Granada is a city where snow-dusted peaks meet palm-lined plazas, and where the poetry of Al‑Andalus still whispers through courtyards perfumed with orange blossom. Once the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, it fell to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492—leaving a sumptuous palimpsest of Islamic, Gothic, and Renaissance art you can wander in a single afternoon.

At the summit of it all stands the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage site whose intricate stucco, carved cedar, and filigreed arches define Spain’s most iconic palace. Below its walls unfurl the Albaicín’s steep lanes, whitewashed carmens (walled houses with gardens), and miradors that flame gold at sunset. Across the Darro River, Sacromonte’s cave homes and late-night flamenco tell stories that stretch well past midnight.

Practical notes: reserve Alhambra tickets well in advance (the Nasrid Palaces are timed). Granada is walkable but hilly; pack shoes with grip. Tapas culture thrives—order a drink and you’ll often receive a complimentary bite. Summers are hot, winters are mild, and ski season in nearby Sierra Nevada can run from December into March. Semana Santa and Corpus Christi bring remarkable processions and festivities.

Granada

Granada rewards curiosity: peek into hidden gardens, linger in teterías scented with mint, and climb to hilltop viewpoints for twilight over the Sierra Nevada. Street life centers around Plaza Nueva and the Cathedral, but the real magic is in the side streets—tiles, fountains, and the soft burble of acequias (medieval water channels).

• Unmissable sights: Alhambra and Generalife, Albaicín, Mirador de San Nicolás, Sacromonte, Cathedral and Royal Chapel, Monasterio de San Jerónimo, Cartuja Monastery, Carmen de los Mártires.
• Local flavors: free-tapa culture, seafood at standing bars, Granada-style remojón (orange–cod salad), piononos pastries from nearby Santa Fe, and robust Andalusian olive oils.
• Insider tip: sunsets from the quieter Mirador de San Cristóbal or San Miguel Alto are spectacular with fewer crowds than San Nicolás.

Where to stay (Hotels.com and VRBO): For classic grandeur near the Alhambra, consider Hotel Alhambra Palace. For modern comfort by the rail station and a short stroll to the old town, look at Hotel Granada Center. For a central base with a boutique feel, try Hotel Monjas del Carmen or the city-center staple Barceló Carmen Granada. If you want value steps from the palaces, Hotel Alixares sits by the Alhambra entrance. Prefer an apartment? Browse unique stays via VRBO Granada or more hotel options on Hotels.com Granada.

Getting there and around (Omio): Fly into Granada–Jaén (GRX) or Málaga (AGP), then connect to Granada by train or bus. High-speed/Avant trains from Madrid take ~3h15; Málaga–Granada trains take ~1h18. Buses fill gaps and often run late. Compare and book European flights, trains, and buses on Omio (flights), Omio (trains), and Omio (buses). Typical costs: Madrid–Granada train ~€25–70; Málaga–Granada bus ~€7–15; Córdoba–Granada train ~€20–35.

Day 1: Arrival, First Tapas, and a Twilight Stroll

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off the journey with specialty coffee at La Finca Coffee or Dulcimena Coffee & Go—both roast locally and do silky flat whites. Wander Plaza Bib‑Rambla and the lively Alcaicería (the old silk market) for your first taste of Moorish Granada.

Evening: Begin your tapas education at Bodegas Castañeda (old-school vermouth on tap, montaditos, tortilla) and then Los Diamantes (standing-room seafood: puntillitas, boquerones). Nightcap at La Tana, a snug wine bar where the chalkboard lists sherries, Montilla‑Moriles, and small producers from Granada province.

Day 2: The Alhambra and Generalife

Morning: Early start. Enter the Alhambra complex through the forested path; time your Nasrid Palaces entry for morning light. Linger over the Court of the Myrtles, the Hall of the Ambassadors, and muqarnas vaulting in the Palace of the Lions—bring a zoom lens for details.

Afternoon: Break for lunch at Restaurante Parador (classic Andalusian dishes in historic cloisters) or picnic in the Carmen de los Mártires gardens nearby. Tour the Generalife, the sultans’ summer palace, for fountains, cypresses, and framed views of the Albaicín.

Evening: Descend to Paseo de los Tristes for a riverside walk under the Alhambra’s lit walls. Dinner at Mirador de Morayma (Albaicín garden restaurant with Alhambra views; try lamb with honey and almonds) or the contemporary Faralá near the Cuesta de Gomérez for a creative tasting menu rooted in Moorish flavors.

Day 3: Albaicín, Tea Houses, and Sunset Miradors

Morning: Churros con chocolate at Cafetería Alhambra on Plaza Bib‑Rambla, then climb the Albaicín’s cobbled lanes. Stop at Casa de Zafra (for context on Moorish domestic life) and peek into carmens with jasmine-draped walls. Pause at the tiny Café 4 Gatos for tostadas with tomate and jamón.

Afternoon: Explore the Alcaicería’s artisans and Calle Calderería Nueva’s teterías. Order a mint tea, baklava, and watch the flow of the quarter. Lunch at Bar Poë (globally inspired tapas like peri-peri chicken and Thai pork), or La Auténtica Carmela for Andalusian classics done with finesse.

Evening: Sunset at Mirador de San Nicolás or the quieter San Cristóbal. Dine at El Trillo (Albaicín terrace; oxtail cannelloni and seasonal veggie dishes). For a late drink, try Bar Lara in Placeta de San Miguel Bajo—local vibe and good by-the-glass wines.

Day 4: Cathedral Quarter, Royal Tombs, and Hammam

Morning: Tour the Renaissance Cathedral and the Royal Chapel where Ferdinand and Isabella rest. Coffee at Pastelería López Mezquita—pair a café con leche with a pionono from nearby Santa Fe (syrup-brushed, cinnamon-kissed sponge).

Afternoon: Mercado de San Agustín for a graze: have a cone of fried fish, grilled octopus, and a glass of verdejo at a market bar. Walk to Monasterio de San Jerónimo for lavish plateresque stonework and painted vaults.

Evening: Soak at a modern hammam (reserve ahead) for warm pools and eucalyptus steam. Dinner at Damasqueros (inventive seasonal tasting) or Restaurante Chikito (a historic literary haunt; order pipirrana and croquetas). End at a rooftop like Lemon Rock for live music.

Day 5: Sierra Nevada or Los Cahorros Gorge

Morning: Adventure day. In ski season, bus or drive up to Pradollano for morning runs. Otherwise hike Los Cahorros in Monachil: hanging bridges, narrow gorge squeezes, and waterfalls. Grab picnic supplies from HiperVerde or a local bakery before you go.

Afternoon: Post-hike lunch in Monachil at Restaurante La Cantina de Diego (hearty platos alpujarreños) or return to Granada for a late lunch at Casa Torcuato in the Albaicín. If energy remains, stroll the Carmen de los Mártires gardens.

Evening: Casual tapas crawl around Calle Navas: Entrebrasas (Iberian pork cuts), Taberna Gijón (classic raciones), and Poeta Manuel de Góngora bars. Dessert at Los Italianos gelateria on Gran Vía (spring–summer seasonal opening).

Day 6: Las Alpujarras Day Trip

Morning: Drive or take a bus via Omio (buses) toward Pampaneira, Bubión, and Capileira (about 1.5–2 hours). These whitewashed villages cascade down the Poqueira Gorge, famous for handwoven jarapas and cured Trevélez ham.

Afternoon: Lunch at Casa Julio in Pampaneira (mountain stews, migas, paprika‑bright chorizo). Walk between villages on the GR7 section for sweeping views and stone irrigation channels. Shop for ceramics and alpaca knits.

Evening: Return to Granada. Book a table at Ruta del Azafrán on the Paseo de los Tristes (Andalusian with Moorish touches; couscous, tagines, and local fish). Nightcap at Wild Food cocktails near Plaza Nueva.

Day 7: Science, Street Art, and Modern Granada

Morning: Breakfast at Bohemia Jazz Café (retro charm) or La Qarmita for tostadas with local olive oil. Visit Parque de las Ciencias (hands-on museum with planetarium and butterfly house) for a family-friendly change of pace.

Afternoon: Explore the Realejo quarter’s street art, including murals by El Niño de las Pinturas. Lunch at Bar Los Altramuces (home-style plates) or Paprika (vegetarian, Middle Eastern influences). Pop into the Cartuja Monastery for exuberant Baroque chapels.

Evening: Wine flight at La Tana or Oleum (olive oil tasting, if offered). Dinner at Atelier Casa de Comidas (intimate, seasonal menu) or Alameda for seafood rice. End with a stroll along the Darro’s Carrera del Darro, lanternlit and romantic.

Day 8: Córdoba Day Trip

Morning: Train to Córdoba (~1h40; check Omio for times). Walk straight to the Mezquita-Catedral: a forest of red-and-white arches that is one of Europe’s great sacred spaces.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bodegas Campos (salmorejo, flamenquín) and wander the Jewish Quarter, patios, and Roman Bridge. Optional: Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos gardens.

Evening: Return to Granada. Tapas at La Esquinita de Javi (seafood) or Rosario Varela (modern vibe), then a quiet drink at La Tabernilla del Darro, tucked under stone arches by the river.

Day 9: Nerja Coves and Frigiliana Lanes

Morning: Bus to Nerja (~1h45; see Omio). Visit the Balcony of Europe for Mediterranean vistas, then tour the Nerja Caves—cathedral-like caverns with soaring stalactites.

Afternoon: Lunch on espetos (sardines skewered and grilled over open coals) at a chiringuito on Burriana Beach. Continue to Frigiliana (bus or taxi): a hilltop village of white lanes, Moorish tile plaques, and bougainvillea.

Evening: Return to Granada for a flamenco night in Sacromonte—try Venta El Gallo or a cave peña for intimate, percussive performances. Pre-show dinner at Restaurante Mirador de Aixa (view-heavy terrace; order local cheeses and ibéricos).

Day 10: Garden Goodbyes and Souvenir Grazing

Morning: Easy breakfast at Café Lisboa on Plaza Nueva or Tostadas in the sun at Bar Trinidad. Stroll the Carmen de los Mártires one last time or shop for olive oil, saffron, and ceramics near the Cathedral.

Afternoon: Lunch at Los Manueles (classic croquetas and raciones) before departure. If you’re heading onward, compare trains, buses, and flights via Omio (trains), Omio (buses), and Omio (flights)—Granada–Málaga airport transfers are frequent and affordable.

Evening: Travel day—grab a final cone from Los Italianos (seasonal) or a box of piononos for the road.

Local transport notes: Granada is compact; walking covers most sights. City buses reach the Alhambra area and Sacromonte, but many visitors prefer taxis or rides up and leisurely strolls down. For regional day trips, trains and buses are reliable—bookable through Omio and Omio. Typical regional costs run €7–€35 each way.

Bonus inspiration (Viator): These popular experiences are in Granada, Nicaragua—the New World namesake of Granada, Spain. If you’re inspired to plan a Central American side trip someday, bookmark them:

Chocolate Workshop in Granada City — a hands-on cacao-to-chocolate experience.

City Tour Granada, Nicaragua — a storytelling walk through colonial history, markets, and plazas.

Granada rewards a relaxed pace: one day you’re tracing arabesques in palace plasterwork, the next you’re listening to a cantaor echo through a cave. With this 10-day itinerary, you’ll taste the city’s Moorish past, modern creative pulse, and the rugged beauty of Andalusia beyond.

From the Alhambra’s lacework stone to tapas that arrive like small miracles, consider this your companion for a vivid week and a half in southern Spain—and a reason to return.