Rainy day · Granada · Spain
7 things to do in Granada when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: KJP1, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Palace of Charles V, Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 9–10 hours across 5 areas; 1 is free. December is usually the wettest month, with about 6 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 9–10 hours
- Areas
- Alhambra hill, Centro and Cartuja
Granada on a rainy day
Palace · Alhambra hill
1.Palace of Charles V
Stand in the centre of the circular courtyard and speak; the acoustics are remarkable.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Free
- Rainy day
Religious site · Centro
2.Granada Cathedral
Visit with an audio guide and then walk next door to the Royal Chapel, which has a separate ticket.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Centro
3.Royal Chapel of Granada
Look down into the crypt to see the simple lead coffins beneath the elaborate tombs.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Centro
4.Monastery of San Jerónimo
Combine it with the nearby university district and a tapas lunch around Plaza de la Trinidad.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Religious site · Cartuja
5.Monastery of La Cartuja
Take a bus or taxi; it is about 30 minutes on foot from the centre through modern streets.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Zaidín
6.Parque de las Ciencias
Plan most of a day with children, and check the planetarium and bird-show times on arrival.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Experience · Albaicín
7.Arab baths experience
Book an evening session and bring swimwear; sessions are timed and capacity is limited.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Rainy day
- After dark
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Alhambra hill | Palace of Charles V | 1 hour |
| Centro | Granada Cathedral, Royal Chapel of Granada and Monastery of San Jerónimo | 1 hour + 45 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Cartuja | Monastery of La Cartuja | 45 minutes |
| Zaidín | Parque de las Ciencias | 3–4 hours |
| Albaicín | Arab baths experience | 1.5–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 1 free, 4 low cost, 1 mid-priced, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Arab baths experience. The longest visit is Parque de las Ciencias; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Arab baths experience: Reserve a time slot in advance, especially at weekends.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Alhambra hill, Centro and Cartuja): Palace of Charles V → Granada Cathedral → Royal Chapel of Granada → Monastery of San Jerónimo → Monastery of La Cartuja, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Zaidín): Parque de las Ciencias, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Albaicín): Arab baths experience, at least 2 hours.
The wettest months
- December: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold nights and crisp days, Christmas lights in the centre and skiing up the mountain.
- January: highs of 13°C (55°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. Sunny, crisp days with near-freezing nights; snow on the Sierra Nevada and quieter Alhambra visits.
- February: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 5 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool and bright, with almond blossom around the city; ski season is in full swing.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Albaicín — Moorish hillside quarter of whitewashed lanes, walled gardens and Alhambra views
- Centro — Cathedral, shopping streets and squares around Plaza Bib-Rambla
- Alhambra hill — Quiet hotels among the woods and gardens next to the Alhambra
More of Granada
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Granada?
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.
+Which of these are free in Granada?
Palace of Charles V.