Granada in 24 hours
Only have one day to visit Granada? Here's a 24-hour itinerary to help you make the most of the city and see its main monuments, including the Alhambra.
The following itinerary covers the best of Granada and focuses on its most important tourist attractions to make the most of your day in the city. When planning a one-day trip to Granada, you should take into account the opening hours of the museums and monuments, which may vary depending on the day of the week or the season you choose.
This itinerary for Granada is designed to arrive in the afternoon and enjoy the last hours of the arrival day and the following full day.
To make the most of your short time in the city, you can book a transfer from the airport to your hotel in Granada.
Arrival Day
After dropping your bags and settling into your hotel, we suggest you start your tour of Granada in the city center. The Isabel la Catolica Square is the turning point between the commercial area, the historic center of Granada, and traditional neighborhoods such as the Realejo and the Albaicin.
A few meters from this square, crossing the sidewalk to take Estribo Street, you'll find the Madrasah Palace, a perfect place to start soaking up the Arab essence of Granada. If you return to Calle de Los Reyes Catolicos and walk a few meters, you'll find Calle Puente del Carbon, which leads to one of the most important monuments in the history of Granada: the Corral del Carbon.
Back on Calle de Los Reyes Catolicos, the main commercial avenue of Granada, we recommend you take a bus from Plaza Nueva to the Arab quarter of the Albaicin. If you prefer, you can make this journey on foot and take this chance to stroll along the Carrera del Darro in the late afternoon—you'll get postcard-worthy views!
Once you get into the maze of narrow streets that makes the Albaicin so unique, it'll be the perfect time to enjoy the sunset from one of its viewpoints. If you're a bit late to catch the sunset, don't worry, the views of the Alhambra lit up at night are breathtaking too.
To put the finishing touch to the first day, we recommend you return to the center and stroll through the Realejo, the best area of Granada to have some nice tapas. On Navas Street, you'll find tons of places to have a drink and tapas before returning to your hotel.
Full Day
On our first full day in Granada, we'll start with a visit to the city's most iconic symbol: the Alhambra. We recommend scheduling the visit early in the morning to take your time exploring the Nasrid monument without feeling rushed, but also not lingering too long.
To avoid queues, we recommend booking a guided tour of the Alhambra. If you also want to visit the Nasrid Palaces, this full option is the best: Guided tour of the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces.
The next stop on our 24-hour itinerary will be the Cathedral of Granada. This is the most impressive Renaissance monument in the city. Before lunchtime, we encourage you to visit the Royal Chapel, which houses the tomb of the Catholic Monarchs.
Walking along Gran Via de Colon Street and turning left on Alvaro de Bazan Street you'll reach Elvira Street, an area full of restaurants and bars where you can sample traditional dishes from Granada.
Retracing your steps, just a few meters from the Cathedral, you'll find the Bib-Rambla Square, a perfect place to enjoy a coffee. Also, if you want to do some shopping, the Alcaiceria is the most authentic area.
If you have some time to spare and want to go back home with unforgettable memories of Granada, we recommend attending a flamenco show in Sacromonte, a unique setting where tradition and art go hand in hand!
More Than One Day in Granada?
Although Granada is a very good city to visit in just one day, if you're lucky enough to spend more time in the city, we recommend visiting museums such as the Fine Arts Museum, the San Juan de Dios Museum, or the Alhambra Museum.
Also, walking along the Carrera del Darro, you'll find the only Arab baths from the Muslim period that remain intact in Granada: El Bañuelo. If you liked the experience, you can also enjoy this intimate atmosphere in the hammam Al-Andalus, a recreation of these Arab baths.
If you're spending a few days in the city, here are some of the best day trips we offer from Granada:
