Spain

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

Exploring Alhambra with Kids: A Family Guide to Granada

An unexpected stop in Granada turned into a memorable family visit. Here is what we learned about visiting the Alhambra with our five kids, finding a guide and making room for history on a trip that began with a few setbacks.

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. Another remarkable Spanish landmark is La Sagrada Familia. 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 during our Barcelona trip. 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 for years to come! So, just be sure to always check reviews and pictures of the property if you’ll be staying in an Airbnb.

How our unexpected Granada stop began · Scene from our film (37 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 37 sec

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

• 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.
  
• 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!

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 minutes 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. That was our guide’s comparison; actual travel times depend on the route and conditions. 

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.

The Alhambra was a Nasrid palace-city. The Patronato’s history places the surrender of Granada by Boabdil to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, following the conflict that began in 1482. Our guide helped us make sense of that history.

The Palace of Charles V is a Renaissance addition, not a building from the last 200 years. The Patronato dates his decision to build it to 1526, after his visit to Granada following his marriage to Isabella of Portugal. Work was later interrupted; describing the palace simply as “never finished” misses its later history. Alhambra is really, really cool to visit!

Tips for Visiting Alhambra with Children

Now, here are 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. We walked up and got tickets on our January visit, but that was our experience, not a low-season guarantee. Check availability on the official ticket site for any season, and confirm the areas included in the ticket. Children also need tickets; follow the current booking instructions for their ages.
   
2. Get a private tour guide or join a group. I did look up tour guides and they seemed really expensive. We chose one and paid about $150 for a private tour guide on our visit.
   
   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 it looks like it does. 
   
   For example, we walked right by a pit in the ground, and our guide explained its use as a prison. I would never have known that, and he talked about some of the famous prisoners there.

3. Get an audioguide. The Patronato offers an official audioguide service. You can also compare a third-party online option, checking the content, collection method, and inclusions.
   
   If you can’t do a tour guide or if that’s really not your thing (my husband really doesn’t like them), an audioguide can be useful.
   
4. Go at your own pace within your booked access: Take time to read, understand, and enjoy Alhambra, but reach the Nasrid Palaces at the time printed on your ticket. Keep your ticket and required original identification with you, and follow the current entry conditions.
   
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

Leslie recalls our private guide’s patience with the kids · Scene from our film (33 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 33 sec

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 polite yet respectful way. If we were talking as a family, he didn’t interrupt or get offended.

I’ve had the opposite of all those things with other tour guides, so he was actually very good. His English was phenomenal, and we had a great time with him. 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:

The gardens and an idea for a return trip · Scene from our film (11 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 11 sec

• Flamenco in Sacromonte Caves: You can visit the caves in Sacromonte to see a flamenco dance in Granada. Our guide also told us about flamenco in the Sacromonte 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. In one of the gardens, 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:

• 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!
  
• 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!

• A good baby carrier: Alhambra has narrow stairs and uneven ground. A lightweight travel carrier can be useful. The official visitor FAQ says strollers cannot enter the buildings; confirm current stroller storage and carrier-loan arrangements rather than expecting to push one throughout the visit.
  
• 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 ruling practices of this Muslim 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. 

Making history real for our children · Scene from our film (26 sec)

▶Watch scene from our film 26 sec

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, 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 in most of the major cities within Spain and make a day trip out of visiting Alhambra. See you later, guys! Talk soon!

Our full Alhambra family film

A correction to our older film’s historical commentary: Charles V’s palace project dates to 1526, and Granada’s surrender was in 1492. Our casual comments about visitor rankings or how peaceful the conflict was should not be treated as verified history. The Sagrada Família’s official history dates its cornerstone to 1882 and distinguishes the completion of individual towers from the ongoing basilica project; our old “just completed” remark was inaccurate.

The January walk-up tickets and prices discussed in this older film describe our visit. Use the official Alhambra ticket site for current availability and entry requirements.

Our Alhambra family visit: Leslie’s full recollection · Full film (8 min 13 sec)

▶Watch full film 8 min 13 sec

Leslie recounts our earlier family trip from home in Colorado, alongside photos and footage from the visit. Some historical commentary and old visiting advice in the full film are corrected immediately above it; the shorter excerpts focus on our own experiences.

Watch our original Alhambra family film on YouTube

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