Granada Essential - What to See in Granada - What to Do in Granada

The new visitor to the city will ask: "What should I see in Granada? What is there to do in Granada?" We have collected information on the most important monuments and places in Granada, and also some useful tips for your stay.

1. Alhambra and Generalife

The Alhambra together with the Generalife Gardens represents the zenith of Arab art, one of the most visited monuments in the world, and certainly the most visited in Spain.

More than eight thousand visitors pass through its doors every day.

2. Albaycin

The ancient Arab and Moorish quarter of Granada is a picturesque maze of streets and whitewashed houses and is located on a hill among baroque churches, Renaissance palaces and Arab minarets.

3. Sacromonte

The Sacromonte caves have been home to gypsies, bohemians and Flemish artists alike for centuries.

Although the flamenco shows are overly commercial, it is a must to see a Zambra (flamenco dance) in a cave of the Sacromonte.

4. Arab Baths Bañuelo

The Bañuelo is the name given to the impressive and well-preserved Arab baths from the eleventh century.

In the Carrera del Darro, at the foot of the Alhambra, they show the level of refinement the Spanish Arabs attained one thousand years ago.

5. Granada Cathedral

Granada Cathedral was built in the reign of Queen Isabella and is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance style.

It displays impressive façades and a stunning interior, with a great altarpiece and several chapels. In the burial chamber are the tombs of the Catholic Kings.

6. Corral del Carbon

Corral del Carbon, lying in the heart of the city, is an ancient Arab inn from the fourteenth century which has been beautifully restored, one of the great monuments of Granada.

There are several interesting institutions located in the yard worth visiting, such as El Legado Andalusi.

7. The Cartuja

A Carthusian monastery, about two kilometres from the city centre, this monastery was founded by order of Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba on an ancient Arab carmen.

It contains a beautiful seventeenth-century Baroque church and a beautiful cloister.

8. Plaza Nueva and Carrera del Darro

Despite its name, Plaza Nueva is the oldest square in Granada. From here you can walk up to the Alhambra or sit in one of the terraces after a visit to the famous monument.

Around the square rise ornate buildings of importance, and the nearby lively Elvira Street is famous for its tapas bars, from where you can go to the Albaycin.

9. Flamenco in Sacromonte Caves

Flamenco developed in Andalusia and was influenced by a fusion of different cultures: Arab, Jewish and Christian.

There are daily flamenco shows in Sacromonte and Albaycin, some geared towards tourists in beautifully decorated caves, whereas other shows can take place in authentic but simply decorated premises.

10. Tapas Bars

A beer, wine, or even a fizzy drink is accompanied de rigueur by a tapa. Granada is probably the only city in Spain where free tapas are still served.

Tapas are small snack-sized portions of food, such as a small sandwich, and are on the house whenever drinks are ordered. There are some really good tapas bars in Granada which come in all shapes and sizes.

Opiniones about Granada

Arab rather then Islamic or muslims

Why is everything described as Arab rather then Islamic or muslims? There weren't only Arabs living in the region at the time, there were a considerable amount of Amazighs or Berber (as some people call them) who lived in the region who had contributed to much of the art and culture as well as the Arabs.