Set in the foothills of the Spanish Sierra Nevadas lies Granada –a charming city with an overflow of cultures, boho vibes, Moorish architecture, and alluring street markets. One can say that Granada has it all.
Granada is becoming one of the most visited cities in Spain–mostly thanks to the attractiveness of the Alhambra and understandably so. The Alhambra is an ancient Islamic palace and fortress complete with the vast Generalife gardens. The Alhambra is located right on the edge of the city among emerald green forests with the dazzling view of the Sierras in the background.
Heartbreakingly(wording?), I didn’t buy my tickets early enough to enter into the Alhambra, so I didn’t get to see the inside (all of my Spanish friends warned me to buy in advance and I did not), but I did take a walk through the free part of the attraction, which was satisfactory for me, BUT I hope that someday I can go back to Granada and have the opportunity to experience the entire Alhambra.
However, the Alhambra is not all that the thriving city has to offer. Granada is the home of the University of Granada so the atmosphere is great. Granada for me was like the Boulder, Colorado of Spain, there was such a vast mix of people, cafes, and places to visit. The city is very trendy and oozes bohemian charm throughout its neighborhoods. The nightlife is also exciting as you can walk through the small streets in the center and be completely surrounded by vino, tapas, and Alhambra cerveza. (KEEP SCROLLING, there’s so much more)
But wait! Before you go..here are my favorite mini-adventures to take within the city during your visit.
My Top 5 Favorite Mini-Adventures in Granada:
Alhambra
Obviously.
Be allured by the colorful mazes of graffiti art
Granada has bucket loads of street art. Grab a map and make the trek up and down Calle Molinos, when you arrive at a school called “Colegio Santo Domingo de Granada” take a left and make your way up through the white casas and enjoy!
Lose yourself in the ancient cobblestone streets of the Albaicín
The Albaicín is beautiful, ancient district located right in the heart of Granada; and it is a great place to visit if you’re wanting to discover places that no travel guide, including myself, is able to show you. The district is full of shops and cafes. There is also a riverwalk along the “Paseo de los Tristes.” The Albaicín is what the Christians gave to the Moors after the reconquest and the architecture shows. It feels like you are in a mini-Morocco. There are also breathtaking views of the Albaicín from the Granada, very picture worthy.
Take a stroll through Sacromonte and be awed by the view from San Miguel Alto
Sacromonte is known as the gypsy zone by locals, but it is definitely worth taking the time to discover. As soon as you step into the area, you feel free and nomadic, just like the people that dwell in the “casas de las cuevas” or cave houses. If you’re feeling really determined, take the incline to the top of Sacromonte to Mirador San Miguel Alto to get a beautiful panoramic view of Granada and the Sierras. I recommend this lookout because, at least from what I could tell, it appears to be less touristy than San Nicolas, a lower lookout point.
Experience Golden Hour from any of the “miradors” or the Alhambra
This has become a favorite in whatever city I am in, but I love being able to check watching sunsets of new places off of my list.
Thank you guys as always for reading! ♥ Molly
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What is your favorite thing to do in Granada? Let me know below in the comments!
