If you are coming to Granada but only have one day to visit the city, don’t worry, we bring you a selection of the must-see places you can’t miss if you want to get to know the most authentic Granada; emblematic sites, bars, restaurants, museums, viewpoints, and even a flamenco show, all in one day!
Best breakfast bar in Granada
You have a day ahead of you where you will not stop, so to start the day with strength and energy, we recommend you to have breakfast at Café 4 Gatos, in the Albaicín neighborhood. In this cafe they serve quality coffee, sandwiches, yogurt bowls, cakes, cookies, and all kinds of toast (all very large), among other things. This is one of the most typical breakfast bars in the city, we recommend you to go early in the morning to take advantage of the rest of the day.
Another popular option in the city is Café Fútbol, one of the oldest coffee shops in Granada, with more than 100 years of history. If you are looking for a fork breakfast, this is a very good option. It is a very central bar-restaurant and has all kinds of options and breakfast dishes, one of the most popular are their churros with Iberian ham, a must if you go to breakfast at Café Fútbol.
Even so, Granada has an infinite number of bars and restaurants where you can have a good breakfast at very affordable prices, so if none of these options are close to your stay, it will not be very difficult to find a bar that is up to par.
The Alhambra
The Alhambra is a must if you visit Granada. You cannot leave the city without seeing it. We recommend going early in the morning, right after breakfast. If you like to walk, you can get there on foot (it is about 20 minutes walk from the Albaicin), or take public transport.
Remember that it is the most visited monument in Spain, so if you want to really make the most of the day and to avoid wasting time queuing, book your tickets to the Alhambra in advance. It is advisable to take a guided tour if you want to know it in depth.
The estimated visiting time in the Alhambra, is about 2-3 hours, but in free tour or guided tour can be extended up to 4 hours. If you are going to visit the “complete pack”, with the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife, the Alcazaba and the Palace of Charles V, it is likely that your visit will be extended until 12-13 noon.
Stroll around the Generalife
When you finish your visit to the Alhambra, before going to lunch, we recommend you to go for a walk around the Generalife, the Albaicin or Sacromonte. Get lost in the streets, the paths leading to Sacromonte or the Albaicin are full of nature, and offer spectacular views of the city.
If you want to work up an appetite before lunch, you can also enjoy a drink on a terrace.
Time to eat!
The gastronomic offer offered by the city of Granada is very wide. You have a variety of options, but we recommend that you take the opportunity to go to a typical Granaña tavern, such as Bar Casa Julio.
It is one of the most popular restaurants in the city and recommended by locals. It is perfect for a quick stop for lunch. Its specialty is fried food, so you can’t leave without trying it. Bar Julio is also one of the cheapest restaurants in town; its prices are very affordable, around 5 € for raciones, and 2 € for cañas, which include a tapa.
If instead of being in the center, you are in the Albaicín neighborhood, we recommend the restaurant Ruta del Azafrán, where you can eat at the foot of the Alhambra with spectacular views of it. It also has a very interesting gastronomic offer, but rice dishes are its specialty.
Stroll through the Albaicín
From the center of Granada where Bar Julio is located, and to bring down all that you have eaten, we recommend a walk through the streets of Granada until you reach the Albaicín, the neighborhood with the most history of the city.
This is an old Moorish quarter, with narrow cobblestone streets (remember to wear comfortable shoes) and white houses. Being in the highest area of Granada, there are many slopes to get to the top, so make sure you are prepared to do them beforehand. Of course, the views of the Alhambra that you will find once you get to the top are well worth it.
What to see in the Albaicín
The Albaicin is a neighborhood that hides many corners and places with history that you can not miss. We tell you what you must see if you visit this neighborhood:
Paseo de los Tristes
It is probably the most emblematic place of the Albaicín, because it is also located in one of the most beautiful streets of Granada, the Carrera del Darro. The Paseo de los Tristes is actually called Paseo del Padre Manjón. For a long time people used to say goodbye to the deceased along this street until they reached the cemetery, which is why it ended up adopting the name Paseo de los Tristes.
El Bañuelo
It is an Arab bath that is located in the Paseo de los Tristes, and is the only original Arab bath that can be visited of those that have been preserved in the neighborhood. It is a quick visit, but not to be missed.
Calle Elvira and Calle de las teterías
The Calle Caldelería Nueva or Calle de las teterías, as its name says, is full of tea shops, craft stores and souvenir stores. It is a romantic and atmospheric street.
When you finish this street you will arrive at Calle Elvira, also with a lot of atmosphere. The smells and flavors of this street will remind you of Morocco, as it was one of the main streets in the Andalusian period.
Sunset at the San Nicolas lookout point
Granada has several viewpoints from which you can enjoy a sunset. But the San Nicolas viewpoint offers one of the most spectacular sunsets you will ever see, with stunning views of the Sierra Nevada, the Generalife and the Alhambra, especially at sunset.
We also recommend you bring a drink or something to snack on while you watch the sunset, some people even bring their own dinner and have a picnic.
Dinner and flamenco show
Now you’ve seen the highlights of Granada in one day, but you can’t end your visit to Granada without seeing a flamenco show. It is a very traditional art and dance in Andalusia, and Granada has some of the best flamenco artists in the country. If you want to leave Granada having experienced an authentic Flamenco tablao, we have the perfect plan for you.
At the end of the day, in the evening, we recommend you to enjoy one of the most popular tablaos in the city, Jardines de Zoraya, which offers a flamenco show with dinner included, right in the heart of the Albaicín. In addition, the gastronomic offer with traditional food of the area, will leave you wanting to repeat. Of course, book in advance because it is usually in high demand.
