This ancient Spanish city with unusual and interesting architecture surprisingly combines the achievements of modernity, ancient beauty and breathtaking landscapes. All the sights of Granada in one way or another tell about the glorious two thousand years of history and what the people have managed to achieve during this time. Walking through the city streets leaves a strong impression on any tourist, no matter how sophisticated he is in traveling. So, what to see in Granada for those who came here for the first time?
What to see in Granada first of all
The concept of interesting places is different for every tourist. We offer a list of the best attractions in Granada according to people with completely different interests, preferences, wealth and amount of free time.
1. The Alhambra
Panorama of the Alhambra against the backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains
Truly, describing the sights of Granada, it is impossible to miss this one. Everything is perfect in the Alhambra: the location on the top of the cliff, and the rich content of the complex. It includes palaces, fortresses and gardens of the rulers. The buildings have a stunning view against the background of rocky massifs and forest thickets. The reviews note magnificent terraces with elegant arches, wonderful fountains, reservoirs, cozy courtyards. Everywhere the eye stops at the bright mosaics, carved ornaments made on stone and wood, beautiful ceramic tiles. This place is one of those places that you just need to visit.
Official website: https://www.alhambra-patronato.es
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2. Albaysin Quarter
Albaysin quarter with Moorish buildings on a hill above the Lower Town
The Moorish Quarter, part of the UNESCO list of sites, is spread out on a hill. It is known for many ancient settlements: old Moorish houses (“carmen”), ancient baths with capitals and domes, workshops and shops. If you need souvenirs, you can buy products made by local craftsmen here. A very colorful and memorable place. It is thanks to such facilities, which come to see from all over the world, that hotels in Granada are never empty.
3. Sacromonte Quarter
The houses in the caves descend in terraces from all the hillsides of the Sacromonte quarter
Another distinctive quarter, this time Gypsy. Don’t know what to see in Granada in 1 day, when time is short and impressions are still few? Come here! Some caves in Sacromonte are worth a lot! An interesting fact: it was the Spanish Gypsies who settled here who gave the world the legendary sparkling flamenco. Bright and impressive shows are being staged in the crevices on the hill today. A cave museum is dedicated to Gypsy culture and everyday life here. The whole of Granada is visible from the hill, including the red walls of the Alhambra.
4. Granada Cathedral
The Cathedral of Granada is a symbol of the victory of Christianity in Spain
The main cathedral of the city fully justifies its status both by its exterior and interior decoration, completely covered with gilding. When going on a trip here, be sure to look here. You will be enchanted by the skyward-reaching carved columns, paintings by famous artists, the beauty and sound of two organs. Thanks to the huge stained glass windows and high vaults, the cathedral is always flooded with light. There is a Royal Chapel on the side of the cathedral.
5. The Basilica of St. John of God
Sculpture of John of God on the facade of the church
The Spaniards have never spared money for the construction of holy places. Listing the main attractions of Granada briefly, it is worth remembering about this basilica. Built in the Baroque style, it is lavishly decorated with gold and silver, decorated with beautiful altars, mirrors on the walls, and picturesque paintings. Don’t be fooled by the massive austere facade – the temple is very beautiful inside.
Feel the atmosphere of Granada in this beautiful video!
6. Sacromonte Abbey
View of the male Benedictine monastery on the “Holy Mountain”
The abbey is located on the top of the mountain of the same name, and only guides in Granada will be able to tell the most complete, very unusual story of this object. Travelers are advised to visit the museum here on site. The most valuable exhibit in it, in addition to paintings and sculptures, is the world’s oldest map of Grenada. The abbey also includes a church, under which the ancient catacombs are located.
Official website: https://abadiasacromonte.org
7. The Monastery of St. Jerome
Renaissance features of the Royal Monastery of St. Jerome
After the Spaniards conquered the city from the Moors at the end of the XV century, they persistently began the Christianization of the conquered territories. We recommend you to see this monastery in Granada, which was built first. The interior is impressive with an altar of enormous size, lavishly decorated with relief images on the entire wall. The courtyard is also beautiful. The building style is late Gothic, with the inclusion of marine motifs.
8. The Carthusian Monastery
Courtyard and orange garden of the Carthusian Monastery
The monastery is located on the outskirts, but don’t be afraid of the distance – it’s worth it. Despite the striking discrepancy between the modesty of the facade and the rich interior decoration, our recommendations are to visit this monastery. The interior is a true example of the Spanish Baroque. There is a bench along the wall, sitting on it, you can admire the interior painting of domes and sculptures. The collection of paintings is interesting. In some places, multicolored marble is used in the decoration. You can’t take pictures inside.
9. Granada Madrasah
Granada Madrasah – Palace-university, founded in the XIV century
If someone is interested in Moorish art, we will advise you what to visit in Granada. It was in this Madrasah that the Academy of Fine Arts found its home, while the changes almost did not affect the prayer hall. The stone patterns painted with bright colors, Arabic mosaics and carved wooden ceilings are impressive here. The Royal Chapel and the Cathedral are nearby, so we recommend that you go there right away.
Official website: https://www.lovegranada.com
The sights of Granada: what else to visit in Granada
It doesn’t matter what purpose you went on the trip for. Even if you are not going to stay here for a long time, we recommend that before starting it, consider the sights of Granada with photos with names and descriptions on the Internet and listen to your feelings. Which object “hooked” you? A photo of which place made you want to get to know him better?
10. Arab baths
A tall stone structure with domed vaults in an Arab bath
Many excursions in Granada will take you here, to the building of the former hammam. For the Andalusian Moors, water played a vital role, so they treated it sacredly. Surprisingly, the building erected in the XI century has been preserved in its original form. However, there is no water here, and there are only a few rooms, but people come here to look at the magnificent Moorish architecture, in particular, the decoration. There are plasma interactive panels on the walls telling about the history of this place.
Official website: https://www.lovegranada.com
11. Caravanserai Corral del Carbon
Courtyard surrounded by galleries in the caravanserai Corral del Carbon
It is also called the Coal Yard. In tourist reviews, it is described as an ancient structure that was once an inn for merchants. Today, tourists are greeted by an amazingly beautiful arch with stucco molding, in the form of which the main entrance is made. Through the lobby, crowned with a dome, you can get to the courtyard. Three floors of the building are equipped with galleries with stone columns.
Official website: https://www.lovegranada.com
12. Science Park
The Park of Sciences is a modern museum and a platform for experiments by Jose Jiménez López
By right, this park can be called a landmark of Spain. The authors of the project managed to construct an organic natural ecosystem with a comfortable breakdown of the landscape. It is convenient for visitors to view animals, birds (some of them live in open nature) and inhabitants of underwater fauna. The museums presented on the territory are equipped with interactive exhibits, and a planetarium is open. The variety in the expositions is striking: It is interesting to consider modern robots and antique steam engines, collections of butterflies and shells and man-made accidents, a museum of toxidermy and a show with birds. Workshops and temporary exhibitions are held here.
Official website: https://www.parqueciencias.com
13. Generalife Gardens
A long pool surrounded by flower beds, fountains and colonnades in the Generalife gardens
Do you want to see how the Moorish rulers rested, tired of the hustle and bustle of the city? Actually, visitors attribute a high rating to the gardens, since the residence itself is very modest. But a walk through the garden will surely impress anyone: bright fruit trees, beautiful oriental fountains, rare flowers, shady courtyards where you can sit on a bench, enjoying the splendor blooming around. There is a stage on the territory of the gardens where concerts are held. Due to the large number of plantings, it is always cool here.
Official website: https://www.alhambra-patronato.es
14. Mirador de San Nicolas Observation Deck
Beautiful view of the Alhambra Fortress from the Mirador de San Nicolas observation deck
We will also advise you where to go in Granada and admire the views of the largest architectural sights of the city. From here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Generalife and the Alhambra, which rise on a nearby hill. The perimeter of the site is surrounded by old walls, it is convenient to view the surroundings from them. It is better to go here by transport, because the ascent on foot will be too long and difficult, especially in the heat.
15. The coal yard
An open courtyard with a well, surrounded by galleries, at an inn of the 14th century -JvL-
A few minutes’ walk from Granada Cathedral, the route passes through the Coal Yard, the only preserved inn in Spain, the appearance of which has remained untouched for centuries. It was built back in the 14th century during the Nasrid era and at that time was in the possession of Muslims. There was a market in the courtyard, merchants stayed here, and later the yard was sold at auction and began to be used for coal miners — hence its name. Then the inn repeatedly changed owners, and at the beginning of the last century it came into the possession of the state, was repeatedly restored — the last time it was quite recently, in 2006. The courtyard has a square shape and is surrounded by 3-storey galleries, the interior of the interior halls is now equipped for office space. In addition, performances, conferences and flamenco performances are regularly held here.
16. Bib Rambla Square
Fountain and flower stalls in the central square of Spanish Granada Martin Furtschegger
The main city square, which was once the venue for jousting tournaments, and later for Christian festivals and bullfights, is Bib Rambla, Granada. The route for 1 day should certainly include a visit to this iconic part of the city — they often get here during the tour after visiting the Cathedral. The location of the square has developed historically — the Alcaceria silk market, Madrasah and the city mosque were located nearby. Over the course of the 5-century history, the Bib-Rambla has repeatedly changed its appearance until it acquired its current appearance. Today, the whole life of Granada revolves around this place, and visiting the interesting places of Granada, you will somehow find yourself in this square at some point in your journey through the city. There are many restaurants, bars, cafes and shops on the lower floors of the historical buildings surrounding the square. The center of the square is crowned by the fountain of Giants of the 17th century with a marble sculpture of Neptune.
17. The Royal Chapel
View of the Royal Chapel and the Cathedral in the center of Granada
Marble tombstones of Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in the tomb of Javi Guerra Hernando
In terms of architectural monuments of antiquity, the ancient ensemble of buildings of the 9th century called the Alhambra is of particular interest. Granada has another significant monument of special historical value – the Royal Chapel, one of the most important shrines of Granada and all of Spain. The fact is that here are the graves of two monarchs who played a huge role in the history of Spain — Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. It is with their names that the completion of the Reconquista is associated. At the beginning of the 16th century, Isabella issued a decree on the construction of a chapel, and after a while a beautiful building in the flaming Gothic style was erected on a foundation in the shape of a Catholic cross. The facade is interesting with the image of Isabella, at the entrance there are statues of two patrons of the chapel — John the Baptist and the Evangelist John. The tombstones of great monarchs occupy a key place inside the chapel.
Official website: https://capillarealgranada.com
18. Bullring
Bullring of 3 floors in Granada Vitorino m
Despite the fact that Seville is the birthplace of spectacular bullfighting, the sights of Granada also keep the spirit of incendiary fights — one of such places is the Granada bullfighting arena. I must say, the history of this competition goes back to the ancient past, when the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by Iberian tribes. After the completion of the Reconquista, the brave warriors who had previously been able to show their might in battles with the Moors now demonstrated their courage by fighting the bull. Over the years, bullfighting has become an official and regulated competition. In Granada, the bullring first opened in 1928 — it was a neo-Sudejar building, very original and elegant. Today it is the best place to go to definitely feel the taste of excitement and feel the warlike soul of Spain. The three-storey arena holds 14.5 thousand spectators, and the action on it unfolds during the main Spanish holidays.
19. The Rodriguez Acosta Foundation
Massive building of the 30s, gardens, terraces – Rodriguez Acosta Foundation in Granada Pepepitos
While sunny Malaga offers its guests a well-developed beach holiday infrastructure, the sights of Granada preserve the richest cultural heritage of Spain. So, against the background of other houses in Granada, the building of the Rodriguez Acosta Foundation stands out, where the works of a talented artist who worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries are kept. During a creative crisis, Rodriguez Acosta dedicates himself to building a beautiful mansion that was designed to embody his aesthetic ideals. The interior of the foundation is decorated with objects brought from different parts of the world — these are sculptures, drawings, and Greek ceramics. The building is surrounded by a garden with cypresses and reproductions of antique sculptures. In one of the courtyards, you can even see a reproduction of Psyche, personifying the soul of the poet — it is presented in the form of ruins, which was probably explained by the period of the creative crisis of the master. From some corners of the garden there are wonderful panoramas of the old town in Granada.
20. San Vicente Estate
The house of the brilliant poet F. G. Lorca, surrounded by a cozy green garden, in the estate of San Vicente Alimanja
In the city center, the Granada tourist bus stops near the San Vicente Estate, once owned by the great poet of Spain, Garcia Lorca. Here, surrounded by greenery and blooming orchids, the poet spent every summer for 10 years, where he created a number of famous works that became famous all over the world. From the balcony of his estate, Garcia admired the magnificent scenery of his city and was relaxing with friends. On one of these days, the poet was arrested and subsequently executed. The collection of the house museum preserves some of the poet’s everyday items – you can see some furniture, including his personal desk and piano, as well as a number of other memorabilia and drawings. Here you can also see an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Lorca. There is also a shop with souvenir paraphernalia — bags, cups, T-shirts and magnets, complemented by books or drawings of the poet.
Official website: https://www.huertadesanvicente.com
Complement the listed list of beauties with the friendliness and cordiality with which the inhabitants of Granada surpass their counterparts from other Spanish cities, and you will get the perfect option for your next trip. Read also about the sights of Girona and be inspired to travel further in Spain.
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