The first of the things to do in Granada is the Alhambra; the second is the Albaicín, the old quarter that faces it from the opposite hill. Together with the Generalife gardens they make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1984 and extended to the Albaicín in 1994. Add Sacromonte, the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel and you have the core of any visit.
Beyond the monuments, Granada is about three local habits: climbing to the Mirador de San Nicolás for sunset, going out for tapas, and watching flamenco in a Sacromonte cave. In winter there is something few heritage cities can offer: the Sierra Nevada ski resort is 31 km away.
Below you will find each area with official opening hours and prices (as of October 2026), how to get around and how many days to allow.
These are Viator experiences in Granada, mostly guided visits and tickets with a guide for the Alhambra, plus other tours around the city. Each one shows its price and reviews from people who have done it; availability depends on the date you choose.
Every list of what to see in Granada starts here. The Alhambra brings together the Alcazaba fortress, the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife gardens, and the city's official tourist office advises buying tickets in advance and arriving before opening time.
Tickets, opening hours and guided tours are on our Alhambra page. If your slot is in the morning, keep the afternoon for the Albaicín and sunset at San Nicolás.
The Albaicín is Granada's oldest quarter and has been part of the World Heritage Site since 1994. It is a walk uphill through cármenes (houses with walled orchards and gardens) and viewpoints. The best known is the Mirador de San Nicolás, on the square of the same name: the Alhambra sits directly opposite and the tourist office recommends it for sunset. It is a public square, so there is no ticket. Next to it, the Church of San Nicolás and its tower can be visited for €3.
The classic way up starts in Plaza Nueva and follows the Carrera del Darro along the river, below the Alhambra, to the Paseo de los Tristes, a promenade lined with terraces and lit up at night. At number 31 Carrera del Darro is El Bañuelo, Arab baths traditionally dated to the 11th century and run by the Alhambra's trust; from mid-September to the end of April it opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
Sacromonte, further up the hill from the Albaicín, is the neighbourhood of cave houses and the cradle of Granada's flamenco. Its caves host zambras, venues that stage flamenco shows in the evening; many pair dinner with the performance.
By day, the Sacromonte Caves Museum shows how people lived in them, with views across to the Alhambra. On winter hours (26 October to 28 March) it opens 10:00 to 18:00 and standard entry is €6. Higher up is the Sacromonte Abbey, €7 with an audio guide on your phone; in winter it opens 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00.
The Cathedral opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:15 and Sunday 15:00 to 18:15, with an app-based audio guide included. While the KERYGMA exhibition runs, until 28 November 2026, standard entry is €10 (€8 reduced); after that it returns to €7 (€5 for students under 25).
Next door, the Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, their daughter Joanna and her husband Philip the Handsome, with the coffins visible in the crypt below. It is a separate ticket: €7 standard, €5 for students aged 13 to 25; open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:30 and Sunday 11:30 to 18:30. Both tickets are sold on the Archdiocese's official site, Tickets Granada Cristiana.
Between the Cathedral and Plaza Bib-Rambla lies the Alcaicería, the old silk market. What you see today recreates the bazaar that burned in 1843, now full of craft shops selling Fajalauza pottery and taracea marquetry.
The Realejo, on the southern slope below the Alhambra, was the Jewish quarter of Moorish Granada. Its main square is Campo del Príncipe, lined with terraces, and it is worth seeking out the Corrala de Santiago, a 16th-century courtyard house, and the Placeta de la Puerta del Sol viewpoint.
Two monasteries round off Christian Granada. San Jerónimo, founded by the Catholic Monarchs, is a Renaissance landmark where the Gran Capitán is buried; on winter hours it opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00. The Cartuja, by the university campus, is one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque: its sacristy was built between 1727 and 1746 and it holds paintings by the Carthusian monk Juan Sánchez Cotán. Each monastery costs €7 (€2 less on the reduced rate).
Going out for tapas is part of the trip. In many Granada bars it is customary for each drink to come with a tapa you have not ordered separately; some bars bring a different one with every round, others let you pick from a list. It is a custom rather than a rule, so do not assume every bar does it.
For flamenco, Sacromonte is the place. For Arab baths there are two quite different options: visit the historic Bañuelo on the Carrera del Darro, or book a session at one of the hammams operating in the city today, one of them below the Alhambra behind the Church of Santa Ana.
Winter brings one big advantage: the Sierra Nevada ski resort, centred on the village of Pradollano, is 31 km away on the A-395, so you can stay in the city and ski for the day. In season several buses a day run from Granada bus station, with an extra stop by the Palacio de Congresos; booking ahead is advised.
If you do not ski, the tourist office publishes a guide to Sierra Nevada in winter for non-skiers. Before heading up, check the snow on the webcams.
The centre is easy on foot, but the Albaicín, Sacromonte and the Alhambra are steep and closed to most traffic. That is what the city minibuses are for: the C30 climbs to the Alhambra from Calle Pavaneras by Plaza Isabel la Católica; the C31 serves the Albaicín from Plaza Nueva; the C32 links the Alhambra (ticket office and Generalife) with the Albaicín; and the C34 goes up to Sacromonte from Plaza Nueva. All have wheelchair ramps. Check the current fare before you travel.
As for time, the tourist office publishes 24-hour and 72-hour itineraries. One day covers the Alhambra in the morning and the Albaicín at sunset. Two or three days let you add the centre, Sacromonte, the Realejo and the monasteries at an easy pace, and in winter you can spend a day in Sierra Nevada.
The Alhambra and Generalife, the Albaicín with the Mirador de San Nicolás, Sacromonte, the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel.
One day is enough for the Alhambra and a walk through the Albaicín. Two or three days let you see the centre, Sacromonte and the monasteries without rushing.
The Mirador de San Nicolás, in the heart of the Albaicín, directly opposite the Alhambra. It is a public square you can reach on foot or on the C31 and C32 minibuses.
It is a widespread custom: in many bars each drink comes with a tapa. Not every bar does it, or in the same way, so ask if you are unsure.
Yes. Pradollano is 31 km away on the A-395 and in season there are daily buses from Granada bus station. Check snow conditions and lift passes before you go.