Simple 2-night Granada Itinerary
Nestled at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada is a mesmerizing blend of history, culture. If you’ve just got a short time to explore the city, then this simple 2-night Granada Itinerary will cover all the basics.
I visited with my brother and sister!
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How to Get to Granada from Madrid
Like all popular Spanish towns, Granada is well connected via the train to all major cities. The train takes about 5 hours from Madrid. My siblings and I attempted to take the train, but we missed our train by just a minute (because we got lost in the Atocha Station). Give yourself time to get lost if you haven’t been to the Atocha before. There are two terminals, and you also need to go through security.
If you prefer (or miss your train as we did), you can drive to Granada as well. The drive will take about 4.5 hours on an easy highway. Be careful when you arrive in Granada because there are several streets in the old town where you’ll be ticketed for driving—only taxis and busses are allowed. We accidentally drove in the old town but didn’t get a ticket though we were stressed! Rent a car here if you need to.
You won’t need a car while you’re in Granada so I suggest you train.
How Long to Spend in Granada
I spent 2 nights which gave me about 2 full days in Granada. I felt like that was perfect to see all the highlights. To explore more of the city and local culture, then you may want to add a day or two.
Where to Stay in Granada
We stayed around the Catedral de Granada at Genteel Home Zacatín (which was able to accommodate 3 guests) and it was a great location to walk around from. The manager was very nice and had to take extra time directing us because we got lost. As we were visiting Granada as part of our Spain trip so I liked that it had a washing machine (and washing powder included).
Most accommodation will run around $100/night. Around this range, I like the look of Hotel Anacapri, Apartamentos Libere, Sercotel Palacio, and U-Sense Granada.
A Little History of Granada
Granada is most known for the gorgeous Alhambra palace, built by the Moors. The city flourished under Moorish rule from the 8th century until it was re-captured by the Spanish in 1492. During the period the Moors ruled, Granada was a center of Islamic culture, science, and architecture. Under Spanish rule, the Granada Cathedral was built, blending Gothic and Renaissance styles. These two sights are the highlights of Granada on a short trip.
2 Night Granada Itinerary
Day 1: Get to Granada
Morning
Get from wherever you are to start your Granada Itinerary. If you’re in Madrid like I was, then take the train from the Atocha station. Be sure to show up at least 30 minutes early to give yourself time to get lost.
My siblings and I got lost in the wrong terminal and missed our $100 train tickets. EEK. Instead we had to rent a car to drive to Granada instead. I recommend you avoid this haha.
Afternoon
Check into your accommodation and then visit the Catedral de Granada. Tickets cost €6 and you can buy them online here. If you’ve had enough to visiting cathedrals around Spain, then just enjoy it from the outside as I did.
Explore the old town area around the cathedral by getting lost through the streets. I liked the area around Placeta de Santo Cristo where there are some cute souvenir shops. Artesanías Medina has some gorgeous Spanish fans and Medievo has a huge collection of teas that’s worth walking into.
Evening
Go on a sunset walking tour to get a lay of the land and learn about the city from a local. (Or go on a free walking tour with GuruWalk or Walking Free Tours; although I didn’t take a tour, I love free walking tours if I can fit it into my day!)
For dinner, I really wanted to try out Wild Food Granada, a vegan restaurant with great reviews, but there was a 45 minute wait for a table. If you’d like to come here, try to make a reservation in advance online.
Or, walk along C. Navas, a street lined with bars and restaurants serving delish looking tapas with a lively atmosphere. En Ricon de Julio looked very nice as did Restaurante el Conde.
Day 2: Alhambra and Viewpoints
Morning
Book your tickets in advance to visit Alhambra during your Granada Itinerary. Tickets can sell out a month or more in advance. There are three main sights within what we generally call “Alhambra”: Alhambra, Generalife, and the Nasrid. Make sure you buy the combination ticket. Buy the official tickets here for €19 and be sure you bring your ID or passport with you. There will likely be a line to enter each of the sections.
Alhambra Map
In September when I visited, we waited 15-minutes max, but there are also skip-the-line options and tours that you may want to do such as this 3-hour skip the line tour.
My siblings and I spent 4 hours inside Alhambra! We had 8:30am tickets and stayed until around 12:30 exploring everything! The earlier you visit, the less crowds you’ll experience and you’ll likely avoid the heat of the day.
There are lots of great viewpoints throughout Alhambra’s palaces.
Afternoon
Walk to the Mirador de San Nicolás for the best view of Alhambra.
Then continue on to Teteria Marrakech for lunch. Although a little touristy, we found the food good considering it’s one of the few restaurants on the way to your next destination…
Meander through the streets toward Mirador de San Miguel Alto, another great viewpoint for the city. Be sure to bring enough water because it’s a serious climb to the top!
There is an old church at the top of the viewpoint that’s interesting too.
Then, walk back into the old town using an alternative route, put Puerta de Fajalauza as your destination.
In town get tapas! I’m hesitant to suggest where we ate (Taberna espirituosa) on this Granada Itinerary because the Google Maps rating is so low, though we had a great experience and good food. The patatas bravas, artichoke, and octopus tapas were excellent and we entered based on the general vibe as we walked around. I suggest you explore to see what catches your eye.
You may be as tired as we were from walking around Alhambra, so head back to your accommodation for a rest before dinner.
Evening
Have dinner at Taberna La Tana for a selection of classic meats, breads and veggies. For a feast of five tapas, bread, and wine we spent €30 per person. This was my favorite meal of our 2 nights in Granada!
Day 3: Explore the Mercado
Morning
Check out of your hotel and put your luggage into luggage storage. I usually use Bounce around Europe as there are always so many locations around.
If you didn’t go on a free walking tour, now is the perfect time as well.
Wander through the Zoco Nazarí (Mercado De Artesanía). This tiny street will have you thinking you’re in Morocco!
Get tapas at Casa 22 to end your Granada Itinerary with a glass of sangria.
Afternoon
Head out to your next destination and get some inspo on my Spain Guide.