Granada Province

Granada province clockwise: Granada, Bubion, Baza, Salobreña and Alhama © Michelle Chaplow
Granada province clockwise: Granada, Bubion, Baza, Salobreña and Alhama © Michelle Chaplow

Granada City

Granada province is characterised by extreme variables in landscape and climate, to the extent that you can even ski in the mountains in the morning, and then go diving in the sea in the afternoon. When you've explored the magnificent city of Granada, with its majestic Alhambra palace, venture further afield: visit cave dwellings in a desolate desert-like area, climb the Iberian Peninsula's highest mountains, and lose yourself in the region's rich Moorish history and fortified palaces.

Granada Province

With its spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Nevada's snowy peaks, the provincial capital of Granada is dominated by the Alhambra, an exquisitely designed and decorated Moorish palace that exemplifies the zenith of Muslim art and architecture. But don't miss Granada's other fascinating sights, such as the winding, narrow streets of the Moorish quarter, the Albacín, the impressive Gothic chapel - the Capilla Real - that houses the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs and the adjacent Renaissance cathedral, as well as numerous great bars offering free tapas.

Areas to explore in Granada Province

Granada Province Map
Map of Granada

The Sierra Nevada is a dramatic, rugged and extensive mountain range, the highest in Europe after the Alps and the most significant section of the Cordillera Penibética. The protected area… More →

Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The… More →

The region of mountain villages known as Las Alpujarras clings to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, cloven by deep, sheltered valleys and gorges which run down towards the Mediterranean. '… More →

In Granada province is one of Andalucia's two national parks, the Sierra Nevada, a mountainous region containing the two highest peaks in the Iberian Peninsula and whose summits are often snow-… More →

The smallest waterpark in Granada, located near the provincial capital itself, with just nine rides, but this is enough to keep all ages cooled, refreshed and entertained, including tiny tots who… More →

This area or Comarca encompases the upper part of a picturesque deep valley south of Granada city and west of the Sierra Nevada. This valley comprises many small tributaries that flow into the… More →

The most popular village in Sierra Nevada is well-known amongst snowsports enthusiasts: Monachil being the home of Europe’s southernmost ski resort and the only ski resort in Andalucía. However,… More →

Found to the west of Granada, this area offers a landscape contrasting the red of the Hoya de Guadix with the green of the river valleys. Its most famous attraction is the Sierra Nevada National… More →

Whilst Granada is undoubtedly the most well-known destination, the villages to the north west of the city are extremely interesting in terms of history, culture and environment. Peligros has royal… More →

In the northern part of the Province of Granada is a vast plateau of flatlands surrounded by the highest peaks of the Bética Mountain Range reaching as high as the Sierra de la Sagre at a height… More →

Leaving behind the impressive wooded Sierra de Huétor Natural Park, just a few kilometres east of Granada city, the terrain becomes increasingly dusty and desert-like. Guadix is located in this… More →

The area west of Granada was once a crucial frontier between the Moorish kingdom of Granada and the Christian territory. Today, it is now dotted some dramatically sited villages, on rocky crags or… More →

Sierra Nevada

The second highest mountain range in Europe, the Sierra Nevada National Park is an uninhabited rugged wilderness with snow on its peaks for most of the year. It also has Europe's most southerly ski resort and has some superb climbing and mountaineering opportunities.

Las Alpujarras

The foothills of the Sierra Nevada are known as the Alpujarras, a region of beautiful whitewashed villages, with distinctive Berber architecture, set in attractive valleys and terraced fields. It's excellent hiking territory, especially if you're willing to strike off into the hills with a tent. Some of the villages in Las Alpujarras that are worth visiting include Bubíon, Capileira, Lanjarón, Órgiva Pampaneira, Travélez, Yegen, and Valor.

Natural Parks and Natural Monuments in Granada Province

Designated a natural park in 1989, the 12,128ha Sierra de Huétor is only a few kilometres northeast of the provincial capital of Granada, so it is a popular weekend destination for city dwellers.… More →

Designated a natural park in 1989, this rugged and spectacular limestone mountainous region in the north of Granada province, adjacent to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park… More →

In the northeast of Granada province adjacent to neighbouring Almeria is the sparsely populated 53,649ha Sierra de Baza Natural Park, part of the Cordillera Penibética. Its steep slopes are mainly… More →

The Sierra Nevada is a dramatic, rugged and extensive mountain range, the highest in Europe after the Alps and the most significant section of the Cordillera Penibética. The protected area… More →

The Cárcavas de Marchal Natural Monument is a spectacularly eroded clay massif covering 5.2ha. For many years people have been carving out caves in the Cárcavas de Marchal for habitation. Located… More →

These magnificent waterfalls, Los Infiernos, are located just outside Loja on the Genil river and cover an area of 2.5ha. Apart from its diverse plant, bird and animal species, this stretch of… More →

The only cave open to visitors in Granada province, the 1.2km-long limestone Cueva de las Ventanas is situated 45km north of Granada and just east of Piñar village, on the road to Bogarre. The… More →

South of Granda, on the western edge of the Sierra Nevada National Park, is the Falla de Nigüelas. Here, it's possible to see how a fault line (falla) caused a massive landslide during the… More →

On the southern edge of the Sierra Castril Natural Park is this spectacular and exceptional rocky outcrop, the Peña de Castril, which looms large over the whitewashed houses of Castril village.… More →

In the foothills of the Sierra Almijara on Granada's Costa Tropical is the seaside resort of Almuñécar, with a dramatic coastline of plunging cliff faces, secluded coves with beaches tucked away… More →

Destinations