Granada! Exploring Spain's Treasured Alhambra and Other City Highlights
- Charles Jordan
- Aug 23
- 8 min read
One Day in Granada: Alhambra, and City Highlights
Granada offers visitors a mix of historic architecture, lively plazas, and a food culture that rewards curiosity. If you only have one day to explore the city, you can still experience some of its most memorable places, including the Alhambra, the Cathedral district, and the free tapas tradition that makes dining here so enjoyable.
Do We Need More than One Day in Granada?
We frequently see people ask if one day is enough for ___ (insert destination city of choice). Most of the time our response will be: "that depends." If you're looking for mostly highlights including visits to one or two sites of interest, then one day is probably enough. Using Granada as an example, you could feasibly tour the Alhambra complex in the morning, grab lunch near the Cathedral district, and take a short walk through the Albaicín before sunset. But that itinerary leaves out some of the city’s most atmospheric corners. With more time, you could explore the Sacromonte, admire street art and tucked-away plazas in Realejo, and visit the Monasterio de San Jerónimo for a quieter, contemplative experience. Granada isn’t just about checking off monuments, it’s about letting the city unfold around you.
In This Article
- Realejo
Visiting the Alhambra and Generalife
The Alhambra is Granada’s most famous attraction. It is a large hilltop complex that includes several distinct areas: the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Palace of Carlos V.
We had reserved a small group guided tour, which helped us understand the history and layout of the site. However, finding the entrance on foot was difficult. Google Maps did not route us correctly, and signage was limited. We recommend taking a taxi to the entrance and walking back into town afterward. The return walk is downhill and passes souvenir shops and scenic viewpoints.
Here are the main areas of the Alhambra:
Nasrid Palaces
This is the heart of the Alhambra. The palaces were built by the Muslim rulers of Granada and feature intricate stucco work, Arabic calligraphy, and peaceful courtyards. The Court of the Lions is especially striking, with its central fountain surrounded by slender columns. The Hall of the Ambassadors showcases a richly decorated wooden ceiling and geometric wall patterns. Every room opens to another with a different view, creating a sense of movement and transition.
Washington Irving, who lived in the Alhambra while writing Tales of the Alhambra, famously wrote:
“The Alhambra is an architectural treasure that seems to have been created by the gods themselves.”
And in a quote often attributed to Francisco A. de Icaza and popularized by Irving:
“Give him alms, woman, for there is nothing in life like the pain of being blind in Granada.”
This sentiment resonates deeply when standing beneath the muqarnas vaults and gazing at the interplay of light and shadow. In fact, Antoni Gaudí, whose own work in Barcelona is known for its organic forms and symbolic detail, inspired in important ways by the Alhambra. You can see echoes of its geometry and ornamentation in places like the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Here we share a photo, taken in the Nasrid Palaces, showing a vault that feels like a direct ancestor to Gaudí’s nature-inspired ceilings in the second photo of the Sagrada Familia interior.
Generalife Gardens
Located just outside the main palace area, the Generalife was the summer retreat for the Nasrid rulers. The gardens are filled with fountains, hedges, flower beds, and shaded walkways. The layout is designed to offer both privacy and views. From the upper terraces, you can see the Alhambra complex and the city below.
Alcazaba Fortress
This is the oldest part of the Alhambra. It was built for military defense and offers panoramic views from its towers. The layout is simple compared to the palaces, but the vantage points are worth the climb. You can see the rooftops of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.
Palace of Carlos V
This Renaissance-style building was added after the Christian conquest of Granada. It has a circular courtyard surrounded by two levels of columns. The architecture contrasts sharply with the Islamic design of the Nasrid Palaces. Inside, you’ll find a museum and occasional exhibitions. The structure itself is massive and imposing, with a sense of symmetry and order that reflects its era.
Exploring the Cathedral District
We stayed at Aurea Catedral, which is located right next to the Granada Cathedral. The hotel was clean, well-appointed, and staffed by friendly and attentive people. On the interior walls you'll find painted quotes of Federico Garcia Lorca, one of the most important literary figures of Granada. This left an impression, causing us to remember our years studying 20th Century Spanish literature.
The hotel also has a parking garage, although the spaces are very tight. We recommend dropping off your luggage before parking. And, if you have a large vehicle or you're not good in tight parking situations, you might need or want to find street parking or another nearby lot. We were glad we purchased full insurance on our rental car because we damaged the car while backing out of our parking space.
The area around the Cathedral is full of bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops. We walked from the hotel to Los Manueles in Plaza de la Romanilla for lunch. The food was excellent, and the service was quick. We ordered what we thought was a reasonable amount of food, but each round of drinks came with generous free tapas. By the end of the meal, we were overfed.
Other places we visited in the evening were Siloé Bar and Grill on Calle Carcel right by our hotel and Parole in Plaza de la Romanilla, a very popular restaurant and bar specializing in Italian cuisine.
In the morning we were looking for a good place for coffee. Just around the corner we found La Finca Coffee on Calle Colegio Catalino where we got our lattes and some pastries. It was just what we needed to get us going!
Near the Cathedral you’ll also find:
- San Agustín Market (had just closed for the day after we checked into our hotel)
- Plaza Bib-Rambla, where we enjoyed breakfast at El Laurél
- Plaza de la Romanilla, a lively spot with several dining options
Tapas Culture in Granada
As we mentioned earlier, Granada is known for its tradition of serving free tapas with drinks. This is not just a small snack. Many places offer larger portions, and the variety can be surprising. You might receive grilled meats, seafood, or local specialties depending on where you go.
Sidebar: in Spain, our general approach is to follow their meal customs. You can read about this in one of our most popular previous articles here. What we mean to say is that we partake in this meal scheme:
El Desayuno (Breakfast) - The same time as many cultures, maybe 7:00 or 8:00 AM
El Aperitivo - A snack about half way between breakfast and lunch, say 11:00 AM
La Comida (sometimes called El Almuerzo) - Lunch, at about 2:00 or 2:30 PM
La Merienda - An afternoon snack, truly you could do tapas any time. Various times.
La Cena - Supper or dinner, a light meal at the end of the day, maybe 10:00 PM
So, we'll have a light breakfast, a late morning snack, a longer, sit down lunch at around 2PM, a mid afternoon snack, and a dinner of tapas, usually going from place to place.
Popular neighborhoods for tapas include:
- The Cathedral District
- Realejo
The Albacín
We didn’t have time to explore the Albacín, but it’s widely praised for its sweeping views of the Alhambra and its labyrinthine streets steeped in Moorish history. This ancient hillside quarter, once the heart of the Muslim city, is known for its whitewashed houses, hidden courtyards, and a palpable sense of timelessness. We knew all this but just didn't have the time to visit. From our reading over recent years, we find that many travelers recommend wandering its narrow alleys at golden hour, when the light softens and the city seems to glow.
In the southern part of the Albacín you'll find Sacromonte. Looking at Google Maps, you'll see places to visit like a museum of caves (Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte) and an abby (Abadía del Sacromonte). And, this is where you'll find places to see Flamenco shows.
We asked Microsoft CoPilot for some good sources of info on the Albacín so that we could document it for you and save it for our next visit to Granada. If you're interested, follow this link: https://www.lovegranada.com/places/albaicin/.
Realejo
On a future visit, we’re also interested in exploring Realejo, not just for its tapas but for its reputation as a hub for street art. We've been reading about this area and here's what we remember from the random searches we've done, we hope you find this as alluring as we do.
Once the city’s Jewish quarter, Realejo now blends centuries-old architecture with of modern creativity. In the neighborhood’s narrow streets you'll find vivid murals and graffiti. You'll probably find good tapas bars in this area too. Here are some links for more info on Realejo:
Granada as a University City
Granada is home to one of Spain’s most prestigious universities, and its student population gives the city a youthful, energetic vibe. The university is in the area north of the cathedral and south of the train station. So, you'll find student activity concentrated in these areas but also in Albacín and Realejo.
And students can be found doing local cultural activities like visiting the Alhambra or visiting the Monasterio de San Jerónimo, a 16th-century Renaissance monastery which happens to be located in the University area.
Even if you’re not out until dawn, the city’s plazas and terraces buzz with conversation and laughter well into the evening. It’s a place where locals and visitors mingle easily, and where the student spirit adds a bit of spontaneity to the city’s historic charm.
Mountains and Beaches: A Two-in-One Vacation
One of Granada’s most unique features is its proximity to both the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Costa Granadiana beaches. The Sierra Nevada is home to Europe’s southernmost ski resort, where you can enjoy snow sports from November to April. Just an hour’s drive away, the beaches of Salobreña and Almuñécar offer sun, seafood, and Mediterranean views.
We’ve heard it’s possible to ski in the morning and swim in the sea by afternoon. Though we haven’t tried it ourselves, it’s high on our travel wish list. The idea of carving fresh snow and then relaxing on a sun-kissed beach with a chilled beverage sounds like the perfect Andalusian day.
Final Thoughts and Tips
We only had one day in Granada, but we were able to:
- Visit the Alhambra and Generalife
- Explore the Cathedral
- Enjoy the tapas culture
- Experience the nightlife in the city center
Next time, we’d like to spend time wandering the Albacín and spend more time in Realejo to explore its street art and creative energy. We’ll also be sure to visit the Monasterio de San Jerónimo. And if the timing’s right, we’d love to catch a Granada CF match at Estadio Nuevo de Los Cármenes.
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Have you ever visited Granada or experienced a similar tapas tradition elsewhere? Share your favorite moments in the comments or tag someone who needs to plan a trip.
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