What to do in Granada in winter?

Winter visits to Granada have the attraction of the city, which is joined by the smell of roasted chestnuts from the corner stalls during October and November, the Christmas decorations during the month of December and part of January and, of course, the celebration of the Three Wise Men.

It is also traditional to celebrate San Antón’s day with its popular pot to warm and fill with energy anyone who dares to taste its ‘pringá’, in addition to the different bonfires, lights or ‘chiscos’ that take place in some towns in the province of Granada around January 17. It is said that this dish evokes San Antón in its name due to the different ingredients based on pork that make up this typical Granada dish, such as blood sausage.

Any excuse is good to visit Granada and the least important thing is the time of year you do it. The main advantages of visiting Granada in winter are 3: you will find the city without the overcrowding typical of summer, prices will have dropped significantly as it is not high season and it is a perfect occasion to practice winter sports in Sierra Nevada, since you will be very close to places such as Pradollano or Borreguiles.

What other winter traditions are there in Granada?

Let’s take a closer look at what traditions continue to be maintained year after year (despite the turbulent years of 2020 and 2021) throughout the city of Granada and which serve in some way as an introduction and culmination of the Christmas holidays. In fact, there is a very popular saying that says: “Until San Antón, Easter is.”

On January 2, just after the beginning of the year, Granada is decked out to commemorate the Christian reconquest of the city by the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando. This event is known as Día de la Toma and serves to symbolize the new era of the History of the Iberian Peninsula once the keys to the city until then of Boabdil the Younger were handed over.

We recommend that you take this tour of the Albaicín and Sacromonte during this time to taste the Olla de San Antón at this time of year. As you know, the typical tapas of Granada and other Andalusian provinces can be tried all year round, the Olla de San Antón only on a few days a year. It is a kind of stew or casserole with beans and ingredients from pork such as blood sausage. The link with the saint protector of animals, San Antón, was only a matter of time. Thanks to this high-calorie dish, it was possible to endure the days spent picking olives, which also take place between December and January.

Granada in winter, nature in its purest form

The city of Granada would be nothing without its faithful protector. The Sierra Nevada is named after having been covered in snow to a greater or lesser extent all year round. Nowadays, it is increasingly difficult, so if you want to make sure you visit the Sierra Nevada to practice your favorite sports, come in winter. In summer, it can be interesting to climb one of its peaks such as Mulhacén or Veleta.

From a tourist point of view, it is one of the greatest attractions of the city. Can you imagine the impressive photo taken from the San Nicolás viewpoint with the Alhambra in the background and the Sierra Nevada covered in a white blanket? It is worth seeing, at least in person.

Don’t forget that winter can also be a perfect occasion to visit the most visited monument in Spain each year: the Alhambra. With this tour of the Nasrid palaces you and your partner or small group will be able to discover all the ins and outs of this palatine city with a triple character that continues to amaze so many people over the centuries.

Don’t be overconfident with the South in winter

A Granada proverb says that in Granada the 4 seasons are: winter, summer, train and bus. Jokes aside, it is true that temperatures in the city of the Alhambra can reach an average of 8-9 ª C in winter during the morning. For this reason we recommend that you wrap up in lots of layers and gloves to enjoy the experience in the most comfortable way and without chattering your teeth.

If you are already prepared for the Granada winter, we continue with the tour recommendations. This tour takes place in the Realejo, the old Jewish quarter of the city. Other options that you can take advantage of if you think it is too cold is to opt for the plans that may be indoors. We present two options: the first would be a visit to the Parque de las Ciencias, which is the largest museum in Andalusia where you can touch and experiment with the different exhibitions it has, that is, it is the largest interactive museum in Andalusia. Or, if you prefer, you can choose this private tour of the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, the eternal resting place of the Catholic Monarchs, as a second option. It should be noted that this tour begins at the Alhambra, so it can be perfect to make the most of the day.

Wide variety of winter sports in Granada

As we hinted in previous paragraphs, one of the main attractions of Granada is its ski resort. In the vicinity of the highest areas of Sierra Nevada there is a complex with quality services such as restaurants, equipment rental, hotels, etc. that will make your winter getaway to Sierra Nevada an unforgettable experience.

You will not only be able to ski down the mountainside. There are introductory courses on green and blue slopes, chairlifts and high-quality snow. Another advantage of visiting Sierra Nevada is that the ski slopes are open even at night. In addition to skiing, you can snowboard, rent snowmobiles and cross-country skiing or snowshoes at Puerto de la Ragua. In addition, whether in the Sierra or in the city, you have two ice rinks available where you can even skate.

Don’t think twice and contact us to organize the best possible activities that you could do in the capital of Granada. Sierra Nevada has nothing to envy of other European skiing references. The climate is fantastic, as are the facilities and, to make matters worse, it is the southernmost resort above the equator. In addition, in Granada there is the paradox that you could be skiing in the Sierra in the morning and on the coast of Motril (Costa Tropical) in the afternoon bathing on the beach or sunbathing.

If you want to live a different winter with your loved ones, come now and enjoy all the experiences that we propose in this publication. You won’t regret visiting the city no matter the time of year, Granada is still shrouded in an aura of mystery and charm that will not go away with the passage of time. It will always be a place of passage and meeting for various people who throughout history have given the city its current character and personality and, of course, in each of the inhabitants who populate it. These are unmistakable on many levels, not only because of the accent or the ‘no, ni, ná’.

Flamenco and culture in Granada

Finally, we would not like to end this post without presenting one of the best activities to do in Granada and, in fact, it can also be done indoors. We present the tour to see a flamenco show live and of the highest quality. You will be able to enjoy the most representative tradition of Andalusian folklore without having to understand much, since it is a music that is to be felt and not to be understood, to empathize with the pain or joy of the songs and, ultimately, to feel in some way the feeling of an entire people throughout the centuries.

If you go to Granada and have time to spare, do not forget that it is a great option to also explore areas of the province of Granada. Numerous municipalities have recently been included in the area occupied by the Quaternary Geopark “Valles del Norte” of Granada. It is an area of ​​notable geological importance that has shaped unique landscapes and orography that give its essence to the area. Particularly interesting are areas such as the Alpujarras (especially towns such as Soportújar, Trevélez or Güéjar-Sierra), the halfway point towards the Altiplano granadino (Puerto de la Mora and Las Mimbres area) and, finally, the impressive desert of Gorafe “Los Coloraos”, one of the first human settlements of primitive man in Europe and one of the largest examples of dolmens that are still in a good state of conservation.

We hope you liked the post and do not hesitate to contact us if you need to suggest a variant of any of the tours. We are sure to find the option that best suits your budget and the group of people accompanying you. Thanks to NHUE you will be able to live the best experience visiting the city of Granada in winter. If you want to see it in summer, do not forget that we can also help you by suggesting the best tours in summer.