10 Free things to do in Granada, enjoy and save money!

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What to see and do in Granada for free

Surely when you travel you love to get discounts and do free or cheap activities so that your vacation does not leave you with your pocketbook. If this is your case and you also come to enjoy Granada, we can tell you the essential things that you cannot miss. And what to do for free in Granada? Well, keep reading so that we can tell you about them!

What to see and do in Granada for free

In general, Granada is a cheap city, especially if you know when and where to move and if you take a good route through all its streets, squares, neighborhoods, viewpoints, house-museums, buildings …

It also offers a very good variety of activities and tourist attractions. History, culture, gastronomy, current affairs, art, folklore or tradition are some of the things that you will find on your way through this city.

So, what can you visit for free in Granada?

Well, there are many things, places and places, but we have selected 10 essentials that you cannot miss;)

Find out here the best Granada plans for you 🧡

Get lost in the Albaicín

You will have heard this proposal millions of times, and the Albaicín or Albayzín neighborhood is one of the most curious in Spain. In fact, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as an extension of the monumental complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife.

From the famous Paseo de los Tristes, which is located in the lower part of the Albaicín and is always crowded with tourists, to the San Nicolás viewpoint, the most famous in Granada and from where you can see incredible views of the Alhambra.

But in the Albaicín, where its inhabitants live quietly and away from the traffic of the city, there are also numerous monuments and monumental ensembles from different periods, mainly Nasrid and Renaissance.

Some of them are the 11th century Ziri wall, the Arab baths of El Bañuelo, the Arco de las Pesas, the Puerta de Elvira, the Church of El Salvador, the Church of San Miguel Bajo, the Church of San Gregorio, the Church of San Cristobal and viewpoint of San Cristobal, Palace of Dar al-Horra, Hermitage of San Miguel Alto and viewpoint of San Miguel Alto, Casa de la Lona, Palacio de los Córdova from the 16th century, Casa de Zafra …

By the way! Before visiting the Albaicín neighborhood of Granada, do not forget to put on comfortable shoes and prepare a tour, because its cobblestone and narrow streets lose even the most expert traveler;)

Visit the surroundings of the Alhambra

Visiting the Alhambra is undoubtedly the “must” when you travel to Granada, and although it is recommended to reserve your ticket in advance, the price is very affordable (€ 14 per person).

But if you also want to see things for free in Granada and without leaving the enclosure and the magic of the Alhambra, in its surroundings you can enjoy many charming places.

Keep in mind that the entire site of the Alhambra and the Generalife is located within the city of Granada, so accessing here, in addition to being free, is easy and can be done on foot.

You can, for example, take a walk to the cool of the Alhambra gardens and forest, which you can access from the Puerta de las Granadas in Cuesta Gomérez (right next to Plaza Nueva). It is a perfect place to relax, listen to the sound of the water, see ancient walls and walk under the vegetation of poplars, chestnut trees, laurels and elms.

You can go up to the Palacio de Carlos V, which is one of the free monuments in Granada, visit the external part of the Alhambra, the Plaza de los Aljibes and take photos of the views towards the Albaicín.

Passing through here visit the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación and the Convent of San Francisco (today converted into a National Parador).

And before leaving, don’t forget to visit the house-museum of the composer Manuel de Falla and the Carmen de los Mártires, the largest in the whole city.

Once you have taken a good walk around the Alhambra, how about going down for tapas in the center of Granada?

In short, visiting the surroundings of the Alhambra is one of the free tourist attractions in Granada that will take you at least a whole morning to visit.

Visit a monument or museum for free or at a reduced price

As we have just mentioned, the Palace of Carlos V is one of the monuments with free entry in Granada, but what more monuments or museums are free or very cheap?

Below we show you some tourist places in Granada at no cost or with free days:

Palacio de Carlos V.
Centro Federico García Lorca.
Museo Arqueológico.
Palacio de los Córdova.
Centro José Guerrero.
Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo e Iglesia de Santo Domingo.
Museo de la Alhambra.
Museo de Bellas Artes.
Centro Cultural CajaGranada.
El Palacio de los Olvidados.
Casa de los Tiros: gratis para ciudadanos U.E (para el resto 1,5€).
Monasterio de la Cartuja: visita gratuita con previa reserva.
Casa Museo Federico García Lorca (Huerta de San Vicente): gratis miércoles por la mañana.
Abadía del Sacromonte: gratis de lunes a viernes a las 10:30h y con reserva previa.
Catedral de Granada: gratis los domingos de 15h a 17:45h y con reserva previa.
Capilla Real: gratis los miércoles de 14:30h a 18:30h con previa reserva.
Aljibe del Rey: gratis de lunes a viernes a las 12h.
Fundación Rodriguez Acosta: gratis los viernes y domingos de 13h a 14h.
Camarín de la Virgen del Rosario: 2€
La Madraza: 2€
Casa de Zafra: 3€

In addition to these free monuments, you can buy several very cheap tickets that include a combo of tourist places:

Andalusian Monuments Ticket: € 5 and includes Dar al-Horra Palace, Corral del Carbón, El Bañuelo and Casa Morisca (Horno de Oro Street).
Double Gold Ticket: € 19.65 and includes a general daytime visit to the Alhambra, Corral del Carbón, El Bañuelo, Dar al-Horra Palace, Casa Morisca (Horno de Oro Street), Casa del Chapiz and Casa de Zafra.

On the other hand, there are some free tickets to monuments for residents of Granada:

Alhambra: free on Sundays.
Cuevas del Sacromonte Museum: free on Sundays.

In addition to all these free monuments and museums in Granada, you can also visit the Carmenes located in the Albaicín neighborhood for free; the Carmen de los Mártires, Carmen by Max Moureau and the Carmen de la Victoria are some of the most important.

Finally, keep in mind that these are the standard rates but normally, students, pensioners, groups, residents … usually have discounts. Also some good dates to take advantage of free guided tours are La Noche en Blanco or International Museum Day.

Enjoy the sunset from a viewpoint

And what to see and do for free in Granada that you cannot miss? Undoubtedly, one of the most popular activities for tourists is to watch a sunset at one of the many viewpoints in the city.

The best known is the Mirador de San Nicolás, and its views are impressive, being located right in front of the Alhambra (it almost seems that you can touch it!), With the Sierra Nevada in the background and with the city at your feet. But it is also the most requested by tourists and locals.

Near this is the Placeta de Carvajales Viewpoint, where you can see a very good panoramic view of the Alhambra.

We also suggest the Mirador de San Miguel Alto (and so high!). To get here you will have to cross the entire Albaicín neighborhood on foot or access by car through the Camino de la Ermita. Once up, the views of the Alhambra, the city and the surroundings are incredible.

Or the Mirador de la Abadía del Sacromonte, with a panoramic view of the Valparaíso Valley, passing between the Alhambra and the Albaicín. You can access it by walking from the Cuesta del Chapiz or by public transport.

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a sunset in Granada, there are other less requested viewpoints that are also very worthwhile, as they are; the Mirador de San Cristobal, from where you can see the 11th century Zirid wall; the Mirador de la Churra, one of the most unknown and with exquisite views of the Albaicín; the Mirador de la Vereda de Enmedio, in the Sacromonte; or the Mirador del Lavadero, of Jewish origin, not so well known by tourists and located in the Realejo neighborhood.

Visit the Cármenes

Many visitors are not aware of what a Carmen from Granada is. It is a typical type of house, rustic and fenced, that has a garden, green space, orchard and fountain or pool. You will find this house in the Albaicín and Realejo neighborhoods.

Although it is of Nasrid origin and its use began as agricultural, modern Carmen, as we know it today, was forged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The best known and the largest is located within the Alhambra and is the Carmen de los Mártires, occupying more than seven hectares.

And where exactly are the Albaicín Carmenes?

If you want to visit Carmenes in the Albaicín neighborhood, some of the best known are Carmen de los Chapiteles, Carmen de la Victoria (owned by the University of Granada), Carmen de Max Moureau (also known as Carmen de los Geranios and where a painting museum is located) or the Carmen of the Rodriguez Acosta Foundation.

All these Cármenes are public, but in reality, most of Granada’s Carmenes are private and belong to individuals. These are used as a residence or as restaurants. Those that are used as a residence or home can be visited thanks to the hospitality of their owners. One of the best known is the Carmen de los Cipreses. Only a good Grenadian knows these places!

In short, if you want to know what to see for free in Granada, visiting the magic of these pleasant, quiet and relaxing spaces, full of vegetation and which usually have views of the Alhambra, can be an ideal activity.

Visit the Sacromonte neighborhood

Surely you have also heard about the Sacromonte of Granada, famous among tourists for its cave houses as it is the traditional suburb of the great gypsies.

In addition, this neighborhood is located in the Valparaíso Valley and in front of the Alhambra, offering very particular views of the monument over the city.

Here you can visit the Cuevas del Sacromonte Museum, for only € 5, where in addition to enjoying spectacular views of the Alhambra, you will learn about the history of the neighborhood, as well as the traditions of flamenco, looms, the forge, basketry or the ceramics.

You can also enjoy a magnificent sunset with bird’s-eye views from the Sacromonte Abbey Viewpoint, and visit it for € 5.

Finally, a good free and original plan in Granada is to get to the Silla del Moro, which was a surveillance construction and today the Church of Santa Elena. It is already outside the city, above the Alhambra and Generalife. You can’t miss the bird’s-eye views of the city from here!

Visit the Realejo neighborhood

Another free plan in Granada is to visit the El Realejo neighborhood. This old Jewish quarter is centrally located and is one of the most beautiful in Granada.

We suggest you take a pleasant walk from Calle Pavaneras, starting from the Statue of the Moor and visiting the Casa de los Tiros (a Museum of artillery pieces) and the Church of Santo Domingo. After having tapas or having a coffee in Campo del Príncipe or access the Alhambra enclosure from here.

You can also wander through its cobbled and somewhat labyrinthine streets, discovering murals of the child of paintings or go up to the Puerta del Sol del Realejo Laundry, from where you can see beautiful views of the city.

Go to Sierra Nevada

What if the city falls short and you need some nature?

Nothing like climbing to the top. And if you are not willing to ski or play sports, no problem, there are other things you can do.

In just 45 minutes without traffic, you can have a hot coffee in Pradollano, start a snowball fight, slide with shovels on the snow slopes or simply observe the landscape and the movement of skiers and tourists from all over the world.

Sierra Nevada is a magnificent place to enjoy the outdoors and with snow in the southernmost ski resort in Europe, and therefore, with more hours of daylight.

Visit a free exhibition

If you want to know another activity to do in Granada for free, we suggest you visit a temporary or permanent exhibition in one of the best-known spaces in the city.

Nothing like a little art or culture in a city full of it!

Some of the spaces where you can check which exhibitions they host are:

Fundación José Guerrero.
Parque de las Ciencias.
Centro de Exposiciones Puerta Real.
Museo de la Memoria de Andalucía (en Centro CajaGranada).
Corrala de Santiago.
Fundación Caja Rural Granada o Auditorio Caja Rural.
Palacio de los Condes de Gabia.

Have fun in one of the Granada parks

It is not a city that stands out for its many green areas. In fact, Granada is in need of more spaces with trees. However, there are several parks that stand out and are interesting:

Federico García Lorca Park; a central park, with beautiful gardens, a pond and where the Huerta de San Vicente House-Museum is located, which was a summer estate of the García-Lorca family.
Jardines del Triunfo: these gardens are located right in the center and on sunny days they fill with people sunbathing,
Forest of the Alhambra: as we mentioned before, the forest of the Alhambra is in the surroundings of it and is a very cool place to walk the hottest months.
Parque Periodista Tico Medina: a little more removed from the center, but easily accessible, this can be said to be the largest park in the city. It is an ideal place to go for a walk, both on foot and by bicycle, inside there is a dog park and a bar, and it is one of the favorite places for people from Granada to practice outdoor sports.

If the city parks are too small for you and you prefer to immerse yourself in nature, this is not far. Just outside the city you can walk through places such as the Fuente de la Bicha, the Camino del Avellano or the Llano de la Perdiz.

More free or cheap ideas in Granada

Finally, we also suggest you make free or very cheap tourist things in Granada. Here is a link to some of them:

If you wanted to know what to do for free in Granada, we hope we have given you good ideas with these 10 suggestions for free plans.

Do you know any more? Feel free to leave your proposal in the comments;)