In the Autonomous Community of Andalusia is the beautiful city of Grenada, at the same time municipality. Its history and culture have made it a great destination for tourists eager to visit Spain, so it is always on the traveller's list.
This beautiful land, inhabited for thousands of years, has a relief that you can admire if you take a tour of its viewpoints; So today it's the turn of the Granada viewpoints.
Saint Nicholas' lookout
We start with this one is the most famous of all, especially at the time the sun sets. For this reason, there are always people, so I advise you to go early. Do not stop knowing him, yes, that people do not scare you. It is worth seeing the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada with the orange lights of the sunset. The best photos, but also the best memories.
If you like heights and you have no problem paying extra, you can always climb the tower of the Church of Saint Nicholas, buying the ticket from their website. For example, for the remainder of May there are tickets left until the 31st, June appears completely complete and the same for July and the following months.
The church was built in 1525 in the Mudejar style and is in the historic neighborhood of Albaicín. It occupies an entire block and due to its age, the fires it has suffered and the deterioration have caused it to be closed to the public on several occasions.
Viewpoint of San Cristobal
It is near the previous viewpoint, if you are on foot it is not more than five minutes. It is located further west so, despite the fact that the postcards are almost the same as the previous viewpoint, you will see some different angles.
The viewpoint of San Cristobal It is located in the upper part of the historic neighborhood of Albaicín, next to the Church of San Cristóbal itself. The best thing it offers is that due to its high location we It offers a view of the great canvas of the old Zirid wall, in addition, obviously of the Sierra Nevada.
It has its advantages because there are always a little less people than at the San Nicolás viewpoint, it really offers a complete view of all of Granada and what we said about the wall. There are people who complain that its access is not the best, stairs and small streetsIt is more difficult to sit down and take pictures but it wins by being less crowded.
Viewpoint of the Great Mosque of Granada
This temple of the Islamic faith was inaugurated in 2003 and it is the first Muslim temple built since 1492, nothing more and nothing less. It is located in Plaza San Nicolás, in the historic neighborhood of Albaicín and consists of a prayer room, the Center for Islamic Studies and the garden.
It is precisely from the garden, decorated with orange and lemon trees, Andalusian fountains, pines, olive trees and pomegranates, which one can distinguish the river Darro and the mount of Sabika, at whose top is the Alhambra, and behind, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada.
The best thing is that this viewpoint ands free admission.
Viewpoint of the Vereda de Enmedio
This viewpoint is special because It is not on top of any mountain, but on the Sacromonte, a site with few tourists and not so well known. There is a bench under the trees and when you sit down, something they say is super frequent because there are never any people, you have some glorious views of the Alhambra that, depending on the sun, will change colors and tones.
Even the road to this panoramic point is charming because you will see other points to stop for a while and contemplate the city. It is a matter of walking with the mobile or the camera in hand.
Viewpoint of San Miguel Alto
It is, as its name indicates, the highest viewpoint in Granada. It is named for the hermitage of the same name that was built in 1671 on top of the old Torre del Aceituno, which was from the Muslim era. The hermitage is still popular as Saint Michael the Archangel is the patron saint of the Albaicín, so the pilgrimage on the last Sunday in September always makes headlines for it.
You arrive at the hermitage, go down the slope and in less than five minutes you are at the viewpoint. Hopefully there will be no mist and you can enjoy the views. And as in the case of the previous viewpoint, when you start walking towards the Darro you will see that on the route there are many other places where it is possible to stop to contemplate the landscapes.
While It is not the best viewpoint in terms of the images it offers of the Alhambra (this one is very far), the panorama of the city is a feast. Let's say that it offers a complete postcard of the city, the Albaicín, the Sacromonte, the Sierra Elvira and the Sierra Nevada.
And how do you get here? Well You can go on foot or by car or, if you are tired or do not have your own vehicle, take the N9 bus leaves you at the viewpoint itself. The site is usually less crowded than the most famous viewpoints in Granada, due to the distance that must be covered.
Viewpoint of the Placeta de los Carvajales
This place it is located near the valley formed by the river Darro, in the middle of the narrow streets of the historic neighborhood of Albaicín. It is a place that it's further down than the rest of the viewpoints so it is not very crowded. It seems that when one thinks of "viewpoints" he must think of heights, yes or yes. And it's not always like that!
From this particular viewpoint, everything is bigger and therefore more impressive. The best time to visit is when the old Nasrid city is illuminated: the walls of the Alhambra seem very high, gold and blue shine in the sky...
Viewpoint of Santa Isabel la Real
This viewpoint is also inside the historic neighborhood of Albaicín and gives you a great picture of the buildings of the old Alhambra and the snow-capped mountains.
The viewpoint is very close to the other two famous viewpoints in Granada: San Nicolás and San Cristóbal, so, as they say, you can kill three birds with one stone...
candle tower
The Candle Tower It is one of the towers of the Alcazaba of the Alhambra and although, due to its location within the old Alhambra itself, you will not be able to see it, what it reveals is really beautiful: the towers of the Alhambra and the dense network of narrow streets and houses of the historic quarter.
To access this beautiful viewpoint We have to pay because it is necessary to enter the Alhambra. Yes, the Alhambra has some free access areas but the Torre de la Vela is not one of them.
Canvas viewpoint
You will not see the Alhambra, nor the Sierra Nevada mountains, nor walls... only rooftops. Do you like the idea? Well, if you go at the time the sun sets, those hundreds, thousands, of orange roofs take on an unparalleled glow.
Churra viewpoint
Next to the Darro valley is the Mirador de la Churra. I would be the viewpoint opposite the Mirador de Los Carvajales and it is quite hidden between small houses and alleys. It is a hidden wonder and like the other, only if you have time and desire to lose yourself in the streets of Granada.
The truth is that they say that there are just over 50 viewpoints throughout Granada, with similar or completely different views. All these viewpoints of Granada that we have named are either in the center or in neighborhoods close to it. Can we name a few others? Of course: the Mirador del Carmen de los Mártires, a palace with gardens, the Mirador del Carmen de la Victoria or the Mirador del Barranco del Abogado.