One thing you can for sure expect for free in Granada: giant tapas that come along with your drink order
While that ticket to the absolutely-must-visit Alhambra wasn’t free, that doesn’t mean that the rest of your trip to Granada needs to break the bank. From food to museums, here a few of the top free things to do in Granada.
Corrala del Carbon
This beauty of a building was constructed in the 14th century and served as lodging for merchants and storage for their goods. Its grand brick and arched Moorish entrance invites you into the real star space of the complex: the dreamlike courtyard complete with a canopy of lush green vines. It is here that you’ll find a tourism office, and, during summer, Los Veranos del Corral, an event which features flamenco (note, however, that reservations and ticket-purchase are required for the event).
El Bañuelo
Though the Alhambra gets most of the architectural attention in this town, it isn’t the only impressive Moorish structure here. El Bañuelo was constructed in the 11th century, and is home to one of the oldest and best-preserved hammans – or Arab baths – that remain from Muslim-ruled Spain. To see it – with its star sunlight-dotted dome ceiling and horse-shoe arched galleries — is to be transported right back to those ancient times, when the Moors would take their traditional baths here. Though you can’t get the full bath experience here, you can by visiting Granada’s Hammam Al Andalus.
Museum of the Alhambra
A visit to the Alhambra can be overwhelming in all the best ways possible: it’s a dreamlike paradise packed with lots to see, from the fragrant Generlife Gardens to the otherworldly Nasrid Palace. One often overlooked sight, however, is the Museum of the Alhambra, located inside the Palace of Carlos V. This museum pays tribute to Spanish and Moorish art and culture via ceramics, paintings, and other archeological artifacts. Though you must get tickets for the Alhambra, the museum is free to enter with your Alhambra entrance.
Eat
What? For free? That’s right, because Granada is in fact known for it’s free and GIANT tapas. Indeed, you may have heard about Spain’s tradition of the free tapa: often, when you order a beverage (typically alcoholic), the tapa comes for free in the form of a tiny bowl of olives, nuts or chips, or occasionally something more filling like a small slice of tortilla española. But in Granada, expect to be gifted so, SO much more along with your drink. We’re talking full-on sandwiches and fat bowls of paella. No, they may not be the most amazingly delicious dishes you’ve had in your life, but their free-ness is what makes them awesome. So plan to order your drink, scarf down your free giant snack, and then move on to the next stop and do the same (and forget about making plans for a proper lunch or dinner). Want to take the guesswork out of where to find the best tapas? Join a Granada Tapas Walking Tour.
-Contributed by Erin Ridley
Free Things to Do in Granada from Andalucia & Costa del Sol Things to Do