11 Things to Do with Kids in Granada

Every trip requires good planning and organisation, and even more so if you are travelling with children. Granada is a city that has the good habit of enchanting all the members of the family, thanks to its beauty and its corners full of history.

In this article I will tell you everything you need to know so that you can make the most of your stay, as there is so much to see and do in Granada. Here we go!

The Alhambra is one of those must-see sites in Granada, even more so if you are travelling with children. The tour is quite extensive, so don't forget to bring a few bottles of water, some snacks, and wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Also, keep in mind that it will be much better if you buy your tickets to the Alhambra in advance to avoid queues and long waits, something to avoid whenever you travel with children. As for the price, children under the age of 12 are free.

As it is a place with a lot of history, it is a good idea to tell your children a little about the place and who lived there or opt for a guided tour of the Alhambra so that the guide can explain all the details of the place. There is also a large number of children's stories about the Alhambra, so that the little ones can get excited about learning about this magical place.

In addition, on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 12:30pm, there are guided tours for the whole family, in which the guides will make the walk an adventure, enlivening with stories for the youngest, touring this incredible monument will be unforgettable.

To say Sierra Nevada is to think of snow and skis. But this destination has much more to offer.

• On your trip to the Sierra Nevada during the summer season, your children can enjoy activities such as Russian sledging, motorless cars, inflatable games and archery with arrows.
• And in winter you can do all those classic activities, such as special snowmobiles for children, tobogganing, snowshoeing in the Sierra Nevada and much more.

In the main square, before the Sierra Nevada cable car, there is even a nursery for children from 4 months to 6 years old. Here the little ones can spend the day playing or taking part in fun workshops specially designed for them, while you do an activity exclusively for adults.

If you want to see in more detail the variety of activities to do here, we recommend you visit the official Sierra Nevada website. You'll be surprised at all the things you can do here with your children. And you might be interested to know how to get to the Sierra Nevada from Granada, you will see that it is very easy.

The old Moorish quarter of the Albaicín is a classic and unmissable walk if you are in Granada. And if you go with children, a very interesting option is to book a tour of the Albaicín and Sacromonte.

The star of this neighbourhood is the Mirador de San Nicolás, which you can access on foot or by minibus (depending on the age of the children). At the viewpoint you can share the best views of the Alhambra with the children.

In addition, the traditional houses with their beautiful gardens, the hidden corners and the labyrinthine layout of this neighbourhood will surprise and delight the children. A must on this tour is the walk along the Darro River, where you will see the Alhambra on the Sabika hill.

And what better way to tour this beautiful city and discover its most emblematic places than with the Granada City Tour tourist train. In a time interval of approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, you will pass by the Cathedral of Granada, the Mirador de San Cristóbal, the Paseo de los Tristes, the Cartuja Monastery and the Alhambra and the Generalife.

Moreover, you can get on and off whenever you want, so you have the opportunity to explore the city freely and comfortably. Please note that trains run every 30-45 minutes depending on the time of year.

This is the ideal place to live an unforgettable experience with your children. In the the little ones can, through fun games and experiences, learn about extremely interesting subjects such as astronomy, biology, music and robotics.

The Park is divided into themed rooms according to teaching areas, and also has outdoor spaces, a giant chess game, a labyrinth and the remarkable Biodomo, a space dedicated entirely to education about the biodiversity of the planet. Also worth a visit is the planetarium, with its projections about the universe and its astronomical observatory, as well as the impressive tropical butterfly farm.

In addition, the Science Park also has specific workshops and temporary exhibitions. Bear in mind that this is a large complex, with a large number of activities to do, so it lends itself to a full day out. In the following article you will find all the information you need to visit the Science Park. And an important fact, inside the Park there are restaurants and areas with chairs and tables, so you can eat whatever you want.

Opening times and location

• Opening times: The park is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
• Where: The park is located on Science Avenue.

Another ideal plan with the little ones is an excursion to Guadix and the Geopark of Granada, where you will have the opportunity to discover one of the oldest and most characteristic settlements in the country, as well as the cave houses that will leave the children speechless.

Guadix has numerous churches and convents, stately homes and the remains of walls. Furthermore, in the Geopark, which is characterised by its geological and palaeontological wealth, you will find centres of divulgation such as the Gor River Valley or the Castril Castle Site.

An excursion, lasting approximately 7 hours, in which you will go with a local guide who will inform you and give you all the details of the prehistoric monuments and fortifications that abound in this area of great geological and historical relevance.

There are many things to see and do in Granada and, of course, there are many parks to enjoy the outdoors. Most of them have fun games for children. The three largest and most notable parks in Granada are: Federico García Lorca Park, Carmen de los Mártires Park and Tico Medina Park. Children can enjoy a modern and spacious play area, including a fun zip line in the Federico García Lorca Park. This recreational area also has a restaurant where you can watch your children.

Carmen de los Mártires Park has a picturesque landscape with beautiful gardens, ponds and statues. The little ones will enjoy meeting the curious inhabitants of this huge park: peacocks, squirrels and ducks, which they can even feed. This historic space also has privileged panoramic views of both the city and the Sierra Nevada.

Finally, in the Tico Medina Park you can take your bikes to ride with your children, as it has an exclusive bike lane. This large park has an exclusive play area for the little ones and even an area for dogs.

The Fundación Caja Granada is located in a building opposite the Parque de las Ciencias and inside you'll find activities exclusively for children in their Pequemuseo. Tickets to these events start from 4 €, and you can see the details on the official website of Caja Granada. Even on specific dates throughout the year, there are activities designed for babies between 6 and 36 months.

These are activities that involve smells, textures and sounds, to give babies and their families an unforgettable sensory experience where the museum visitors are the protagonists.

The foundation also runs the Museo Memoria de Andalucía, which allows visitors to learn about the history and identity of Andalusia through numerous interactive and playful resources, making the experience fun for both adults and children. The museum offers guided tours with participatory workshops for the whole family. The visit lasts approximately 2 hours.

The Realejo is the old Jewish quarter. In this popular and charming place artists, musicians, tourists and locals live together in a bohemian atmosphere. A walk through its streets with the children can be a fun experience.

Another must is the Campo del Príncipe, a charming and quiet square where the little ones can enjoy their playground. Adults will find several terraces around the square where they can enjoy some good tapas. And at the top of the neighbourhood you can visit the Bermejas Towers, which were once used for defence. By telling them about those times, you can make this a very interesting place for the kids to let their imagination run wild.

An interesting attraction in the Realejo is the mural El niño de las pinturas, by the artist Raúl Ruiz, which can inspire children to create their own drawings. It may also be a good idea to go to the upper part of the Realejo and visit the Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, where some of the best views of the city are to be found.

One of the things children enjoy most is interacting with animals. For this, in Granada you have the Mascotario, located in Cenes de la Vega. Here, children can get up close and personal with the animals that live there.

Here they can enjoy horses, parrots, hedgehogs and even a Vietnamese pig, among others. The Mascotario is a place designed so that children can fully enjoy nature. In addition, its main focus is on children's horse riding, a sport that the organisation promotes and gives classes in.

On the official website of the Mascotario you can see in detail its activities, guided tours, workshops and even camps.

Opening times and location

• Opening hours: The Mascotario is open from Tuesday to Friday from 18:30 to 21:00 hours, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.
• Where: It is located in Cortijo de las Angustias 18190, Cenes de La Vega.

Gastronomy is a must on any good trip. Discovering new restaurants, cafés and ice-cream parlours is an activity that your children will enjoy as much as you do. Throughout the city you will find numerous gastronomic options to share with the little ones. From the typical tapas of Granada to more standard dishes, it is always advisable to look for restaurants with a terrace, as well as those that are located in places that are not too noisy.

Among the favourite places is El Trillo Restaurant located in the Albaicín, where you can enjoy the best Mediterranean food on a beautiful terrace; and Casa Torcuato, with its exquisite fish fried tapas. Although your children can't miss some of Granada's most traditional ice creams. Among these, the traditional ice cream parlour La Perla, which has been in business since 1932, is one of the favourites of the locals, along with the Heladería Los Italianos, on Gran Vía.

Although if your visit is during the cold season, you can't miss some churros with chocolate at the emblematic Café Fútbol in Plaza Mariana Pineda. A real treat, you won't regret it.