The Alhambra seen from the Albaicín, with the Comares Tower, the Palace of Charles V and the tower of Santa María, mountains behind
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Granada in 3 days

  • 3 days
  • 7.1 km on foot
  • 18 stops
  • Audio guide

With three days, you can really savour Granada: the Alhambra gets an afternoon of its own, the Sacromonte gets its evening, and there's still a morning left for the Granada most visitors skip, from the San Jerónimo monastery to Lorca's summer house. An easy pace, one route per morning or evening, and time to linger over tapas. Ideal if you want more than the postcard views.

Day 1First the view, then the palaces

Begin with “Granada highlights: from the cathedral to the viewpoint”: the cathedral, the Alcaicería, Plaza Nueva and the Carrera del Darro, up to the Mirador de San Nicolás. From there you'll see the Alhambra you'll be exploring that afternoon. Come down for broad beans with ham at Los Manueles, near Plaza Nueva, then walk up the Cuesta de Gomérez or take the minibus, leaving plenty of time before your palace slot. Finish in the Generalife gardens and stroll back slowly: there's more tomorrow.

  1. Morning

    Granada highlights: from the cathedral to the viewpoint

    Mixed · 2.1 km · 1 h 50 min

    1. Granada CathedralIt began Gothic, turned Renaissance and ended up with a facade that looks like a Roman triumphal arch.
    2. The AlcaiceríaThe old silk bazaar, locked with chains at night, was reborn after a fire as a fairy-tale vision of the Orient.
    3. Corral del CarbónThe only Nasrid merchants’ inn in Spain to survive intact: traders’ lodging, theatre and tenement house.
    4. Plaza Nueva and the Royal ChanceryA square built on top of a river, presided over by one of the great palaces of justice of sixteenth-century Spain.
    5. Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los TristesGranada’s prettiest street follows the river to a promenade with the Alhambra right above it.
    6. Mirador de San NicolásGranada’s most famous balcony: the whole Alhambra with Sierra Nevada behind.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Broad beans with ham (habas con jamón) at Los Manueles. Calle Reyes Católicos, 61

  3. Afternoon

    Alhambra: Nasrid Palaces and Alcazaba

    The great complex of the Nasrid dynasty: the military Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces with the Court of the Myrtles and the Court of the Lions, and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. Palace entry usually has a set time and sells out early, so book as soon as you can.

    Directions

    Generalife

    Orchards, fountains and the Court of the Water Channel on the Cerro del Sol, where the sultans went to unwind. It's usually part of the general ticket; save it for last, when the light softens, then leave towards the woods by walking back down through the Alhambra.

    Directions

Day 2From the Albaicín to the caves

Today it's “From the Zirids to Lorca”. Set off early from the Elvira Gate to reach the Arco de las Pesas before the heat, then head down to El Bañuelo, the Royal Chapel and Plaza del Campillo. Just round the corner, on Calle Navas, have fried fish and aubergines at Los Diamantes. In the afternoon, go up to the Sacromonte: the cave museum first, then the abbey further up. On the way down, sunset at San Nicolás is right on your path and, if you're in the mood, a zambra in a cave rounds off the day.

  1. Morning

    From the Zirids to Lorca: a thousand years of Granada

    History · 2.7 km · 2 h 15 min

    1. Elvira Gate (Puerta de Elvira)The great entrance to Islamic Granada, crossed by caravans, ambassadors and conquerors for almost a thousand years.
    2. Arco de las Pesas and Plaza LargaA bent Zirid gateway at the top of the Morisco Albaicín, with a name that hints at rigged scales.
    3. El BañueloOne of the best-preserved Arab bathhouses in Spain, hidden behind a humble facade by the river Darro.
    4. Monument to the Capitulations of Santa FeIsabella the Catholic listens to Columbus in bronze, on the square where Granada remembers the year that changed everything.
    5. Royal Chapel (Capilla Real)Isabella and Ferdinand chose Granada, their final conquest, as their resting place for eternity.
    6. Plaza del Campillo: Lorca’s RinconcilloIn the corner of a café on this square, a young García Lorca shared verses and plans with his friends.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Fried fish and aubergines (pescaíto frito) at Bar Los Diamantes. Calle Navas, 28

  3. Afternoon

    Sacromonte Cave Museum

    Reconstructed cave homes with their furniture, crafts and traditions, high up in the Barranco de los Negros. It explains why half the neighbourhood lived underground, with wide-open views of the Alhambra. Take the minibus up if it's hot.

    Directions

    Sacromonte Abbey

    Founded in the early 17th century on the hill where the famous Lead Books turned up, engraved lead sheets that were eventually declared forgeries. The guided tour includes the Holy Caves. It sits at the very top of the Sacromonte, so check opening times before you climb.

    Directions

Day 3Monks, Lorca and one last legend

An easy, flat morning: the San Jerónimo monastery, a few minutes from the Elvira Gate, then a walk to the Huerta de San Vicente, Lorca's summer house, which picks up where the history route left off. Head back to Plaza del Campillo for Sacromonte omelette at Chikito and rest for a while. Late in the day, “Legends in the shadow of the Alhambra” starts at the Pomegranate Gate and leads you past the Campo del Príncipe and the Casa de los Tiros to Bib-Rambla. Say goodbye to Granada over tapas at Bodegas Castañeda.

  1. Morning

    San Jerónimo Monastery

    One of the first monasteries founded in Christian Granada, with two cloisters and a Renaissance church that Diego de Siloé worked on. The Gran Capitán, Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, is buried here. A peaceful visit, perfect to start the morning; check opening times.

    Directions

    Huerta de San Vicente

    The house where the García Lorca family spent their summers and where the poet wrote part of his work, now surrounded by the park that bears his name. Visits are guided and in small groups, so book ahead or arrive early.

    Directions

  2. Lunch

    Try Sacromonte omelette (tortilla del Sacromonte) at Chikito. Plaza del Campillo, 9

  3. Early evening

    Legends in the shadow of the Alhambra

    Mysteries & legends · 2.3 km · 2 h

    1. Pomegranate Gate (Puerta de las Granadas)A triumphal arch built under Charles V marks the entrance to the woods where the legends of the Alhambra begin.
    2. Statue of Washington IrvingThe American writer who lived in the Alhambra and filled it with princesses, treasures and astrologers.
    3. Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia)A hand carved on the arch, a key further in, and a prophecy: when they touch, the Alhambra will fall.
    4. Campo del Príncipe and the Cristo de los FavoresEvery Good Friday at three in the afternoon, thousands of locals gather here to ask a stone cross for three favours.
    5. Casa de los TirosA palace with muskets on its battlements, stone heroes and a sword thrust through a heart.
    6. Plaza de Bib-RamblaTournaments, bullfights, a bonfire of books and a gate that ended up in the woods: Granada’s square with the most lives.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  4. Dinner

    Try Free tapas with your drink at Bodegas Castañeda. Calle Almireceros, 1-3

The map

Granada in 3 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed History Mysteries & legends Extra sight

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Granada in 3 days

  • Book the Alhambra before anything else and build the other days around your palace slot. If your ticket is for the morning, flip day one: Alhambra early, highlights route in the afternoon, with sunset at the Mirador de San Nicolás as your reward.
  • Spring and autumn are the best seasons: in summer the heat weighs on the hills, and in winter the nights are cold and there may be snow on the Sierra Nevada. Always tackle the climbs to the Albaicín and the Sacromonte in the cooler hours.
  • Several museums, including the Huerta de San Vicente, are usually closed on Mondays, and religious monuments change their hours on Sundays and holidays. Check the calendar and move day three if it falls on a Monday.

Questions

Granada in 3 days: your questions

Are three days in Granada worth it?

Yes. Two days cover the essentials; three let you see them without rushing and discover places most visitors miss, like San Jerónimo, the Sacromonte Abbey or Lorca's house. They also give you room to adjust if Alhambra tickets are only available on one particular day.

Can I swap day three for a trip to the Sierra Nevada or the Alpujarras?

Yes, and it's a good idea if you already know the city. The Sierra Nevada is about an hour away by road, and there are usually buses in the ski season. The white villages of the Alpujarra, such as Pampaneira or Capileira, are a bit further. Do the legends route when you get back.

What can you do in Granada when it rains?

Reshuffle the plan and save the hills for when it clears. For a grey day there's the inside of the Royal Chapel and the cathedral, the Parque de las Ciencias science museum, the Charterhouse with its Baroque sacristy, or an Arab bath at a hammam near Plaza Nueva. Wet cobbles are slippery, so mind your step.

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