The Best Views in Granada (Spain).
Granada has lots of great views. In this post I’ll cover the ones I consider the best (we’ve lived in Granada almost 2 years), from the well-known viewpoints to some that most people have never heard of.
The Best Views in Granada’s Albaicin
Granada’s Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter (a UNESCO World heritage site) has some of the best viewpoints in Granada. That’s because the neighbourhood is built up on a steep hill and looks across towards the Alhambra, which is built on another steep hill right across the way.
There are lots of viewpoints in the Albaicin, but here the ones I think are the absolute best.
Mirador de San Nicolas
I´m starting with the most famous and most popular viewpoint in Granada – the Mirador de San Nicolas. Situated in the heart of the Albaicin, it looks right across at the Alhambra and the mountains of the Sierra Nevada beyond. It can get quite busy though and you might find yourself having to lift your camera over people’s heads to get in those incredible views. Tip: most people don’t know this, but the Mezquita Mayor (the main mosque of Granada) is about a 2-minute walk away and has the same views and a lot less people.
Mirador San Miguel Alto
Not technically a mirador, this church is situated on the highest point in Granada, at the top of the Albaicin. A bit of a hike to get to (count on about 15 minutes from Mirador de San Nicolas) but it is worth the views. Gets very popular around the time the sun sets.
Mirador Cruz de la Rauda
Most people don’t know about this mirador – it is down the steps from Mirador San Miguel Alto (about 5 minutes downhill) and has unique perspectives on both the Albaicin and the Alhambra across the way.
Vereda de Enmedio
It’s not a viewpoint, it’s a lane leading from the Albaicin to the Sacromonte neighbourhood. All along the lane, which skirts the hill, you’ll find different viewpoints. The Albaicin to Sacromonte walk takes about 15 minutes and I’d recommend doing a return walk. Tour guides bring tourists here, but otherwise you won’t see many other people. It’s one of our favorite scenic walks in Granada.
This post covers all the viewpoints in Granada’s Albaicin and gives you a route to visit them all (note: the post is on our Mapping Spain website where we have Spain-only content. Follow us there if you are considering spending a lot of time travelling around Spain).
The Alhambra and around
The Alcazaba in the Alhambra
The Alhambra is one of the most famous attractions in Spain with the highlights being the Nasrid palaces, the Alcazaba (fortress) and the Generalife gardens. You’ll need a ticket to visit them (see my guide to the Alhambra).
The views from the Alcazaba are among the best in Granada – from here you look straight down on the city in one direction and across towards the Sierra Nevada in the other. It feels like you’re at the top of the world.
Silla de Moro
The Silla de Moro, also known as the Moor’s chair (and also known as Saint Helen’s Castle) has a unique perspective – it actually looks down on the Alhambra.
A small castle built in the 13th century, it guarded the Alhambra’s water supply. There’s not much to it now and it is rarely open (just Saturdays and Sunday) but don’t let that bother you…the path leading to the castle has fantastic views of the Alhambra, the city and (if you continue along the path) towards the Abbey of Sacromonte. Few people know about this spot except for locals jogging or walking their dogs.
How to get there: about 20 minutes from the main entrance of the Alhambra. Go to the 3rd parking lot after the entrance, cut through the lot. It’ll take you to a wide dirt path. Follow that. If still not sure, just google “Silla de Moro”.
Cuesta del Rey Chico
Our favorite walk in Granada which takes you around the entirety of the Alhambra, giving you lots of great views along the way. I detail it here. You’ll end up at Paseo de los Tristes which deserves its own listing as having one of the best views in Granada.
The Best Views in Granada’s Realejo
The neighbourhood of Realejo (the former Jewish guetto) is another place with lots of great views, both of the Alhambra (albeit from the opposite side to those from the Albaicin) and towards the Sierra Nevada.
Cuesta de Realejo
There is nice wide series of steps from Plaza del Realejo leading up to the Hotel Alhambra Palace. Besides being another nice walk, there are some fabulous views along the way of the Sierra Nevada, especially spectacular in the winter.
Hotel Alhambra Palace
It’s one of our favorite places to come for a drink, especially on a cold winter day when you can enjoy the sun and look over the city towards the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
Torres Bermejas
This fortress sits at the top of Realejo, looking towards the Alhambra across the way. It, along with the Alcazaba, was the earliest part of the defensive system of Granada. You can visit the fortress for free, but it is only open Saturday and Sundays. There are some great views here overlooking the city as well as towards the Alhambra.
Mirador de la Churra
A little walk up from the tourist crowds at Plaza Nueva, up a few alleys…and you get to this great viewpoint looking out over the Albaicin. Chances are that you’ll be the only person there.
Other great views around Granada
Caleta tram stop and Av. De la Constitución
A bit out of the center, Caleta tram station has very different and very unexpected views of the skyline of the Albaicin. It is the start of another of our favorite walks; the walk along the pedestrian strip of Avenida De la Constitución where you get an even better perspective of the Albaicin. It leads you to the next spot…
Elvira Gate
Walking along Av. De la Constitución, keep an eye out to the left. You’ll see the Elvira gate, part of a large defensive structure built by the Moors in the 14th century. It marks the edge of the Albaicin neighbourhood on this side of the city.
Note: Going through the gate and keeping to your right, you’ll see a series of steps leading up. If you follow the steep stairs, they’ll take you up into the Albaicin, bringing you to Mirador de la Lona. From there you can do the route of the Albaicin miradors that I detailed at the top of this post.
Others…
Granada has so many great views and I can’t list them all here. A few are at paying sites such as the Sacromonte Caves Museum, Casa del Chapiz (free on Saturdays but a few Euros otherwise), and Carmen de la Victoria (free, but you have to reserve in advance). More on the last two in my guide to the Albaicin.
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