After spending three months in Granada (that long already!?), I have come to love this city and its rich culture. There are so many things to do here, and it’s truly impossible to see all of the wonders the city has to offer in one day. That being said, here is a list of my favorite things to do in the city, and how you can spend a perfect Saturday in central Granada.

Morning

Rise and shine! It’s best to get up early and take advantage of the bright Spring daylight. Get ready quickly and hike up to see the sunrise at La Mirador de San Nicolas. This is my favorite spot in the entire city. Nestled in the neighborhood of the Albaicín, this lookout point gives you incredible views of the Alhambra Palace, the Sierra Nevadas, and a panoramic view of the city. If you go in the evening, you can sit on the ledge and listen to locals sing their favorite flamenco songs and watch the sunset light up the sky with a plethora of colors.

On your walk down from La Mirador de San Nicolas, stop to enjoy the teterias in the Albaicín. These Moroccan tea shops serve incredible teas in all flavors. Also in the Albaicín are souvenir shops, and places selling Arabic lamps, clothing, and leather.

Grab some brunch at Café Barraka, a hip breakfast joint that serves crepes and pancakes (yes, American pancakes!) loaded with Nutella. You can see people of all ages here, enjoying the patio and their meals. Plus, this is only one street away from your next stop, the Catedral de Granada.

The Catedral de Granada is an immense Cathedral that still holds a Catholic mass every Sunday. The outside is decorated in brown stone and plaster, yet the inside is constructed in the Gothic style, with immense white pillars and arches. The Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, are buried next store in the Royal Chapel.

Midday

No trip is complete to Granada, without visiting the beautiful Alhambra. Built in 1238, this palace and medieval city once housed close to 3,000 people. It was the last Moorish stronghold during the Reconquista, but was taken over by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492. The palace itself is beautifully decorated with honeycomb plaster, arches, and is the site of the famous Court of the Lions. Get your tickets in advance though because tickets usually sell out a week before, and even sooner during prime season.

As you walk down from the Alhambra, walk towards Plaza Nueva and make a right. This famed street is Paseo de Los Tristes. It’s known as one of the prettiest streets in the entire city. You can walk down the street and see old buildings to your right, and the river and stone bridges to your left. The further down you walk, you can see restaurants with open air patios and, often, street musicians. This is a good area to grab a bite to eat; where you can enjoy fresh food while under the shade of the Alhambra.

Evening

After taking a small siesta and resting from your eventful day, it’s time to enjoy the abundant night life of Granada! My number one suggestion for any evening (and that of many Granadinos) is to go out for tapas! Tapas are free with a purchase of any drink (something that only happens in Granada and some provinces in Andalucía). Therefore, there are hundreds of tapas bars in the city. So go out and enjoy!

If you still want to keep the party going, take advantage of the multiple discotecas in the area. The most popular are Mae West near Calle Neptuno and the Boom Boom Room, near the Catedral. Granada is known for having a large number of university students and the night is always considered young, even after at 3 a.m.!

This post was contributed by Anais Sawyer, who is spending her spring semester studying abroad with AIFS in Granada, Spain.