Ever since we moved to Granada in 2006, we’ve loved wandering through Granada’s streets and alleyways, sitting down at a café terrace in a charming square, or simply pausing to take in the incredible views of the Alhambra, Albaicín and Sierra Nevada. It’s the perfect way to soak up Granada’s rich 1,000-year history and culture. Now you can follow three of our favourite routes with audio tours we’ve created using VoiceMap.
VoiceMap is an innovative app that uses your phone’s GPS to automatically play you audio based on your location. Ben will guide you around the city, telling you about the sights you pass on the way. There’s no fixed schedule, so you can go at your own pace.
The three tours cover Granada’s historical centre and the Albaicín, Sacromonte and Realejo neighbourhoods. Each tour takes about 2-3 hours, but allow more time if you want to go into the sights along the way, linger at the viewpoints or stop for a coffee or tapas.
You can purchase one of the tours from the VoiceMap website or through the VoiceMap app, which you can download from iTunes or Google Play.
Once you’ve bought a tour, you can listen to it as many times as you like. The app uses GPS to navigate, so if you download it somewhere you have access to WiFi, you won’t need to use data roaming at all. If you’re not in Granada at the moment, you can also listen to it as a virtual tour.
Reviews for our audio tours
If you do one of the tours, you will be prompted to rate the tour and write a review. We’d love you have your feedback, so please do let us know what you think. It’s also very helpful for us to get reviews on TripAdvisor – even if you haven’t booked through them, you can still leave a review there.
Here are some of the reviews we’ve got for our tours so far:
Enchanting Granada: a walking tour of the historical centre and lower Albaicín
The Enchanting Granada audio tour takes in many of Granada’s main sights, including the cathedral, Royal Chapel, Plaza Bib-Rambla, Plaza Nueva, Paseo de los Tristes, Alcaicería, Corral del Carbón, Arab Baths, Archaeological Museum and St. Jerome monastery.
The tour starts in Plaza Bib-Rambla in the historical centre of Granada. After taking in the Alcaicería (old market), Corral del Carbón and Plaza Nueva, Ben will guide you through the maze of narrow streets in the Albaicín – the Moorish quarter that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll finish off by exploring the Renaissance city, including St. Jerome monastery, the cathedral and the Royal Chapel, where Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon are buried.
As you go along, Ben will talk about everything from Granada’s famous free tapas through flamenco and Lorca to popular beliefs. And of course, you’ll enjoy some spectacular views across to the Alhambra, so there will be plenty of great photo opportunities.
On average, the tour takes roughly 3 hours, but allow more time if you want to go into the sights along the way, linger at the viewpoints or stop for a coffee or tapas.
You can purchase the Enchanting Granada walking tour for your smartphone from the VoiceMap website or through the VoiceMap app, which you can download from iTunes or Google Play.
This tour is also available in Spanish: Granada cautivadora: un paseo a pie por el casco histórico y el Albaicín bajo
The Albaicín and Sacromonte’s Iconic Sights: a Granada walking tour
The palaces and ramparts of the Alhambra, with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains towering above them, are one of the iconic images of Andalusia. On the Albaicín and Sacromonte audio tour you’ll never be far from a spectacular viewpoint, but between them you’ll dive into narrow, winding streets that have changed little since Moorish times.
You’ll start by exploring the very oldest part of the city, which has been settled for almost 3,000 years. Next, Ben will guide you through the heart of the Albaicin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is rich in charm and dotted with historic sights, including the old city walls, palaces, gardens and churches.
These days, the area is also home to some great bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy a drink with tapas on a delightful little square or dine on a jasmine-scented terrace as you gaze across at the floodlit Alhambra.
The tour then continues into the Sacromonte valley, where the Roma community has traditionally lived, and which is famous for its exotic cave houses and brilliant flamenco artists. The tour is packed with sights and breathtaking viewpoints, including the unmissable Mirador San Nicolás.
On average, the tour takes roughly 2 hours, but allow more time if you want to go into the sights along the way, linger at the viewpoints or stop for a coffee or tapas.
You can purchase the Albaicín and Sacromonte’s Iconic Sights walking tour from the VoiceMap website or through the VoiceMap app, which you can download from iTunes or Google Play.
Vibrant Multicultural Realejo: a walking tour of Granada’s old Jewish Quarter
Realejo, Granada’s old Jewish Quarter, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan place with a fascinating history. Its synagogues and mosques gave way to churches over 500 years ago but, if you know where to look, many traces of its Jewish and Muslim heritage remain. On the Realejo audio tour, you’ll see this lively neighbourhood’s rich past come to life.
The tour starts in Plaza del Carmen, where locals gather to count down to the New Year in the heart of Granada. From there, Ben will guide you through Realejo’s maze of winding streets and alleyways. It’s on a steep hillside, so be prepared for some climbing! Your efforts will be rewarded with gorgeous vistas of the Alhambra. You’ll also be able to admire the city and its surroundings from viewpoints like Placeta Puerta del Sol and Torres Bermejas, which once formed part of the old city walls.
Stepping out into modern Realejo, Ben will point out plenty of great tapas bars. Along the way, he’ll explain the significance of the statue of Mariana Pineda, the Fuente de las Batallas fountain, and the Virgin de las Angustias church.
You’ll also learn a bit about Granada’s history, including the prominent role of Jews such as Samuel ibn Nagrela, who was the Muslim king’s right-hand man, and hear about some of the famous writers, artists and musicians who were drawn to the city by the romance of the Alhambra and Granada’s diverse cultural heritage.
On average, the tour takes roughly 2 hours, but allow more time if you want to go into the sights along the way, linger at the viewpoints or stop for a coffee or tapas.
You can purchase the Vibrant Multicultural Realejo walking tour for your smartphone from the VoiceMap website or through the VoiceMap app, which you can download from iTunes or Google Play.
