What to See in Granada in 1 Day - What to Do if You Only Have 24 Hours

If you're visiting Granada just for one day and want to discover the key sites that have brought worldwide fame to this wonderful city, follow our guide. It may not be the most relaxed route, but it will certainly be filled with emotions.


Begin your journey with the Alhambra and the Generalife, visit the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, and at sunset, enjoy the Carrera del Darro, and its surroundings.

How to Get to the Center to Start the Itinerary

It is recommended to arrive the day before, stay overnight in a hotel, and wake up early the next day. Enjoy a good breakfast and begin the itinerary promptly in the morning.

If you haven't booked a hotel yet, this page provides information on the the best budget-friendly hotels in Granada.

If you arrive in Granada on the same day, you have several options to get to the Alhambra and the center. You can find all the information at the bottom of this page.

Granada in One Day Itinerary

This easy-to-follow itinerary will help you to make the most out of your time in Granada.

It includes the most emblematic monuments and places of Granada, where to eat and stay, practical tips, itinerary suggestions and maps.

Of course, you can deviate from the route and explore nearby places, small squares and beautiful streets that you will encounter along the way.

You can't see 20 sites in Granada in one day + Sierra Nevada or Costa Tropical, but you can certainly visit 7-10 of the most important monuments and beauty spots. Let's begin with the Alhambra.

1. The Alhambra and the Generalife

You should purchase tickets to the Alhambra before your upcoming visit.

We recommend booking your tickets well in advance to secure your preferred time slot.

While booking the tickets you will be asked to choose the entry time for the Nasrid Palaces (part of the Alhambra) from the available time slots.

The Alhambra is a must-see place during your visit to Granada.

The palaces of the Alhambra and the gardens of the Generalife will offer you an unforgettable experience at any time of the year.

The beauty of its decorations, the impressive history and the wonderful views of the city and its surroundings will leave you spellbound.

The visit to the Alhambra and the Generalife will take you most of your day, probably between 3 and 4 hours, so you won't have much time to spend in the surrounding area.

On a one-day trip to Granada you will not have time to visit the Alhambra Museum and the Forest of the Alhambra, for example.


Next place is the Albaicin.

How to reach the Albaicin

The nearest bus stop (Generalife - Alhambra 2) is located inside the Alhambra enclosure, near the main entrance and ticket office (refer to the map above).

Board the C32 bus, which will take you to the Albaicín. There is no time to lose. It takes about 25 minutes to reach the Mirador de San Nicolas (viewpoint).

The bus makes a detour through the Realejo neighbourhood. If you prefer to walk, you can reach the Albaicin directly and it also takes about 25 minutes.

The walking path is very beautiful, especially the first half leading to Plaza Nueva through the Forest of the Alhambra.

However, the second half of the path from Paseo de los Tristes is all uphill and rather steep.

On this map you can see how to get to the Albaicin by walking:


Another option is to walk halfway, from the Alhambra to Plaza Nueva or Paseo de los Tristes, and then wait for bus C32 to take you up to the Albaicin hill.

2. The Albaicín Neighborhood

A stroll through Granada's oldest and most beautiful neighborhood is a must during your visit to the city.

Its viewpoints, network of narrow streets, and unique architecture have earned it worldwide recognition as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

For more information please visit the Albaicin.

If you're in Granada for just one day, you won't have time to visit the Arab and Moorish houses of the neighborhood, nor its medieval palaces and convents. However, you can enjoy some tapas or stop for lunch at one of its many restaurants.

neighborhood offers an abundance of traditional bars to choose from.

Casa Pasteles, a small bakery with almost a century of history, is a great spot to enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

Look for it in Plaza Larga, right next to the Arco de las Pesas, the former access point to the 11th century Zirid wall.

After visiting the Albaicin neighborhood and enjoying the wonderful views from the San Nicolas or San Cristobal viewpoints, walk down the hill to return to Plaza Nueva.

3. Caldereria Nueva and the Teahouses

Once you have finished your walk through the Albaicín, we recommend finding the Placeta de San Miguel Bajo and then descending through Cauchiles de San Miguel and San Jose streets to reach Cuesta de San Gregorio.

It will take approximately 6 to 7 minutes.

There begins the narrow street full of Tea Houses and traditional Middle Eastern souks (Calle Caldereria Nueva).

You can stop for a tea or even for lunch break but do not spend too much time here because you still have to visit other important places on your visit to Granada in one day.

Time to Eat

If you haven't eaten in the Albaicín or in Caldereria Nueva, it's time to have lunch in the Plaza Nueva area and its surroundings.

There are many quality tapas bars and restaurants here. For more information, you can visit: Granada Restaurants and Tapas Bars in Plaza Nueva.

La Trastienda at Plaza de Cuchilleros 11 or El Mercader at Calle Imprenta 2 are just two of the many options.

4. The Cathedral and Royal Chapel

Cross the Gran Vía street and head to the Cathedral, an authentic masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance.Right next to it is the Royal Chapel, where the bodies of the Catholic Monarchs rest.

On this visit, you will discover the Christian part of the city.

Magnificent building with impressive interior and exterior features in the centre of Granada built on the ruins of the old mosque. Spectacular altar with fine art, adorned with statues, and a stunning gold-covered organ.

Granada has been the the key player in the most important moments of the medieval history of Spain.

For centuries, it was the heart of the last Muslim kingdom on the peninsula and then, after its conquest, it became the center of the Spanish empire of the Catholic Monarchs.

Tickets to the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel can be purchased on the same day at the ticket office located at the entrance.

5. Plaza Bib-Rambla and the Alcaicería

When you leave the Cathedral, it is advisable to walk around this beautiful area which was the heart of the Islamic city.

An emblematic location, right next to where the main Mosque of Nasrid Malaga once stood (now the Cathedral), and the Madrasa (mosque school) beside it.

The Alcaicería, the Bib-Rambla square, Oficios and Zacatín streets were part of the old medina.

You can enter the Madrasa briefly and take a look at the courtyard and the oratory.

Contemplate its monumental façade created in the 18th century to give the building a new look.

The building of the old fish market, through which you now enter the Royal Chapel, dates from 1518.

This has always been a commercial area where the most luxurious goods were sold during the Nasrid period.

Probably you will not have time to visit the Corral del Carbón, former lodging of merchants, nor the José Guerrero Museum, with beautiful views of the Cathedral. That will be on your next visit.

6. Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes

Cross the Gran Vía street again and walk along the picturesque Carrera del Darro and the the magical Paseo de los Tristes.

We've already been here on the bus on our way to the Albaicín. It is now, in the late afternoon, when you will explore and enjoy it with the the Alhambra illuminated on top of the hill.

Iconic Buildings

Walk along the banks of the Darro River next to emblematic buildings such as the Bañuelo, the oldest and best-preserved Arab baths in Spain, and the Castril House, now the Archaeological Museum of Granada.

Also, explore the Santa Catalina de Zafra Convent next to the Zafra House, the only Moorish house built before the Catholic Monarchs retook the city, which can now be visited as the Albaicín Interpretation Center.

On the other side of the river is the church of San Pedro and San Pablo and Chirimías House.

Bridges Over the Darro River

The stone bridges that now cross the river date back to the 17th century.

They are the Espinosa Bridge, the Cabrera Bridge, the Las Chirimías Bridge and the Aljibillo Bridge at the end of the Paseo de los Tristes, just where the main slope leading up to the Albaicín begins.

Little remains of the old medieval bridges, such as the Cadi Bridge that, in the eleventh century, connected the Alcazaba of the Alhambra with the Alcazaba of the Albaicin, where the Zirid court was located.

In the middle of the river, at the height of the Bañuelo, you can see the remains of the arch of the Tableros Gate and a tower.

Time to Eat

There are interesting bars and terraces on the other side of the river, accessible by crossing either of the first two bridges.

Surely, you will find a nice place to rest and enjoy a meal at the end of such an intense day.

If you are looking for good views, we recommend Huerto del Loro, but please note they do not serve food, only drinks.

For more information please visit Tapas Bars in Paseo de los Tristes.

7. Santa Ana and Plaza Nueva Square

Return to Plaza Nueva walking down the Santa Ana street in the neighborhood of the Churra. It runs parallel to Carrera del Darro, but on the other side of the river.

When you cross the Cabrera Bridge you will arrive at the Santa Ana Square, passing by the Hammam Arab Baths (definitely worth a visit).

Stop to contemplate the marvelous Pilar del Toro, a masterpiece by Diego de Siloé, as well as the San Gil and Santa Ana church.

Built over the old Almazora mosque, it still preserves its minaret. It is one of the most beautiful churches in Granada.

8. Flamenco Shows, Arab Baths or Tapas Bars

At the end of the route, in the afternoon or evening, you can relax in the Hammam Arab Baths, watch a flamenco show at Flamenco Tablao Jardines de Zoraya, or Flamenco Show La Alboreá, or go for tapas.

9. El Realejo - Good Alternative

An alternative, if you have already visited Plaza Nueva before, or if you do not like any other place included in the itinerary, is to take a stroll through another historic neighborhood of Granada: The Realejo.

The old Jewish quarter represents an important part of the city's history. Here, you will find narrow cobblestone streets and many charming squares.

The Santo Domingo Sqaure is presided over by one of the most imposing churches of Granada that resembles more of a cathedral: the Santo Domingo Church.

Among the neighborhood's tourist attractions are the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo, a Nasrid mansion, and the Casa de los Tiros, which is the city's Museum.

Both are open until 8-9pm, giving you the chance to explore them 'after hours'.

An essential visit in this neighborhood is the Campo del Príncipe from where the Alhambra Palace hotel can be seen in the background.

It also has lots of bars and outdoor terraces where you can sit down and enjoy some tapas or dishes.

10. The Itinerary & Map

To help you make the most of your stay in Granada and better organize your visit, here is the detailed itinerary to print, including approximate times and prices.

How to Get to Granada

You should arrive in Granada early to make the most of the day, ideally around 7-8 a.m. in the morning or the day before.

If you arrive in Malaga on the same day, you need to know how to get to the the Alhambra, especially if it's the first place you are going to visit.

You can enter the Alhambra from 8:30, but it is advisable to book the Nasrid Palaces for 9:00, as it takes about 15 minutes to walk from the entrance to the palaces.

How to Get to the Alhambra from the City Centre

If you are staying in a hotel near the center, take the bus route C32 to the Alhambra. The bus stop is located near the Cathedral.

How to Get to the Alhambra from the Bus Station

The bus station is located about 15 minutes from the center. From the bus station bus route number 33 will take you to the center of Granada.

The bus stop is right in front of the station, so you don't have to cross the road. The frequency is every 10 minutes.

Get off the bus at the bus stop called the Cathedral, it takes about 15-20 minutes to get there. At the same bus stop, take route C32 to the Alhambra. It is a small red minibus.

It will take about 10 minutes to reach the Alhambra.

You can buy the ordinary bus ticket by paying directly to the driver. It's probably not worth buying a travel card for your one day visit to Granada.

How to Get to the Alhambra from the Train Station

The train station is closer to the center than the bus station. You can take either bus route 33 or route 25.

It takes about 10 minutes to get to the Cathedral. At the same bus stop, change to route C32 which will take you to the Alhambra.

How to Get to the Alhambra from Granada Airport

The Granada Airport is located outside the city.

There are Airport - Granada buses but they don't have a fixed schedule. The buses depart approximately 30-40 mins after each flight's arrival.

It takes about 45 minutes to get to the center, and you have to factor in the waiting time for the bus.

If you travel by plane (the same day), you will have even less time to see the most important sites of Granada in one day.

Flying on the same day as your visit to Granada should be avoided, fly the day before and stay overnight in a hotel, or take a taxi from the airport to downtown. The taxi ride costs about 30-35 euros.

How to Get to the Alhambra by Car

If you arrive in Granada by car on the same day, it is advisable to leave your vehicle in one of the many public car parks in the centre to avoid wasting time.

For more information please visit Granada Car Parks.

If you want to save money, you will have to park further away from the center and take one or more city buses, but you will lose time.

Another option is to leave your car in the Alhambra parking lot, which costs about 20 euros for a 10-hour stay.

It is quite complicated to drive in the center and finding free parking is almost impossible. Additionally, there are many areas with restrictions on private traffic, , such as the Albaicín and Gran Via.

The best option is to forget about the car once you arrive in Granada and either walk or use public transport.

How to Get to the Alhambra by Taxi

Given your limited time, using taxis for transportation might be more efficient. They are not expensive.

A taxi from the Bus Station to the Alhambra can cost about 10 euros, and from the Train Station about 8 euros.

It would only take about 15-20 minutes to get there.

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