Activities for Rainy Days in Granada

With all there is to see and do in Granada, rainy days can be a great opportunity to explore museums, palaces, flamenco clubs, churches and castles in depth. So that you can make the most of these rainy days, here are the most recommended activities to do in Granada while you are sheltered from the weather.

If you have planned a short stay in Granada and it's raining, don't hesitate to take a guided tour of this ancient palace city and discover its charm on a cloudy day. Although you won't be able to take advantage of the walks through the gardens of the Generalife, you can explore the interiors of the palaces and the museum, as well as its incredible treasures.

On rainy days, on the other hand, the complex will be less crowded and you'll be able to explore it at your leisure. Bear in mind that it is one of the most popular destinations in Granada and it is therefore advisable to book your ticket to the Alhambra in advance.

The best option to get to know these buildings in depth is to join a guided tour with a local expert, who can explain the details that you cannot miss during your visit and will provide you with information about the history, architecture and curiosities about the complex.

These tours run every day in small groups and allow you to explore all the spaces open to the public, including the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of Charles V and the Alhambra Museum. You will also be provided with headphones so you won't miss any of the guide's commentary.

Interesting facts

• Price: the guided tour costs from 42 € for those over 12 years old and about 16 € for children from 3 to 11 years old. Babies up to 2 years old are free.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Transport: not included.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to get to know the interior spaces of the most important palace complex in Granada, accompanied by a local expert.

Visiting Sacromonte Abbey, built in the 17th century, is one of the best palace and castle tours you can do in Granada after the Alhambra. With your ticket you can visit the abbey with no time limit and you will have an audio guide that will show you the details you can't miss about its architecture, art and history. It is located on the Valparaíso hill, in the Sacromonte neighbourhood.

During your visit, you will be able to see the whole Sacromonte complex which consists of the Abbey, the Old College of San Dionisio Areopagita (from the 17th century), the New College (from the 19th century) and the Holy Caves, where the relics of the Christian martyrs who were the driving force behind the construction of the abbey were found. It also contains numerous works of art in a museum.

In addition, the Sacromonte Abbey stands out for the beautiful views of the Alhambra, the Sacromonte quarter and the city of Granada, which you will be able to appreciate when you arrive at the abbey. On the other hand, the courtyard of the Star and the central courtyard of the Abbey are surrounded by covered galleries, so you can visit them without getting wet in the rain.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 6 € per person. Children under 9 years old are free.
• Duration: no time limit.
• Timetables: every day from 10.30am to 5pm.
• How to get there: the best option on a rainy day is to take a taxi, which will go up the Sacromonte road. Private cars are not allowed to enter via this road, but can go up the Murcia road and take the Camino Viejo del Fargue.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not include a professional guide service.

Rainy days are the perfect setting for a day of relaxation. And one of the best wellness plans in Granada that you can do on these days is to enjoy a traditional Arab bath and a relaxing massage that will transport you in time and space.

Hammam Al Ándalus is one of the most recommended places to take a bath and get a massage in the city. It is housed in a 14th century building that has been restored to recreate the baths of the Alhambra, which provides an ideal atmosphere for relaxation. There you can have a bath and massage session lasting around an hour and a half.

The space has three pools, one with cold water, one with warm water and another with hot water, which will benefit you due to the contrast of temperatures. It also has aromatic steam rooms that complement the relaxing Turkish baths. And as a finishing touch, to make sure you leave totally relaxed, you can enjoy a 15 or 30-minute massage with essential oils.

Useful information

• Price: from 65 € per person for a 15-minute bath and massage session and around 78 € for a half-hour bath and massage session.
• Duration: around an hour and a half for the bath plus massage session.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 to 23:00 approximately.
• Advantages of this option: you can experience a traditional Arabic bath and massage session with essential oils. Latex shoes are available if you prefer not to walk barefoot in their facilities.
• Disadvantages of this option: Children under the age of 6 are generally not allowed in these establishments.

Rainy days are perfect to visit the interior of the main churches of Granada, such as the Royal Chapel and the Cathedral of Granada. To do so, you can hire a tour with a professional guide, who can provide you with the most interesting information about both churches.

These tours last about two hours and usually do not include transfer to and from the hotels. However, getting there is easy, as they are located next to each other in the centre of Granada.

Granada Cathedral, built in the 16th century, is considered a jewel of Spanish Renaissance architecture in the city. It is noted for its works of sacred art from the 16th and 17th centuries and for its façade with Baroque elements, which was designed by Alonso Cano, among others.

As for the Royal Chapel, it is a site of historical and cultural importance, as it is where the remains of the Catholic Monarchs are kept. It was built between 1505 and 1517 and has a sacristy-museum where you can see the Queen's textiles, gold and silver work, paintings and books.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 34 € per person. Children under 9 years old are free.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

Granada is considered the birthplace of flamenco, as many internationally renowned artists come from this city. They also have their own style of flamenco: the zambra. So if you want to soak up the culture of Granada, and not because of the rain, a private flamenco dance class is a must on your itinerary.

The classes usually last two hours and you only share the tablao with your group, be it family or friends. This way you are sure to enjoy a personalised class, as the expert teacher will take into account whether you have previous knowledge of this dance, and will adjust the class to your interest and speed of learning.

On the other hand, the instructor will be in charge of transmitting the essence of this art that combines dancing, singing and clapping, and which is characterised by its energetic and emotionally charged attitude. Without a doubt, this is one of the best classes and workshops in Granada, ideal for connecting with the most typical aspects of this city.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 80 € per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.

One of the most typical places to enjoy a flamenco show in Granada are the cave houses, which were built by the gypsies in the 16th century. Today, many of the remaining ones have been converted into flamenco tablaos offering an irresistible combination of dinner and show.

When you book a flamenco show in a cave restaurant, you can enjoy a show of about an hour and a half by professional singers and dancers while you enjoy a full dinner, which usually includes several courses and dessert, plus unlimited drinks (although you can also book the show without dinner). Shows are presented every day after sunset.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 67 € for adults and about 31 € for children under 13. There is a children's menu option.
• Times: every day at approximately 7.30pm and 9.30pm.
• Duration: the flamenco show lasts about an hour.

Los Jardines de Zoraya is a Mediterranean restaurant located in the Albaicín neighbourhood. It is located in a carmen, a typical Moorish building that is characterised by an outdoor courtyard with a central fountain. It is an ideal plan for a rainy day, as the flamenco shows are not performed in this courtyard, but inside the building.

At Jardines de Zoraya you can enjoy a variety of menu options and selected drinks while you feel the excitement of flamenco dances, songs and music. Please note that dinner is not included with the purchase of the flamenco show ticket, but is charged separately.

• Price: about 26 € for adults and from 16 € for children under 12. This price does not include dinner.
• Times: every day at approximately 18:00, 20:00 and 22:30.
• Duration: The flamenco show lasts about an hour.

The centre of Granada also hosts authentic flamenco shows every day from sunset onwards, which are among the best Granada tickets you can buy in the city. Some tickets only include the flamenco shows, allowing you to focus all your attention on the artistic display. Others, in addition to the show, offer a drink or the option to liven up the evening with snacks or homemade food.

Flamenco show at Tablao Casa Ana

This Tablao is characterised by its theatrical style format, with a curtain, lights and surround sound, which ensures a deeper connection with the flamenco show. If you decide to book a flamenco show at Tablao Casa Ana, you will be able to appreciate every detail of the dance, singing and flamenco music presentation in a cosy atmosphere sheltered from the rain.

• Price: Tickets cost around 21 € for those over 13 years old and around 16 € for children between 5 and 12 years old. Children under 5 years old are not allowed to enter.
• Times: daily at approximately 5.30pm, 7.15pm and 9.00pm.
• Duration: about one hour.

Flamenco show at Tablao La Alborea with drinks

The Tablao La Alboreá is located near Plaza Nueva and stands out for its selection of local and internationally renowned artists. It offers shows every day from sunset at two different times, and in high season they usually add an extra show. The shows are performed in an acoustic hall that favours your connection with all that this art form transmits.

Buying a ticket to Tablao La Alboreá usually includes a glass of wine or other beverage, and you also have the option to try different cured meats and sandwiches at an additional cost.

• Price: about €19 for adults and about €11 for children aged 6-12. Children under 5 are free.
• Times: every day at approximately 7.00 pm, 8.45 pm and 10.15 pm.
• Duration: about one hour.

Rainy or winter days in Granada are ideal for visiting museums such as the Palacio de los Olvidados, which is housed in a 16th-century building in the Albaicín neighbourhood. With your ticket to this palace-museum you can learn about Jewish heritage in Granada and Spain and explore its exhibition on the Inquisition and the instruments of torture it used.

The collection dedicated to Jewish heritage consists of works of art, documents and objects that serve as testimony to the cultural legacy of the Sephardic Jews before their expulsion in 1492. The exhibition on the Inquisition consists of some 60 instruments of torture used during the religious persecution.

There are also other temporary exhibitions whose themes are periodically renewed. On the other hand, when the museum closes its doors, the palace is converted into a flamenco tablao that presents shows every night in Granada.

Interesting facts

• Location: Cta. de Sta. Inés, 6, Albaicín, 18010 Granada.
• Price: from 7 € for people over 13 years old and about 7 € for children from 6 to 12 years old. Children under 6 are free.
• Opening hours: every day from 11:00 to 19:00.
• Advantages of this option: it is a ticket without queues.

Another option to see the main attractions of Granada without getting wet in the rain is to take a sightseeing train tour with free stops. Although it is called a tourist train, it is not really a train, but a kind of tram with wheels made up of several carriages and large windows that allow you to enjoy the view. It's a convenient way to get to must-see sights such as the Alhambra and Granada Cathedral.

Booking a tour on the Granada tourist train is ideal if you prefer to explore the highlights of the city at your own pace, as it has free stops at the main attractions. You can hop on and off the train as many times as you like to visit each site of interest, or stay on the train and enjoy a panoramic tour.

Trains usually run every 30-45 minutes and can be booked to make the most of your one or two-day stay in Granada. It includes an audio guide with which you can find out interesting details about the sites you discover.

Interesting facts

• Price: about 7 € per person per day. Children under 8 years old travel for free.
• Duration: the whole tour lasts about 1.5 hours.
• Means of transport: Tourist train.
• Advantages of this option: you can explore the main attractions of Granada at your own pace and in a comfortable means of transport, sheltered from the rain.