How to Spend 2 Days in Granada
Granada is one of the highlights of visiting the Andalusia Region of Spain. Its biggest claim to fame is the Alhambra Palace which is the most visited place in Spain. When you visit Granada you will also enjoy a charming city, mountain views, tapas, and plenty of places exuding Moorish influence. It lies near the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and has stunning mountain views. Granada is Northeast of Malaga and almost due East from Seville, and can also be easily reached from Madrid. It makes a great addition to any trip to Spain. It is worth spending at least 2 days in Granada. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about planning a Granada Itinerary and what to do in Granada with kids!
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2 Days in Granada-What to do
Alhambra Palace at sunset with the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Visit the Alhambra
The Alhambra is hands-down the must-do item on any Granada, Spain itinerary. Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a sprawling palace complex first constructed in 799 and completed in the 1300s. Think of it as a similar set up to Versailles. It is a large property with many different sights to see within it. The most famous and most stunning parts are the Nasrid Palaces. You will need an additional ticket for the Nasrid Palaces.
You must reserve tickets to the Nasrid Palaces (the highlight of Alhambra) months in advance. If you are unable to reserve your tickets in advance, you can purchase a Granada card for your visit which includes entry to the Nasrid Palaces.
The Nasrid Palace at Alhambra.
You’ll be in awe of all the delicately carved details and the beautiful courtyards. In addition to the Nasrid Palaces, you can visit the fortress, gardens, and Generalife. You could truly spend an entire day here if you wanted, but most visitors spend about 3-4 hours here. There are some restaurants on-site, audio guides can be rented, but there are no strollers allowed.
Intricately carved archways at the Nasrid Palace in Alhambra.
Kids may not be as impressed with the Nasrid Palace as adults, but surely they will enjoy roaming the gardens outside, looking for fish in the ponds, and just playing in the dirt. Adults will be thoroughly impressed with many aspects of Alhambra, including the view over Granada. You need to visit Alhambra, there is a reason it is the most visited site in Spain!
Price: Included with Granada card (different pricing options), or 14 Euros including all areas of the palace. Reduced fares for only selected areas.
Get more out of your visit by taking a skip the line, guided tour.
The white washed Albaicin neighborhood looks over at the Alhambra palace.
Walk through Albaicin
This Moorish neighborhood is a lovely area to wander and get lost. It winds up the hill with whitewashed houses to Mirador San Nicolas where you can get a stunning view of the Alhambra. The Mirador, an open terrace, is full of people at sunset because of the gorgeous view of Alhambra, the mountains, and the city below.
Cobblestone streets and white walls of the Albaicin neighborhood in Granada.
Your Granada Itinerary would not be complete without a stroll through this neighborhood. It seems to be a very quiet and peaceful area until you get to the Mirador which is full and lively. There are a few restaurants and other houses to visit in this neighborhood. If you like to wander back alleys and charming streets, this is a good place to go.
Parque de Las Ciencias
Animal exhibit of lions hunting zebras at Parque de Las Ciencias in Granada, Spain.
This is one of the best science museums we have ever visited! It's a can’t miss place when you’re in Granada with kids. It is a huge complex and we were not able to see all of it in one afternoon. When you enter the main building of the museum, there are several exhibits there as well as the biodome full of live animals (extra fee), and the children’s room. The children’s room is really wonderful with many hands-on activities for kids to do. We spent about 20 minutes in here waiting for our biodome timed entry.
Part of the outdoor playground at Parque de Las Ciencias.
There is also an expansive outdoor section with all kinds of outdoor play, water play, a butterfly pavilion, birds of prey exhibit and demonstration, observation tower, astronomy garden, botanical walks, a planetarium (extra fee), and more.
The biodome is like a small zoo. There are aquariums with different types of fish, reptile habitats, and a rainforest habitat with tropical birds, a sloth, and ring-tailed lemurs. On the top floor, there was also an interesting camouflaged bug exhibit with insects on plants that you could almost reach out and touch!
Kids watching butterflies feed on orange slices in the butterfly habitat at Parque de las Ciencias.
There is a restaurant on-site, but it would be wise to bring some snacks for your kids. This way you can sit down and eat something quickly without having to traverse the park to get to the restaurant. It is very stroller friendly, I had the option to park the stroller outside the biodome but was also allowed to bring it in.
Ring-tailed Lemurs in the Biodome at Parque de las Ciencias.
You could easily spend an entire day here. Be aware that much of the park is outdoors. Something to keep in mind when the weather is hot or if it is raining.
Price: included with Granada card (except for the planetarium and biodome), or general entry 7 Euros.
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Granada Cathedral.
Granada Cathedral
The Granada Cathedral lies in the central part of the city and you must have a ticket to enter. I enjoy seeing the grand architecture of cathedrals and seeing each one’s unique characteristics. Entry to the cathedral is also included on the Granada card.
Price: Included with Granada card, or 5 Euros and includes an audioguide
Colorful mosaic tile design at the Alhambra Palace.
Flamenco Show
Flamenco is a Spanish dance born in Andalucia. It is entrancing with the rhythmic tapping of the dancer’s shoes and castanets. You might get lucky wandering around town and stumble on a free flamenco performance in the street, but if you are looking for a sit down show try Jardines de Zoraya. If you are traveling with children, they will surely enjoy it as well. Our young kids (4 and 6) were happy to stop and watch flamenco whenever we saw it. Often the shows have an option of adding dinner, it just depends on the place and what you want to do.
Intricate carved walls and mosaic tiles in every nook and cranny at Alhambra.
Should I Buy the Granada Card?
A Granada card is 40 Euros for adults and 10.50 Euros for children ages 2-11. Normally we don’t buy these types of city cards, but in this case, it was very worth it. When we tried to book tickets to Alhambra, all the tickets to the Nasrid Palace were sold out. This was the main thing I wanted to see, so I was left trying to find other ways to get in.
The options I found were: try to line up for same-day tickets, book an expensive guided tour, or purchase a Granada card. The Granada card was cheaper per person than booking a guided tour of Alhambra and it included entry to other points of interest and 9 trips on the bus. So, if the Alhambra tickets sold out for your dates, this is a great way to still get to see it all and include some other sights and transportation throughout the city.
Shopping streets in Granada.
Getting To Granada
Granada has its own airport named Federico Garcia Lorca Granada (GRX) Airport that can be reached from other airports in Spain as well as from a few cities in Europe. It is about 28 km from the center of Granada or a 30-minute drive.
Granada is easily reached by car or train from several cities in Spain as well. From Malaga, it is about a 1-hour and 45-minute drive. From Seville, it is about a 2 hour and a 46-minute drive.
The view of Granada from the Alhambra.
Getting Around Granada
Granada is mostly very walkable. When you are exploring the Albaicin neighborhood, expect to climb hills and walk upstairs. When visiting Alhambra and Parque de las Ciencias, I recommend using the city’s excellent buses. Alhambra is up quite a big hill and requires a lot of walking to explore. If you are traveling with children, it’s really best to save their legs for the actual palace and not tire them out before you even get there.
The details in the carvings of the rooms and courtyards in Alhambra is amazing.
Uber and Taxis are also an option but when traveling with babies who need car seats, it is not the most convenient.
Bus rides are 1.40 Euro each trip. If you have a Granada card, you have 9 trips already included but you must stop and get a trip voucher (plastic card) that you can scan on the bus first.
Outdoor gardens and pond at Alhambra.
How Long to Stay in Granada
We stayed 2 nights in Granada and thought it was adequate. 1 day would be cutting it short, 3 days in Granada would allow you to see more or include a day trip.
Day Trips From Granada
Malaga: On the coast and less than a 2-hour drive away. If you’re wanting to spend some time on the beach, visit a waterpark, aquariums, or amusement park this is a great place to go. You can also check out nearby Marbella which has the reputation of being a more swanky beach town.
Cordoba: home to the famous La Mezquita, formerly a mosque, now turned cathedral. It has an impressive columned prayer hall that looks very interesting. In addition to the mosque, you can explore the town, check out the views from the bridge, and visit some of the green patios around the city.
The Lion Courtyard in the Nasrid Palace at Alhambra.
Where To Stay in Granada
I would recommend staying near Plaza Bib-Rambla. It’s very central, easily walkable, full of restaurants, and near plenty of shopping. Also from this area, you can catch any of the buses needed to go anywhere else in town.
Fountain in a courtyard at Alhambra.
Where To Eat in Granada
Tapas are a must in Granada. You can sit down at a tapas bar and order a drink and the waiters will just start bringing you small plates of food for free! As long as you sit there drinking, the plates of food will just keep coming! You can also typically order off a menu. We liked Los Diamantes, a popular spot with locals and tourists. Be ready to snag a table because it will be a full restaurant just a few minutes after opening!
Granada is also home to 7 Michelin Star Restaurants. You may want to sample some award-winning cuisine while you’re there.
Exploring the grounds of Alhambra.
Best Time to Visit Granada
The fall weather was lovely in Granada. I would NOT recommend coming in July or August if you can avoid it because the heat is very extreme in the summer. Also, the summer is full of summer tourist crowds. The winter can be rainy in Southern Spain so based on that I would aim for September-November or April-June as the ideal times to visit.
We loved our time in Granada and would happily go back for another visit! There are many places in the Andalucia region to visit that it can be hard to choose. But Granada is a do not miss location! From the beautiful mountain landscapes, the stunning moorish architecture, the lively shopping district, and the amazing science museum Granada was a hit for our whole family.
Have you been to Granada? Tell me about it in the comments!
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