What to do at Christmas time in Granada 

If you are thinking of visiting Granada during the Christmas season, you have already made a good choice.

In this article you will find a list of activities you can do in Granada during Christmas time.

Granada is amazing all year, but at Christmas time could be even better, there are a lot of traditions during Christmas time that you can read in that article.

The streets became a combination of lights, colors, people, and activities.

This year, Granada’s festivities follow the slogan ” Granada te abraza en Navidad”. 🌲🎄

Many people come for skiing but, with the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada as a backdrop, all the festive lights and seasonal attractions combine to make the city a magical place to visit at this time of year.

Do not miss these Christmas activities in Granada!

Christmas lights

Granada switched on its Christmas lights on 30th November. The grand lighting illuminated Granada with more than 2.5 million points of light distributed throughout the most popular streets.

The Plaza del Carmen will have light and sound shows with three daily shows, at 19:30, 20:30 and 21:30 hours. The music will be played by Luis Miguel, Rosana and Marina Heredia.

This year other streets take center stage such as Avenida Federico García, Agua del Albaicín street, Plaza Isabel la Católica, Avenida Constitución, Gran Vía, Puerta Real and Carrera de la Virgen.

Be sure to stop by the Fuente de las Batallas to take your Christmas photo between the two Christmas balls of 2 meters high walkable, in front of the gift or in the loop with built-in seat of 2.30 meters high.

Another great attraction is the “Fundación Caja Rural Christmas video mapping” that will project a spectacular Christmas story with 3D effects with 4 daily passes: at 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00 hours, until January 6 inclusive.

Nativity Scenes

One of the most popular traditions in the city is to visit ‘’Belenes’’ (portals of Bethlehem).

Nativity scenes can be found all over the city. It is a Christmas tradition that goes back centuries, and every year there is a competition, organised by the town hall, to find the best Nativity Scene.

This year 2024, the “Ruta de Belenes de Granada” can be visited from December 14 to January 6. I recommend that you do not miss the following:

• Municipal Nativity Scene of the Granada City Hall. It has a length of almost 30 meters and is composed of 120 figures and 70 animals. It can be visited from Thursday December 3 until January 4, Monday to Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 21:00 hours. The schedule is different on the 24th from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 19:30, on the 31st from 11:00 to 14:00 and January 1 and 2 from 17:30 to 21:00 hours.

• Bethlehem of the Museum of San Juan De Dios. It is located in the Casa de Pisa. It has obtained the first prize in the historical or biblical modality. It can be visited daily from December 10 to January 6 from 10:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. On December 24 and 31, as well as on January 6, it will be closed in the afternoon.

• Belén Monasteriales Cisterciense de San Bernardo, located in the Carrera del Darro. It is an innovative nativity scene that will surprise you with its creativity.

Christmas Concerts

One of the Christmas activities in Granada are the Christmas concerts. You can find concerts of all kinds. The most outstanding are the following:

• December 15. Christmas Concert II, by the Municipal Band of Music in the Manuel de Falla Auditorium at 17:00 and 19:00 hours.

• December 19. Candlelight: Christmas soundtracks, at the Carmen de los Mártires at 19:00 and 21:00.

• December 19. X Carpa Diem carol concert, at the Teatro Municipal Isabel la Católica at 20:00 hours.

• December 20. Así canta Jerez en Navidad, at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos at 20:30 hours.

• December 20th. Christmas with Habichuela, at the Isabel la Católica Municipal Theater at 9:30 pm.

• December 20. Zambomba. Villancicos del Sacromonte, in the Municipal Auditorium La Chumbera at 8:30 pm.

• December 21st. Candlelight: Christmas Classics, at the Carmen de los Mártires at 19:00 and 21:00.

• December 21. Zambomba “Cantando a la Navidad”, in the Municipal Auditorium La Chumbera at 20:30 hours.

• December 21. Family Christmas. Farrucos y Fernández, in the Manuel de Falla Auditorium at 20:00 hours.

Christmas markets in Granada

Christmas markets are already a tradition throughout Europe, so the wonderful city of Granada is not far behind.

Granada has its main Christmas Market in Plaza Bib-Rambla, the central square of Granada and the starting point to visit the city center.

From 17th November to 7th January, you can enjoy the traditional market of handmade nativity scenes that every year floods the streets with Christmas atmosphere and good food. Without a doubt, a visit to this traditional market is not to be missed.

In addition, this year in Puerta Real, around the Fuente de las Batallas, you can find the Christmas Craft Market. Here you will find stalls with gift items, local products, handmade articles, typical Christmas sweets, etc.

As a novelty this year, Granada has organized a gastronomic initiative of 947 square meters with 24 booths on the esplanade of the Palacio de Congresos. It can be visited from November 29 to December 9. The participating companies make up the brand “Sabor Granada”. A 100 square meter tent has been set up in the same area for daily musical activities.

The opening hours of both markets will be from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:30 from Monday to Sunday.

Visit the ‘’Cartero Real’’ to give him the letter

Towards the end of December, the little ones can enjoy visiting the “Cartero Real”. This Christmas activity usually takes place in the Town Hall of Granada, located in the Plaza del Carmen. It is the Spanish equivalent of Santa’s Grotto. One of the three Wise Men is ready to accept your Christmas list from the 17th of December until the 4th of January.

The opening hours will be from 11:30 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 20:30 every day. The following days will have special opening hours. 25 and 31 December where their presence will be shortened by one hour in the evening to 19:30 and on 1 and 2 January from 17:30 to 20:30.

As a novelty, this year the Heraldo de Sus Majestades de Oriente will announce the arrival of the kings Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar on the 3rd of January by means of a parade through the Nasrid capital with a group of 400 people and 16 carriages.

Cabalgata of The Three Kings

Another very Spanish tradition you can experience while in Granada over the holidays is the Cabalgata which is a grand parade that takes place in the city center on the night of 5 January.

This year we are bringing back the traditional route, starting in Gran Capitán Street and finishing in the Plaza del Carmen.

This is a magical night: people of all ages all over Spain take to the street to greet the Three Kings and children enjoy this night as the best of the year.

The day after, all the children receive presents from the Three Kings, so to see them the night before makes this date a special day on the calendar.

Granada Christmas Sweets

The Spanish celebrate Christmas by eating lots of Shellfish. The main meal on Christmas Eve is often turkey or lamb.

Chocolate and Churros, of course, are the best Christmas breakfast for an indulgent start to the day. Sweets are typical too, particularly Marzapan figures and lots of almond nougat, which they call turron. ‘’Polvorones’’ and ‘’mantecados’’ are popular as well.

But, undoubtedly, the best homemade Christmas sweets are those of the convents. If you want to order online, it is now possible to order directly from the Real Monasterio de la Madre De Dios de las Comendadoras De Santiago or go directly to the Monastery located at Calle Santiago, 20.

Ski next to the city of Granada

During Christmas time, skiing is another of the most popular options to do in Granada.

Over the Christmas Holidays, the Sierra Nevada Ski Station is open. Choose to stay there or just head up on a day trip from the city. If you choose to drive up, check road conditions. Some parts of the road may need chains depending on the weather.

New eve in Granada

New Year’s Eve is one of the best moments of the whole year. The nostalgia of the year gone by coupled with excitement for the year to come makes New Year’s Eve (called ‘’nochevieja’’ in Spain) one of the most highly anticipated fiestas of the season.

Every year the people of Granada gather in the Plaza del Carmen to celebrate the New Year to the sound of bells and music.

This year, there will be a distribution of cotillion bags and grapes, fireworks and a verbena enlivened by the group “El beso de Judas”.

While some choose to ring in the new year in the comfort of their home, others gather in the city center to celebrate with friends.

No matter where you celebrate, there’s one thing everyone on New Year’s Eve in Spain and also in Granada does together: eat the ‘’uvas’’. The traditional 12 New Year’s grapes are eaten at the stroke of midnight, one for each chime of the clock.

Don’t forget to make a wish!

Have fun in the ‘Christmas Town’ of Granada

This is a perfect plan if you are planning to come to Granada at Christmas time with the kids.

The city has inaugurated a large area of Christmas attractions on the Paseo del Salón. It will be open from 1 December to 6 January, from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.

This village will bring together all kinds of facilities, but especially focused on children. There will be zip lines, carousels, adventure park, Christmas train, jumping, sledging, ice rink, ziz-zag slide and skating rink.

In addition, the whole family will be able to enjoy a 30-metre Ferris wheel on the Explanada of the Palacio de Congresos.

Come to enjoy Christmas activities in Granada

I totally recommend you to visit Granada during Christmas time. The city is a different experience that you cannot miss!

Finally, if you are thinking of visiting Granada, let me be your hostess!

I’m a tourism professional and official tourist guide for more than a decade. I am a specialist in Granada’s historical and artistic heritage.

With me, you can discover monuments, neighborhoods, and the lives of historical characters as a local.

I also invite you to click the link below to download my free Ebook with all you need to know before visiting Granada.