Granada walking tour & city guide

The Alhambra

The Alhambra is a palace-fortress complex built mainly by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Nasrid Palaces are its jewel, with intricate stucco carvings, tiled walls, wooden ceilings and courtyards like the Court of the Lions, where water flows through channels into fountains.

Above the palaces, the Generalife gardens are a paradise of fountains, hedges and flowers, while the Alcazaba fortress offers wide views over the city. Tickets, especially for the Nasrid Palaces, are timed and often sell out weeks in advance.

The Albaicín and Sacromonte

The Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes, whitewashed houses and hidden gardens called cármenes. At the top, the Mirador de San Nicolás offers the classic view of the Alhambra glowing at sunset with the Sierra Nevada behind.

Further up, Sacromonte is known for its cave houses, where Granada's Roma community developed a passionate style of flamenco, still performed in intimate cave venues.

City life and tapas

Down in the center, the Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, and the Alcaicería, the old silk market, has narrow lanes of souvenir shops. Granada is famous for its tapas culture: order a drink in most bars and a small dish arrives free. The Sierra Nevada ski resort is less than an hour away.