Things to do in Granada, Nicaragua in 2 days

Last Updated on February 25, 2024

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The day I arrived in Granada, the first thing I noticed was, how bright and colorful the city was. Buildings are painted vivid colors, which combined with the sunshine, made me happy instantly. As I walked down random streets I saw pink, purple, green and yellow everywhere. Our trip to Nicaragua was centered around two islands: Ometepe and Little Corn. But after seeing a few images of this picturesque city, I knew I had to work Granada into our itinerary, even for just a couple of days. With so many things to do in Granada Nicaragua, you can definitely make your visit longer.

One of the things I really liked about Granada, was that this lively city, is in close proximity to many wonders of nature. Volcanoes, lakes, Natural Reserves just to name a few, and they are all within a 30 minute drive. There are plenty of opportunities to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Granada and enjoy the outdoors.

About Granada, Nicaragua

Granada is a very vibrant, colonial city in western Nicaragua. It’s the 2nd oldest city in Central America, and 3rd in all Americas. It was founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba, who named it after his home town in Spain. And as you probably guessed it, the local currency Cordoba was named after him.

The heart of the city is Parque Central. This lively park is people’s favorite hangout spot. It’s great for people watching or trying some Nicaraguan delicacies from one of many food stands there. Colorful horse drawn carriages line one side of the park, while a beautiful bright yellow Cathedral overlooks the park on the other. Granada Cathedral, built in 1583 is a landmark, and you’ll be able to see it from almost anywhere in the city.

Top things to do in Granada, Nicaragua

Climb the Bell Tower of Iglesia de Merced

It comes as no surprise, that the catholic city of Granada is home to quite a few churches. One you can’t miss is Iglesia de Merced, mostly because of the spectacular 360 degree view of the city from its bell tower. The climb is very easy, and it costs just $1.

The Bell Tower closes at 5.30 pm. The church is free to visit, but there’s a fee of $1 to climb the tower.

Walk Calle La Calzada

This pedestrian street, lined with cafes, bars and restaurants, is where the activity is at night. It starts right at Parque Central and goes on for several blocks. Yes, it might be touristy, but the atmosphere is great, and it’s not a bad place to enjoy a cold beer and dinner. Most restaurant have outdoor tables and the many street performers up and down the street will provide entertainment.

Visit Granada Cemetery

This cemetery is believed to be the oldest in Central America. It’s quite impressive with large, white graves and tombs. It’s the final resting place of former presidents, poets and other important Nicaraguans, as well as wealthy residents.

The most lavish tombs and graves are right near the entrance and the chapel. As you walk the cemetery grounds, the tombs get noticeably smaller. To some, visiting a cemetery might seem eerie, but I found it very peaceful and beautiful. The scenery around is beautiful as well, with the forest and Mombacho Volcano in the distance.

The cemetery is located about 1 mile from the city center, and it’s one of the free things to do in Granada, Nicaragua.

Take a boat through Las Isletas

When Mombacho Volcano erupted thousands of years ago, and scattered huge rocks across the lake, about 365 little islands were formed. They are known as Las Isletas : islets of Granada. They differ in sizes, and who resides on them. Some are uninhabited, others have one of the most expensive homes on them.

Taking a boat ride on the lake and going past many of the Isletas, was one of my favorite things to do in Granada. It was interesting to see, that many of these islands have the most expensive homes on them, while right around the corner some of the poorest people live in shacks. And you can’t miss the Monkey Island. I think the resident monkeys got quite used to the steady stream of boats coming by to feed them.

Boats leave from Puerto Asese. Many companies offer all kinds of tours from 1hr to half a day. The average cost of a 3 hour boat tour is $30. You can also do the tour of the Isletas on a kayak.

Laguna de Apoyo

One of the most popular day trips from Granada is Laguna de Apoyo. In just under 30 minutes you can go from the busy city, to a place that feels world’s away. Laguna de Apoyo is a crater lake, which was formed over 20,000 years ago as a result of volcano eruption. The water is naturally warm, crystal clear and perfect for swimming. I sure wished we had more time, so we can spend an entire day there.

The are a lot of hotels around the Laguna, many offering day passes, that usually cost around $6. We spent a few hours at Laguna Beach Club, which was a very nice spot. There were plenty of lounge chairs, picnic tables, and a café to grab a snack or a drink. Kayaks, paddle boards and tubes were available for guests’ use. With all these amenities, you can easily spend an entire day at the Laguna.

Many hotels offer shuttles from Granada to Laguna de Apoyo. you can also take a taxi, it shouldn’t be more than $15. If you are on a budget, the cheapest option is a chicken bus.

Try Vigorón

If you are into seeking out local food in your travels, Vigorón would be one of the traditional Nicaraguan meals to try. It’s made out of cabbage salad called curtido, boiled yucca and chicharrones ( fried pork rings ), all wrapped in a banana leaf. You can get it at many places, but as always my preference is to get it from a local food stand. It’s the most authentic and cheap.

Visit Masaya Market

Whether you are looking to buy something, or just want to browse, this is a great hand crafts market. The place is full of colorful blankets, hammocks and every souvenir imaginable. Many say, that since Masaya Market became a popular spot for tourists, a lot of stuff is way overpriced, at least compared with true local markets. It’s probably true, but the place is still worth a glimpse if you have limited time in Granada, and don’t have time to venture out to visit other markets.

See Masaya Volcano at night

If you visit a country that is know for its many volcanoes, it would be a shame not to visit at least one. Especially that one of the most active volcanoes in Nicaragua, Masaya Volcano is just outside of Granada. You can visit throughout the day, but I highly recommend visiting at night. It was hands down one of the best things to do in Granada, Nicaragua. Looking down at an active volcano and seeing the bubbling lava down below, was quite a surreal experience. Santiago crater is the one you will see, and it is currently the only one open to public.

Visiting Masaya volcano at night was one of the stops on our full day tour around Granada, but you can also book it as a separate activity. This Masaya Volcano Night Tour from Granada is a perfect choice, if you want to see the glowing lava at night.

If you want to visit independently, be prepared to wait in line. Seeing the volcano at night is very popular, and cars start lining up before it gets dark. If you show up late, you might have to wait up to 2 hours. From the main gate to Plaza de Oviedo ( where the viewing platform is ), you have to go up the road for 5 km. Cars line up in order in which they arrived, and every 15 minutes a certain number of them is let in. This means you only get 15-20 minutes ( depending on number of people visiting ) at the top of the volcano, but it was sufficient to enjoy the experience. This way the exposure to the sulfur is limited, and it controls the crowds, which is always a good thing.

Masaya Volcano National Park is open 9 am – 4:45 pm for daytime visits. The entrance fee is 100 Cordobas ($4). For nighttime visits the park is open 5-8 pm. It costs $10 to enter.

Where to stay in Granada, Nicaragua

Hotel Plaza Colón – this is an upscale Colonial style hotel, perfectly located right in front of Parque Central. Even though this is the nicest hotel in Granada, it’s a great value for money. The rooms are spacious and there’s a beautiful courtyard with a pool.

Room tip: If you are a light sleeper, ask for rooms on the other side, away from the front. The rooms facing Parque Central have great balconies, but it can get really noisy really early in the morning. The noise doesn’t come from people, but flocks of birds that gather in the park at dawn ( around 4 am while I was there ).

Hotel Dario – a great mid range hotel located on La Calzada Street. Its location guarantees you’ll be close to everything, but naturally the street gets busy and noisy at night.

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READ MORE:

• Little Corn Island in Nicaragua
• Best Things to do on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua

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