the crowds. Booking an early slot also means you can relax and enjoy your day without constantly clock-watching. But if you're not confident in making it in time for a morning slot due to travel from another location or simply because you're not a morning person, then consider a later time to ensure you don't miss out on the Nasrid Palaces. Missing your time slot unfortunately does mean no entry. And don't forget to bring your photo ID, which for international visitors like us, means your passport. Make sure it is the exact document you used for booking your tickets because no ID means no entry. Apart from the palaces, feel free to explore the different parts of the complex at your own pace on the day your ticket is valid. However, I'd recommend following one of the routes I'm showing you on the screen as they're more efficient considering the size of the complex compared to going backwards and forwards. While you're there, don't miss the Palace of Charles V. In here, you'll find a Museum of Fine Arts and a small Alhambra Museum that's included in your ticket. Also know that you can only enter each ticketed part of the complex once so make sure you've seen everything you want to see in that particular area before you exit. You can leave and return to the actual complex if you want though. So if, for example, you want to visit the palaces and the Alcazaba, leave for a midday break to take a snooze or fill your face with tapas and then return to visit the Generalife later in the day, then that is perfectly fine. Be aware of opening hours of attractions and restaurants. While most major attractions are open all day, smaller ones may close for a few hours in the afternoon so do double check their schedules. As for restaurants and tapas bars, they typically open between 1 and 4pm, close during the late afternoon and then reopen around 8pm or sometimes even later. Also keep in mind that in August, some shops and restaurants might close as business owners take their own holidays. Your main options for getting around Granada are walking, bus or taxi. Apart from the taxi we took from the main bus station to our apartment in the Lower Albacene, we walked everywhere that we've shown you in this itinerary. So if you typically prefer to walk between sites on holiday, then you can do this in Granada. However, we do like to walk a lot on holiday and Granada is pretty hilly, so if you would prefer to take things a little easier then the buses are your best option. If you have the Granada card, this can be used for up to 9 bus journeys, including the tourist train. You could consider the Granada card but make sure you do proper research into what you actually want to see and whether it really will save you money. This pass could be worth it if you plan on visiting multiple attractions over the course of a few days and you plan on using public transport but it's important that you work out whether your visit to Granada is long enough to take in enough attractions to get your money's worth versus buying tickets individually. Whether the pass covers enough attractions that you plan on visiting and whether you plan to book guided tours which may make the pass redundant. If you only have a day or two in Granada, I think it's unlikely that you'll visit enough attractions to justify the cost but do take a look. I won't cover all the different areas to stay in Granada but I did want to mention that we stayed in an apartment in the Lower Albocene which we really liked because we were close to a lot of the main sights but we were also in our favourite bit of Granada because the Albocene is really pretty. If you do stay in the Albocene though then remember that there are a lot of stairs and steep lanes. If you're going on a bigger trip to Spain that's covering more places than just Granada then we do have some more videos from Spain that you might want to watch so I'll link them here and in the description below. Thank you for watching our Granada travel guide.