Free, tip what you liked · ★ 9.1/10 (424 reviews) · on Civitatis
Quick answer
Yes. There are 2 free walking tours in Granada listed here, bookable for free on Civitatis. The most reviewed is Granada Free Walking Tour: it meets at Plaza de Bib-Rambla junto a la fuente de los gigantes, lasts about 2h and is guided in English, rated 9.1/10 from 424 reviews.
Start times vary by date and are confirmed when you book.
Granada was the capital of the Nasrid kingdom, the last Muslim state in the Iberian Peninsula, until Isabella and Ferdinand took it in January 1492. You can still read that handover in the street plan: the Christian cathedral and Royal Chapel sit in the flat lower town, the old silk market of the Alcaicería squeezes in beside them, and across the Darro river the Albaicín climbs the hill in the tight, twisting pattern of a medieval Muslim quarter.
A free walking tour is the easiest way to connect those layers before you spend a day inside the Alhambra. The main tour covers the cathedral area, the Royal Chapel where the Catholic Monarchs are buried and the lanes of the Albaicín. A second tour walks the free-access grounds around the Alhambra itself, which is useful if the palace tickets are sold out.
Plan your visit to Granada
What to see in Granada
The Alhambra needs half a day on its own: the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife gardens and the Alcazaba fortress are all on the same ticket, sold on the official Patronato de la Alhambra site. Down in the town, the Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand, and the cathedral next door is one of the first Renaissance churches in Spain.
For the view everyone photographs, walk up the Albaicín to the Mirador de San Nicolás in the late afternoon, when the Alhambra turns orange against the Sierra Nevada. Keep going uphill and you reach Sacromonte, the cave neighbourhood linked to Granada's flamenco.
Getting around and when to go
The centre is walkable, but the hills are real. Small city minibuses run from Plaza Nueva and Plaza Isabel la Católica up to the Alhambra and through the Albaicín, which saves your legs for the palaces. Spring and autumn are the best months; summer afternoons are very hot. See the month-by-month guide before you pick dates.
Many visitors pair Granada with Córdoba and Seville. The three cities are linked by train and bus, and each has its own free tour: see Córdoba and Seville.
Good to know before you go
Buy Alhambra tickets as early as you can, from the official Patronato site. The Nasrid Palaces run on timed entry and sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn. The free tours do not include any ticketed area.
Granada is steep. The Albaicín and the climb to the Alhambra are cobbled and uneven, so wear shoes with grip and carry water in summer.
In many Granada bars a small tapa still comes free with each drink. It is a local habit, not a rule, so do not be surprised if one place serves it and the next does not.
July and August regularly pass 38 °C in the afternoon. Book a morning slot in summer and save the walk up to the Mirador de San Nicolás for sunset.
Yes. The most booked one is the Granada Free Walking Tour on Civitatis, which covers the cathedral area, the Royal Chapel, the Alcaicería and the Albaicín in about two hours. There is also an Alhambra Open-Air Free Tour that walks the grounds around the monument without entering the ticketed palaces.
Where does the Granada free tour start?
The main tour meets in Plaza de Bib-Rambla, next to the Fountain of the Giants, in the centre of the lower town. The Alhambra open-air tour meets at the fountain in Plaza Nueva. The exact point and how to recognise the guide are confirmed in your booking.
Does the free tour go inside the Alhambra?
No. The Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife and the Alcazaba need a paid, timed ticket. The open-air tour stays in the areas you can visit for free, such as the Puerta de la Justicia, the Plaza de los Aljibes and the outside of the Palace of Charles V.
How much should I tip on a free tour in Granada?
There is no fixed amount. You pay the guide at the end what you think the tour was worth, in cash or by the method the guide accepts. Our tip calculator shows the usual range for Spain.
Do I need to book the Granada free tour in advance?
Booking is free and recommended. One booking covers up to six people, and in high season the popular times fill up. You can cancel for free if your plans change.
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