If you’re planning a trip to Granada then we would definitely encourage you to add the Sacromonte Caves Museum (Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte) to your itinerary. This unique museum features ten carefully recreated caves, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the Roma community that once lived in them. Based on our own trip we’ll give you an overview of the museum’s exhibits and all the practical information you’ll need to make the most of your visit.
Note: We do our best to keep the information on our website up to date, but if you notice anything has changed (such as admission prices, opening times, attractions/restaurants closing etc), please leave us a comment and let us know.
What are the Sacromonte Caves?
The Sacromonte Caves are a unique feature of the Sacromonte neighbourhood, and once served as the homes of some of the families of Gitanos (Spanish Romani), Jews and Muslims who were expelled from Granada.
These whitewashed caves were carved into the hillside, providing shelter not only from the intense summer heat and winter cold, but also from religious and ethnic persecution.
Today some of these caves have been converted into an interesting open-air folk museum where you can explore the history, culture, and traditions associated with the Sacromonte neighbourhood and its cave houses.
What Can You See At The Sacromonte Caves Museum?
At this small but super interesting museum you can explore ten caves of different themes, each filled with items from people who actually lived here. They also offer a free audio guide (in Spanish, English, French and German) and informative written displays (in Spanish and English).
I’ll give you a quick overview of some of the things you’ll see in these caves.
The Living-Quarters Cave
Enter a small living area with a bed tucked away in a tiny space at the back of the cave. This humble setup gives you your first glimpse into the really simple lifestyle of the people who lived in the space.
The cave ceilings are pretty low, so watch your head!
The Stables Cave
In the stables you’ll see where families kept their horses, donkeys, or smaller animals like pigs or chickens. You can also see that it was a storage area for harnesses, as well as various farming tools and equipment.
Sometimes, the stables were located next to the living space and connected by an opening in the adjoining walls, allowing the heat from the animals to warm up the family home. While the caves would have been nice and cool in the hot summer, they could have potentially gotten very cold during the winter.
The Kitchen Cave
You’ll find a small kitchen area packed with pots and pans, complete with a large cauldron and a small dining table.
The Forging, Basketwork, Weaving and Pottery Caves
Explore caves displaying some of the traditional handicrafts of the community such as basket making, weaving or pottery making.
In the weaving cave you’ll see huge looms that were used to make items like carpets, blankets and tapestries. The Moors introduced carpets to Spain, using them in homes and mosques for both warmth and decoration.
In the pottery cave you’ll see beautiful plates, pitchers and bowls painted in serene blues, vibrant greens, and pristine whites. These pieces are really pretty, featuring meticulous symmetrical designs of leaves and flowers.
You can also step inside the blacksmith’s cave. Iron craftsmanship remains a thriving tradition in Granada, and the Romani community continues to craft works of art from these materials.
The Flamenco Cave
The cave that fascinated me the most was the one dedicated to the history and culture of Flamenco. As you walk through the cave you can discover the story of flamenco and admire the old photographs adorning the walls.
Sacromonte is renowned as the birthplace of ‘Zambra,’ a distinctive style of Flamenco. I would 100% recommend attending a Flamenco show after your visit to the cave museum. Learning more about Flamenco beforehand will undoubtedly enhance your experience when you watch a performance (and it really is a show you don’t want to miss!).
We watched a show at Zambra María la Canastera, a narrow cave bar just down the hill from the cave museum. The walls and ceilings of this small cave were covered in ornaments, copper pans, and old photos, so be sure to take a look around either before or after the show.
It was the perfect setting for what was an amazing performance! The music instantly drew us in; the dancers were completely enthralling, and the atmosphere was incredible! The singing, the clapping, the stomping – the hour-long performance flew by.
And that’s not all!
There is an extra cave that isn’t recreated to show life in the caves the way the others are, however it does tell you more about the history of Sacromonte, the caves and the resilient community.
Although the caves museum is situated at the top of a hill and does require a bit of effort to reach, the silver lining is the breathtaking views you’ll enjoy from up there!
Do People Still Live in Caves?
Yes, people do still live in caves! Cave dwellers, often referred to as ‘troglodytes,’ can be found in various corners of the world even today, with some residing out of necessity and others by choice. At the cave museum, there’s an exhibit that showcases cave homes from all around the world, featuring a wide range of sizes and styles.
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How To Get To Sacromonte Caves Museum
It is possible to walk to Sacromonte Caves Museum. We typically always choose to walk when it’s an option, so this is what we did. It’s a pretty straightforward route; however, keep in mind that the Sacromonte neighborhood is located outside the main central area, and the museum itself is situated atop a steep hill. If you visit on a hot day make sure you have plenty of water with you. There isn’t much shade along the uphill slog , the extra hydration will be essential!
Be aware that, while the bus does save you the majority of the walk, you will still have to walk up a steep hill to reach the museum.
Tip // Wear shoes with decent grip. While the walk up to the caves is steep, I thought the way down was actually more challenging due to slippery cobblestones and the occasional lack of handrails.
How Long Will You Spend at Sacromonte Caves Museum
The museum is quite small, so we recommend setting aside between one and two hours for your visit. Of course, the duration depends on whether you prefer to read all the information available or if you’re more of a ‘quick skim and move on’ museum-goer!
Facilities at Sacramento cave museum
- Toilets
- Small cafe for snacks and drinks
- Free wi-fi
- Audio guide*
*You can download the audio guide in advance or use QR codes during your visit without downloading first. We would recommend downloading this in advance of your visit in case you have issues with internet connectivity up there (we did!).
Admission & Opening Times
You can purchase tickets either in advance or on site when you arrive. You shouldn’t need to buy your ticket in advance, but if you are someone who prefers to buy everything ahead of time then you can buy them online.
There are also flamenco and cinema nights held at the museum throughout the year.
| Winter (15th October – 14th March) | Monday – Sunday; 10:00 – 18:00 |
| Summer (15th March – 14th October) | Monday – Sunday; 10:00 – 20:00 |
I want to mention Los Faroles, a rustic cave bar with a small outdoor terrace that has fantastic views, a very relaxed atmosphere and is run by a lovely gentleman! We had a bit of time to pass between our cave museum visit and flamenco show and could not have asked for a more perfect spot to while away an hour with a glass of wine.
