Province of Granada

Granada province

It is fantastic to discover how behind the Alhambra and the city of Granada there is a province full of incredible places worth visiting.

And is that if you are going to visit the province of Granada, we already warn you that it is one of the most complete and that it does not lack anything!

Mountains, sea, rivers, unique towns, geological formations, customs, diverse landscapes …

Do you want to know what to see and do in the province of Granada?

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.

Sierra Nevada has ski slopes for all levels:

  • 16 green slopes
  • 40 blue slopes
  • 50 red slopes
  • 9 black slopes
  • 1 background circuit

The Sierra Nevada ski resort has hosted numerous winter sports competitions, but is also considered a popular mountain pass for cyclists and a popular hikers’ spot in summer.

If you are not willing to ski or play sports, no problem, you can have a hot coffee on a terrace, start a snowball fight, slide with shovels on the snow slopes or simply observe the landscape and the swaying of skiers and tourists from all over the world.

Granada Alpujarra

Granada’s Alpujarra is undoubtedly one of the most charming corners of Europe.

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada is this valley of spectacular landscapes and white Berber-style villages.

La Alpujarra is an ideal place to do gastronomic tourism through its towns or to take nature routes just about 40 minutes by car from the capital.

In it there are municipalities belonging to the province of Granada and the province of Almería. And due to their different positions, these towns are located between the lower Alpujarra, the middle Alpujarra and the upper Alpujarra.

The towns that make up the Granada Alpujarra are 25:

  • Almegíjar
  • Alpujarra de la Sierra
  • Berchules
  • Bubion
  • Busquístar
  • Cáñar
  • Cádiar
  • Capileira
  • Carataunas
  • Cástaras
  • Juviles
  • Lanjarón
  • Lobras
  • Murtas
  • Nevada
  • Orgiva
  • Pampaneira
  • Pórtugos
  • Soportújar
  • La Taha
  • Torvizcón
  • Trevélez
  • Turón
  • Ugijar
  • Válor

The most touristic and picturesque being Lanjarón, Capileira, Pampaneira and Trévelez.

In addition, there are many other nearby towns that are located in the Sierra de la Contraviesa, which are also worth visiting.

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 of what to do in the province of Granada.

How many of its towns are familiar to you?

Granada coast

It cannot be denied that the province of Granada has a wonderful variety of settings.

In just 100km you can go from the peak of the mountain to the center of the city or to the Granada coast.

The best known coastal towns are Salobreña, Almuñecar, Motril, Castell de Ferro … and in just about 40 minutes by car on the A-44 motorway you will be soaking in its fresh and crystalline waters.

The Granada coast is also suitable for sports activities such as kayaking, snorkeling or diving.

Some of its most popular beaches and coves are:

  • Peñón de Salobreña Beach
  • Calahonda Beach (Motril)
  • Cantarriján Beach (Almuñecar)
  • Herradura Beach (Almuñecar)
  • La Joya Beach (Motril)
  • Rijana beach (Castell de Ferro)
  • Playa de la Guardia (Salobreña)
  • San Cristobal Beach (Almuñecar)
  • Del Ruso Beach (Albuñol)
  • El Cambrón beach (Salobreña)

Without a doubt one of the best things to do in the province of Granada!

Tourist towns of Granada

In addition to the Alpujarra, the province has many other municipalities that are well worth visiting.

Take note of which towns in the province of Granada visit!

  • Guadix: it is one of the most important tourist municipalities in the province and here you can see its Cathedral, the Roman Theater, the Alcazaba, the Arch of San Torcuato, the Church of Santiago, the Cuevas neighborhood (one of the largest in the world), the Plaza de las Palomas, the train station, the Palacio de Villalegre or the Mirador del Cerro de la Magdalena. And you can also stay in a Cave House.
  • Montefrío: this municipality was declared a Historic Artistic Site and labeled as one of the towns with the best views in the world according to Nantional Geographic. Here you can see the Mirador de las Peñas (from where you can see the classic postcard image of the town), the Arab Fortress, the Church of the Villa, the Church of the Incarnation or the Church and Convent of San Antonio.
  • Alhama de Granada: this municipality less than 60 km from the capital is known for its Arab thermal baths located on the remains of the Roman baths and also for its landscapes of cliffs and ravines on the Alhama River. Therefore, what you cannot miss in Alhama de Granada are its hot springs, the Castle of Alhama de Granada, the Church of the Incarnation, the Church of Carmen and the Tagus, its Arab Bath located in the old town, the silos and dungeons, the San Diego Convent, the Church of Las Angustias, the House of the Inquisition, the Old Jail, the Queen’s Hospital, the Roman Bridge, the Tajos Natural Monument …
  • Baza: the municipality of Baza is located in the north of the province and it is the largest urban center in the northeast of Granada. In Baza you can visit the Alcazaba, the Arab Baths, the Santo Domingo Convent, the Church of Dolores, the Church of San Juan, the Church of Santiago, the Main Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, the Church and Convent of the Merced, the Palacio de los Enríquez, the Narváez Visitor Center, the Interpretation Center of Archaeological Sites, the Archaeological Museum of Baza, the Ibn al-Jatib Route, the Barranco de la Fonfría and Pino de la Señora …
  • Huéscar: the municipality of Huéscar is already on the edge of the province of Granada, very close to the Sierra de Cazorla, and here you can see, among other things, its stately homes, its gigantic redwoods, the Casa de los Penalva, the Collegiate Church Santa María la Mayor, the Santo Domingo Convent, the Santiago Church, the Huesca Theater, the Homage Tower, the Cordero Segureño Interpretation Center, the José de Huéscar Museum … Also in Huéscar, lamb is very popular in can.
  • Benamaurel: in this small municipality in the north of the province of Granada and with just over 2,300 inhabitants, you can see the Roman Columbarium, the Torre de Castril, the Casa del Tío Tinajas, the Church of the Virgen de la Asunción or las Hafas ( remains of a 14th century fortress). In Benamaurel you can also have the honor of staying in a Cave House.
  • Fuente Vaqueros: this town will sound familiar to you because it is the place where Federico García Lorca was born in 1898, so it is a municipality linked to the poet. Here you can visit the Federico García Lorca Birthplace Museum, the sculpture of the writer, the route with the same name, the Washington Irving route or the Royal House of Soto in Rome.
  • Láchar: this town in the Vega de Granada is known for its Castle-Palace of Láchar. You can also visit the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Parish House.
  • Moclín: it is one of the richest municipalities in historical and artistic heritage. It also has some great routes through nature. Here you can visit the famous Castle of Moclín, the Cueva de Malalmuerzos (with cave paintings), the Casa del Pósito, the Iglesia de la Encarnación, the Ruta del Caliphate, the Ruta del Gollizno.

Granada Geopark

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

Some of them are within what is called the Granada Geopark, in the north of the province.

It is a spectacular territory of gullies and badlands, the result of the river passage and which houses fossil remains from the Quaternary period.

These unique, wild and arid lands are part of the geological heritage of the European continent and in total it consists of more than 4,000 km that include 47 municipalities belonging to the regions of Guadix, Baza, Huéscar and Montes.

And what can you see in the Granada Geopark?

  • The natural viewpoint of Jabalcón
  • The viewpoint at the end of the world
  • The Desert of the Coloraos de Gorafe
  • The Gor River Valley
  • The Fardes River Valley Paleontological Station

So go for a tour of the Granada Geopark by 4×4, bicycle, horse or balloon!

And finally, some other places of interest in the province of Granada that are also worth visiting are the Cubillas Swamp, the Vereda de la Estrella in Guejar-Sierra, the Cahorros de Monachil, the route through the Dílar River, the Necropolis of Sierra Martilla, the Mammoth Route …