We present all the viewpoints of Granada. Here you have an essential tool for visiting Granada. We have designed it especially for those of you who like to explore cities on foot, get to incredible places and experience magical moments at sunset.
First of all, a viewpoint is “a well-placed place to contemplate a landscape or an event” (RAE). If we stick to this, the list would be infinite in Granada, so we will focus on those recognised as “miradors”.
To make it more useful we will organise the viewpoints by neighbourhood. At the end of the post you will find the map and a proposal of several walking routes.
NOTE: In this post we do not include the viewpoints located inside the Alhambra, if you want more complete information about the Palatine City you will find it here.
What you will find here
REALEJO VIEWPOINTS
The Realejo of today is a group of neighbourhoods dating from medieval times. The Mauror, as the hill parallel to that of the Sabika (where the Alhambra is located) was called, is the place where almost all the viewpoints of this neighbourhood are concentrated.
SUN PLATE VIEWPOINT
The charm of this small square lies in its views and the old washing place that still stands. In the past they were scattered all over Granada, but nowadays this is the last standing washhouse in the city. Nowadays it is hard to imagine how the women washed their clothes and the men watered their beasts in this place, but that is how it was not so long ago.
The views are impressive, but the most peculiar thing about this viewpoint is the old washing place.
MIRADOR DE LA CHURRA
This is one of the most talked-about viewpoints on the internet, and not surprisingly, it is located just below the Alcazaba of the Alhambra and its views are very similar to those enjoyed from the monument. It is a small cobbled square facing the Albaicín. As is often the case in these secluded spots, the viewpoint is surrounded by houses, so it is advisable to act responsibly and avoid noise.
From the viewpoint of La Churra in one of our guided tours.
MIRADOR DEL CARMEN DE LOS MÁRTIRES
Domestic and recreational building dating from the 19th century and consisting of a mansion and large gardens in French, English and Spanish style. Highlights: the refined historicist character of the building, the large pond, the sculptures distributed along the paths, the vegetable garden and the wonderful views over the city. Located in the vicinity of the Alhambra, it is an ideal place for strolling and social recreation. Within the Carmen de los Mártires there are several points with great panoramic views, all of which are shown on the map.
If you want to see a picture of the Carmen de los Mártires follow the link, here we have used the one of the bench at the entrance of the Carmen de los Mártires because we find it very suggestive.
EXTERIOR OR TERRACE OF THE ALHAMBRA PALACE
This five-star hotel has a large terrace overlooking the Realejo. Between whitewashed houses covered with tiled roofs, the cypress trees of the cármenes and the private patios stand out. Drinking tea or sharing a romantic dinner are some of the options if you want to enjoy this place. Besides, the Alhambra Palace is a place with a lot of history. If you decide not to go inside, the views from the steps leading down to the Realejo are also very nice.
Viewpoint next to the Alhambra Palace Hotel. The descent of the slope of the Realejo starts between the carmenes.
ALBAICÍN VIEWPOINTS
It is the most Andalusian quarter of Granada, also the oldest, most visited and best known. It is full of great places and small details that you will love. If you want to complete the information about this neighbourhood you have to know our “Guide to the Albaicín” (includes downloadable PDF). Now let’s go to these viewpoints of Granada.
ERMITA DE SAN MIGUEL ALTO
We start with one of the most popular, everyone talks about it. Except on rainy winter days, it’s packed every weekend. However, in the year 2000 it was common to walk up here and not see anyone. It is one of the highest in Granada and has panoramic views of more than 180º. Of course, it’s a steep climb up from the Albaicín.
Much more about San Miguel Alto.
A day of light and shadow, great for photography from San Miguel Alto.
MIRADOR CRUZ DE LA RAUDA
On the way to San Miguel Alto is the Cruz de Rauda. A small viewpoint has been built there with views of the Alhambra and the Albaicín and is rather quieter than the previous one. Behind it is the Cruz de Rauda. Granada was once full of crosses, although few remain today. Many of these crosses were built by wealthy families or groups of neighbours to manifest their Christianity. Of course, these crosses are linked to the famous Fiesta del Día de la Cruz de Granada.
Popularised in recent years, but still reserved for those who dare to go off the typical tourist routes.
MIRADOR CUESTA DE LOS CHINOS / VEREA DE ENMEDIO
This is another of those places that have become popular in recent years. It is a passing street from where you can see the Alhambra in all its splendour. If you’re on your way to Sacromonte via the Verea de Enmedio, you’ll find it.
Less known and on the way to Sacromonte. It is nice to find these places on a walk through the Albaicín.
MIRADOR DE SAN CRISTÓBAL
The San Cristóbal viewpoint, located on the old Murcia road, is one of the highest viewpoints in the city. It offers unique views that include the Albaicín, the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada. It is one of the few viewpoints from which you can see part of the old city wall, making it well worth a visit.
Before you the first medieval fence of the city of the Albaicín, and therefore of Granada.
MIRADOR DE LA LONA
Follow our list of Granada’s viewpoints, now with views of the modern and contemporary city. The Mirador de la Lona overlooks the Zenete. This was one of the former quarters of the Zirid Madinat Garnata. It faces completely west, so you can imagine what the sunsets are like from there.
Spectacular views of the city and the Vega of Granada await you from the carril de la Lona.
OJO DE GRANADA (MIRADOR CRUZ DE QUIRÓS)
It is known among young people as the Ojo de Granada, although its official name is not that. It is a very small square where barely 10 people can fit. The charm is its marvellous views, but the place is somewhat abandoned and full of graffiti.
Mirador del Ojo de Granada.
PLACETA DEL ÁLAMO DEL MARQUÉS
Continuing with the viewpoints facing west, the Álamo del Marqués square is a still a quiet place. From here you can see the cathedral, the Vega and the mountains to the south. It has some benches where you can rest and archaeological remains from the Iberian period. The only problem is the opening hours, as it is built on an underground car park and the square is closed every night.
The views are very similar to those of the Ojo de Granada, but the viewpoint of the Alamo del Marques is worth the visit.
PLACETA CRISTO DE LAS AZUCENAS
They also call it the viewpoint of Santa Isabel la Real because it is close to the convent. The views are not the most spectacular, but it is a large square in the centre of the Albaicín. It has gardens in paratas (several levels) with water channels and geometric fountains of Arabic inspiration.
A good option to see the Alcazaba of the Alhambra with Sierra Nevada in the background.
MIRADOR DE SAN NICOLÁS
A must on your first visit to Granada. Famous for having the best views of the Alhambra and for having one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. It is a very lively place where you can breathe a flamenco atmosphere thanks to the local artists who usually sing there. On weekends you can usually find a market of handicraft products, although if you don’t like crowds it’s best to visit it during the week.
The last rays of the sun over the Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop.
COURTYARD OF THE MEZQUITA MAYOR OF THE ALBAICÍN
Two steps beyond San Nicolás, the new Great Mosque of the Albaicín was built. You can visit the landscaped courtyard, which offers views very similar to those from the San Nicolás viewpoint. There you can sit and relax on the edge of the flowerbeds planted with typical Andalusian species: olive, lavender, pomegranate, orange and lemon trees. This is a good option when San Nicolás is in full swing.
This peace can be felt on a weekday morning at the Mirador de la Mezquita del Albaicin.
PLACETA DEL COMINO
And we arrive at one of our favourite viewpoints in Granada. We don’t know if it could really be considered a viewpoint, although it has some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the city. It is a small square, secluded and enveloped by vegetation in spring and summer. The Alhambra towers over the wall of the carmen opposite, revealing its full profile.
Placeta del Comino, a secluded viewpoint in the Albaicin.
PLACETA DE CARVAJALES
Plazaleta de Albaicineros and almost always frequented by young people and travellers with a free soul. It’s not uncommon to hear flamenco chords and flamenco quejíos. The centre of the square is crossed by an elongated canal that simulates the pools and ditches of the Andalusian houses and palaces. The square also has two fountains: a modern fountain at the top and a historic pillar at the bottom.
This is a frequent photo of the Placeta de los Carvajales among those who observe in detail every corner.
PLAZA DE LA VICTORIA
Almost in line with the great tower of Comares (the tallest tower in the Alhambra), the Plaza de la Victoria is definitely a quiet place. Perhaps the square itself is not one of the prettiest because it has lost some of the large trees it once had. However, the views and the peace of the place make up for it. In the Albaicín guide we tell you more about the history of this square.
Quiet and shady square in the summer afternoons in what was the orchard of the convent of La Victoria del Albaicín.
SACROMONTE VIEWPOINTS
Many of Granada’s viewpoints are to be found in the Sacromonte district. Let’s discover them.
MIRADOR DEL CAMINO DEL SACROMONTE
As you climb the first slope of the Sacromonte path you will find this viewpoint. Unlike the viewpoints in the Albaicín, the Sacromonte viewpoints are located across from the Generalife. The Alhambra is still there, but now we can see it from a different perspective. It is not a place to stop much because of its proximity to the road.
Viewpoint on the road to Sacromonte in winter.
PLACETA DE LA LOMILLA
It is a tiny square where only a bench and a water fountain fit. Located in the Verea de Enmedio, where the views are a constant feature, it is a place with a special charm.
Mirador de la placeta de la Lomilla on one of those days when the snow surprises Granada (
MARIO MAYA’S VIEWPOINT
Also in the “Verea de Enmedio” is the Mirador de Mario Maya. Although he was not born in Granada, this city has a special link and appreciation for the choreographer and flamenco dancer. Prickly pears, purple trees in spring, a painter with an easel or the sound of a flamenco guitar are some of the hallmarks of this viewpoint in Sacromonte.
Mirador de Mario Maya, to the right would be the Alhambra, but we loved the parapet under the spring purple of Granada.
THE CHUMBERA
La Chumbera is a municipal facility with caves, a large terrace and a spectacular auditorium with the Alhambra as a backdrop. It occasionally hosts events and is home to the Manolete International Flamenco School. You won’t be able to enter the auditorium but the views from the terrace are fantastic.
A guided tour to visit these viewpoints?
Click on the banner to find out more!
NAMELESS VIEWING POINT
It has no name, or at least that we know of! Ascending along the dirt tracks that lead up behind La Chumbera, you come to a small esplanade with a bench made of masonry. The viewpoint is surrounded by large pine trees and caves, many of which are inhabited. You will have the sensation of leaving the city. Groups of friends often gather here to watch some of the most beautiful sunsets in Granada. If you continue up the mountain you will find a similar place. It is probably one of the lesser-known viewpoints in Granada.
Above Sacromonte, in about 15 to 20 minutes you can go up to places like this.
SACROMONTE ABBEY VIEWS
If you walk to Sacromonte Abbey, you like to explore. From up therethere are two unique views. One is the Darro valley below: with the Alhambra and Sacromonte overlooking the river. Another Darro valley above: with a landscape of orchards, Sierra Nevada and the irrigation ditches that carried water to the Alhambra on the opposite slope.
The viewpoint of the Abadia del Sacromonte is an ideal place to contemplate the city of Granada from a distance.
VIEWPOINTS NEAR THE ALHAMBRA
Let’s now take a walk near the Alhambra, but focusing on the viewpoints. We also have an article to get to know other exciting places around the Alhambra, in it we tell you a little bit of history about the places that come next.
MIRADOR DE LA SILLA DEL MORO
We start to climb to reach the highest and most unknown viewpoints of Granada. La Silla del Moro is almost a balcony overlooking the city in a natural setting. We tell you more about this place in the post we recommended before.
Viewpoint from the Silla del Moro above the Alhambra.
DAR AL-ARUSA VIEWPOINT
This was the site of a former Nasrid palace of which some archaeological remains are preserved but, unfortunately, cannot be visited. It is reached by climbing up a dirt track through a reforested pine forest. We can consider it the highest viewpoint in Granada, unless you can tell us about a higher one.
To see the Alhambra from above, either get on a plane or go up to the ancient ruins of Dar al Arusa.
PERIURBANO VIEWPOINT IN THE DEHESA DEL GENERALIFE
You have to walk a little further to reach this balcony overlooking the Darro Valley. If you decide to visit this viewpoint, be prepared with comfortable clothes and sports shoes. It is conditioned with a balustrade to prevent falls and an information panel.
Viewpoint over the Acequia Real, little known places in Granada.
MIRADOR DEL BARRANCO DEL ABOGADO
Situated on a spur of the Barranco del Abogado ravine and facing the sunset. During the Middle Ages this area was a Muslim cemetery and many burial kerbs have been found here. This viewpoint is worth a visit if you are going up or down from the Alhambra by car, or if you are walking around the surrounding area. It is a bit far from the centre. It has a small car park which can be crowded because there is a restaurant just below the viewpoint.
Mirador del Barranco del Abogado with the Sierra de Parapanda in the background.
MIRADOR DE ALIXARES
Still in the surroundings of the Alhambra is the viewpoint of Alixares. Alixares was a Nasrid palace, but it is not located in this place, but in the cemetery of San José (see it in the next section). If you like solitude this is the place for you, it is really difficult to find visitors at this viewpoint.
Mirador de Alixares in one of our tailor-made guided tours.
SAN JOSÉ CEMETERY VIEWPOINTS
If we climb to the highest part of the cemetery in Granada we will find several large windows in the wall. They look out over the valley of the river Genil and part of the Sierra Nevada. The “camino de los Neveros” (path of the Neveros) used to go up the mountain you will see just in front of you. This route was used in the 19th century to bring ice down to the Sierra Nevada to preserve fish. Behind these windows you can visit the remains of the medieval palace of Alixares.
The sunset is approaching at the viewpoint of the cemetery of Granada.
MIRADOR TORRES BERMEJAS
Next to the Bermejas Towers, on the side facing the Alhambra forest, there is a small parapet from which to contemplate the Albaicín. It is a very quiet place, and few people venture up here. These towers formed part of the city’s defensive system and were connected to the Alhambra by a stretch of wall.
Viewpoint under the Bermejas Towers, another way to see the Albaicín.
OTHER VIEWS FROM GRANADA
TORREON VIEWPOINT
A forgotten place that has the enchantment of abandoned places, ruins, views and history. The pavilion or gazebo that is preserved today was part of a Jesuit installation from the 19th century. However, the latest archaeological research has confirmed the existence of an almunia or rural palace from the Nasrid period. In addition, the Aynadamar irrigation channel used to pass through here and in Roman times it was an area of potteries (ceramic kilns). It is off the beaten tourist track as it is on the Cartuja university campus, but it is an unforgettable place.
Someday the viewpoint of Torreon de Cartuja will be restored, for the moment it is like visiting the ancient ruins of an old palace.
PALACE OF QUINTA ALEGRE
The Quinta Alegre is a classicist palace from the early 20th century that is really beautiful and well-kept. Like the previous one, it is off any conceivable tourist route. However, its views are unique, as they allow you to see the Realejo crowned by the three greats of the area: the Torres Bermejas, the Rodríguez Acosta Foundation and the Alhambra Palace. Admission to the gardens is free, but opening hours are reduced.
From the palace of Quinta Alegre we see the Cathedral of Granada, the Realejo, the Torres Bermejas, the Carmen de los Rodríguez Acosta, etc…
STREETS WHERE YOU’LL TURN AROUND AND YOU’LL BE AMAZED
Many of Granada’s streets are as spectacular as the usual viewpoints. Sometimes we walk up the hill or up the steps and don’t notice what we are leaving behind. You only have to turn around to find moments like this. We will dedicate a full article to these magical places in the Albaicín later on.
Sometimes you have to turn around when walking up a street in Granada.
OVERLOOKING ROUTES
And now we are going to propose several walking routes to discover the viewpoints of Granada. Most of them run through pedestrian areas. Remember that you have the routes and drinking fountains on the map and if you are looking for a guided tour of the city, we are experts in this!
ROUTE THROUGH THE REALEJO
This is a circular route starting from the statue of Isabel la Católica. We will ascend the Mauror through narrow and steep streets. On this ascent we will pass the Lavadero de la Placeta del Sol to reach Torres Bermejas. With this we will have completed the hardest climb of the route. We will continue to the Alhambra Palace Hotel and its beautiful views and from there to the Carmen de los Mártires. Here we will spend some time strolling through the gardens and enjoying the sculptures, ponds and viewpoints.
Now begins the descent. We’ll do it through the Antequeruela Baja to take long stairs between the cármenes del Realejo. From these stairs you can also enjoy beautiful views of the city. Once at the bottom, we have made a route that allows us to pass through the Campo del Príncipe, the shed and church of Santo Domingo and even the Casa los Girones until we reach our starting point.
- Route: 4 km.
- Duration: between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the pace and what we want to entertain ourselves in each place.
- Difficulty: medium, it runs along steep streets, with stairs and cobblestones.
ALBAICIN AND SACROMONTE ROUTE
This route starts in Plaza Nueva and climbs rapidly up the western slope of the Albaicín. We will visit some lesser known viewpoints overlooking the city and the vega. Once in the lane of La Lona we will have climbed the steepest part of our route. Strolling through the Albaicín we will pass by legendary places such as the Palace of Dar al-Horra, the Aljibe del Rey or the Hermitage of San Cecilio. We arrive at San Nicolás and the Great Mosque of the Albaicín.
We now cross over to reach Sacromonte itself, passing the viewpoint of the Cuesta de los Chinos and the viewpoint of the Camino del Sacromonte. Once again, we will return to the Albaicín to continue strolling through the streets. Keeping our height so as not to have to go up and down too much we will pass by the Church of San Juan de los Reyes, the Mirador de los Carvajales, the Placeta del Cobertizo and the Convent of Santa Inés.
- Route: 3.5 km.
- Duration: between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the pace and what we want to entertain ourselves in each place.
- Difficulty: medium, it runs along steep streets, with stairs and cobblestones.
ROUTES THROUGH THE VIEWPOINTS AROUND THE ALHAMBRA
If you want to know the viewpoints near the Alhambra, we recommend you to read the post “Around the Alhambra“. Here we will propose you several routes in which we take into account the best viewpoints of the landscape.
“Comfortable clothes and shoes, it’s time to walk.”
MAP OF THE MIRADORS OF GRENADA
And here you have the map to visit all the viewpoints of Granada. Remember that you can activate and deactivate the layers to use the map more comfortably. We have also added the nearby drinking water sources to the routes we propose.
