Albaicín
The Moorish quarter that outlasted the Moors.
The Albaicin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though it does not feel like one. It feels like a neighborhood where people hang laundry from Moorish arches and park scooters against medieval walls. The street plan has not changed since the 14th century. The residents have adapted it to the 21st.
This walk climbs from the river to the mirador, passing bathhouses, carmens, and the narrow lanes where Granada’s Islamic past is most visible. The views of the Alhambra from the top are the reward for the ascent — and the reason every guidebook sends you here at sunset.
The climb is real. Take water. Take your time.
What you'll discover
·Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset draws hundreds. The Alhambra turns gold against the Sierra Nevada.
·A Moorish bathhouse on Calle del Darro that was bricked up for 400 years before anyone noticed.
·The carmens — walled gardens invisible from the street — hide behind every second door.
·3 mosques survived the Reconquista by becoming churches. The minarets became bell towers.
·Calle Calderería Nueva sells Moroccan tea and leather goods. It has smelled like mint since the 1990s.
·A cistern beneath Plaza Larga that stored water for 10,000 people during the Moorish period.
Hear what it's like
Stop 6 of Albaicín. Mirador de San Nicolás.
“Every guidebook sends you here at sunset. They are not wrong. The Alhambra turns gold against the Sierra Nevada and nobody says a word.”
Each walk has 9+ stops like this. Sample a few free in the app.
Before you go
Best time
Late afternoon. The climb is cooler and you arrive at San Nicolás in time for sunset.
Getting there
Start at Plaza Nueva in the city center. The Albaicín begins up the hill on Carrera del Darro.
Duration
50 minutes. The hills are steep — allow more time than you think.
Footwear
Steep cobblestone lanes. Sturdy shoes with grip are essential — it can be slippery after rain.
€3.99
This walk. 30 days.
Or all 4 Granada walks for €18.99
Open in app2 devices. One can be a friend's.