2 days in Granada

Day by day

1. Day 1: Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces and Generalife

   Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Palace of Charles V and Carmen de los Mártires, then Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces

      The Alcazaba fortress at the western tip has the Torre de la Vela, with views over the city and the Sierra Nevada.

   2. Late morning

      Generalife

      Its Patio de la Acequia, a long water channel lined with fountains and flowers, is one of the most photographed gardens in Spain, and the Water Stairway runs with water down its handrails.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Free tapas

      Bars on Calle Navas, around Plaza Nueva, in Realejo and along Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.

   4. Afternoon

      Palace of Charles V

      It houses the Museum of the Alhambra, with Nasrid art and objects, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

   5. Late afternoon

      Carmen de los Mártires

      Entry is free and it is rarely crowded.

   6. Evening

      Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave

      Choose a show in a genuine cave venue for the intimacy, and book a seat at the front.

2. Day 2: Mirador de San Nicolás and Albaicín

   Mirador de San Nicolás, Albaicín, Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes and El Bañuelo, then Arab baths experience in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mirador de San Nicolás

      At sunset it fills with travellers, flamenco guitarists and street sellers, and the garden of the Great Mosque next door has a similar, quieter view.

   2. Late morning

      Albaicín

      Churches such as San Salvador were built on the sites of mosques, and walled cármenes hide gardens behind high white walls.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tortilla del Sacromonte

      Traditional restaurants in the Albaicín and Sacromonte and old-fashioned bars in the centre.

   4. Afternoon

      Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes

      It passes El Bañuelo and old mansions and ends at the Paseo de los Tristes, where terraces look up at the Alhambra's towers.

   5. Late afternoon

      El Bañuelo

      On the Carrera del Darro, these 11th-century Arab baths are among the best preserved in Spain, with horseshoe arches on reused columns and star-shaped skylights in the vaulted ceilings that throw shafts of light across the rooms.

   6. Evening

      Arab baths experience

      Book an evening session and bring swimwear; sessions are timed and capacity is limited.

Before you go

• Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces: Tickets with a fixed Nasrid Palaces time slot sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn; buy only from the official Alhambra ticket website and bring the ID named on the ticket.
• Generalife: Included in the main Alhambra ticket; garden-only tickets also exist but sell out in peak season.
• Flamenco in a Sacromonte cave: Book a day or two ahead in high season; many venues include transport from the centre.
• Arab baths experience: Reserve a time slot in advance, especially at weekends.

If it rains

• Swap in Granada Cathedral (Centro): Visit with an audio guide and then walk next door to the Royal Chapel, which has a separate ticket.
• Swap in Royal Chapel of Granada (Centro): Look down into the crypt to see the simple lead coffins beneath the elaborate tombs.
• Swap in Monastery of San Jerónimo (Centro): Combine it with the nearby university district and a tapas lunch around Plaza de la Trinidad.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 14–17 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the best way to explore the centre, the Albaicín and Realejo; allow extra time for steep, cobbled lanes and stairs.

More or fewer days

• One day in Granada
• 3 days in Granada

Questions travellers ask