Granada: Churches, Museums and Boat Trips

Granada combines the history of a city with museums, churches, musical traditions and boat trips to the Isletas. Historical sites and cultural experiences are at the heart of the city; the wider Department of Granada adds volcanic landscapes, lagoons and other traditions to the picture. Which of these themes interests you most may also shape your choice of holiday apartment.

Museums and Churches in the City of Granada

The Centro Cultural Museo Convento San Francisco houses museums dedicated to regional archaeology, the naïve art of Solentiname and the traditions of Granada. Its themed galleries invite you to discover archaeology, painting and folklore. The historic centre of the city of Granada preserves colonial architecture, providing a fitting setting for a stay focused on culture and history.

The churches also offer different historical perspectives. The origins of Iglesia de Guadalupe are dated to the years 1624 to 1629. The first Iglesia La Merced, made of wood and straw, dates back to the 16th century. Iglesia de Xalteva stands on Calle Real in western Granada, in the area where the Indigenous settlement of Xalteva was located before the conquest. It was built during the colonial period and used as a military fortress because of its location. At the same time, it served religious purposes, was used for surveillance and was a place of trade with the Spanish. This trade was intended to build relationships with the Indigenous people of Xalteva.

Music, Flavours and Experiences

Every Saturday evening in October, El Atabal fills Granada with the sound of drums and coplas. This annual tradition gives October its own musical character. Visitors can also try Vigorón in Granada. Nightlife is concentrated mainly along Calle La Calzada; horse-drawn carriage rides with a driver are offered in the city’s tourist centre.

Granada is also associated with boat trips to the Isletas. If you arrive in Granada by public transport, you can take a taxi from Parque Central or a bus station to one of the boat docks: the dock at the Centro Turístico de Granada in the Los Chilamates area, the Yellow Cabin dock at the end of the tourist centre, or Asese port. Taxi availability and operating conditions may change; check availability before setting off.

The Department of Granada: Volcano, Lagoons and Traditions

When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the city and the department. The Department of Granada consists of the municipalities of Granada, Nandaime, Diriá and Diriomo; the city of Granada is its capital. The Mombacho Volcano in the department reaches an elevation of 1,345 metres above sea level. Cloud forest and humid tropical forest grow on its summit. Apoyo Lagoon extends across the departments of Granada and Masaya.

The protected areas in the Department of Granada include the Mombacho Volcano Natural Reserve, Zapatera Archipelago National Park and the Mecatepe lagoons. The Río Manares Nature Reserve in Nandaime encompasses the lagoon system of Mecatepe and Juan Tallo, as well as the Río Ochomogo, which forms the municipality’s natural boundary. The wider destination of Granada therefore offers landscapes and protected areas as well as the city’s history and culture.

In Nandaime, the dance of the little devils gives the festivities a theatrical and symbolic dimension. The Atabal is also part of the patron saint festivities there: poems, verses and songs honour the Virgin of Santa Ana. This is a different cultural reference from El Atabal in the city of Granada, which resounds with drums and coplas in October. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can first consider whether you mainly want to explore the city’s churches and museums or also include the department’s natural and cultural attractions in your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: El Manchón, Diriá.

Go to the wider travel overview: Granada.