What is Granada Known For? Answering 11 Burning Questions

Considering, or preparing for your very first trip to Granada? You’re in the right place.💃 Having called this phenomenal city my home since 2022, I know Granada better than the back of my hand.

Granada is a city in southern Spain, nestled at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalusia. It’s one of the most iconic places in the region—known for the one and only, La Alhambra, its deep Moorish roots, and rich mix of cultures.

Here there are endless things to do and admire, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites, breathtaking architecture, delicious food, Flamenco, and more.

Without further ado, here are the answers to your Granada burning questions!👇 These answers are based on my personal experience living here. Of course, everyone’s experience can be different—I’m giving you my personal and local perspective.

Disclaimer: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. If you click through and buy with these links, thank you in advance for the extra support.💖😊

11 Granada Travel Questions Answered by a Local

Is Granada worth visiting?

YES. YES. And… YES!😍

Granada is such a radiant city, rich in culture and heritage, and some of the most beautiful medieval streets and jaw-dropping architecture.

While La Alhambra is a must-visit, making Granada automatically worth visiting, there is SO much more to this city that makes it worth visiting.

Granada was the very last city to be reconquered from the Moors by the Catholic Monarchs. Due to this, it’s a historically important city that mixes wonders from the Moorish years and the Catholic years.

Granada is also one of the original homes of Flamenco, the BEST tapas culture, some of the best examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture, and so much more.

What is Granada best known for?

Granada is famous for being home to the one and only, La Alhambra Palace.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, La Alhambra is a complex that dates back to the 9th century and has played several roles throughout history. It began as a fortress and later transformed into a palace and Medina for the Nasrid Dynasty.

🌟 Grab my 16 Essential Tips for Visiting La Alhambra!

La Alhambra competes with the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona as the most-visited monument in Spain, and in 2024, La Alhambra received roughly 2.7 to 3 MILLION visitors.

The main attraction of La Alhambra is the Nasrid Palaces, and the general tickets (which include the palaces) sell out quickly to say the least.

The intricate Islamic architecture in these palaces will have you entranced for hours – the architecture alone should qualify La Alhambra as the 8th wonder of the world.

Make sure to book your entry tickets or this best-rated guided tour about a month in advance, before they sell out!👇

How many days in Granada is enough?

The unfortunate popular opinion is that you only need one day in Granada – this is an indirect way of people telling you that Granada is only a day trip for La Alhambra. As a local of 3 years, they couldn’t be more wrong!

🗺️ Grab my Granada itineraries: 1 Day in Granada and 2 Days in Granada

2 days in Granada is the perfect amount to discover La Alhambra, other must-see’s like the Cathedral of Granada, and visit some hidden gems and local favorites. 3 days, is also a great amount as it allows you to enjoy Granada at a slower pace, and add some extra hidden gems, like the Monasterio de la Cartuja.

Another thing worth noting is that Granada is the perfect home base, if you’re looking for a place to stay and take day trips from!

Is Granada a walkable city?

Granada could not be a more walkable city, especially the city center which prioritizes pedestrians.

Being a historic city that keeps its medieval look, there are lots of cobblestone streets around Granada – especially in the Albaicín neighborhood. With that said, I strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

Is Granada an expensive city?

When compared to it’s Andalusian neighbors, Granada is one of the most affordable cities to visit in Andalusia. To give an example, you can get a latte for as little as 1.50 euros and a dinner, depending on where you go, around 15 euros, or even less.

When it comes to hotels, there are all sorts of incredible hotels and hostels, offering plenty of options for all budgets.

How far away is Granada from the beach?

Granada is about 1 hour away from the coast and all the incredible beaches. One of my personal favorite beaches in the Costa del Sol (Malaga) is Nerja – a really cute coastal town with incredible beaches. Nerja is 1.5 hour car ride from Granada.

If you want a closer beach, Motril and Salobreña are both wonderful and are roughly 1 hour away from Granada – by either car or bus.

What is the crime like in Granada?

Not gonna lie, I laughed when I found out this is a frequently asked question.😂

Out of all the places I’ve visited and lived in, I couldn’t be happier to confirm that Granada is one of the safest cities there is!

To speak to the safety levels, I am a young woman who’s able to feel safe walking alone at night in this city.

The only thing you need to look out for is the Roma women who try to offer you a stick of rosemary, and sometimes try to tell you your “fortune”.

As a general note for traveling around Europe, scammers and pickpockets are everywhere – some places more than other. Always keep your belongings close to you, in safe places, and never accept “free” things like rosemary, friendship bracelets, and so forth.

What food is Granada famous for?

Rather than specific food, Granada is particularly famous for its incredible tapas culture – the best in Spain, might I add. Here, every time you order a drink you get a free tapa, “small dish”.

Tapas in Granada aren’t “tiny” bites either. Some spots serve decent-sized plates of paella, montaditos, or stews with your drink. And the best part? The second and third rounds usually come with completely different tapas, so you can easily make a meal out of two drinks.

Specific food wise, Granada is home to the iconic piononos, a sticky, rich little pastry that originated just outside the city in Santa Fe.

You’ll also find Remojón Granadino, a refreshing dish made with oranges, cod, olives, and sometimes hard-boiled egg.

Beyond these, Granada is just a great place to enjoy Andalusian food all around—from fried eggplant with honey to gazpacho in summer, and the most delicious churros.

Whether you’re hopping from one tapas bar to the next or sitting down for a proper menu del día, you’ll eat well here.

Should I see Flamenco in Granada or Seville?

Flamenco originates from Andalusia, but Granada and Seville are home to different styles of Flamenco. Seville is home to Sevillanas and Granada is home to La Zambra Gitana, which was born in the Caves of Sacromonte.

With that said, there’s a few different answers to this question.

Por que no los dos, “why not (visit) both”?

One thing you could do is see a free flamenco performance in the iconic Plaza de España in Seville, and then attend a paid Flamenco show within the unique caves of Sacromonte in Granada. This lets you experience the best of both worlds.😍💃

💃 Discover 8 best Flamenco shows in Granada

You should see a (paid) Flamenco show in Seville if you want to experience an authentic show performed by some of Spain’s most renowned dancers and natives. Here is Seville’s most famous and authentic show – make sure to book soon, before it sells out.👇

You should see a Flamenco show in Granada if you want to experience it right in the home of where the Zambra Gitana was born. These cave shows are very intimate and full of passion. Here is one of the best-rated, traditional flamenco shows.👇

What is the best month to visit Granada?

After living in Granada for the past 3 years, this question seems to get more complicated to answer with time.😂

The early autumn months are the best for the weather, but are also the most crowded as students come back to university and tourism peaks.

The spring months are a mix for several reason – great temperatures but rainy days, allergy season, and festival season.

My first 2 years in Granada it would only rain for a week or two either in March or May, and this year we had almost 2 months of rain and my worst allergy season yet. Tourism also peaks around this time of the year, especially in April with Semana Santa, “Holy Week”.

The summer months are brutal temperature wise, but the best if you want a quiet city. During these months, locals only go outside in the very late afternoon or night time for the cooler temperatures, and tourism is on the lower side.

Winter time in Granada is still fairly busy with tourists, but is a great time if you want to experience the holiday season and cooler temperatures – maybe even go to Sierra Nevada!

Despite Granada being in southern Spain, it sits right next to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and can get quite cold in the winter time. Certainly much colder than destinations like Seville and Malaga.

Which is better, Seville or Granada?

This is a question I am excited to answer more thoroughly in a future post.

Let’s start off with – Seville and Granada are in the same league, neither is better than the other and both are phenomenal.

With that said, they offer very different atmospheres, sights, and experiences. In a short answer, Seville is best for you if you prefer a large city full of things to do, you prefer a hotter climate (especially if you’re visiting in the winter time), and don’t mind more crowds.

Granada, on the other hand, is best for you if you want a small city you can get to know quickly, allowing you to dive deeper, but one that is nonetheless rich in culture, things to do, and see. It’s always cooler (temperature wise) than Seville and has fewer crowds and less tourist traps.

If you can, definitely visit both! Due to the size difference, I strongly recommend spending 3 days in Seville and 2 days in Granada if you want to travel at a slower pace and experience them both on a deeper level.

Want more help with your travels? Check out my Posts!

Here additional posts that will help you out with your upcoming Spain travels!👇

• How to Spend One Day in Granada
• The Ultimate 2 Days in Granada Itinerary
• The Ultimate 7 Day Andalucia Itinerary with Local Tips
• Ultimate Guide to Granada’s Hidden Gems
• All the Best Things to Do in Granada, Spain
• 8 Best Flamenco Shows in Granada: All You Need to Know
• The Ultimate Guide to Granada Tapas & Andalusian Food
• 15 Best Day Trips from Granada

Grab my e-Checklist to make sure you’re properly prepared for Andalusia!👇

📌 Pin it for your Future Spain Travels!

I have to ask…

Which of these burning questions were you most excited to read about? Or, do you have any other burning questions before your trip? Let me know in the comments!😍👇

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