Season guide · Granada · Spain
Granada in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Antonio Martínez, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Mild, flowering and busy, with Semana Santa and the Día de la Cruz; book Alhambra tickets well ahead. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 13 rainy days across March–May. April–May are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 4°C (39°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 13
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 18°C (64°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 4 | 11.9 h | 3/5 |
| April | 20°C (68°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 5 | 13.1 h | 4/5 |
| May | 24°C (75°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 4 | 14.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 13 of the year's roughly 42 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Semana Santa — Holy Week processions, including one climbing to Sacromonte (March or April)
- May: Día de la Cruz — flower-covered crosses in squares and patios (3 May)
- May: Feria del Corpus — the city's main fair (late May or June)
Make the most of the weather
Palace · Alhambra hill
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.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Photo spot
- Kids
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Garden · Alhambra hill
Generalife
Visit after the Nasrid Palaces to end in the gardens; late afternoon light is softest.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Nature
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Albaicín
Mirador de San Nicolás
The terrace in front of the church of San Nicolás gives the classic view of the Alhambra's walls and towers with the snowy Sierra Nevada behind.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Sacromonte
Sacromonte and the Caves Museum
Walk up the Camino del Sacromonte from the Paseo de los Tristes and continue to the museum; it is hot and exposed at midday in summer.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Alhambra hill
Carmen de los Mártires
A 19th-century garden estate on the slope of the Alhambra hill above Realejo, with romantic terraces, ponds, statues and a small palace, plus views across the city and the Sierra Nevada.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Couples
- Kids
Day trips in spring
- Sierra Nevada (About 45–60 minutes by bus) — Spain's highest mountain range rises behind the city, and the Sierra Nevada ski resort at Pradollano is one of the southernmost in Europe, usually open from late autumn to spring.
- The Alpujarras (About 2 hours by bus) — White villages of flat-roofed houses cling to the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada in the Poqueira gorge, with walking trails between them, rug-weaving workshops and Trevélez, famous for its cured ham.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Granada?
Yes: April–May are among the best months. Mild, flowering and busy, with Semana Santa and the Día de la Cruz; book Alhambra tickets well ahead.
+What is the weather like in Granada in spring?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F), with about 13 rainy days over the season.