Are you looking for the best things to do in Granada? This beautiful postcard-city has something for everyone. Not only the city itself great, but it’s also the perfect base for checking out the surrounding region. No wonder why so many travelers use Granada as their base to travel around Nicaragua. We loved our time in the city and tried to visit as much as possible during our 2-day stay. So if you’re planning on visiting Nicaragua and looking for the best things to do in Granada… you’ve come to the right place! Here are our 6 favorite things to do in Granada.
Where to stay in Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is a very colonial city in the heart of Nicaragua and it has many amazing hotels in every price range. Our personal favorite place to stay is the Selina Granada Hostel which is located in the center of the historical district of Granada. The rooms are beautiful with and there is a trendy vibe. They offer also free walking tours every day, which are amazing.
Read also: Best places to stay in Nicaragua
Explore the colonial city of Granada
One of the best things to do in Granada is just exploring this photogenic city. Granada is pretty, cozy, colorful and begs to be explored. It’s the oldest city in Nicaragua and has beautiful colonial-style buildings. Heaven for photographers or everyone who loves to take a thousand pictures! It’s not that big and very safe to explore it on your own.
Climb the top of Iglesia La Merced
For the best views of Granada, you need to climb the old Iglesia La Merced Church (1534). This postcard cathedral is located in the middle of town and costs you around $1USD to enter and climb to the top of the bell tower. Don’t be shocked when the bells start ringing, just cover your ears!
BOOK
A visit to the beautiful Iglesia La Mercad is included in this guided city tour
Free walking tour down the streets of Granada
Downtown Granada is fun! Cute shops, a vibrant market and the place to spot all the locals doing their groceries. If you are staying at Selina Granada, you need to sign up for the free walking tour. Great to have a local living in Granada as a guide that tells you a little bit more about the history and gives you plenty of food recommendations.
BOOK
Sign up this free walking tour at Selina Granada or book a guided tour to see all the highlights of the city in 1 day
Take a day-trip to Laguna De Apoyo
Imagine hot temperatures all day long when traveling Nicaragua. A refreshing and relaxing day at a gorgeous volcanic lake with crystal-clear water sounds not bad at all, right? Buena Tours offers a great day-trip tour to Laguna de Apoyo including transportation from/to Granada, free use of kayaks, drinks, and various sports activities. The only thing you need to bring with you are flippers, sunscreen, a towel, and your swimming suit. Enjoy!
See lava at the Masaya Volcano
Have you ever looked into the mouth of an active volcano? If you are not afraid of looking directly into the vibrant heart of mother nature then Masaya Volcano is for you! Bubbling lava, sulfur gas, and basalt stones… Unforgettable! The volcano tour of Buena Tours will take you directly to the top of the volcano! For safety reasons, you will only be allowed to spend 15 minutes looking into the crater.
BOOK
a private tour to see this spectacular volcanic phenomena
Hike up & slide down the Cerro Negro Volcano
Listed as #2 on CNN’s “Thrill Seeker’s Bucket List: 50 Experiences to Try Before You Die”, volcano boarding was the adventure in Nicaragua we were looking for. To slide down an active volcano on a wooden board at extreme speeds, sound crazy right!? And it certainly was! C-R-A-Z-Y, but so fun! A must-do when you’re traveling to Nicaragua. Brave enough to go volcano boarding by yourself?
BOOK
We booked our Cerro Negro experience with BigFoot Hostel from Leon as they are rated as the best company but you can find different tours with a pick-up in Granada here.
The best travel resources for your trip to Nicaragua
As you know, we love to share all our best tips and favorite places with all of you. That’s why created all these online travel guides, which are completely free. If you found this post (or anything we do) useful, we’d be grateful if you buy something through one of our affiliate links in this article. We’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps us keep our travel blog alive.
Thank you so much for your support! x Valerie & Mik
- Skyscanner – to book the best and cheapest flights
- Airbnb – to stay at incredible homes & apartments
- Booking.com – to book your accommodation
- Lonely Planet – to purchase a detailed travel guide
- TourRadar – to join one of the amazing group tours
- TripAdvisor – to read the best reviews and find amazing tours
- HostelWorld – to book the most amazing hostels
- GetYourGuide – to book awesome tours and activities
