3 days in Granada

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces

      The red-walled citadel on the Sabika hill holds the Nasrid Palaces, built mainly in the 14th century, with carved stucco, tiled walls and muqarnas ceilings around the Court of the Myrtles and the Court of the Lions with its fountain of twelve stone lions.

   2. Late morning

      Generalife

      Visit after the Nasrid Palaces to end in the gardens; late afternoon light is softest.

   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

      Inside the Alhambra precinct, the Holy Roman Emperor built this square Renaissance palace with a striking circular courtyard in the 16th century.

   5. 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 and Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes, then Arab baths experience in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mirador de San Nicolás

      For fewer crowds, try the Mirador de San Cristóbal higher up or the Mirador de la Vereda de Enmedio in Sacromonte.

   2. Late morning

      Albaicín

      Granada's old Moorish quarter, listed by UNESCO with the Alhambra, keeps its medieval street plan of narrow lanes, stairways and small squares such as Plaza Larga.

   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

      Come after dark for a drink on the Paseo de los Tristes, when the Alhambra walls are floodlit above you.

   5. Evening

      Arab baths experience

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

3. Day 3: Sacromonte and the Caves Museum and Granada Cathedral

   Sacromonte and the Caves Museum, Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada, then Calle Elvira and Plaza Nueva in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sacromonte and the Caves Museum

      The cave houses of Sacromonte are carved into the hillside above the Darro valley, many whitewashed and fronted by prickly pears.

   2. Late morning

      Granada Cathedral

      Visit with an audio guide and then walk next door to the Royal Chapel, which has a separate ticket.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Broad beans with ham

      Tapas bars and traditional restaurants across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Royal Chapel of Granada

      The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, who took Granada in 1492, are buried here in a crypt below their marble tombs, alongside their daughter Joanna and her husband Philip.

   5. Evening

      Calle Elvira and Plaza Nueva

      Bars, tea rooms and late spots at the foot of the Albaicín, busy with students and travellers.

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 Monastery of San Jerónimo (Centro): Combine it with the nearby university district and a tapas lunch around Plaza de la Trinidad.
• Swap in Monastery of La Cartuja (Cartuja): Take a bus or taxi; it is about 30 minutes on foot from the centre through modern streets.
• Swap in Parque de las Ciencias (Zaidín): Plan most of a day with children, and check the planetarium and bird-show times on arrival.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Centro keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Albaicín ($$$) suits couples, culture and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–20 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Granada
• 2 days in Granada

Questions travellers ask