What to see in the province of Granada

Granada capital is one of the most beautiful and visited cities in Spain, but the province of Granada offers many other unique, and not so well-known, places to visit.

From the famous Alhambra even the charming ones white villages of the Alpujarra of Granada, passing through the impressive mountains of Sierra Nevada and the beaches of the tropical coast, there's something for everyone. We'll also tell you about other lesser-known destinations, such as Coloraos Desert the Piñar Caves o Green River, where you can take some spectacular routes.

Being a part of the team of Traveling Foodies From Granada, we have been lucky enough to be able to visit this province thoroughly and we have compiled the places we like the most and that we consider not to be missed in the province of Granada. We recommend following this guide as a car route through the province of Granada that you can organize in several days, although if you don't have a car don't worry because there are excursions that can take you to all the destinations we are going to tell you about.

1. City center

If it is your first visit to the city and you don't have many days, the best thing you can do in Granada is to stay in the center and walk around the entire city, including the Alhambra and the Generalife. We recommend book a free tour for this. Some of the essentials are:

• Walk through the cobbled streets of the city until you reach the famous neighborhood of the Albaicín and its viewpoints, where you can contemplate magical panoramas of the city with Sierra Nevada in the background.
• Get to the Sacromonte to see their cave houses and witness some of their flamenco shows or zambras.
• Take a night walk in the Carrera del Darro to end in the Paseo de los Tristes with its wonderful views of the Alhambra illuminated at night.
• Go up the street New Boilermaking and admire all the Arabic decoration shops and the tea shops.

For more details on the must-see places in Granada, don't hesitate to go to our post about the city.

Also, by now you will know that in Granada the caps They are free, so you can't miss one gastronomic route through some of its most legendary bars such as Diamonds, if you fancy a delicious fried fish, or the Manuals, with its famous giant meatballs. If you're looking for more culinary recommendations, we have posts for all tastes: to go for tapas, for eat in a central restaurant or for some special occasion in a charming place.  

2. Alhambra

The monumental complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife, with its Nasrid palaces and gardens, are a must-see on any visit to Granada.

There are different types of tickets, and you can buy the Alhambra and Generalife separately or together. We recommend the full ticket, and if you've already seen the Alhambra on another occasion, we recommend the night tickets It's a completely different and very magical visit, where the lighting takes on great importance. Here you can buy a ticket with a guided tour included.

If you miss out on a ticket, know that there are many parts that can be seen free. Crossing the Pomegranate Gate You can access the area where you can visit, for example, the Carmen de los Mártires, or you can cross the Gate of Justice and the Wine Gate to end in the Palace of Carlos V and the incredible viewpoint of the Albaicín.

3. The villages of the Alpujarra of Granada

The charm of the white villages of the Granada mountains This makes it one of the most visited areas in the province of Granada. Just 50 minutes from the city center and along winding typical mountain roads, you'll reach a magical spot where you can enjoy the beauty of the landscapes and the surrounding villages.

If you are wondering what it is the most beautiful town in Granada, we leave you here some of our favorites:

• Lanjarón The water town, famous for its 17th-century spa and water fountains.
• Soportújar Known as the village of witches, it is one of the most Instagrammable villages in the Alpujarra. Don't miss our article on the essentials in Soportújar.
• Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira Beautiful white villages in a unique setting, the Poqueira ravine.
• Trevélez One of the highest villages on the peninsula, famous for its delicious ham, hand-cured in the mountain air.
• Berchules Want to celebrate New Year's Eve in the middle of August? This is the town for you. Don't miss the Bérchules grapes, a real event.

If you don't have much time and need help deciding which town is most worth visiting based on your tastes, you have more details in our article about the most beautiful villages in the Alpujarra Granadina. You can also book this excursion which will take you to Lanjarón, Pórtugos, Capileira, Pampaneira and Trevélez without you having to worry about anything other than taking photos and enjoying yourself.

4. Sierra Nevada

One of the best places to visit in Granada is Sierra Nevada, with their beaks Vane y Mulhacén, which makes it the highest mountain range in Western Europe after the Alps. This beautiful enclave is perfect for both lovers of winter sports as for lovers of routes or simply of the breathtaking views On clear days you can see the sea!

One of the best plans to do in Granada in winter is to enjoy a day or a weekend of ski or snow The Sierra Nevada has an incredible atmosphere, and you can usually ski in good weather, which is a luxury.

On the contrary, if you visit Granada in summer We also recommend that you come here if, like us, you are fans of routes Some of our favorites are:

• The path of the star It is one of the most beautiful routes through the Sierra de Granada with impressive views of the north face of Mulhacén.
• The puppies of Monachil A route filled with vegetation and hanging bridges over the Monachil River. If you're interested in taking this route, you can book a tour. This excursion which includes transportation by minibus, guide and hiking poles.

5. Beaches of Granada

Just 50 minutes from the center of Granada is the Tropical Coast of Granada. Paradise for lovers of sun and sand, the beaches of Granada They are characterized by having dark, coarse sand, and at first glance they may not be as pretty as those with light sand, but they have their charm and advantages.

One of the best things to do in summer in Granada is to spend the day at any of its beaches and enjoy its gastronomy, where you can try delicious fresh fish We'll tell you about some of the best beaches to visit in Granada:

• Horseshoe Beach (Almuñécar). A beach with crystal-clear waters and a beautiful mountainous backdrop, located at the foot of the Sierra de Almijara. It's perfect for surfing diving.
• Cantarriján Beach (Almuñécar). A small beach with crystal-clear waters, ideal if you're looking for a quieter, naturist atmosphere.
• Salobreña Beach (Salobreña). A beach with a more lively atmosphere, where you'll find beach bars and lots of people enjoying the summer. The town is also beautiful; don't miss its rock and walled castle.
• Calahonda Beach (Motril). A long beach with coarse sand and clear waters. Snorkeling and diving are also popular in the area.
• La Rijana Beach (Castell de Ferro). A cove with turquoise waters, ideal for snorkeling or diving.

6. Coloraos Desert

This impressive landscape located in Gorafe, is one of the most spectacular areas of the Granada Geopark. Saving the distances, it is known as “the Grand Canyon of Granada It's still a relatively unknown area, but it's worth a trip if you have enough time during your visit to Granada. Sunrise or sunset are the best times to enjoy the views of this landscape of reliefs in "badlands”, of arid lands eroded by water and wind.

You can visit it on your own, since there is a marked trail, but we recommend one guided visit If it's your first time, they'll tell you super interesting information about the area and you'll also save time walking, which you can use to enjoy the scenery. There's also some cool 4x4 excursion for the more adventurous.

7. Montefrío

This beautiful town is considered one of the most beautiful in Andalusia, and is one of the best excursions that can be done in Granada in one day. It is mainly characterized by the crag where the Church of the Villa and its ancient Nasrid castle, whose spectacular landscape can be seen from the famous Viewpoint of the Rocks.

In addition, many things can also be done routes which starts from Montefrío. One of the best known is the “Mill Creek Trail”, a route full of waterfalls, swimming pools, and vegetation. If you like history, you also can't miss the “Gypsy Rock, an archaeological site with Neolithic remains, dolmens, an ancient Visigoth necropolis, Arab and Roman remains.

8. Píñar Caves

The Cave of the Windows It is located in the municipality of Píñar, just 40 minutes from the center of Granada. It's a Paleolithic cave where artifacts from the Visigoth, Roman, and Almoravid periods have also been found, and is a must-see for history buffs.

To visit it there are different options: you can buy the general entrance ticket for 8€, which includes admission and a ride on the tourist train, which takes you from the village to the cave; or you can buy a more comprehensive ticket that includes food at a local restaurant and various activities such as a visit to the farm school 25€ pp This last option is one of the best things to do in Granada with children.

9. Green River

Green River It is one of the most beautiful natural spaces in Granada, and the route that runs through it is perfect for summer, since you will be able to enjoy a bath in its pools of that characteristic emerald green color that gives it its name. The Rio Verde trail runs through the Sierras de Tejeda, Alminara, and Alhama Natural Park and is located an hour from the capital.

The walking route is approximately 3h in which you pass by different waterfalls and pools along the riverbed. If you are more adventurous, Rio Verde is one of the best sites to get started in canyoning due to the large number of canyons and waterfalls.

10. Roman Villa of Salar

For history lovers, one of the best places to visit in Granada is this Roman archaeological site from the 4th century. Numerous have been found mosaics very well preserved, as well as a statue of Venus, although excavations continue today, led by the University of Granada.

The site is located 40 minutes from the city center and is also one of the best things what to see in Loja, since it is only 10 minutes away from this municipality.

There are different types of tickets to visit the town:

• The basic ticket includes a guided tour of the Roman Villa site and the Interpretation Center Price 5€.
• If you don't have a car or don't want to drive there, there is a excursion that starts from the center of Granada and includes transportation, a guided tour of the site and the interpretation center, and a couple of free hours in the town of Salar Price: €79.

Private visit to the Roman villa accompanied by a guide in the language of your choice (English, French and Spanish) From €120 for groups of up to 3 people.

What to see in Granada with children

One of the best plans to do in Granada with children is a visit to the Science Park the interactive museum where you can enjoy science through a multitude of activities for the whole family.

Inside there are rooms with interactive exhibits, a planetary and an incredible hall with a 12-meter Foucault pendulum. You can't miss the outside either, where there's a tropical butterfly farm, with more than 20 species of butterflies, a observation tower, or a birds of prey workshop, or a BioDome, among other things.

The price of the general admission to the museum + BioDomo is from 11€, To this you can add a €2.50 visit to the planetarium, which we highly recommend. All the children of Granada have visited the Science Park throughout their lives, and it really is a very cool experience.

If you want to read other articles ideal for your trip that complement What to see in the province of Granada you can visit our posts about Granada.