⭐️Best things to do one week in Granada, 17 Unbeatable Plans!

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Best things to do one week in Granada

“Every cities have their charm, Granada yours and that of all others.” This is how Antonio Machado described it, and he was not wrong 😉 Do you want to check it yourself? If you are going to make a getaway and you would like to know what how to spend 7 days in Granada, as well as to know the best plans, here we will tell you!

Best things to do one week in Granada

As you already know, visiting the Alhambra is the best known plan in the city, so we will save it for the end 😉

But what other plans can you make to squeeze the city?

If you are going to stay a week or more in the city, you are in luck, because you will have time to visit many of its best places.

Save these recommendations of what to see and do 7 days in Granada:

1.Inmerse yourself into the history of the city

Perhaps, starting by locating yourself in the history and roots of the city can help you improve the quality of your visit.

And to understand and understand the past, the best way is to take a tour of the main monuments, museums and historical sites.

In Granada we have hundreds of places of tourist interest! It is highly recommended to visit as many as possible during your stay, since the passage through the centuries of different cultures, have achieved that we have a very rich historical, cultural, pictorial or sculptural heritage.

The ideal way to visit the most important monuments and museums in Granada is either to book guided tours with local guides who will guide and explain you in detail, or to purchase a tourist voucher with combined entry to different places.

Some of the guided visits and tours that may interest you are:

Granada’s tourist vouchers are:

Granada Card (€ 36.40, € 40 or € 43: / person) is ideal for visitors who wish to make a mainly cultural visit to the city, as it is the most complete and includes, in addition to the Alhambra and bus transport, other 16 monuments and museums; the Cathedral and Royal Chapel, the Cartuja Monastery, San Jerónimo Monastery, Sacromonte Abbey, Science Park, Casa de Zafra, Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo, Museum of Fine Arts, Casa de los Tiros, Archaeological Museum, Corral del Carbón, Bañuelo, Casa del Horno del Oro, Casa del Chapiz and Dar al-Horra Palace. It is valid for 24 hours, 48 hours or 72 hours. Buy Voucher Granada Card.
Dobla de Oro (€ 19.65 / person): voucher offered by the Board of Trustees that includes admission to the general daytime Alhambra, Corral del Carbón, Dar al-Horra Palace, Moriscas Houses (Horno de Oro, Chapiz and Zafra) and The Bañuelo. Buy Dobla de Oro Ticket.
Andalusian Monuments (€ 5 / person): voucher offered by the Board of Trustees that includes entry to the Dar al-Horra Palace, Corral del Carbón, Casa Morisca (Horno de Oro) and El Bañuelo. Buy Andalusian Monuments Ticket.

2.Eat some of the typical dishes

As in any trip, the gastronomy of the place is a plus, and in this sense, in Granada you will have no problem enjoying the best dishes and flavors.

In the first place, although it is not considered a dish in itself, tapas are part of Granada’s gastronomy without a doubt! You cannot return to your place of origin without first having visited several tapas bars.

There is in every neighborhood, even in the most touristy neighborhoods, such as the downtown area, Albaicín, Realejo … So now you know, ask for your fresh Alhambra beer and a delicious tapa as a gift 😋

Some of the names of the most popular tapas bars are Los Diamantes, La Riviera, Bar la Tana, Bodega Castañeda, El Meridional, Bar Minotauro, Taberna Los Trastos, Bar los Altramuces… Here you can see the best tapas areas in Granada.

But in addition to the tapas ritual, in Granada we have a very rich gastronomy, a mixture of Mediterranean, Andalusian, and Granada influences and, on many occasions, inherited from the Arab period. What a cocktail!

Therefore, when you go out to eat at a restaurant, do not forget to order a good Alpujarran dish, Granada soak, broad beans with ham, Sacromonte omelette, semolina crumbs, aubergines with cane honey, Zalamandroña salad, baby garlic, prawns Motril… And for dessert, some strong piononos or some Nasrid pastries.

We have whet your appetite, right?

3. Discover the streets and squares of the historic center

Every tourist who visits Granada must take a route through its historic center, where true jewels of our heritage are located, keeping a memorable past.

Also, if you are interested in knowing free plans in Granada, sign up for this 😉

We really have a very beautiful city to walk around, and through which you can visit the entire historic center on foot.

You cannot miss the famous streets of Calle Elvira, Paseo de los Tristes, Gran Vía de Colón, Calle Reyes Católicos, Paseo del Salón, Calle Ganivet, Calle Caldelería, Cuesta de Gomérez, Calle Oficios, Calle Recogidas, Calle Zacatín, Calle Cárcel Baja, Calle San Jerónimo, Calle San Matías or Calle Pavaneras.

But neither are places like Plaza Nueva, Plaza Isabel la Católica, Plaza Bib-Rambla, Plaza de las Pasiegas, Plaza de la Romanilla, Plaza del Humilladero or Plaza Mariana Pineda.

4.Visit the Albaicín

Starting with the Paseo de los Tristes, probably the most beautiful street in Granada, and ending with the famous Mirador de San Nicolás (a classic for all tourists), this tourist neighborhood should be a must on your visit and we assure you that you will not will leave you indifferent!

The Albaicín (rabad al-Bayyīzīn in Arabic), means “Quarter of the Falconers” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the most emblematic and oldest neighborhood in Granada, which was inhabited by Iberians, Romans, Muslims and Christians, being considered an extension of the monumental complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife.

Knowing and getting into the Albaicín neighborhood of Granada, in addition to being mandatory, is one of the best plans to do in Granada!

Narrow streets, corners, cobbled streets, typical houses, historic buildings, Cármenes, cisterns, tapas bars, charming squares, viewpoints with views of the Alhambra and the city. The Albaicín has well-known and popular places, and many other non-tourist spots that are well worth discovering.

Some of the most popular places to visit in the Albaicín:

Mirador de San Nicolás
Mezquita Mayor
Mirador Placeta de Carvajales
Baño Árabe El Bañuelo
Palacio de los Córdova
Casa del Chapiz
Ermita de San Miguel Alto y Mirador de San Miguel Alto
Muralla zirí del siglo XI
Plaza Larga
Cale Elvira
Calle Caldelería Nueva (Famosa calle de las teterías)
Plaza de San Miguel Bajo
Palacio Dar al-Horra
Carmen de Max Moureau
Casa de Zafra
Casa de Castril – Museo Arqueológico de Granada
Aljibe del Rey
Placeta Cristo de las Azucenas
Etc.

On the other hand, if you prefer to take a Albaicín guided tour instead of visiting it on your own, and thus have more information with an organized tour, you can take a look at these Albaicín tours.

5.Visit the Sacromonte

Located in the Valparaíso Valley and opposite the Alhambra, is this idyllic suburb of Granada’s gypsies.

It is said that the origin of the picturesque Sacromonte neighborhood dates back to the 16th century, when Muslims and Jews, marginalized and expelled from their homes, found a place to live in the caves.

On the other hand, with the arrival of the Catholic Monarchs to the city, an army of gypsies also do so, who will be the ones who take care of their defense.

As a consequence, these three cultural groups, Moors, Jews and Gypsies, end up settling in the neighborhood, in a very humble way and taking advantage of the caves that nature itself has left, to make them their own homes.

Although it maintains that essence and we should not forget its modest roots, it is currently one of the tourist places to visit in Granada in a week trip. At the same time, it is also the cradle of flamenco and has its own customs and language.

Therefore, what to do in the Sacromonte neighborhood of Granada?

Probably the most popular activity is to attend a flamenco show in a cave, but there are also other interesting places such as:

Museo de las Cuevas del Sacromonte
Abadía del Sacromonte
Popular viewpoints (Mirador de la Vereda de Enmedio, Mirador de la Abadía del Sacromonte or Mirador de la Lola, among others).

6.Go to the theater

If you want to know more things to do on a week-long trip to Granada, in addition to tourism, a good option could be to attend an event, show, concert, cultural or musical festival at the Isabel la Católica Theater.

This is located in the heart of the city, right next to the Fuente de las Batallas and was inaugurated in 1952, being the work of the architect Don Miguel Olmedo.

Nowadays, it can be considered as the great cultural reference of Granada, therefore, what if you dare to complement your visit to Granada by going to the theater?

Here, among many other important events, the Music and Dance Festival or the International Jazz Festival of Granada are held.

View schedule.

7. Visit the Alcaicería

Didn’t you know that a souk was located in the historic center of Granada?

That’s right, right next to the Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada, the Alcaicería is located, a place that will take you to another era in a matter of seconds and that many visitors classify as one of the coolest places in Granada.

If we go back in history, the Alcaicería was a typical Muslim neighborhood, with narrow streets, where the souk was located and where silk was manufactured and sold. It had about 200 stores.

But a fire in 1843 destroyed much of this artisan market. Currently there are only a few streets, but the architectural recreation is the closest thing to a souk as we know it.

Therefore, we encourage you to come to this great bazaar to buy beautiful and typical Granada handicraft souvenirs, such as the popular Fajalauza earthenware, inlaid objects, colored glass street lamps, other manufactured products, books, jewelry … Or even the classic magnets.

8. Have tea at the tea shops

One of the most famous and busy streets in Granada that no visitor should miss is Calle de las Teterías, as everyone knows it. Although it is really called Calle Caldelería Nueva, since boilers were manufactured and repaired there.

This narrow and cobbled street located in the heart of the city seems to take you to Marrakech in a matter of seconds.

Here there are several well-decorated tea shops, and also numerous small craft shops, decoration, souvenirs, clothing …

Its multicultural atmosphere, the indisputable smell of tea, the coming and going of people from all over the world … This street is an essential point to visit in Granada.

So look for a space in your visit to relax in a tea shop, have a delicious Moorish tea, listen to Arabic music or even smoke hookah.

Despite the fact that this street is where you can find the most, in Granada there are many other tea shops with good views of the Alhambra, such as Ábaco Té or the Tetería del Bañuelo.

9.Visit Gorafe Coloraos Desert

In the province of Granada there are curious landscapes that are worth highlighting and above all visiting!

Some of them are found within what is called the Granada Geopark, a spectacular territory of gullies and badlands, the result of the river passage, which houses fossil remains from the Quaternary period and which is located in the north of the province.

As is the case of Gorafe Coloraos Desert, in the Guadix region.

This owes its name to the predominant color in the geological formations of its clayey lands, which as the day goes by, they change colors, sunrise and sunset are the ideal times to enjoy all its splendor!

The only drawback is that to access this place, it is essential to have an SUV or, better yet, through an organized Gorafe day trip.

Therefore, if you want to know what original activities to do on a week-long trip to Granada, sign up for this one;)

10.Enjoy the Science Park exhibitions

And, how to spend 7 days in Granada with children?

If you want to know more activities in addition to historical monuments, a very good bet can be The Science Park, considered the first interactive science museum in Andalusia, and an ideal place to spend the day with the family!

Here you can find both permanent and temporary exhibitions, where you can learn in an interactive and fun way topics related to the Universe, physical phenomena, biodiversity, robotics, the human body, botany …

Its prominent areas are the Planetarium, the Biosphere Room, the Perception Room, the Explora Room, the Tropical Butterfly Garden, the Biodome and the Observation Tower.

So it will probably be an unforgettable experience for both young and old.

In addition, if you are going to spend the day here, you can take a break to eat in its restaurant or to have a picnic in the outdoor areas set up.

Ready to enjoy a learning day in one of the most interesting places in Granada?

11.Discover the Granada Alpujarra

The Alpujarra of Granada is undoubtedly one of the most charming corners of Europe, without exaggeration!

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada is this valley of spectacular landscapes and white Berber-style villages that, at least, are curious for its visitors.

La Alpujarra is an ideal place to do gastronomic tourism through its towns or take nature routes just about 40 minutes by car from the capital (yes, with all its curves;))

There are 25 towns that make up the Alpujarra of Granada, some of the most visited and picturesque being Capileira, Lanjarón, Pampaneira, Soportújar, Trevélez, Pórtugos or Bubión.

One more proof that in the province you can enjoy the city, culture, mountains and sea almost on the same day and a magnificent proposal oft things to do in the Granada province.

Ready to fall in love with the charming towns of the Alpujarra?

For stays of several days in Granada, we recommend yes or yes to take an organized Alpujarra day trip, you are going to love it!

12.Relax on the Costa Tropical

Do you know that many travelers are not aware of the existence of the Costa Tropical of Granada?

Well, nothing more and nothing less than 73 kilometers of beach bathed by the Mediterranean Sea and only about 60 km from the capital. Ideal plan to complement your getaway to Granada!

The entire Costa Tropical of Granada has a special character. Clean and clear waters, often crystalline, with pleasant temperatures almost all year round, thanks to the protection of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Beaches, coves and cliffs alternate along the entire coastline, opening up between the sea of greenhouses. In this area there are the ideal conditions to grow tropical and exotic fruits such as avocado, mango, cherimoya (with designation of origin), guava, papaya, medlars …

But the most remarkable and peculiar thing is that the beaches of Granada are not usually of fine and light sand, but are usually made up of dark sand, pebbles, pebbles, gravel or rock, almost always under a steep terrain full of cliffs. And this is what makes them unique as well as very clean.

However, there are beaches for all tastes! from secluded and hidden coves to wide and extensive beaches, nudist beaches, beaches that accept dogs or beaches perfect for diving, kayaking, scuba diving, fishing or beaches to enjoy a snorkelling experience.

Many of them even have a blue flag and a Q for tourist quality every year.

But that’s not all, on the Costa Tropical de Granada, you can also take some hiking trails or discover its municipalities steeped in history, with influences from Roman to Nasrid.

The best known coastal towns are Salobreña, Almuñecar, Motril, Castell de Ferro …

And as! Taste the prawns from Motril, fried fish, skewers of sardines or paella, in one of the beach bars on the coast.

Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Granada in summer, but also in other seasons, because even if it is not for bathing, its climate is pleasant throughout the year.

13 Go to Sierra Nevada

Known to all and just over 30 km from the capital of Granada, is the southernmost ski resort in Europe, with the highest number of daylight hours and the highest altitude in Spain.

The reference area is the town of Pradollano, from where the ski lifts depart to the ski slopes and where the souvenir shops, equipment rental, restaurants, accommodation, bars … are located.

How about booking one of your travel days to go up to see the Sierra Nevada National Park?

Not only will you be able to ski on your own on one of its slopes for all levels (116 in total), but you can also have a 2 days ski course, go to see winter competitions, go on snowshoe routes, hiking trails. in summer … Or simply go up to enjoy the mountain scenery, have a coffee, eat in one of its restaurants or start a snowball fight!

14 Sleep in a cave house

Can you imagine being able to sleep in the bowels of the earth?

At various points in the province of Granada, such as Guadix, El Marquesado, Baza, Huesca and the Sacromonte neighborhood of Granada, it is possible to take advantage of the opportunity to live this unforgettable experience in a type of tourist accommodation called a cave house.

The caves are a unique accommodation with more than 500 years of history, which today have been converted into living spaces and also into wineries, museums, restaurants …

Did you know that in the province of Granada, in the regions of Guadix and the Altiplano, there are entire neighborhoods with around 12,000 caves?

In addition, these are spaces that are respectful with the environment, camouflaged with the landscape of deserts and mountains and that are still “chopped by hand” as was traditionally done.

We recommend the accommodations under the Andalusian Cave Hotels brand.

15. Make a cool hiking trail

Another things to do in Granada for free on a week-long getaway is to do one of the many hiking trails that exist in the province.

We can ensure that Granada satisfies all nature lovers, with very good routes, activities of all kinds and trails for all levels. Hanging bridges, rivers, caves, peaks, charming villages, viewpoints … There is something for everyone!

Only a few kilometers from the capital, you can do the Cahorros de Monachil route, one of the simplest, most popular, with hanging bridges and ideal also for lovers of climbing. Or that of the Vereda de la Estrella, one of the best hiking routes in Granada, which starts from the town of Güejar Sierra and offers beautiful views of the Sierra Nevada.

Within the province, the Gollizno Route in Moclín, the Mamut route (ideal to do with children), the Poqueira Valley route, in the Alpujarra, the Tajos del Río Cacín route, the route of the Tajos de la Alhama or the ascent route to Pico Veleta or Pico Trevenque, whose difficulty is greater and are carried out outside the snow season.

Here we leave you with more recommendations on the best hiking routes near Granada capital.

16 Go shopping

Many times we take advantage of trips to make our purchases, and in Granada you will not lack places to find everything you need.

The most popular areas to do so are the city center and shopping centers.

In the center, sign up for Calle Recogidas, Calle Mesones, Calle San Antón, Calle Alhóndiga … and all the surrounding streets.

As shopping centers, sign up for the Nevada Shopping, Parque Comercial Granaita and Serrallo Plaza.

Primark, H&M, Media Markt, Fnac, Decathlon, Maisons Du Monde, Sprinter, Kiabi, Equivalenza, Orchestra, Calzedonia, Rossellimac, Leroy Merlin, Mr Wonderful, Ikea collection point, Zara, Tezenis, Mayoral, Primor, Xiaomi … And many stores are what you can find.

17.Visit the 8th wonder of the world, the Alhambra

No! We had not forgotten the Alhambra!

It is said that Granada lives eclipsed by the Alhambra and it is no wonder. The city has a multitude of surprising spaces and places, but its main tourist attraction is and will continue to be this Nasrid fortress. That’s why we have left it for the end;)

The Alhambra, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is not only the fortress itself, but also constitutes a monumental complex of different rooms, spaces, patios, gardens, towers, passageways, mosaics, fountains … Gathering an impressive cultural importance, historical and artistic.

So the ideal is to visit the Alhambra in its entirety, that is, with the entrance to Los Palacios and the Generalife. A visit for which you will need at least 3 hours and that we recommend you do with a guide to get more juice from your tourist journey through Nasrid history.

Best Alhambra guided tours here.

In this full post you will visit:

The Nasrid Palaces: also called the Old Royal Room, they are a palatial complex made up of two independent palaces, the Palacio de Comares and the Palacio de los Leones, and the Mexuar annex. They include numerous halls, lounges and spaces with rich ornamentation, patios, facades, Arabic scriptures, windows or muqarna vaults of unparalleled beauty.
Partal Gardens: beautiful staggered gardens presided over by the portico of the Palacio del Partal, which is cut out on the landscape of the Albaicín and the Sacromonte and constitutes one of the classic images of the monument.
The Alcazaba: it is the oldest part of the Alhambra. This served as a fortress to protect against enemy attacks. Currently, it is considered the largest military construction in Granada and from its towers you will enjoy incredible views of the city and the Albaicín neighborhood.
The Generalife: it was built to be a place of recreation and rest for the Granada kings when they wanted to flee from the official life of the Palace, constituting a rustic villa with gardens and a royal garden capable of making any visitor fall in love.

On the other hand, in the surroundings of the Alhambra there are many free and no-entry places that of course we also recommend you visit, such as the Palace of Carlos V, The Museum of the Alhambra, The Forest of the Alhambra, Las Torres Bermejas or the Carmen de los Mártires.

If you wish, you can also make the night visit to the Palaces, the visit only to the gardens, Alcazaba and Generalife or the combined visit with the Rodriguez-Acosta Foundation.

Do you already know how to spend 7 days in Granada? We hope we have helped you with these super plans to enjoy your trip, and hopefully you can make the maximum possible!

⭐️How to spend 7 days in Granada, 17 Unbeatable Plans!!

Best things to do one week in Granada