A Guide on Viewpoints in Granada’s Albaicin

A Guide on Viewpoints in Granada’s Albaicin.

Granada’s Albaicin is the oldest part of the city, a neighbourhood once populated by Granada’s Moorish population. It is built on a hillside characterized by steep steps, white-washed alleys and buildings, churches, quaint plazas…and dramatic viewpoints looking out over both the Alhambra and the city.

Many visitors will only make it as far as the Mirador de San Nicolas which is without a doubt one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Granada. But there are other great viewpoints which will give you a different perspective on the city.

In this post I’ve given you a route to explore the different viewpoints of Granada. It’ll also take you off the beaten path, into parts of the Albaicin that many visitors never see – you’ll see lots of interesting things along the way so look at this as not just a “viewpoints tour” but also a great overall tour of some of the highlights of the Albaicin.

Visiting Granada’s Viewpoints

Firstly, most of Granada’s viewpoints are best seen in the afternoon or early evening when the sun is behind you. The exception are the lookouts on the western side of the city. So we’ll start our route there, seeing these spots before the sun gets too low in the sky.

Note: It’s good to have Google Maps on your phone so that you can program the next spot into it. It is very easy to get lost among the Albaicin’s little alleyways.

Placeta Álamo del Marqués

We’ll start at this spot, a pretty easy walk up from the busy Calle Caldereria (the tourist “Moroccan themed” street). But once you get here (about a 5 minute walk) you most likely won’t see any other tourists.

It’s not technically a “mirador” – Placeta Álamo del Marqués is a very pretty square with a church, a restaurant, benches and great views looking westwards towards the cathedral and the city center. Best seen earlier in the day when you don’t have the sun in your face.

Mirador Ojo de Granada

Just a couple of minutes up the street from the Placeta Álamo del Marqués is this small mirador. There’s no name or indication, you’ll just see a couple of platforms and views looking westwards.

The views are similar to Placeta Álamo del Marqués but you’ll be gradually getting higher walking this route and the views getting progressively more impressive.

Mirador de la Lona

Just a few minutes further up. Again, nothing indicating that this is a mirador but you’ll see an opening where views open up looking down at the Barrio del Zenete and the impressive Elvira Gate (though you have to look hard from this spot). From the Mirador de la Lona you are looking completely west and there are good sunsets if coming here that time of day (a bit earlier than that though and you get the sun in your eyes).

Mirador la Maravillas

Getting here: from Mirador de la Lona, you’ll see a road heading down the hill – head in that direction but don’t go too far. On the right you’ll see some steps and a bunch of graffity. Head up up those steps – at the top is a parking lot. That’s the “mirador”.

It’s basically the same views as the others above. But these are the last views looking westwards, from here you enter the heart of the Albaicin where there’s lots to see.

Placeta Cristo de las Azucenas (also known as viewpoint Isabel la Real)

Getting here: from Mirador la Maravillas, head towards Palacio de Dar al-Horra (which is one of the nicest palaces in the Albaicin. See for free on Sundays). Continue past it until you get a Placeta Cristo de las Azucenas, a park with a play area.

Walking around the park, you’ll see a few angles looking towards the Alhambra.

Mirador de San Cristóbal

Getting here: It really helps if you have Google maps because this is a bit of a labyrinth. From Placeta Cristo de las Azucenas, keep to the street from where you came, keeping to the left and then turning left…you’ll go through the gate called Arco de Las Pesas. It was one of the old gates of the Albaicin and leads to Plaza Larga outside the gate (a popular place for tapas, especially among the young). Take a hard left, then a right onto Calle Larga de San Cristobal. You’ll be walking through a very authentic neighborhood. You’ll get a a main street (Carretera de Murcia)…from there turn left, you’ll see the mirador right in front of you.

The Mirador de San Cristóbal is one of the highest viewpoints in the city and you’ll see the Sierra Nevada, a bit of the Alhambra, and a lot of the old city walls (the ones you stepped through when going through the Arco de las Pesas).

Mirador Morente

Getting here: From Mirador de San Cristóbal, walk along the main street (Carretera de Murcia) until you get to some old walls. Turn right, then turn left on San Gregorio Alto. The whole walk should take about 15 minutes.

Really, Mirador Morente is just a quick stop before heading up the steep stairs to Mirador San Miguel Alto. The views are pretty good but they just get better.

Mirador San Miguel Alto

Getting there: Ermita San Miguel Alto is a church built on a hill that is the highest point in the city of Granada. The hill is mostly barren with steps going up, including a set right in front of Mirador Morente.

Congratulations if you’ve gotten here, this is the highest viewpoint in the city of Granada. You’ll see a lot of people here, especially around sunset time. Very impressive views from up here.

Mirador Cruz de la Rauda

Getting here: Just follow the steps down from San Miguel Alto.

Fantastic views from this Mirador, it is perfectly placed to see both the Alhambra and the heart of of Albaicin (with the church of El Salvador at its heart).

Vereda de Enmedio

After Mirador Cruz de la Rauda you could head to the star of miradors: Mirador San Nicolas. But I have a favorite place in Granada that I recommend to go first.

Vereda de Enmedio is a little pedestrian lane (I’ve marked in yellow on the map) that takes you into the Sacromonte neighborhood (Sacromonte is part of Albaicin in case you wondered). It’s not a long lane, you can walk it in about 15 minutes one-way (30 return). But it is full of great views of Sacromonte and of the Alhambra. PS. In the evening you have a lot of tour groups that come up here. I really recommend if you want to get away from the hordes at Mirador San Nicolas.

Mirador Museo Cuevas de Sacromonte

This is not a free viewpoint, you have to go to the Cave Museum of Sacromonte to access it (but it is worth it).

The museum is up a hill at the very end of the Vereda de Enmedio, which I covered above. Up there, you have a wonderful view of Sacromonte and the Alhambra.

Mirador de San Nicolas

It’s the most famous lookout in Granada and it’s warranted. You have to come here if visiting Granada.

Situated on a large, pretty square with great views of the Albaicin and the Alhambra.

Note: it can be very busy and if you’re short you may not even get a view. If so, head to the Mezquita Mayor which I describe below.

Mezquita Mayor de Granada

The Mezquita Mayor (the Granada mosque) is just steps away from the San Nicolas lookout and has a beautiful courtyard along with some of the same fantastic views.

The mosque is also interesting and it is free to wander the grounds and enter the mosque. Very much worth a visit.

Hidden mirador by the Stairs

There’s no “mirador” here, just a walkway with great views situated just a few minutes from Mirador San Nicolas.

Getting here: when you come down from Mirador San Nicolas, there’s the street where the taxis and buses run. Go to the left. You’ll get to a set of stairs that turn to the right. Go down. Right before the bottom is the walkway/ledge I’m talking about.

Plaza Victoria

It’s a little bit scruffy and unkept. It’s also quiet except for the occasional tour group that comes here in search of a genuine part of the Albaicin.

Getting here: Come back down from the miradors I’ve listed above. At this point you’re looking up at the Alhambra, not down.

Mirador Placeta de Carvajales

A pretty, hidden away courtyard with wonderful views looking up at the Alhambra. A favorite of many looking for a different view of the Alhambra.

Mirador de la Churra

A last Mirador to add to this list. It’s not technically in the Albaicin which is why I’ve indicated it in purple on the map…it’s right across from the Albaicin in Realejo.

Fantastic views looking across at the Albaicin, somehow very quiet despite it being steps away from tourist central.

A few more Photo spots in the Albaicin

There are countless spots in the Albaicin that don’t fit in the category of “miradors”. A few photos below. The point is that you should always keep your eyes open…

Restaurant just below Mirador San Nicolas

Looking over a wall on *Callejón de las Tomasas*

Views from Palacio de Dar al-Horra (free on Sundays)

Views from Casa del Chapiz (also free on Sundays)

So the best Miradors in the Albaicin?

I’ve given you the big tour of Albaicin’s miradors. But if you don’t have that much time to devote to walking around, here are the must-see Miradors in my opinion:

Mirador San Nicolas. The most famous viewpoint in Granada.
Mirador Cruz de la Rauda. Great for sunset.
the various viewpoints on the Verada de Enmedio. A great walk with fantastic views.
Mirador de la Churra. Gives you a great perspective on the Albaicin.