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Granada, Spain is a vibrant city with a rich Moorish history and plenty of activities for a fun-packed city break. Lose yourself in a passionate flamenco show, stand in awe of the city’s historical landmarks and marvel at the intricate Islamic architecture that adorns the city. And when you’re ready for a break from exploring, fill your face with delicious local food at one of the many lively tapas bars!
Granada, Spain: The Basics
Currency // Euro.
Timezone // Central European Time / Central European Summer Time (CET / CEST)
Language // The language spoken in Granada is Spanish. While not everyone you will meet will speak English, you will be able to get by easily enough at the attractions, restaurants are bars if you don’t speak Spanish. It’s always a good idea to try and learn some basic phrases before you go, but don’t worry if your Spanish is appalling (like mine!).
Cash or Card // Using either cash or card will be fine in Granada. I would recommend using a card that does not charge transaction fees when using it in Spain, and then carrying a small amount of cash around with you.
Tipping // Tipping in Granada is not compulsory, but it is appreciated. As a general rule of thumb we would tip around 10% at restaurants and for bars/cafes we would round up or leave change, although this is entirely optional. We always tipped in cash.
Climate // Granada has moderately cold winters and very hot summers. We go into more detail on best time to visit later in this travel guide.
Watch our Granada Itinerary Video
if you can’t wait to see the city for yourself!
Where is Granada & How To Get There
Granada resides in the heart of Andalusia, the sun-soaked and culturally vibrant region of southern Spain. Sitting within arm’s reach of other exciting Spanish cities such as Seville, Cordoba, and Malaga, Granada is a perfect addition to your southern Spain itinerary.
How to get to Granada by Plane
If you’re travelling to Granada from outside of Spain, Málaga is the most convenient airport.
Once you arrive at Malaga International Airport you have three options:
- Bus // This is the option we recommend. There are buses that run direct from Malaga airport to Granada bus station, or if the timings don’t work out you can catch a bus from the airport to Malaga bus station, and change onto another bus there.
- Car // We only recommend this one if you’re planning a road trip through Spain as a car is not necessary in Granada. You could pick up a car rental directly from the airport and the drive will take around 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Train // This is possible, but requires you to go into Malaga city first. Catch the C1 train from Malaga airport to Málaga María Zambrano Train Station (in the direction of Malaga Centro Alameda) and catch a direct train to Granada from there.
Depending on where you’re travelling from you could fly to Federico Garcia Lorca Granada-Jaen Airport, also known as Granada International Airport (GRX). This small airport is roughly 11 miles (18 kilometres) to the west of Granada. However, it mainly serves other major cities in Spain with international flights being infrequent, so you will most likely fly into Malaga International Airport.
How to get to Granada by train
Travelling to Granada by train is possible from various cities in Spain. Here are some common routes:
- From Madrid // There’s a high-speed train (AVE) that connects Madrid to Granada. The journey takes approximately 3 to 4 hours, depending on the specific train and route.
- From Barcelona // You can take a train from Barcelona to Granada, but it usually involves a transfer in Madrid. The overall journey might take around 6 to 8 hours or more.
- From Seville // There’s a train service connecting Seville to Granada. The travel time is around 3 to 4 hours.
- From Málaga // There’s a train service connecting Málaga to Granada. The journey typically takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Train schedules and availability can vary based on the season and specific dates of travel, so always check your route in advance.
We would recommend either using Renfe, which is the primary train operator in Spain. If you struggle with their website (which isn’t super user friendly) or find your international payment method is rejected, then try TheTrainLine or Omio.
Where to research and book your train tickets:
How to get to Granada by bus
There are several bus companies operating routes to Granada from various cities:
- From Major Cities in Spain // You can find direct bus routes to Granada from cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Málaga. Companies like Alsa and Socibus often operate these routes. The travel time can vary significantly depending on the city of departure. We were able to catch a direct bus from Malaga airport straight to Granada using Alsa, which was nice and convenient!
- International Connections // Some companies also offer international connections to Granada from cities in neighbouring countries like Portugal. To book tickets and check schedules, you can use websites like the official Alsa website or other platforms like Omio.
Getting Around Granada
Your main options for getting around Granada are walking, bus or taxi.
Apart from the taxi we took to and from the main bus station to our apartment in the lower Albaicin we walked everywhere during our visit, so if you typically prefer to walk between sights on holiday then you can do this in Granada. However we do like to walk A LOT and Granada is pretty hilly, so if you would prefer to take things a little easier then the buses are your best bet. If you have the Granada city card (discussed later in this travel guide) then this can used for up to 9 bus journeys, including the tourist train.
The tourist train provides a hop-on-hop-off service to major attractions. This is a convenient way to get an overview of the city and its landmarks, with the flexibility to explore at your own pace. Admission to attractions is not included in the cost of the tourist train.
Map of Granada Attractions
Save our map of places to go, eat and drink in Granada
How Many Days Should You Spend in Granada
As you can see from our Granada itinerary, we think 3 full days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Granada.
This will allow you to dedicate a solid chunk of time to the marvel that is the Alhambra. Plus, you’ll have time to wander through the gems like the Granada Cathedral and the cave museum, soak in the vibes of Albaicín, and go enjoy a Flamenco show. There will also be some precious relaxation time which, let’s be honest, is code for “tapas crawl”!
If you plan your visit for the scorching summer months, brace yourself—it gets hot. As in, “I am an ice cream rapidly melting in the sun” kind of hot. In this case, you might want to add an extra day to your schedule. This will give you the chance to chill a bit more (literally and figuratively) in air-conditioned cafes or embrace the siesta back at your accommodation while the sun is at its hottest.
Best Time To Visit Granada
Best time to visit Granada: May–June or September–October
May–June / September–October
For most people, late Spring (May to June) and early-mid Autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit Granada. During these seasons, the weather should (hopefully!) be very pleasant, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds compared to the peak summer months. In spring the gardens will be packed with blooming flowers in the spring, whereas in autumn you can enjoy the vibrant foliage, as the mountains create a warming backdrop against the cityscape.
July–August
Summer (July to August) is the peak tourist season in Granada, and it is hot. REALLY hot. Also be aware that during August some small shops and restaurants may close while owners take their own holidays. Pretty much everywhere is going to advise you against visiting in summer and, while I would say go for Spring or Autumn if you can, sometimes summer is the only time you can travel so please don’t be too put off. We went in late August and yes, while the heat did get pretty oppressive in the late afternoons and staying super hydrated was an absolute must, we had a great time on our visit.
November–February
Winter (November to February) is going to be comparably chilly and you may get a bit of rain. However, this can be a great time to visit if you prefer to dodge the crowds.
March–April
Be mindful of Semana Santa (Holy Week). This significant religious event usually falls in late March or early April, varying each year according to the Easter calendar, so check the dates before you book. Semana Santa is a major celebration throughout Spain, including Granada, with elaborate processions, religious events, and cultural festivities.
While this could be an amazing experience, Holy Week is when the crowds will be at their most suffocating. Accommodation prices might surge, and streets will be full as the processions and events take place. If you plan to visit during Semana Santa, make sure to book accommodation well in advance.
Where To Stay In Granada
Accommodation (Where We Stayed)
Smart Suites Albaicin // Modern, clean apartment in a fantastic location (rated 9.2 ‘Superb’ on booking.com)
Best Areas to Stay in Granada
Best Things To Do In Granada
- Visit the Alhambra
- Explore the Albaicín (Moorish) neighbourhood
- Enjoy a pot of fresh mint tea in a Moorish tetería
- Tour the tapas bars
- Be amazed by the gigantic, airy Granada Cathedral
- Watch the sunset from Mirador de San Nicolás or Mirador San Miguel Alto
- Explore uniquely themed caves at Sacromonte Caves Museum
- Watch a flamenco show. We recommend Zambra María la Canastera, but there are several other flamenco show options available if this one does not suit you
- Wander the Realejo (former Jewish) neighbourhood
- Spot incredible street art
- Relax in the hot, cold and steam rooms of Granada’s Hammam Al Ándalus. We missed this activity, but wanted to mention it as it’s very highly rated. You can book it here.
Psssst… you can find out more about Granada’s attractions by reading our Granada sample itinerary or watching our Granada itinerary video on YouTube.
Granada Card
You could consider the Granada card, but make sure you do proper research into what you actually want to see and whether it will actually save you money. The pass could be worth it if you plan to visit 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 vs buying tickets individually
- Whether the pass covers enough attractions you plan on visiting, and;
- Whether you plan to book guided tours, which may make the pass redundant
Where To Eat & Drink In Granada
Grab your drool buckets because Granada has plenty of great places to eat and drink! The following is a list of places we enjoyed or others have rated highly.
Our Top pick: Bar Los Diamantes
If you love seafood then head straight to Bar Los Diamantes. This small bar is very popular with tourists and locals alike, and in our opinion, it honestly does live up to the hype. Small plates of deep-fried fish and seafood are served up for free with each round of drinks. Even as someone who usually prefers seafood to be grilled rather than deep-fried, the seasoning of the batter was so good that this quickly shot up to my favourite of the tapas spots we tried in Granada.
There are actually several Bar Los Diamantes locations now, but we went to the one on Calle Navas, which is often referred to as ‘tapas street’ (three guesses why!).
- Café 4 Gatos // A small friendly cafe in the Albaicín with one of our favourite breakfasts from our trip. Snag an outdoor seat for views of the Alhambra.
- Mummo Café // Good value tostadas near Granada Cathedral.
- Betula Nana // A small and cosy restaurant serving up high quality local and fusion cuisine.
- La Botilleria // A lively gastro bar offering good-quality regional dishes and local wine. Grab a spot at the bar for tapas or take a seat in the restaurant if you’d prefer a full meal. We had tapas, and were given complimentary Spanish omelette, mini burgers, and chicken curry (I was surprised to see this crop up in a couple of tapas bars we visited!). We also paid for ham croquettes and a bowl of cold, creamy salmorejo – yum!
- Bar La Fragua // A traditional no-frills tapas bar with a friendly atmosphere, set just off Plaza Larga in the Albaicín.
- Taberna La Tana // A cosy tapas and wine bar that Anthony Bourdain fans may recognise from the Andalusia episode of Parts Unknown.
- Restaurante Arrayanes // If you’re in the mood for a delightful mix of traditional Moroccan flavours with a modern twist, swing by Arrayanes Restaurant close to Calle Elvira (Tea Street). Diners rave about the beautiful decor!
- Bar Los Altramuces // A popular tapas bar located on Campo del Principe – a lively square in the Realejo neighbourhood
Restaurants, cafes and tapas bars typically open between 1 and 4 pm, close during the late afternoon, and then reopen around 8 pm until late. You’ll need to train your appetite to eat when the locals do! Also, keep in mind that in August, some shops and restaurants might close as business owners take their holidays.
How Expensive Is Granada
According to BudgetYourTrip.com you should plan to spend around €123 ($135/£108) per day.
We would typically class our travel budget as mid-range, and we tend to find the estimations from BudgetYourTrip.com to be a good guide.
Estimated budget by travel style:
Granada Travel Costs
Want to find out more about visiting Spain?
Read our other Spain travel guides
or watch our Spain travel videos on YouTube
