10 Best Things To Do in Granada, Nicaragua
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I’m going to be honest and admit that Granada was not my favourite city in Nicaragua. Nevertheless, I would still recommend allocating at least a couple days of your Nicaragua itinerary here. It is after all the oldest city in the Americas. Regardless of my personal opinion, Granada and her surroundings are on the tentative list to receive UNESCO Word Heritage Site designation. In this post, I share 10 of the best things to do in Granada, Nicaragua.
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<3 Dominique
1) Go on a walking tour of colonial Granada
Granada is a very walkable city. You can wander the cobblestone streets and take in the vibrantly painted buildings with intricate balconies. The Moorish and Andalusian architecture of Granada, which seems out of place in Central America, earns it the nickname “La Gran Sultana.” Founded in 1524, the Spaniards had constructed Granada as a model city. Its restoration to its former glory is ongoing. Granada is capable of captivating her visitors at first glance and that is why I declare that a walking tour of the city is the TOP thing to do in Granada.
Safety tip: as with any big city, exercise a degree of caution when travelling after dark. Take a taxi back to home base if you’re alone. Avoid the Malecon (waterfront) area which is a robbery hotspot at night.
For a more structured walk with a knowledgeable local, there are free walking tours available via GuruWalk. Just don’t forget to tip afterwards! If the GuruWalk tours don’t work with your schedule, this (paid) guided tour of Granada has more flexible start times.
2) Have a drink on Calle La Calzada
La Calzada is the most famous street in Granada. Brightly-coloured colonial buildings and mosaic art line this pedestrian street. La Calzada is a quiet place for coffee or lunch during the day. Come night time, it appears to be where all the action in the city is! There are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from, many of which have patios right on the street. If you’re looking for a fun night out with live music or Latin dancing or karaoke, I’m sure you will find it on La Calzada!
3) People watch at Mercado Municipal
The original Mercado Municipal was housed in a neoclassical building constructed in 1892. It has since spilled out on the streets surrounding the building. If you want to really immerse yourself in local life, head to the market. It will get chaotic but this will give a glimpse of daily life in Granada. I suggest trying some of the fresh, local produce while you are there.
4) Eat at a local restaurant
If Nicaragua had a gastronomic centre, I would say it is in Granada. There are a few restaurants in the city that have quite the following, both locally and internationally. For this reason, I would say that eating at a local restaurant is one of the top things to do in Granada!
Below are some of the most popular restaurants in Granada:
- Tostometro – this restaurant has an international, cult following. Tostometro serves burgers. Instead of using buns, they serve the burgers on tostones. The restaurant is located at Mercado Municipal in between two stalls. Despite being famous for its burgers, Tostometro is vegetarian friendly with vegan and gluten free options.
- The Garden Cafe – a cafe whose mission statement is “to serve fresh, honest food and to disrupt the cycle of poverty by generating opportunities that help our team and community grow.” Eat here if you want a traditional Nicaraguan breakfast but the cafe is open until dinner.
- El Zaguán – is a more upscale restaurant serving authentic Nicaraguan cuisine. I recommend dining here if you are celebrating a special occasion or if you want to treat yourself.
5) See one of the many churches
There are a number of impressive churches that dominate Granada’s skyline. Even if you’re not a religious, it is hard not to appreciate the beauty, architecture, and history of these buildings.
Some notable churches in Granada:
- Catedral de Granada – this bright, yellow church is one of the most prominent buildings in Granada. Originally built in 1583, the church was completely destroyed by William Walker in 1856. Despite multiple rebuilds, the cathedral retains its neoclassical architecture.
- Iglesia la Merced – is a baroque church that was originally built in 1534. For $1 USD, you can climb up to the bell tower to get the best panoramic views of Granada.
- Iglesia de Guadalupe – this church was built in 1626. In 1826, William Walker used it as one of his last strongholds, causing a lot of damage to the church. The church was reconstructed in 1965.
6) Roll your own cigar
While Estelí is the tobacco capital of Nicaragua, there are boutique cigar factories located in Granada. You can arrange to learn how these factories make small batch cigars. In addition, you can roll your own cigar under the watchful eye of a Master Blender in these factories. There are two places in Granada where you can do this:
- Doña Elba Cigars Granada Factory -produces small-batch, premium private cigars. Doña Elba Cigars is one of the most sought-after custom labeled and blended premium cigar makers in Nicaragua. They conduct daily demonstrations on how they make Nicaraguan cigars.
- Casa Favilli – is a luxury, boutique cigar factory and lounge. Housed in a mansion that was built in 1925, you can expect to receive both an architecture/history lesson and a cigar factory tour all at the same time. The tour costs $8 USD.
7) Visit Convento y Museo San Francisco
Convento San Francisco is one of the oldest churches in Central America. It is also one of the best museums in the area. A 16th-century building houses the church and museum. Originally constructed in 1585, pirates and the filibuster William Walker burnt it to the ground. It underwent reconstruction in 1868 and restoration in 1989.
The museum focuses on the pre-Columbian people that inhabited modern-day Nicaragua. If you like history or art then you may enjoy this museum. The entrance fee is $5 USD.
8) Shop for artisanal goods
The Masaya Artisan Market (in Spanish: Centro Cultural Mercado de Artesanías) is often listed as THE place to buy unique, artisanal souvenirs. You can reach the market, located 30 minutes outside of Granada, by taxi or chicken bus.
I couldn’t fit the Masaya market into my plans. Many reviews online state that while the market is nice enough, it is geared very much to tourists. The reviews also said you had to search for the authentic, artisanal goods among those mass manufactured in China.
If you want to see artisans at work at their craft, I would suggest venturing out to an artisan village. The following villages can be accessed via Granada:
- Catarina – home to wood workers as well as bamboo basket weavers. This is a quaint village near Laguna de Apoyo that is famous for its nurseries.
- San Juan de Oriente – this is the most famous ceramic village in Central America! Ceramic work has been taking place in the village for over 2000 years and the majority of village members work in creating pottery items.
Travel tip: if you are interested in seeing the artisan villages and Masaya market, check out this tour that will bring you to all three places + a day time tour of Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya.
9) Make your own chocolate at the ChocoMuseo
ChocoMuseo is a specialty museum where you can learn about the history of cacao and the process of making chocolate. If the name sounds familiar, that is because ChocoMuseo is a franchise. It has locations in Cusco, Lima, Ollantaytambo, Puerto Vallarta, and Antigua. The Chocolate Spa is exclusive to the ChocoMuseo in Granada. Get a massage or facial at the Chocolate Spa where cacao oil and cacao essence is used in the treatments!
The chocolate museum in ChocoMuseo is free. You can ask the staff to show you around and explain everything about cacao and chocolate. If you opt for this, buying something from the ChocoMuseo is highly encouraged.
ChocoMuseo Bean to Bar workshops run daily at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm. It lasts for about 2 hours with an additional 45 minutes needed to set your customized chocolate bar. The workshop costs $16 USD for kids and $25 USD for adults. You need to book your spot in the Bean to Bar workshop in advance.
If you prefer to have a private guide and flexibility with workshop times, you can book this private tour.
10) Go on a day (or night) trip
As previously mentioned, Granada was not my favourite city in Nicaragua. In comparison to León, the city in itself was not as exciting for me. However, I still compiled this list of things to do in Granada, as it is the perfect base for some FANSTASTIC day and night trips. There are plenty of awesome day (and night) trips departing from Granada that are so unique to Nicaragua.
Some day time attractions that are accessible via Granada:
- Isletas de Granada
- Laguna de Apoyo
- Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho
Some night time attractions that are accessible via Granada:
- Parque Nacional Volcán Masaya
- The Treehouse Nicaragua – Friday Party
Read more: 10 Wonderful Things To Do in León, Nicaragua
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What were your favourite things to do in Granada, Nicaragua? Did you have any questions? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!
