Spain

Exploring Alhambra with Kids: A Family Guide to Granada, Spain

Hi, 7 Wayfinders family! I am in Colorado today, but I’m going to be talking to you about Granada, Spain. So, if you haven’t seen my last post, I actually filmed that from Granada, but I talked about animal cafes in Tokyo and pastel de nata in Portugal. Guys, we’re never sitting still!  

If you don’t know who we are, we are a travel family that started traveling full-time in 2018 with our five kids. We are now expats in Portugal (and have a blog about living in Portugal), but we recently took a road trip to Granada that turned into quite an adventure.

*Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Opinions shared are my own, and I only endorse products I support. By clicking on any of the links below, I may get a small commission if you purchase at absolutely no additional charge to you. I appreciate your support.*

Our “Disaster” Turned Magical: Discovering
La Alhambra in Granada with Kids

We actually decided to drive the eightish hours to Granada because our passports didn’t come in time for a flight, total bummer! We were headed to the Sierra Nevada ski resort, but the trip didn’t turn out so well. The resort was closed due to high winds and ice, and we ended up with the most expensive single ski run in history. If I’m being totally honest, it was a bit of a disaster.

Because we were stuck in Granada for an extra night, we decided to visit Alhambra. It is the second most visited monument in Spain (after La Sagrada Familia, which actually, I think, was just completed). I didn’t even know about it before we arrived, but it was pure fortune that we ended up near this massive, fabulous monument!

We visited La Sagrada Familia while it was still under construction because it was under construction for nearly 200 years. It is phenomenal, absolutely a must visit, but so was Alhambra. I absolutely loved it!

Where to Stay in Granada with Kids

Before we dive into what to do in Granada, let me tell you a bit of our experience and places where you can stay if you bring kids. So, our Airbnb was not very good, the slopes were okay, but the fog and the overall conditions were super poor. But in the end we made the best of our stay, after all this is an experience we’ll probably talk about later! So, just be sure to always check reviews and pictures of the property if you’ll be staying in an Airbnb.

Anyway, finding the right place is key when you have a big family like ours. Here are the areas I recommend:

• Albaicín, the lower area: If you want those iconic views of the Alhambra, stay here. Just try to stay in the lower part of the neighborhood, or you’ll be pushing strollers up some very steep, narrow cobblestone hills!

• City Center or Centro: This is where we stayed. It’s perfect if you want to be within walking distance of the Granada Cathedral and endless tapas bars. It’s the most convenient if you’ll be using public transportation to Alhambra

• Realejo: This is the old Jewish Quarter. It’s a bit flatter than the other historic hills, making it much easier on “little legs” and strollers. It has a very cool, local vibe with great street art.
  

Best Hotels in Granada for Families

Now that you’ve chosen the area you’ll be staying in, there are a lot of hotel options for a perfect Granada stay with kids. Here are some hotel options I personally filtered out for you:

• Áurea Catedral: This beautiful hotel is located super close to Granada’s Cathedral and about 20 minutes from Alhambra, making this location great for staying a few days and getting a great glimpse of Granada with kids! Also, if you’re a huge fan of the buffets, they have one every morning, so be sure to check it out.
  
• Meliá Granada: What I like about this hotel is definitely the views! You can get a fantastic view of Alhambra from their restaurant and some rooms, completely worth it. Plus, the rooms are comfy, the food is delicious and the overall vibe and service of this hotel is top-notch!
  
• Hotel Mirador Arabeluj: This hotel also has amazing views, the only difference is that it is 5 min away from Alhambra (which is pretty cool because you’ll most likely visit it). It has a rooftop terrace that is perfect for relaxing and watching the sunset. And it also has some interesting showcases of traditional Mudéjar style throughout its rooms.

Quick History Facts About Granada

Granada is super cool. We learned from our tour guide that Granada is 45 minutes from skiing in the Sierra Nevada, and it’s 45 minutes from the beach. So, to me, it’s almost like the Lake Tahoe kind of vibe. If you’re familiar with the United States, one of the biggest claims of Lake Tahoe is that we can go skiing, and we can also get to the beach. Same thing in Granada! 

Alhambra is a massive palace. Granada is not a very big town, so everyone knows about Alhambra, and it’s a primary reason people visit Granada. It is a huge palace, which used to be actually a city and it is over 800 years old.

It was first ruled by a Muslim ruling dynasty (the Nasrid dynasty, also known as the Banū Naṣr or Banū al-Aḥmar). And there were 23 sultans that ruled (260 years in total) from the same family! Eventually, it was taken over by the Spanish royalty in a somewhat peaceful way, but I think it was almost a yearlong siege outside of the city. 

I don’t think a lot of blood was shed but this caused the Muslim royal family to leave, and then it became property of the Spanish royal family. There is a newer building actually built for one of the recent monarchs (“recent: meaning in the last 200ish years). He built it for his honeymoon and never even finished it (life of royalty, right?). However, Alhambra is really, really cool to visit!

Tips for Visiting Alhambra with Children

Now, here’s some logistics if you’re visiting Alhambra with kids. These tips will probably make it way easier for you and your little ones when visiting Granada:

1. Buy your tickets in advance. If you’re going in the summer, you absolutely 100% need to buy tickets in advance. We did not, as we went in January: we walked up and got tickets. 
   
   It was not really a problem. You’ll see everywhere that you need to buy tickets in advance, and that’s true in the busy season. If you go in January like us, you may not need to.
   
2. Get a private tour guide or in a group. I did look up tour guides and they seemed really expensive. We did end up paying for it and it was about $150 for a private tour guide.
   
   This may seem expensive, but I’m going to be totally upfront with you: unless you’re doing a lot of research beforehand and you can be your own tour guide, I actually think having a tour guide is really valuable for historic monuments like this because otherwise you’re going to get very little out of this tour. You’re not going to hear any of the stories or the history or the fun facts or why this looks like this.
   
   For example, we walked right by a pit in the ground, and it was actually a prison. I would never have known that, and he talked all about how it was a prison and some of the famous prisoners there.

3. Get an audioguide. Alhambra also has audio guides, but they are contracted off-site. You can buy them outside Alhambra or you can also purchase yours online for an easier option.
   
   If you can’t do a tour guide or if that’s really not your thing (my husband really doesn’t like them), then get an audio guide at the very least.

4. Go at your own pace: No matter if you hire a private guide (which is great for families with multiple kids) or if you go on your own, make sure to take your time to read and understand and enjoy Alhambra!
   
5. Be mindful about the weather. Since we visited in January, the weather was still cold and rainy! So, be sure to check the weather before, as we were told that during summer it can get extremely hot.

Why a Private Tour Guide with Kids is the Best Option

Our tour guide was amazing: he was so good with the kids, he wasn’t anxious and he moved at our pace. He didn’t mind a bathroom break and tried to engage the kids in a politeful yet respectful way. If we were talking as a family, he didn’t interrupt or get offended.

I’ve had all those things in opposition with other tour guides, so he was actually very good. His English was phenomenal, and we had a great time with him. To be honest, we spent nearly three hours touring Alhambra with him!

Other Things to do Near Granada and in Alhambra

Apart from skiing in the Sierra Nevada during winter and going to the beach, here are more things you can do if you visit Granada with your family:

• Flamenco in Alhambra Caves: You can visit the caves in Sacromonte to see a flamenco dance in Granada. Or you can watch flamenco in the Alhambra caves: our guide mentioned these are often run by local families who will even pick you up from your hotel. I’d actually love to go back and do this!
  
• The Gardens of Alhambra: Alhambra is an extensive palace. The gardens are amazing. They have an old fort, which is really cool and gives you tons of views of Granada. The gardens are full of orange trees!

• Alhambra’s Amphitheater: In the summer, they host ballet and music concerts in a massive amphitheater. Just keep in mind that during summer it can get very hot! I definitely think that would be very fun, maybe at the end of the day when it’s not so hot!
  
• Granada Cathedral: While we didn’t get to do everything, the Cathedral in the city center looks very cool and is worth a walk-round. Also, it looks so beautiful from the inside; the architecture is worth seeing!

What to Pack for Granada with Kids

Whether you’re heading to the mountains or the city, here are the essentials:

• Layers for the weather: As we learned, the weather can be tricky. Even in the summer, the evenings near the Sierra Nevada mountains can get cool. In winter, you’ll want packable jackets to make sure your little ones are always warm!

• Comfortable walking shoes: Granada is all about cobblestones. I highly recommend a pair of comfortable travel sneakers or hiking sandals for Alhambra (depending on the weather). Your feet will thank you after three hours of walking!

• A good baby carrier or stroller: If you have toddlers, Alhambra has lots of narrow stairs and uneven ground. A lightweight travel carrier is much easier than a stroller in these sections.
  
• Sun Protection: The Spanish sun is no joke, even in January. Pack a foldable sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen for the kids.

Final thoughts on Visiting Alhambra with Kids

Everything is very beautiful. We loved learning about the royal practices of this Muslim ruling dynasty. For example, there were multiple wives’ rooms, and of all the wives, the first one to have a male heir becomes the sultana. So, she gets her own private quarters with her kids. 

There’s just a lot of really fascinating things that I never would have known if we hadn’t gone with a guide. While palaces are maybe not the most favorite things your kids will ever do, I still force mine to go.

I kind of think of it like world schooling, which we actually did for a few years. Sometimes,  my kids learn about this in school. My 10-year-old is a little bit of a history buff,; he’s absorbed a ton of Portuguese history!  We actually were at Alhambra, and he actually recognized who one of the wives was because she’s from Portugal, and he knew all about her story. They may learn about Spain later and hear about the siege, for example, or they might just appreciate it because they like world history.

I would just encourage you, tell them to buck up, bribe them with ice cream, go see the site. Don’t worry if it’s not their favorite thing. That’s okay. My kids complain if they’re doing pretty much anything besides playing Nintendo. It’s okay to be the parent and make them go! 

We didn’t end up doing anything else in Granada, but like I said, I think visiting a cave with a flamenco show is really cool. If you’re going in the winter, maybe try your luck at skiing. If you’re going in the summer, probably best to head to the beach!

You can also take the train for most of the major cities within Spain and make a day trip out of visiting Alhambra. See you later, guys, talk soon!

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