What to see in Granada in 3 days?

Many tourists say that Granada is the most beautiful city in Spain, where you can enjoy not only the monuments, but also its landscapes and gastronomy. In 3 days you can know most of the elements of the city, a perfect time where there is no time to get bored. However, if what you like is history, then you can take a walk through the historic center of the city, comfortably on foot.

On this tour you can visit, for example, the Royal Chancery, the Church of Santa Ana, the Madraza, the Monument to the Capitulations, the Alcaicería, the Plaza de Bib-Rambla and, of course, the Cathedral of Granada and the Royal Chapel; that is, you will find in every corner something exciting and special to see. 

But there are other places that travelers also prefer and that you will find in this beautiful Andalusian city. Undoubtedly, the Alhambra is a monument that receives many visits, however, we have the Albaicin, the Mirador de San Nicolas, the Sacromonte neighborhood, the Science Park, the Bañuelo, the Paseo de los Tristes, among others. Everyone will choose what they like the most on their tour.

Let’s talk a little about the Alhambra and the Albaicín neighborhood:

• The famous Alhambra and the Generalife; the Alhambra is the main monument of the city and it takes at least one morning to visit it, as it is quite large. We will discover the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba, the Patio de los Leones and the Charles V Palace. Monument declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the same place is located the Generalife, the rural villa with the beautiful gardens where the Nasrid kings lived to rest. All this can be visited either on your own or by booking a guided tour, which is recommended to receive more information. 

• The Albaicín neighborhood: this neighborhood is the place where the Muslims first settled in the city, and is located separated from the Alhambra by the Darro River. It is made up of many narrow streets and a good network of beautiful houses, all in white. Walking through these narrow streets takes you back in time, although the slopes are quite steep.

In this area is the Mirador de San Nicolas and from here you get views of other important places in the city, especially recommended to arrive at sunset, coinciding with the sunset. In addition, on the way through these streets we find the Casa del Castril, which is a Renaissance style palace and currently serves as the Archaeological Museum.

Also El Bañuelo, the Paseo de los Tristes, the Monastery of Santa Isabel la Real and the Placeta de San Miguel Bajo and its church. All that going up the streets, but now it’s time to start going down and you can enjoy the terraces and tapas environments. We should mention that Albaicin is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

El Mirador de San Nicolás and El Bañuelo:

• El Mirador de San Nicolás: it is located next to the Church of San Nicolás, in the highest part of the Alcazaba fortress of the XIII century. Originally in this place there was a mosque, of which only the cistern remains; it was also a parade ground and meeting place. At first the area was occupied by Arab palaces and houses. 

It is said that in one of these, the surrender of Granada in 1942 to the Catholic Monarchs was discussed. Currently this viewpoint is a square-shaped square, stone benches, trees in its surroundings and its floor with the characteristic cobblestone of the city.

• El Bañuelo or Arab bath: it is called Hammam or Baño de los Axares or also del Nogal, and dates from the eleventh century of the Zirid era. It is located at number 31 at the level of the Carrera del Darro and in front of a bridge called Cadi; a structure that was inherited from the Roman baths, of mortar and thick walls, in order to maintain the temperature and distribution of water inside.

These constructions were of utmost importance for the Muslims, since for them water not only served for hygiene but also for purification. Consisting of several rooms, some were private for the select population and others for the public, where they washed, waxed, cut their hair and received massages. 

A social beauty center for men and women, but with different schedules; preparations were also made for brides and their future wedding. In addition to its interesting thermal rooms, we can not fail to admire the skylights at ceiling level in the form of stars and octagonal; of course, the capitals of its columns.

The legendary Sacromonte neighborhood and the Paseo de los Tristes: 

• The neighborhood of Sacromonte: this legendary neighborhood is accessed by one end of the Albaicín, and during different times have lived together Arabs, Jews and gypsies who came to this area because they accompanied the Catholic Monarchs in their conquest. They built their own houses on these slopes at the level of the caves, which are located next to ravines.

The most famous being Las Zambras, where every night the gypsies celebrate by singing and dancing flamenco. At the end of this road is an Abbey called Sacromonte of the seventeenth century, which today serves as a museum of paintings and Christian relics, of the first who came to Granada.

• The Paseo de los Tristes: from the most central square of Granada, called Plaza Nueva, begins the Carrera del Darro, at the foot of the Alhambra, and many say it is the most beautiful walk of this city. At the end of the Carrera begins the famous Paseo de los Tristes, so called since the nineteenth century, although not officially, because it was the passage of the funeral processions to the nearby cemetery.

Let us now visit the Cathedral of Granada and the Science Park:

• The Cathedral and the Royal Chapel: with the conquest of Granada, Queen Isabel II ordered the construction of a Renaissance type work of art, such as the Cathedral. Internally there are several chapels, such as that of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua, and a beautiful altarpiece; externally an impressive and very elaborate facade. There is also the Royal Chapel, where the Catholic Monarchs are buried.

• The Science Park: this was inaugurated in 1995 and currently serves as an international reference center for scientific dissemination and the first interactive science museum in the city. It is a very interesting visit for both children and adults, as it has a planetarium with its observation tower.