An Ideal Weekend In Granada

Beautiful Granada… with the Alhambra as its main icon but with much more to offer in a two-day stay. We have traveled to Granada and we want to tell you about it in this article. Organize an ideal weekend in this beautiful place!

First day in Granada

Although some tourists reserve the second day to visit the Alhambra area, we cannot wait. The best thing is to be early to calmly explore the palaces, courtyards and the park.

From the Plaza Nueva we take the Gómerez slope until we reach the Puerta de las Granadas (the streets are quite steep, ideal for morning exercise). Then we go through the Puerta de la Justicia and finally we access the most beautiful architectural-historical complex that can be imagined. Remember that to access this way you must already have the tickets.

The first stop is the Alcazaba, the oldest part, with archaeological remains of the defensive medina. Then you can go up to the Torre de la Vela (the highest) to enjoy the panoramic views of the city.

Of course, you have to visit the Palace of Carlos V and its beautiful porticoes and the Nasrid Palaces. Do not miss the Sala de la Barca (with a beautiful wooden ceiling), the Patio de los Leones and the Patio de las dos Hermanas.

And once we leave the palace we pass through the Partal we reach the Generalife. The visit takes more or less 4 hours if you walk quietly and enjoy every corner.

After visiting the Alhambra it is best to return to the city center to eat something (some typical tapas) and continue the tour visiting the monastery of San Jerónimo, the Sacromonte, the Cartuja, the Collegiate Church of San Justo y Pastor, the Royal Hospital and the church of Perpetual Help.

To rest a little, a good option is to go to the San Nicolás viewpoint, so, in addition to recharging the batteries, you can admire a beautiful sunset with the music of flamenco in the background.

Second day in Granada

After a few hours of sleep and a good breakfast, get ready to explore the surroundings of the city center. The first site chosen is  the Royal Chapel, a very visited place that was built in 1504 by order of the Catholic Monarchs to be their eternal resting place.

Previously the land belonged to a mosque. In the crypt you can see the tombs of Fernando de Aragón and Isabel de Castilla; his daughter Juana and her husband, Felipe el Hermoso, and the grandson of the kings, Miguel de Portugal, who died as a child. Do not miss the small museum where you can see the crown of Isabel la Católica and paintings of the time.

We continue our way to the cathedral of Granada, in which the two architectural styles of the construction are distinguished: late Gothic and Renaissance. After that, nothing is more charming than walking aimlessly through the narrow streets of the city, among shops and women who offer rosemary branches in any corner.

This is how you get to Plaza Bib-Rambla, perfect to sit down and have a chocolate with churros, typical from Granada. Afterwards, you can visit the Corral del Carbón, a very beautiful monument built in the 14th century and unique in Andalusian style, completely preserved throughout the Iberian Peninsula. The patio is currently used for flamenco concerts. Nearby is the Palace of the Dukes of Abrantes, which is also worth visiting.

Once again you have to get lost, this time in the Albaicín, a charming and very typical neighborhood. In and around Elvira street you can buy some souvenirs and eat Arabic dishes as if you were in the souk of Marrakech.

If you want, you can go again to the San Nicolás viewpoint (with a previous stop at the Salvador and San Nicolás churches and the house where the singer Enrique Morente was born). From there you will have more than beautiful views of the Alhambra. There is no more time left and you have to go home, probably tired but very happy to have been in a place so full of history.