Granada Rainy Day Activities

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 take shelter from the weather.

If you have planned a short stay in Granada and it coincides with rainy days, do not hesitate to take a guided tour of this ancient palatine city and discover its charm on a cloudy day. Although you won't be able to take advantage of the walks through the Generalife gardens, you will be able to explore the interiors of the palaces and the museum, as well as its incredible treasures.

On the other hand, on rainy days the complex will be less crowded and you will be able to tour it more leisurely. Keep in mind that it is one of the most popular destinations in Granada and, therefore, it is advisable to book your ticket to the Alhambra in advance.

The best option to know in depth these buildings is to join a guided tour with a local expert, who can explain the details that you can not miss during your visit and will provide 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 participate for free.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Transportation: not included.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to know the interior spaces of the most important palace complex of Granada, accompanied by a local expert.

Visiting the 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 without time limit and you will have an audio guide that will tell you the details that you can not miss, about its architecture, art and history. It is located on Mount Valparaiso, in the Sacromonte neighborhood.

During your visit, you will be able to see the entire Sacromontano 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 Christian martyrs were found, which prompted the construction of the abbey. 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 neighborhood and the city of Granada, which you will 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.
• Hours: every day from 10:30 am to 5 pm.
• How to get there: the best option on a rainy day is to take a cab, which will go up the Sacromonte road. Private cars are not allowed access by this road, but can go up the road to Murcia 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 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 was restored recreating the baths of the Alhambra, which provides an ideal atmosphere for relaxation. There you can have a bath and massage session lasting about an hour and a half.

The space has three pools, one with cold water, one warm and one with hot water, which will benefit you by 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 the bath session with massage of 15 minutes and about 78 € the bath session with massage of half an hour.
• Duration: about an hour and a half bath session plus massage.
• Hours: from 10:00 to 23:00 approximately.
• Advantages of this option: you can experience a traditional Arabian 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 6 years of age are generally not allowed to enter 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 hotels. However, getting there is easy, as they are located next to each other in the center of Granada.

The Cathedral of Granada, built in the 16th century, is considered a jewel of Spanish Renaissance architecture in the city. It stands out 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 fabrics, gold and silver work, paintings and books of the Queen.

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 are usually two hours long and you only share the tablao with your group, be it family or friends. This way you are sure to enjoy a personalized class, since the expert teacher will take into account if 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 is characterized by its energetic and emotionally charged attitude. Without a doubt, it is one of the best classes and workshops in Granada, ideal to connect with the most typical 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 those still standing have been converted into flamenco tablaos that offer 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 savor 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.
• Hours: every day at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm approximately.
• Duration: the flamenco show lasts about an hour.

Los Jardines de Zoraya is a Mediterranean food restaurant located in the Albaicín neighborhood. It is located in a carmen, a typical Arab construction that is characterized by an outdoor patio with a central fountain. It is an ideal plan for a rainy day, since the flamenco shows are not presented in this courtyard, but inside the building.

At Jardines de Zoraya you can delight yourself with its varied menu options and selected drinks while you feel the excitement of the dances, songs and flamenco 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 years old. This price does not include dinner.
• Hours: every day at 18:00, 20:00 and 22:30 hours approximately.
• Duration: the flamenco show lasts about one hour.

Downtown Granada also hosts authentic flamenco shows every day from sunset, 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 meals.

Flamenco show at Tablao Casa Ana

This Tablao is characterized by its theatrical style format, with 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 presentation of flamenco dancing, singing and music in a cozy atmosphere sheltered from the rain.

• Price: the entrance fee is about 21 € for those over 13 years old and about 16 € for children from 5 to 12 years old. Children under 5 years old are not allowed access.
• Hours: daily at 5:30 pm, 7:15 pm and 9:15 pm approximately.
• 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 recognized artists. It offers shows every day from sunset at two different times, and in high season they usually add one more show. The shows take place in an acoustic room that favors your connection with everything 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 sausages and sandwiches at an additional cost.

• Price: about 19 € for adults and about 11 € for children from 6 to 12 years old. Children under 5 years old are free.
• Hours: every day at 7:00 p.m., 8:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. approximately.
• Duration: about one hour.

Rainy or winter days in Granada are ideal for visiting museums like the Palacio de los Olvidados, which is housed in a 16th-century building in the Albaicín neighborhood. 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 artwork, documents and objects that serve as testimony to the cultural legacy of the Sephardic Jews before their expulsion in 1492. As for the exhibition on the Inquisition, it 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 becomes 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 years are free.
• Hours: every day from 11:00 to 19:00 hours.
• 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 this way, it is not really a train, but a kind of streetcar with wheels made up of several cars and large windows that allow you to enjoy the view. It is a comfortable option to reach essential buildings such as the Alhambra and the Cathedral of Granada.

Booking a tour on the tourist train of Granada 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 wish 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 learn 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 complete tour lasts about 1 hour and a half.
• Means of transport: tourist train.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to explore the main attractions of Granada at your own pace and in a comfortable means of transport and sheltered from the rain.