Spain's most visited monument and the finest example of Islamic architecture in Western Europe crowns a forested hill overlooking Granada, its red fortress walls concealing palaces of unimaginable beauty. The Nasrid Palaces reveal the sophistication of Moorish civilization through honeycomb muqarnas ceilings, geometric tilework, and the poetic inscriptions that cover every surface praising Allah and the sultans who created this earthly paradise. The Generalife summer palace, Alcazaba fortress, and Charles V's Renaissance palace complete a complex that took over 250 years to build and represents the final flowering of Al-Andalus before the Catholic Monarchs' conquest in 1492.

Granada's main square has served as the city's social heart since the 16th century, its elegant facades now housing cafes and restaurants where locals and visitors gather beneath the watchful gaze of the Alhambra rising above. The square marks the meeting point of the historic center, the Albaicín, and the Carrera del Darro, making it the natural starting point for exploring the city's interconnected neighborhoods. Street musicians often perform here while the Royal Chancery's Renaissance arcades provide shaded seating for those watching Granada's daily passeggiata unfold.

This romantic riverside promenade follows the Darro River beneath the Alhambra's walls, passing Renaissance palaces, ancient bridges, and the Arab baths that recall Granada's eight centuries under Moorish rule. The street's cobblestones, cascading bougainvillea, and views up to the fortress create one of Spain's most picturesque walks, immortalized by countless painters and poets who fell under Granada's spell. Casa Castril houses the Archaeological Museum while the Bañuelos Arab baths, among Spain's oldest, preserve the star-pierced ceiling and horseshoe arches of 11th-century Granada.

This UNESCO-listed medieval Moorish quarter climbs the hill facing the Alhambra, its maze of narrow alleys, whitewashed houses, and hidden carmenes (walled gardens) preserving the atmosphere of Islamic Granada. The neighborhood's steep cobblestone streets reveal unexpected plazas, ancient cisterns, and the remains of mosques converted to churches after the Reconquista. Getting lost in the Albaicín is part of its magic—every corner offers new views of the Alhambra, and the absence of cars creates a peaceful atmosphere where time seems to have stopped centuries ago.

This famous viewpoint offers the most celebrated panorama in all of Spain: the Alhambra's red walls and towers framed against the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, with the sun setting the entire scene ablaze in shades of gold and crimson. Former President Bill Clinton declared it the most beautiful sunset in the world, and crowds gather each evening to witness the spectacle while street musicians play Spanish guitar. The plaza surrounding the church of San Nicolás fills with artists, vendors, and dreamers who have made this pilgrimage destination the symbolic heart of romantic Granada.

Granada's legendary cave neighborhood has been home to the Roma community since the 15th century, their whitewashed cave dwellings carved into the hillside becoming the birthplace of zambra, the raw, passionate form of flamenco that still electrifies visitors in intimate cave performances. The Camino del Sacromonte winds past cactus-draped slopes and improvised shrines to the Abbey at its summit, where pilgrims have venerated relics since the 16th century. The Cuevas del Sacromonte museum preserves traditional cave dwellings while evening zambra shows in the surviving cuevas offer authentic flamenco experiences unavailable anywhere else in Spain.

The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella chose Granada as their final resting place, commissioning this elaborate Gothic chapel to house their tombs in the city whose conquest fulfilled their crusading dreams. The ornate Plateresque entrance leads to an interior where the monarchs' marble tombs, carved with stunning realism, lie above the simple lead coffins in the crypt below. The sacristy museum displays Isabella's crown, Ferdinand's sword, and Flemish paintings from the queen's personal collection, offering intimate glimpses of the rulers who united Spain and sponsored Columbus.

Built on the site of Granada's main mosque immediately after the Christian conquest, this Renaissance masterpiece took 181 years to complete, its massive proportions designed to proclaim the triumph of Christianity over Islam. The cathedral's luminous interior, painted entirely in white and gold, creates an atmosphere of celestial light that contrasts dramatically with the ornate chapels and Diego de Siloé's revolutionary circular chancel. The unfinished second tower reminds visitors of the ambitious scale originally planned, while the cathedral's position at the heart of the old city makes it the natural center of Christian Granada.

This narrow warren of streets occupies the site of Granada's medieval silk market, where Moorish merchants once traded precious fabrics from across the Islamic world. A devastating fire in 1843 destroyed the original bazaar, but the rebuilt streets preserve the intimate scale and merchant atmosphere, now filled with shops selling Moroccan lamps, leather goods, and inlaid wooden boxes. The streets' Moorish-style archways and tourist bustle create a taste of souq culture at the heart of Christian Granada, though today's treasures tend more toward souvenirs than silk.

Granada's most popular square for locals and visitors alike centers on an elaborate fountain surrounded by flower stalls, outdoor cafes, and the animated conversation that defines Andalusian social life. The square's history includes bullfights, executions, and Inquisition auto-da-fés, but today its atmosphere is purely convivial, with families gathering for churros con chocolate and friends meeting for tapas at the surrounding bars. The square's position between the Cathedral and Alcaicería makes it a natural crossroads where all of Granada seems to pass through during the evening paseo.

Granada's legendary tapas culture survives most authentically along Calle Navas and the surrounding streets, where ordering a drink still brings a complimentary tapa and bar-hopping remains a cherished local tradition. Each bar serves its own specialties—one famous for its jamón, another for its croquetas, a third for its fresh seafood—encouraging the progressive eating and drinking that can turn an evening into an epic culinary journey. The system dates from laws requiring innkeepers to serve food with alcohol, but Granada has preserved the tradition while most Spanish cities have abandoned it for paying tapas.

This romantic promenade along the Darro River takes its melancholy name from the funeral processions that once passed toward the cemetery, but today its restaurant terraces and direct views of the Alhambra make it one of Granada's most beloved evening destinations. The illuminated palace seems close enough to touch from the outdoor tables, and the combination of floodlit beauty, flowing wine, and warm Andalusian nights creates an atmosphere of pure romance. By day, the paseo offers peaceful strolls past Renaissance facades and ancient bridges, connecting Plaza Nueva to the upper Albaicín.

Granada's former Jewish quarter stretches below the Alhambra's walls, its streets now home to some of the city's best tapas bars, street art, and the bohemian atmosphere that has attracted artists and students for generations. The neighborhood's Jewish heritage was erased after the expulsion of 1492, but atmospheric streets like Campo del Príncipe preserve the intimate scale and community feeling of pre-Reconquista Granada. The quarter's alternative vibe, independent boutiques, and excellent restaurants make it a favorite for visitors seeking Granada beyond the tourist standards.