Granada and the fascinating Alhambra Palace are an absolute must-visit in Spain. A rich history, perfect panoramic views, flamenco culture and some tasty tapas are just some of the highlights that are awaiting you in Granada. We prepared the perfect itinerary for you if you have 2 days in Granada.
2 Days in Granada
Day one in Granada – Get to know the city and its rich history
Large parts of the Iberian Peninsula have been under Moorish control between the 8th and the late 15th century. Under the Arabic rule, Granada has soon developed into one of the most important cities in Spain. Many of the old Arabic buildings and construction styles have survived until today, making Granada a fascinating place to visit – even if you only have two days.
Join a free walking tour in Granada
If you have two days in Granada, start your itinerary by exploring the heart of the city and learn more about its fascinating multi-cultural history. The best way to do this is by joining a free walking tour. I always love joining free walking tours whenever I travel to a new city. It is a great way to understand the history of a place and get an insight into the current life from a local’s perspective. In Granada, we chose the Essential Granada Free Tour of Walking Granada.
The daily tour starts at 11 am at Plaza Nueva, right in the center of Granada. During the 2.5-hour tour, you will get to see the Arab University of Granada (Madraza of Granada), the Granada Cathedral, the Alcaicería market and much more. The tour ends in the Lower Albaicín neighborhood, the former city center of Granada under Moorish rule. After nearly three hours of walking and learning, you are definitely ready for some tasty tapas.
Free Walking Tour of Granada Information
Meeting Point: By the fountain at Plaza Nueva
Time: 11am
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: Free (Tip-based; give as much as you like at the end of the tour)
Advance Booking Recommended. Click here to reserve your free spot.
Lunch in Albaicín
You are probably starving and jump into the first restaurant right where your walking tour ends. And that is probably not a bad choice. With all the great food and restaurants in Granada, it is hard to find a place that doesn’t serve delicious food. After the tour, we headed up the narrow and winding alleys a bit further and had an amazing lunch at El Trillo Restaurant. While the incredible food would already be reason enough to head there, you will be able to enjoy some amazing views over the Alhambra Palace during your lunch. If you plan to travel in high season, make sure to reserve a table beforehand so you don’t have to wait for a table.
Afternoon: The Albaicín neighborhood and panoramic views of the Alhambra from Mirador San Nicolás
After lunch, it is time to put the map aside and just get lost in the beautiful and narrow streets of Albaicín. The neighborhood that winds up a hill offers several breathtaking viewpoints, called Miradores, with spectacular views over the lower parts of the city and the Alhambra Palace. Some of the highlights to in Albaicín are its beautiful churches (Santa Ana, San Gregorio, San Christobal, San Miguel Bajo and others), the Ziri Wall built in the 11th century, the 16th century Moorish Casa de Porras and the Trillo Cistern.
If you gradually walk uphill while soaking up the atmosphere of Albaicín, you will eventually end up at the Mirador San Nicolás. This viewpoint is my favorite spot and one of the best places to visit in Granada. From up here, you will have the best views over the Alhambra Palace on the adjacent hill. Grab a drink somewhere, take a seat and just enjoy the moment. The Mirador San Nicolás is also one of the best places in Granada to enjoy the sunset.
Evening: Flamenco show and dinner in Sacromonte
If you ask any local what to see in Granada Spain in 2 days, they will always tell you that you need to head to Sacromonte to see some authentic flamenco shows. The area of Sacromonte is Granada’s gypsy neighborhood with picturesque cave houses. Thanks to the long musical tradition of the Spanish gypsies, the area is nowadays famous for its flamenco shows during evenings.
Since the Sacromonte area is located on a steep hill in the eastern part of Granada, I would recommend you to take a taxi or the bus line 34 or C2 from the city center. You have already walked a lot on day one of your Granada itinerary and day two will get even more intense.
While the outside of the cave houses look like normal houses, you will find yourself in a cave after walking through the entrance door. It is an absolute experience to witness a flamenco show in this great atmosphere. You don’t have to be a dance or music enthusiast to enjoy this amazing experience. Click here to book your spot.
Day 2 in Granada – The Alhambra Palace and a traditional Hammam visit
Morning – Off to visit the Alhambra Palace
This is most likely the reason why you came to Granada in the first place. A visit to the Alhambra Palace is an absolute must. The most important and first step to visit the Alhambra is to book a ticket. Since the entrances are strictly limited, tickets sell out weeks or even months in advance. Check the availability for your dates on the official Alhambra ticket website here.
Alhambra Tickets Sold Out?
If there are no more tickets for your dates left, don’t panic. There are still other ways to get tickets. Check out our helpful and comprehensive guide on all options on how to get last minute Alhambra tickets when they are sold out on the official website.
After you’ve got your tickets, it is time to head to the Alhambra in the morning. From the city center, you can take either a taxi or the C3 bus for 1.3 Euro that will drop you at the main entrance of the Alhambra.
When you select your ticket, you have to select a 30-minute time slot for your visit to the Nasrid Palaces. Only 300 people are allowed to enter the palaces every 30 minutes and they are very strict with the times. So make sure to be at the ticket control of the Nasrid Palaces a few minutes before your time slot.
The other two parts of the Alhambra, the Gardens of Generalife and the Alcazaba do not have a specific time slot and you can visit them throughout the morning. Therefore, I would recommend you to book the time slot to visit the Nasrid Palaces in the early morning and make it your first stop. That way, you can head there straight from the entrance and won’t have to think about your time slot anymore after entering.
After the Nasrid Palaces, take your time to explore the beauty of the Alcazaba. The Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra and the former military complex. From here, you will also be able to enjoy some incredible panoramic views over the city of Granada. After exploring the impressive Alcazaba, make your way to the Gardens of Generalife. Here you can find a map overview of the Alcazaba complex.
Read more important things to know and tips before visiting the Alhambra in our other post here.
You should schedule around three hours for your visit of the Alhambra. If you want to learn more about the history of the region and the Alhambra, I would recommend you to take a guided tour. We had a super knowledgeable guide who could answer all our questions and give us a real insight into what life was like in Granada centuries ag. Book your tour by clicking here.
Lunch in the city center
If you still have some energy left after visiting the Alhambra, you can walk back down the hill into the city center for some lunch. Otherwise, take the bus or a taxi. Head to any of the plentiful restaurants in the center for some tapas. Just walk around any street near Plaza Nueva and hop into a place where you see some empty seats. You can’t go wrong here and you will find tasty tapas that will fit any budget.
After lunch, take a relaxing stroll through the center. If you still have space for a small desert or a few snacks, head to San Augustín Market.
Hammam: Enjoy a traditional Arab bath in Granada
During your 2 days in Granada, you have done a lot of walking. Now, it is time to unwind and relax a bit. A visit to a hammam, a traditional Arab bath, is one of the top things to do in Granada.
Even though the Arab rule in Granada is now more than 500 years in the past, you can still see their influence today. One of the best ways to experience the Arab history is through a traditional Arab bath and massage in one of the hammams in Granada. Click here for an overview and a list of prices.
Where to stay in Granada? Our hotel recommendation
If you only have 2 days in Granada, I would recommend you a hotel in the center of the city. We stayed at the Barceló Carmen Granada Hotel right in the heart of Granada. The Carmen Granada comes at an incredible value for money and has even got a rooftop pool that offers amazing views over the Alhambra. Rates per room start below 100 USD per night. Check the prices for your dates here.
Granada two day itinerary – conclusion
Unfortunately, your 2 days in Granada already come to an end now. With our 2 day Granada itinerary, you will be able to explore the top things to see in Granada. The absolute highlights are the views of the Alhambra from the Mirador San Nicolás, a flamenco show in the cave houses of Sacromonte and of course a visit of the Alhambra.
We hope you liked our Granada itinerary 2 days and would love your feedback in the comment section if you have any recommendations or questions about your upcoming trip to Granada.
Make sure to also check out our other city guides for the Iberian Peninsula:
– Seville Travel Guide by a local
– Two Days in Bilbao
– Lisbon in a Day
– The Best Restaurants in Barcelona
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