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Although Granada is a city that has infinite places of interest and hides many charming corners, it is still mostly a city chosen to be visited in very short periods of time; a day, a weekend or a bridge. If this is your case and you want to know best things to do in Granada in one day, here are some of the best proposals, both things to visit and routes.
Although we insist that the ideal is to stay more days to get to know the city better!
Granada in 1 day; the most interesting places ⭐️
In such a short getaway, you will have to select very well the best things to do in Granada in 24 hours, as well as what type of visit you want to make.
In fact, carrying out all the activities that we propose below may lead to a rather rushed day.
What do you think if you take a look at them?
1. Historic center tour
Walking calmly through the city center is one of the best things to see in Granada in a day or on a trip of any other length.
And it is that the center of Granada can be easily explored on foot. Everything is very condensed, and in a short time you will be able to walk through the most emblematic and popular streets, as well as through the most beautiful and historical squares of the capital.
If you want us to make it easier for you, enter here to see two options for walking routes through the historic center of Granada.
But in general, you absolutely must not miss the Alcaicería (the city’s souk), Paseo de los Tristes (probably the most beautiful street in Granada), Calle Caldelería Nueva (the popular teahouse street) , Calle Reyes Católicos, Calle Oficios, Plaza Nueva, Plaza de las Pasiegas (where the Cathedral is located), Plaza de la Romanilla, Plaza Bib-Rambla, Plaza Isabel la Católica or Plaza del Campillo (where the Fuente de las Batallas is located ).
Discover here which are the most famous streets in Granada and the most beautiful squares of Granada 🧡
If instead of going on your own, you prefer to take an organized and guided tour, in which you can also learn very curious things about the city, do not hesitate to book a private tour of Granada.
2. Visit the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel
It is one of the main monuments of the city of Granada that you should include in your visit to Granada, because in addition to being beautiful inside and out, it will provide you with great information about the history of the capital.
It is actually called the Holy and Apostolic Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation of Granada, but we will better call it Granada Cathedral!
We can say that its construction began in 1523, under the direction of Enrique Egas, although it was actually ordered to be built by Queen Isabella the Catholic many years before.
And the curious thing is that at that time the works of the Royal Chapel had already begun, a building annexed to the Cathedral created to contain the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs in the future. And so it is today.
That is, the side chapel was built before the central building of the monument!
Likewise, the Royal Chapel also houses the tombs of the daughter and heiress of the Catholic Monarchs, Juana I of Castile and her husband, King Felipe el Hermoso.
Then, several generations and several project changes will pass until one of the most important and visited monuments in Granada is achieved, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe and a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance.
Currently, although they are part of the same monument, these two great tourist attractions in Granada, the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, have different styles and are visited separately.
Therefore, you must purchase a ticket for each of them. But you can also book a Cathedral, Royal Chapel and Madraza of Granada private guided tour with the accompaniment of a guide.
And as an interesting fact, did you know that the Cathedral of Granada was built on the old Great Mosque of the city? In fact, the remains of the cistern are still preserved right next to the main entrance to the Royal Chapel.
3.Visit El Bañuelo
El Bañuelo is another of the main tourist attractions in Granada and one of the recommended activities, both for tourists and locals.
It is a historical place, easy to visit and that will help you better understand how our ancestors lived.
In addition, you will not have a problem finding it, as it is located in one of the most popular and busy areas, in the Carrera del Darro in Granada, on the banks of the River Darro and in front of the Puente del Cadí.
And what is El Bañuelo?
El Bañuelo is an old Arab bath built in the 11th century, considered the oldest civil building in the city and the best preserved Arab baths from the Hispano-Muslim period.
The anecdote of this building is that it was used as a public laundry after the conquest of the Granada by the Catholic Monarchs, which has achieved its conservation to the present day, being in the present Asset of Cultural Interest, a National Monument and one of the monuments that visit Granada in one day.
You can visit this place with the Andalusian Monuments ticket (€5) which also includes passes to the Casa de Dar al-Horra and the Corral del Carbón (also highly recommended 👍🏻). But if you visit on a Sunday, admission is free.
4. Albaicín and viewpoints tour
If you want to know what to see in Granada on a free day and that is very worthwhile, sign up for the Albaicín neighborhood, one of the most beautiful and particular places in Spain.
In case you did not know, the Albaicín is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered an extension of the monumental complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife.
But beyond this, it is a practically unique, authentic place with some of the most beautiful corners of Granada.
As soon as you walk through its streets, you will realize that it is a different and humble neighborhood, with low and typical houses, reminiscent of village life and where its inhabitants live quietly and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. the city (although it is very close).
The cobbled, labyrinthine and uneven streets are due to the fact that in its beginnings, this area served as a defensive place, where only those who lived here knew how to find their way around quickly.
But, the neighborhood has a great history and many changes!
The greatest moment of splendor was during the Nasrid dynasty, when it had a very large population. With the Conquest by the Catholic Monarchs, the place of residence for Muslims was established here, but after several Moorish uprisings, they were expelled and many Christians settled here.
The result is a large conglomeration of narrow streets that house a rich mix of places of tourist, historical and patrimonial interest belonging to various cultures. And today it is one of the must-see places for anyone who comes to Granada.
And, what to see in the Albaicín neighborhood in one day?
In such a short time, it is difficult to select, but you cannot miss the Mirador de San Nicolás (one of the most popular places in Granada). Other very interesting squares and viewpoints are the Mirador de la Mezquita Mayor, Mirador Placeta de Carvajales, Mirador de San Miguel Alto, Mirador de San Cristobal or the Mirador de Santa Isabel la Real.
If you want to make a good route of viewpoints to see the Alhambra, do not miss this post.
We also recommend you visit some of the places of historical interest within the Albaicín, such as the Palacio de los Córdova, Casa del Chapiz, Palacio Dar al-Horra, Casa de Castril (Archaeological Museum of Granada), Aljibe del Rey, Casa de los Pisa , Zirid wall from the 11th century, Arco de las Pesas, Casa de Zafra…
Lastly, another of the best things to see in the Albaicín is its cármenes, a type of typical, rustic and fenced house, which has a garden, green space, orchard, fountain or pool and is typical of this neighbourhood.
If you want to know some public Carmen of the Albaicín, we recommend the Carmen de los Chapiteles, the Carmen de la Victoria (owned by the University of Granada), the Carmen de Max Moureau (also known as Carmen de los Geranios and where there is a museum of painting) or the Carmen of the Rodriguez Acosta Foundation.
5.Discover the Sacromonte and flamenco show
Of course, other essentials to add to your list of what to do in Granada in one day.
A picturesque neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, between pitas and caves, the cradle of flamenco, with its own customs and language and that deserves a careful visit to delve into its most deeply rooted traditions and origins, before being one of the most touristic places from Granada.
There are several very interesting activities that can be done in the Sacromonte neighborhood of Granada, but if you are going to visit Granada in one day, you will not have more time than to walk through some of its streets (the main road is the Camino del Sacromonte), look out to one of its viewpoints (viewpoint of the Vereda de Enmedio) and to enjoy one of its flamenco shows in the gypsy Zambras.
These shows have their origin in the Moorish Zambra, the party that these made at weddings. The gypsies who lived here adopted it and adapted it to their culture, thus giving rise to the Flamenco Zambra that we know today.
Unlike a flamenco tablao, in the Zambras del Sacromonte in Granada, they dance very close to the public.
Over time, these traditional festivities have been enabled for their attendees, and although they can be rather touristy, they are worth it if you want to delve deeper into this culture and have a good time.
On many occasions dinners with a show are offered and other times just a show and a drink.
Another thing to do in Sacromonte is to visit the Sacromonte Caves Museum or the Sacromonte Abbey.
Discover everything about this neighborhood in our post 😉
6. Go Tapas
Of course you can also make a reservation at a restaurant (we also have some of the best 😋), but how can you miss the tapas in Granada!
Tapas is much more than eating, for us it is also one of our favorite social activities and practically a deeply rooted custom.
Potato omelette, meat in sauce, hamburger, toast, montadito, rice, Russian salad, croquettes, fried fish, pizza, sausage, migas… Ask for your drink and in the bars of Granada they will give you your cap for the same price.
And where to tap?
The most popular street among visitors and tourists to have some tapas is Calle Navas, but you will have no problem finding many other bars with exquisite tapas located in the downtown area or the Albacín.
In this post we tell you which are the best streets and areas for tapas in Granada 😉
7.Visit the Alhambra and Generalife
This is, without a doubt, the most important visit in Granada, a must in the capital and one of the most visited monuments in the world, as there are few places that contain so much beauty and history together.
Therefore, we have to encourage you to visit the Alhambra and the Generalife, a monument declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1984.,
But the Alhambra is not only that, because this fortress constitutes an impressive monumental complex made up of rooms, spaces, patios, gardens, towers, passageways, mosaics, fountains… It brings together impressive heritage importance and represents the artistic, cultural and scientific development that reached Al-Andalus in his last period.
Surely the Torre de la Vela, the Sala de las Dos Hermanas, Sala de los Abencerrajes, Patio de los Arrayanes, Palacio de Comares, Salón de los Embajadores, Mirador de Daraxa…
A must to do visit! Either on your own or through an Alhambra and Generalife Tour Guide (highly recommended)
In addition, the Alhambra does not only consist of the monument itself, but rather it is a whole monumental complex with numerous points of tourist interest. Some of which are free and freely accessible (Forest of the Alhambra, Carmen de los Mártires, Palace of Carlos V, Plaza de los Aljibes, Puerta de la Justicia, Torres Bermejas, Cuesta de los Chinos or Mirador de Alixares).
However, you have to bear in mind that the complete visit to the site takes at least 3 hours, so if you come to visit Granada in one day, this activity will take up a large part of the day and you will not see other important things.
What is the best route to visit Granada in 1 day?
There is no better route than another, because the best will always be the one that best suits your getaway. However, if you are looking for a route with best things to do in Granada in one day, we can suggest several things:
1 – If you have never visited the Alhambra (we cannot forgive you for this ;)) or if you have enough time that day, you can visit:
Alhambra, El Bañuelo, Mirador de San Nicolás (in Albaicín) squares and streets of the historic center.
2 – If you want to know what to see in Granada on a day without the Alhambra, you can visit:
Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada, El Bañuelo, Albaicín neighborhood, Sacromonte neighborhood and streets and squares of the historic center.
What two proposals for more complete routes through Granada!
And if you come on a low budget, don’t forget to read our post about things to do in Granada for free.
On the other hand, we want to recommend the tourist vouchers to visit Granada, which include tickets to different monuments and places of interest with combined prices.
If you plan to make a cultural visit or enter several places, it will be good for you to acquire one:
- Granada Card (€36.40, €40 or €43:/person): includes admission to the Alhambra, bus transport and admission to 16 other 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 Coal, Bañuelo, Casa del Horno del Oro, Casa del Chapiz and Palace of Dar al-Horra. It is valid for 24h, 48h or 72h.
- Dobla de Oro (€19.65/person): includes admission to the general daytime Alhambra, Corral del Carbón, Dar al-Horra Palace, Moorish Houses (Gold Furnace, Chapiz and Zafra) and El Bañuelo.
- Andalusian Monuments (€5/person): includes the Dar al-Horra Palace, Corral del Carbón, Casa Morisca (Gold Furnace) and El Bañuelo.
Have you taken note of what are the best things to do in Granada in one day?
We also recommend you take a look at our post about what to see in Granada in a weekend 😉
