Granada is the last great jewel of Moorish Spain, a city where eight centuries of Islamic rule left behind the Alhambra, one of the most spellbinding palace complexes on Earth, before falling to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada layers Nasrid palaces, whitewashed hillside quarters, Renaissance churches and gypsy cave dwellings into a single unforgettable cityscape. It is a place that rewards slow exploration on foot, where every twisting street in the Albaicín opens onto a new view of the fortress glowing above.
For travellers exploring southern Spain, Granada is a signature stop aboard the Al Andalus, Palace Trains' vintage 1920s-style luxury train that threads through Andalusia's great historic cities. Arriving by rail rather than road sets the tone for the destination itself: unhurried, atmospheric and steeped in history, much like Granada's own labyrinth of Moorish and Christian heritage.
Beyond the Alhambra, Granada offers a rich tapestry of flamenco in ancient caves, some of the best free tapas culture in Spain, and a compact historic centre that rewards travellers who linger rather than rush. Combined with an Al Andalus itinerary through the region, Granada anchors a journey through the very heart of Andalusia's Moorish legacy.
- ✦The Alhambra and Generalife Gardens
- ✦Albaicín's Moorish old quarter
- ✦Sunset views from Mirador de San Nicolás
- ✦Cave flamenco in Sacromonte
- ✦Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel
- ✦Andalusia's best free tapas culture
- ✦Arrival aboard the Al Andalus luxury train
Places to See in Granada
The Alhambra
Granada's crowning monument is this vast Nasrid-era fortress-palace complex overlooking the city, encompassing the intricately carved Nasrid Palaces, the fountains and lion-flanked Court of the Lions, the fortified Alcazaba citadel, and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. Tickets sell out well in advance and timed entry is required for the Nasrid Palaces.
Generalife Gardens
The Alhambra's adjoining summer palace and gardens are famed for their cypress-lined walkways, terraced flowerbeds and the Patio de la Acequia, a long reflecting pool flanked by arcing water jets — a masterpiece of Moorish landscape design.
Albaicín Quarter
Granada's old Moorish quarter is a UNESCO-listed maze of narrow cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses and hidden carmen gardens climbing the hill opposite the Alhambra. The Mirador de San Nicolás viewpoint here offers the classic postcard view of the fortress with the Sierra Nevada behind it.
Sacromonte
This historic gypsy quarter is known for its whitewashed cave dwellings dug into the hillside, many still inhabited and several converted into flamenco venues (zambras) offering authentic performances in an intimate cave setting.
Granada Cathedral
A soaring Renaissance cathedral begun in 1523 on the site of the city's main mosque, notable for its dazzling white-and-gold interior and monumental facade.
Royal Chapel (Capilla Real)
Adjoining the cathedral, this Gothic chapel holds the marble tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs who completed the Reconquista by capturing Granada in 1492, along with their crowns and Isabella's private art collection.
Corral del Carbón
A rare surviving 14th-century Nasrid merchants' inn, one of the oldest Islamic-era buildings in the city and a quiet counterpoint to the grander monuments.
Mirador de San Nicolás
The most celebrated viewpoint in the Albaicín, especially magical at sunset when the Alhambra turns rose-gold above the city and street musicians often play flamenco guitar nearby.
Food & Gastronomy
Granada is famous across Spain for one thing above all: free tapas. Order a drink at almost any bar in the city and a small dish arrives unbidden — a tradition that has survived here more strongly than almost anywhere else in the country, letting visitors sample a genuine cross-section of Andalusian cooking simply by bar-hopping through streets like Calle Navas and Calle Elvira.
Among the dishes to seek out are habas con jamón (broad beans stewed with cured ham), remojón granadino (a refreshing salad of orange, salt cod, olives and onion), and tortilla del Sacromonte, a distinctive omelette traditionally made with lamb's brains and sweetbreads, born in the gypsy quarter's cave kitchens. Grilled river trout with jamón (trucha a la Navarra-style preparations) and hearty stews reflect the city's mountain proximity, while migas — fried breadcrumbs with garlic, peppers and chorizo — remains a rustic countryside classic.
Granada also has a distinct Moorish-influenced sweet tradition. Try piononos, small rum-soaked sponge cakes topped with toasted cream, invented in the nearby town of Santa Fe, and pastries sold in Arab tea houses (teterías) along Calderería Nueva, where mint tea and honeyed sweets recall the city's North African heritage.
- Habas con jamón — broad beans slow-cooked with cured Spanish ham
- Tortilla del Sacromonte — a Sacromonte-style omelette with lamb offal and vegetables
- Remojón granadino — orange, cod, olive and onion salad
- Piononos — rum-soaked sponge cakes with caramelised cream
- Migas — fried breadcrumbs with garlic, chorizo and peppers
- Free tapas — a complimentary dish with every drink, a Granada institution
