Granada sits where the snowy Sierra Nevada tips into olive-clad valleys, its skyline crowned by the Alhambra—Spain’s Moorish masterpiece. The last Nasrid kingdom fell here in 1492, leaving a rich Andalusi legacy in palace courtyards, tiled cisterns, and jasmine-scented carmenes (walled garden homes). Today, life spills from stone lanes into tapas bars where a small plate still lands free with your drink.

Expect contrast: Arab tea houses along Calderería Nueva; Renaissance grandeur in the Cathedral and Royal Chapel; gypsy zambra flamenco pulsing in Sacromonte’s cave venues. From whitewashed Albaicín miradors you’ll watch the Alhambra glow at sunset, then wander down the cobbled Carrera del Darro past medieval bridges and murmuring water channels.

Practical notes: Reserve Alhambra tickets weeks ahead (Nasrid Palaces are timed). Granada is walkable but hilly—bring grippy shoes for cobblestones. Many kitchens break mid-afternoon; tapas culture thrives from 8–11 pm. Summer heat is dry; winters are crisp with nearby skiing. The Granada Card bundles key sights and transit, handy if you plan multiple entries.

Granada

Granada is a layered city: Moorish palaces, Spanish Renaissance, and a bohemian spirit. You’ll thread through Albaicín’s maze, linger in leafy plazas, and follow locals on a tapas crawl where the first round is rarely your last. Day trips reach high-mountain villages, cliff-top castles on the Costa Tropical, and swinging bridges in a gorge minutes from town.

Top sights include the Alhambra and Generalife gardens, the Cathedral and Royal Chapel (tombs of the Catholic Monarchs), the old silk market Alcaicería, Sacromonte’s cave dwellings, and the Science Park with a superb Biodome. For fresh-air adventurers: the Los Cahorros trail in Monachil and seasonal adventures in Sierra Nevada.

How to get to Granada (book with affiliates):

• Flights within Europe: check Omio (flights). Most travelers fly into Málaga (AGP) then connect to Granada by train/bus.
• Trains in Spain: Madrid–Granada AVE/Avlo ~3–3.5 hours, €25–60; Málaga–Granada Avant ~1 h 25 m, €18–25. Compare on Omio (trains).
• Buses: ALSA Málaga Airport/City–Granada ~2–2.5 hours, €13–18. Compare on Omio (buses).

Where to stay (affiliate picks):

• Hotel Alhambra Palace – Historic hillside icon with panoramic views; 10–15 minutes’ walk to the Nasrid palaces via forested paths.
• Hotel Granada Center – Modern comfort near the AVE station and a pleasant stroll to the Cathedral; great for first-time visitors.
• Barceló Carmen Granada – Central, with a rooftop pool and Alhambra views; easy base for tapas hopping.
• Hotel Monjas del Carmen – Steps from Plaza Nueva; quiet rooms tucked beneath the Alhambra hill.
• Hotel Alixares – Next to the Alhambra complex; ideal if you want early palace entries.
• Browse apartments and historic carmenes: VRBO Granada or more hotels on Hotels.com Granada.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town Stroll, Sunset Miradors

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Get oriented with an easy loop from Plaza Nueva along the Carrera del Darro—one of Spain’s prettiest streets—beneath the Alhambra’s walls and over the Puente de las Chirimías. Pause for a cortado at La Finca Coffee or I Need Coffee; if you crave something sweet, try a pionono (a rum-syrup sponge with cream) at Pastelería Casa Ysla.

Evening: Climb through Albaicín’s cobbles to Mirador de San Nicolás for the classic Alhambra-at-sunset view; if you have the energy, continue to Mirador de San Cristóbal for fewer crowds. Dinner at Bodegas Castañeda (standing bar energy, platters of embutidos and montaditos) or Los Diamantes (Granada institution for fried fish—puntillitas, boquerones, and razor clams). Nightcap with vermouth at Taberna La Tana, a tiny wine bar showcasing Andalusian bottles.

Day 2: The Alhambra, Generalife, and Historic Bazaars

Morning: Alhambra day. Enter via Puerta de la Justicia or Cuesta de Gomérez; aim to start early. Your timed slot is for the Nasrid Palaces—Arrive 30 minutes prior, then savor the filigreed stucco and cedar ceilings of Comares and the Palace of the Lions. Continue to the Alcazaba ramparts for Sierra Nevada views.

Afternoon: Wander Generalife’s fountain-lined patios and cypress tunnels, then lunch nearby at Restaurante La Mimbre (terrace under pines) or the Parador de Granada’s cloister restaurant for a historic setting. Walk down through Bosque de la Alhambra to Plaza Nueva and browse the Alcaicería, Granada’s old silk market, for ceramics and inlaid wood marquetry.

Evening: Soak at Hammam Al Ándalus (warm, hot, and cold pools, optional argan oil massage). Dinner on the riverside at Ruta del Azafrán (modern Andalusi flavors with Alhambra views) or El Trillo (garden terrace tucked into the Albaicín). In warm months, grab a pistachio cone at Heladería Los Italianos on Gran Vía.

Day 3: Albaicín Lanes, Cathedral and Royal Chapel, Flamenco in Sacromonte

Morning: Breakfast at Café 4 Gatos (tiny, beloved; try the tostada with tomate and olive oil). Meander Albaicín’s whitewashed alleys to the 11th‑century El Bañuelo (well-preserved Arab baths), then to the Placeta de San Miguel Bajo. Pop into a tetería (Arab tea house) along Calderería Nueva for mint tea and baklava.

Afternoon: Visit the Renaissance Cathedral and the Royal Chapel to see the ornate tombs of Isabel and Fernando and paintings by Botticelli and Perugino. Nearby, check the 14th‑century Corral del Carbón—the last Nasrid caravanserai. Lunch at Bar Poë (creative, globally spiced tapas like piri‑piri chicken or Thai pumpkin curry) or Restaurante Cunini for classic seafood rice and grilled prawns.

Evening: Head to Sacromonte for zambra flamenco—raw, percussive, danced shoeless in cave venues. Consider Cueva de la Rocío or Los Tarantos for intimate shows. Dine after at Mirador de Morayma (romantic garden with views) or Carmen Aben Humeya (Andalusian dishes—salmorejo, Iberian pork—paired with that luminous Alhambra backdrop).

Day 4: Science Park and Los Cahorros Gorge in Monachil

Morning: Explore Parque de las Ciencias (Science Park). The Biodome brings you face to face with tropical ecosystems; the observation tower and planetarium are excellent for families. Coffee and a pastel de almendra at the on-site café or head to nearby La Madriguera for specialty brews.

Afternoon: Bus or taxi 20 minutes to Monachil for the Los Cahorros trail—an easy-to-moderate 8 km loop with hanging bridges, river tunnels, and cool canyon walls. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Late lunch/merienda at Restaurante La Cantina de Diego (homestyle stews, ibérico, and cold cerveza on a sunny terrace).

Evening: Back in town, freshen up then sample a modern Andalusian dinner at La Auténtica Carmela (excellent croquetas, oxtail cannelloni) or El Mercader (market-driven plates in a cozy dining room). For live music, swing by Lemon Rock Bar & Hostel’s courtyard.

Day 5: Sierra Nevada Day Trip (Ski or Summer Hike)

Morning: Ride the bus or drive 45–60 minutes to Pradollano in Sierra Nevada. In winter, rent gear in resort shops and ski Borreguiles’ sunny pistes; in summer, take chairlifts toward Veleta for high-altitude trails with wildflowers and sweeping views.

Afternoon: Lunch in the resort—La Antorcha for hearty grills or Ci Vediamo for pasta and pizza—then a stroll through the village. Return to Granada mid-afternoon.

Evening: Tapas crawl along Calle Navas and surrounding streets: start with jamón asado at Bar Ávila, then fried fish at Los Diamantes II, and finish with cold Alhambra Especial at Bodegas Espadafor, a century-old spot with tiled walls and hanging casks.

Day 6: Las Alpujarras Villages—Pampaneira, Bubión, Capileira

Morning: Drive or take a bus 1.5–2 hours to the Poqueira Gorge. Explore Pampaneira’s craft shops (weavings, ceramics) and whitewashed alleys with launa flat roofs—Berber-influenced architecture brought by Moors who once fled into these hills.

Afternoon: Walk the scenic footpath between Bubión and Capileira (gentle, 45–60 minutes). Lunch at Restaurante El Asador in Bubión (trout, migas) or El Teide in Capileira (mountain stews, goat cheeses). If you push on to Trevélez, taste its prized air-cured jamón serrano.

Evening: Back in Granada, sip natural wine and share plates at Al Sur de Granada (cheese boards, seasonal veg), or indulge in a tasting menu at Damasqueros (contemporary Andalusian cuisine with an intimate, art-filled dining room) or Faralá near the Cuesta de Gomérez.

Day 7: Monasteries, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: Coffee at Café Fútbol with churros con chocolate, then visit the Monastery of San Jerónimo to admire its exuberant Renaissance altarpiece. If time allows, swing by the Cartuja Monastery for Baroque excess and serene cloisters.

Afternoon: Pick up last souvenirs in the Alcaicería or Calle Recogidas. Early lunch at Restaurante Chikito—once a haunt of poets including Federico García Lorca—or La Botillería for raciones like rabo de toro and grilled artichokes. Depart in the afternoon; for trains, check Omio (trains), and for buses to Málaga/Seville, compare on Omio (buses).

Seasonal tips and local intel:

• Book Alhambra tickets well in advance; bring ID matching the reservation.
• Tapas are free with drinks in many bars—pace yourself and bar-hop.
• Festival highlights: Holy Week processions (March/April), Corpus Christi fair (late May/June), and the International Festival of Music and Dance with Alhambra concerts (June/July).
• Granada is walkable—taxis or minibuses help with uphill Sacromonte/Albaicín rides.

In seven days, you’ll trace Granada’s history from Nasrid splendor to Renaissance grandeur, then out into the mountains where the city’s skyline was born. You’ll leave with the scent of orange blossom, a camera roll full of mirador sunsets, and a tapas map in your head that will tug you back again.