Attractions Nearby Granada, Day Trips and Excursions

(Granada, Andalucia, Spain)

Many attractions stand close to Granada's outskirts and art worth the relatively short trip. With mountain ranges offering hiking trails, to small towns and villages, attractions nearby Granada have become popular day trips and excursions for visitors to the city, such as the village of Loja, known for its ancient Alcazaba fortress, which is around 1,100 years old.

Close to the Mediterranean coastline, many sandy beaches and coastal attractions are just a short trip from Granada, offering a range of water sports along what has become known as the Costa Tropical. Also worth noting, the major beach resort of Malaga stands just 132 km / 82 miles from Granada and is connected by a fast motorway, with the attractions of Marbella, Torremolinos and Seville also within driving distance of Granada.

Torremolinos

One of the most famous resorts on Spain's sunny Costa del Sol, Torremolinos lies between Malaga and Marbella, within easy reach of Granada, and features a population of approximately 53,000. Torremolinos is around 146 km / 91 miles southwest of Granada and can be reached in roughly one and a half hours. Home to an excellent selection of beaches, the most popular beaches in Torremolinos are connected to Granada by a range of transport options and include Playamar Beach, La Carihuela Beach, Montemar Beach, El Saltillo and also Los Alamos Beach. The lively and sunny resort of Torremolinos is known for its tourist appeal and contains many excellent attractions. Close to Granada, some of the countless attractions in the Torremolinos area include the Paseo Maritimo de Torre del Mar - a spectacular seafront promenade, Tivoli World - one of the area's oldest and most notable theme parks, Aqualand - containing a mixture of rides and water slides, Benalmadena Marina - lined with shops, restaurants and bars, and the nearby Sea Life Centre - with an array of marine attractions and large aquariums.
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Marbella

This popular coastal resort lies to the west of both Malaga and Torremolinos, with many stunning beaches stretching along the coastline, particularly around the 'Golden Mile', together with the City Boardwalk (Paseo Maritimo). Marbella is located 182 km / 113 miles southwest of Granada and can be reached in less than two hours. With a population of around 121,000 and many appealing attractions, Marbella is an enticing city, often attracting visitors from Granada. Many attractions in Marbella are based around the endless seafront, with a range of water sports on offer. Close to Granada, further attractions in Marbella include the José Banús Port (Puerto Deportivo José Banús), Los Naranjos Square (Plaza de Los Naranjos), the Marbella Vaults (Las Bóvedas), and the 10th-century Castle Walls (Murallas del Castillo).
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Malaga

Malaga stands to the east of Torremolinos and Marbella, along the Mediterranean coastline. Around 132 km / 82 miles southwest of Granada, Malaga can be reached in less than one and a half hours and contains many spectacular beach attractions, such as the Playa de La Malagueta, Playa de La Misericordia, Playa de Las Acacias and Playa del Chanquete. Based around the beautiful Bahia de Malaga (Bay of Malaga), this famous resort is within easy driving distance of Granada. Many visitors staying in Granada travel to Malaga to enjoy the many highly regarded attractions, including La Alcazaba - a 9th-century Muslim palace, the 14th-century Castillo de Gibralfaro - complete with museum and harbour views, and numerous spacious public squares, such as the Plaza de la Constitución, the Plaza de La Merced and the Plaza y Acera de La Marina.
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Seville

Known locally as Sevilla, Seville has become Spain's fourth largest city and the capital of the Andalusia area, within driving distance of Granada. Situated approximately 262 km / 163 miles west of Granada, Seville can be reached in around two and a half hours. Seville has a population of around 720,000 and in recent years, much of the city has been pedestrianised, with many quality attractions close to each other. Popular tourist attractions and sights in Seville include the vast Parque Maria Luisa in the city centre, the semicircular Plaza de Espana, Seville's ancient 15th-century cathedral, the charming River Guadalquivir, and a good range of interesting museums and art galleries, such as the superb Fine Arts Museum.
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La Alpujarras

Tel: +34 958 226 688
A notable mountain range between the Sierra Nevada area and the famous Costa del Sol, the La Alpujarras is a particularly scenic spot, close to Granada. A large number of terraced villages make up the La Alpujarras area and are worth exploring, including Bubión, Capileira, Lanjarón, Mecina, Orvija, Pampaneira, Soportuja, Trevelez and Valor

Alhama de Granada

Alhama De Granada is a particularly scenic resort close to Granada, featuring superb views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. With an attractive coastline and clear water ideal for many water sports, attractions at Alhama include the Iglesia Mayor and the nearby Los Infiernos waterfalls. Alhama is situated around 37 miles/ 60 km from Granada and is easy to find.

Almeria

Standing at the base of the Alcazaba mountain range, the city of Almeria is famous for being home to a grand, historic Arab fortress, which dominates much of the area. Almeria also contains a number of excellent restaurants and speciality shops.

Baza

The town of Baza is located around 68 miles / 109 km from Granada and offers a number of appealing attractions, include an interesting Archaeological Museum. Also worth a look are historical Arabian baths, the Colegiata monastery and cave paintings in nearby Huescar.

Guadix

Full of Arabian and Roman history, Guadix is a popular day trip and lies approximately 40 km / 64 miles from Granada. With remains of cave dwellings, a Renaissance-style cathedral and the historic Santiago Church, Guadix is one of Spain's oldest communities.

Illora

Illora stands close to Castillejo, around 25 miles / 40 km from Granada. Offering a range of attractions, Illora was once a major Roman settlement and is known for its magnificent church, the Iglesia de la Encarnación, which dates back to the era of King Charles V. The ancient Iberian settlement of Hipo-Nova can also be found nearby.

Loja

Home to the historical Alcazaba fortress, an ancient structure dating back to 890 AD, the Loia village is full of charm and character. Featuring a number of notable monuments and landmarks, this traditional Andalusian-style village stands in the Genil River valley and features many scenic views. Loja is also home to the Church of San Gabriel, an eye-catching church which dates back to the 1700s.

Montefrio

The town of Montefrio can be found in the heart of a beautiful mountain range and is best known for its magnificent castle, the Castillo de la Villa, which dates back to the late 15th century and was built on the site of an ancient Moorish fortress. Standing around 35 miles / 56 km from Granada, other attractions in Montefrio include the Neoclassical-style churches Iglesia de la Encarnación and Iglesia de San Antonio.

Sierra Nevada

Address: Autovia a Granada, Spain
Some of the highest areas of the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains offer year-round skiing and a range of other winter sports and recreational attractions. Skiing in the lower part of the Sierra Nevada range is generally possible between November and May. Just 22 miles / 35 km from Granada, the Sierra Nevada is a particularly sunny spot and features an abundance of native flora and fauna. During the summer months, outdoor attractions include hiking trails, trekking and mountain biking, all of which offer superb views of the surrounding countryside, particularly along the Carretera Granada-Veleta, the highest road in the whole of Europe.