Things to Do in Granada, Spain: Alhambra, Cathedral and More

If you only have a day, the Alhambra is the one to build it around. This palace and fortress complex is the most famous of all Granada attractions. Within it you will find the Partal, a historic palace inside the walls, and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. The Generalife, a separate palace, is part of the same visit for most people, and all of it lies about a mile from the centre.

Back in the lower town, the Cathedral of the Incarnation (S.A.I. Catedral Metropolitana de la Encarnación) and the Royal Chapel of Granada make the natural second stop. Between them they cover the city's other great chapter. For anyone weighing up things to see in Granada on a short break, that pairing of hilltop palace and cathedral quarter is the backbone of the trip.

The cathedral quarter rewards slow wandering. The Madrasah of Granada and the Royal Chapel are a short walk from the cathedral. The Palacio de Dar-Al-Horra and the Puerta de Elvira, an old city gate, are both well under a mile from the centre. Granada Mosque is close to the Alhambra side of town. The Archaeological Museum of Granada is useful for context before or after the palaces.

For religious buildings beyond the cathedral, the Basilica of Saint John of God and the Monasterio de San Jerónimo are both under a mile out. So is the Granada Charterhouse, a monastery. The University of Granada is also listed among the city's things to see. The Alcázar Genil, a historic building, sits about two miles from the centre and is the furthest of the city sights.

Two neighbouring villages extend the list of things to do in Granada. Monachil is about 6 miles away and Alfacar about 4 miles. Both have bookable activities you can browse on this page, which makes either an easy half-day out of the city.

Granada's main sights sit within about a mile of each other, which keeps walking manageable for younger legs. The Alhambra, Generalife and Partal give children plenty of space to roam between palace rooms and outdoor areas. The cathedral and Royal Chapel are closer together still, so you can pair them in a shorter outing.

Heat is the thing to plan for. July and August highs reach 35°C, so families visiting in summer are better off seeing the Alhambra early and saving the indoor sights for the afternoon. The Archaeological Museum is a good choice then. In May or October, highs of around 24 to 25°C make full days out far easier.

May, June, September and October are the best months for sightseeing. Rain is light and highs run from about 24°C to 30°C. March, April and November are quieter shoulder months, though March is the wettest month of the year. Winter days stay cool, with January highs around 13°C.

Granada airport (GRX) has direct flights from the UK and is 13 minutes from the city. Monachil is 20 minutes away and Alfacar 17. Many British travellers book flights, hotel and transfers together as a package. You can compare Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach deals here, along with hotel prices and car hire if you want to explore further afield.

For the Alhambra in particular, tours and tickets are worth arranging before you travel. You can see the tours and tickets available for Granada, Monachil and Alfacar on this page.