The Best Hiking Trails in Granada: Must-Try Trails and Historic Walks August 19, 2024 – Posted in: Spain, Travel – Tags: Andalusia, Attractions, Granada, Hiking, Hiking Trails, Holiday, Spain, Vacation

Great Hiking Trails in Granada

Most tourists travel to Granada to see the magnificent palace complex Alhambra and the city’s many other attractions. But the Andalusian city is located right next to the Sierra Nevada mountains, making it an exciting hiking destination with many lovely trails.

We visited Granada in March 2023, when the temperature was perfect for a hiking vacation. We are still beginners in the fantastic world of hiking, so the hikes we write about here are accessible to everyone. Even though the trails here aren’t very challenging, you should know that we love to walk and don’t mind covering 20 km. All the trails here can be shortened, extended, and increased in difficulty as you like.

But enough about us – let’s go hiking!

3 Beautiful Hikes in Granada

Spain’s highest mainland peak, Mulhacén, is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. In the mountains, about an hour’s drive from Granada, you can ski, climb, and paraglide. However, we didn’t have enough experience in any of these activities, so instead, we enjoyed two lovely hikes around Granada, as well as some city walks.

In this article, you can read about:

• A hike in the large city park Dehesa del Generalife
• A hike in Los Cahorros de Monachil
• A city walk in the neighborhoods of Albaycin and Sacromonte

Below, you can read our descriptions and experiences of the various hiking trails.

AllTrails

The beautiful viewpoint in the image above would never have been found without the help of AllTrails. The hiking app can be easily installed on your phone, where you can see even the smallest trails known only to the locals.

In the past, we always tried to figure out whether the road would lead to a dead end, but we’ve found the app very helpful when we’re out on new adventures. It’s free to sign up for the first 7 days, and after that, it costs about 40 dollars per year. We don’t get any money for saying this – but we really like AllTrails!

Dehesa del Generalife

Dehesa del Generalife means the Meadows of Generalife, the area that belonged to the sultan’s summer palace. Historically, it would provide a setting for hunting and other entertainments, such as in Dar al-Arusa, the palace for newlyweds.

From Dehesa del Generalife, you have the most stunning views over Granada, Sierra Nevada, Alhambra, and the lush valley to the south. We followed this hiking trail from AllTrails, which led us around the entire park area. Where the trail turns east, we continued a bit further out to Mirador del Cerro del Sol because we saw on the hiking app that there was a small path leading to the viewpoint.

At the top of the mountain, locals gather on Sundays in large groups to grill in the shade of the trees. From the picnic area, you also have a lovely view over Albayzin and Abadía del Sacromonte. If you’re up for a slightly longer hike, we highly recommend packing lunch and heading out to Cerro del Sol to enjoy the snow on the Sierra Nevada peaks.

… and a Few Recommendations

Before you visit Alhambra, we recommend arriving in Granada a few days early. That way, you can take a hike up here, where we found the absolute best place to see the palace from. On the way back down, we passed by the viewpoint at Silla del Moro, the Sultan’s Chair. If you click on the link and go to Google Maps, it’s just east of Generalife and inside the park.

The hike technically starts at La Rauda, the royal burial ground of the Nasrid dynasty. However, we recommend entering through Puerta de las Granadas, into the beautiful park, and up past Alhambra. It provides a great preview of what you can see from the mountain.

There are no restaurants, toilets or water stations on the trail. The route does have some uphill sections, but it’s a hike that everyone can manage.

Los Cahorros de Monachil

Los Cahorros de Monachil is a hike that starts along the Monachil River before moving into the Los Cahorros gorge. It’s one of the most fun hikes we’ve ever done! If you have a fear of heights, you’ll really be challenged on the four hanging bridges, and there’s also some crawling and climbing along the irrigation channels.

The easiest way to get there is by bus no. 0183, which departs from Camino De La Zubia in central Granada several times daily. It takes about an hour to get there and costs 1.55 euros (2023). Get off at Plaza de Miraflores in the town of Monachil. From there, it’s a short walk to the start of the trail.

Los Cahorros de Monachil is a very popular trail, especially on weekends. You may encounter queues at the hanging bridges, as there’s a limit to how many people can cross at once. Many people only hike up to the fourth hanging bridge, but the final steep climb to the top is well worth the effort. The view over the valley is magnificent!

Pack your backpack wisely, as you won’t be able to buy anything along the way. However, there’s a small café by the bus stop where you can rest your feet and get a cold drink while waiting for the bus.

City Walk in Albaycin and Sacromonte

As much as we love nature, we are equally fond of urban hiking. While the newer part of Granada lies in the valley, the city was originally built along the mountainside. This makes the walk around Albaycin, the city’s oldest neighborhood, a hike that can really be felt in your calf muscles!

We’ve written more about Albaycin here Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Granada, where you can read about the city founded by the Moors. When you walk around Albaycin, you can clearly see the traces of the Nasrid dynasty, where the many churches also bear witness to the subsequent Christian reconquest of Spain.

On the first day, we just wandered around the mountain aimlessly, enjoying the views and the beauty of the narrow, cobblestone streets. The next day, we more or less followed the Paseo del Albaicín route from AllTrails, which takes you around all the exciting sights. Feel free to do as we did and extend the hike out to the Roma cave towns in Sacromonte.

Along the way, there are plenty of cozy little bars where you can get something to cool you off and enjoy some shade under the parasols. Have a great hike!

More Tips for Your Vacation in Granada

Find a Great Hotel in Granada

As mentioned, the Alhambra is Spain’s biggest tourist attraction, and naturally, this drives hotel prices in Granada to the higher end. We decided we’d rather stay somewhere a bit cheaper and enjoy a few extra days in the city. As a result, we stayed for a delightful five nights at the Hotel Andalucia Center. It’s about half the price if you’re willing to walk an extra ten minutes outside the city center.

Hotel Andalucia Center is part of a hotel chain where we’ve stayed both in Cordoba and Seville, and the excellent service is consistent throughout. The hotel is located about a 15-minute walk from the center, and with its large underground parking, it’s especially convenient for those on a road trip in Andalusia.

We stayed in one of their standard rooms, which, like all their other hotels, is spacious – and it includes an additional door leading to the bathroom. When you travel often, you come to appreciate such details. 🙂 On top of the hotel, you’ll find a lovely pool with a view over Granada, and the hotel has its own restaurant. In the morning, there’s the usual giant breakfast buffet, which is why we choose this hotel chain again and again.