By air
Granada (GRX), ~15 km; Málaga (AGP) ~1.5 h
Europe · Spain
Granada, Spain
The Alhambra under the Sierra Nevada
Getting there
Best time to visit
March to May and September to November — mild
Don't miss
The Alhambra
The Generalife
The Albaicín
The Royal Chapel
Things to do
The Alhambra and the Generalife gardens
The Albaicín's lanes
The Sacromonte caves
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Jebulon · CC0
What to pack
Comfortable shoes; book Alhambra tickets well ahead
A quieter corner
The Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset, across from the Alhambra
Questions travellers ask
When should I go to Granada?
March to May or September to November, when it's mild. Save an evening for sunset at the Mirador de San Nicolás, across from the Alhambra.
Do I need to book the Alhambra in advance?
Yes, book Alhambra tickets well ahead, and wear comfortable shoes. Leave time for the Generalife gardens too.
What is there to do in Granada beyond the Alhambra?
Wander the Albaicín's lanes, visit the Royal Chapel and explore the Sacromonte caves.
What's the food scene like in Granada?
Tapas come with every drink in Granada. For something different, find a Moroccan tea house on the Calderería.
About Granada
- Mountains
Where it is
Granada is a city in Andalusia in southern Spain, set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains where the Darro and Genil rivers meet, with the Alhambra on its hill above the old town.
History
An Iberian settlement that became the Roman town of Iliberis, Granada grew into the capital of a Zirid taifa kingdom in the 11th century. From 1238 it was the seat of the Nasrid Emirate, the last Muslim state in Iberia, until Muhammad XI (Boabdil) surrendered it to the Catholic Monarchs on 2 January 1492; Ferdinand and Isabella chose to be buried in its Royal Chapel.
People
Granadinos speak Andalusian Spanish, and a large university keeps the city full of students. In Sacromonte the Gitano community keeps alive the zambra, a flamenco form danced in cave houses, while the tea houses and craft shops of the Albaicín recall the city's Moorish past.
Known for
- The Alhambra and the Generalife gardens
- The Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter
- Sacromonte's cave houses and flamenco
- The bar custom of a tapa with each drink
- Skiing in the Sierra Nevada
Did you know?
The name Alhambra comes from the Arabic al-Hamra, the red one, after the reddish walls built from the iron-rich local clay.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.