Granada is a city of color and probably the most beautiful city in Nicaragua. I fell in love at first site – this type of city is exactly my type. Something great about Nicaragua is that it is still rather unexplored by tourists and therefore, unlike many other city destinations in for example Europe, it feels like it’s only you and the locals. Spending a few days in Granada is a must when in Nicaragua. This post will guide you through some amazing things to do while visiting Granada.
How to get to Granada, Nicaragua
Getting to Granada from Managua
The cheapest option to get from Managua to Granada is by local bus, or chicken bus as it is called in Nicaragua. There is one bus operating from Managua UCA bus terminal, starting at around 6AM and ending at 8PM. The trip takes approximately 1.5 hours and will cost you around 20 Córdobas. There are also buses leaving from Mercado R Huembes in Managua. These ones will operate a little bit later than the ones from UCA. Another option to get to Granada from Managua is by taxi, which will cost around 50 USD and take about 1 hour.
Getting to Granada from Rivas (Ometepe/San Juan del Sur/Popoyo)
Rivas is the connection point for all southern destinations in Nicaragua, including San Juan del Sur and Ometepe. No matter where you are, you will first need to get to Rivas. From Rivas you can catch the chicken bus. The first departure is at 6.10AM, with an interval between 1 – 1.5 hours, and the last one at 4.20PM. Do note that there is no 4.20PM departure on Sundays, the last one being 3.10PM. The trip will cost you 60 Córdobas and take about 1.5 hours. Another option is taxi, which will take about 1 hour and cost between 60 – 75 USD.
15 best things to do in Granada, Nicaragua
Stroll the beautiful, colorful streets of Granada
One of the best things to do in Granada really is to just walk the streets and enjoy the beauty of it. The houses are so colorful and each street is as beautiful as the other. I was out for hours, trying to cover as many streets as possible and I don’t know how many pictures I took. I kind of fell a little bit in love with this place.
Kayak around the Isletas de Granada
Thousands of years ago, the nearby Mombacho Volcano erupted and threw big rocks into Lake Nicaragua. This eruption resulted in the creation of 365 islets of different shapes and sizes, in front of Granada – Isletas de Granada. The islets are known for its lush, tropical vegetation and richness in bird life. They are located only a 15-minute drive away from downtown Granada, in Lake Nicaragua. Kayaking the isletas is a can’t miss when in Granada. You can go with a tour that takes only 2.5 hours, so you’ll still have plenty of time to explore Granada.
You can read more about the kayaking tour and my Isletas de Granada experience here.
Visit the local market ”Mercado Municipal”
Mercado Municipal is the local market in Granada, where locals come to sell their things. Mainly there are different kinds of foods, vegetables and fruits being sold. If visiting, prepare for loud noises and crowds. This is not really a tourist attraction, so you’ll probably be one of a few outsiders. Although, it is nice to see how the locals live, so I do recommend strolling through the market for a while.
Climb the tower of Iglesia La Merced for the best view in Granada
Iglesia La Merced is a beautiful church itself, but also has a tower you can climb. Pay 1 USD and walk up the winding stairs to the clock tower and you’ll get a beautiful view of Granada. The best time to do this is definitely at sunset. Unfortunately when I visited, there were a tropical storm running through Central America, so it was cloudy all the time. The view was still great though.
See Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral
When you Google Granada you will probably see a lot of pictures of a yellow, majestic cathedral. This is Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, located in the centre of Granada. The cathedral is a beaut and you should definitely enjoy from every point of view, so take a walk around it!
Have plantain burgers at TostoMetro
A plantain is a sort of banana, and TostoMetro uses this ingredient for a new take on burgers. Instead of using a regular bun, they smash two plantains, fry them up, and use them as buns. You can choose between a burger of pork, chicken, beef or vegetarian. Even though this place is a little bit more expensive (Nicaragua wise), you must go here! The burgers are amazing, especially the beef one. Expect to pay between 270 – 300 Córdobas for a burger (7 – 8.5 USD).
Day trip to Laguna de Apoyo
Laguna de Apoyo is located only a 25-minute drive from Granada. A former volcano crater, now a 175-meter deep lake, is the perfect day trip for a little beach get away. There are some hostels in the area where you can buy a day pass, which will give you access to sunbeds, hammocks, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
If you want to experience more of Laguna de Apoyo, it is possible to stay overnight.
I stayed in Laguna de Apoyo for two days and have written more about it here. This is something I really recommend doing!
Go shopping for arts and crafts
Granada has many stands and stores with arts and crafts and going hunting for your next piece should definitely be something to do when in the city. One of my favorite stores is SOY NICA, a leather store with everything from small card holders to bigger bags. 100 % leather and very cheap. Along the streets you’ll find vendors with small stands, and some might even sit on a doorstep with their things.
People watch at Parque Central de Granada
Parque Central de Granada is the central park of the city and located right in front of Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral. You can sit down on one of the benches and people-watch, or take a seat at one of the small local places to eat.
Enjoy Calle La Calzada
Calle La Calzada is known for its lively vibe, especially during evening and night time. The street is filled with restaurants and bars with outdoor serving. This is definitely where you should go if you want to be in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Unfortunately when I visited, it was raining the entire time, so I didn’t get to experience this amazing vibe. Let it be a tale for me and maybe you’re more lucky.
Hike the Mombacho volcano
The Mombacho volcano is a popular volcano to hike when in Granada due to its location. It is situated only 10 km from Granada city and can be done self-guided as well as with a guide. There are several trails you can walk, depending on how much time you have and how much effort you are willing to put into it. El Cráter Trail is the shortest hike that will take about 1.5 hours, El Tigrillo Trail about 2.5 hours and El Puma Trail up to 4 hours. The two last mentioned are considered hard hikes while the first one is medium. The price to enter the trails is 5 USD for a foreign adult. For a guide you will need to pay a little bit more.
Find the other two beautiful churches Iglesia Xalteva and Iglesia de Guadalupe
The most famous churches and cathedrals are definitely the ones mentioned above, but there are some other churches that are not to be forgotten. Iglesia Xalteva and Iglesia de Guadalupe are two other beautiful churches and they both have small parks in front of them where you can sit back and relax for a while.
Have lunch at Café de la Sonrisas
Café de las Sonrisas (or Smiles Cafe) is famous for its commitment to inclusivity and I would say stopping by this place for breakfast or lunch is a must when in Granada. The cafe is charming itself with really good prices and a next-door shop selling beautiful arts, crafts and jewlery. What makes this place unique is that it provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, with only deaf people working there. When entering, you will be welcomed with walls of different gestures in sign language. You order food by pointing at the menu, but if you really want to commit to it, you can find some phrases on the walls, like tomato, sugar, thank you or hello.
Day trip to Masaya
Masaya is the nearest city to Granada, only 25 minutes away. Visiting Masaya for a few hours can be a fun activity to do while in Granada. Masaya is famous for its lively markets. The most famous one for visitors is El Mercado Viejo Craft Market. If you instead want to go where the locals go, you should head to Mercado Municipal. Other things to do in Masaya is enjoying the central park and the Malecon boardwalk along the lake. There is also a viewpoint here, Mirador del Lago de Masaya, which has a good view of the lake.
Enjoy a coffee at Garden Cafe
If you want to hang out where other travelers are, Garden Cafe is for you. It’s a hub for backpackers and remote workers, enjoying a cup of coffee or lunch, journaling or tapping on their computers. The cafe has many seats with a beautiful garden in the yard. There is also a shop connected to it, selling beautiful arts and crafts.
