The charming, colonial town of Granada offers plenty of the culture, lakes and volcanoes that Nicaragua is known for. It’s up and coming for tourism and is even recognized as a world class food destination. Granada and all of Nicaragua remains authentic without overtourism, like its neighbor Costa Rica. I spent 2 days here in March 2024 and absolutely loved my stay here. So, read on to discover these top 12 Granada Nicaragua attractions.
About Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is in western Nicaragua on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. It had a strong indigenous population until the Spanish conquest. Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba renamed Granada after the city of the same name in Spain. Granada is an important city for Nicaragua both economically and politically. Its rivalry with Leon is legendary for being the capital city of Nicaragua. Both cities are steeped in history with beautiful colonial architecture. After years of going back and forth, in 1852 they compromised making Managua the capital.
Granada is reputable for its picturesque colonial architecture. It’s also known as La Gran Sultana, with its Moorish and Andalusian appearances. The best time to visit Granada is November to April during its dry season.
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12 Amazing Granada Nicaragua Attractions
Parque Central
The Parque Central is the heart of Granada with the layout similar to many Spanish colonial settlements. The shady square is a refuge from the heat with tall palm trees, refreshing fountains and benches. There are numerous street vendors in the square for food or handicrafts. The colonial architecture surrounds the square with the neoclassical Granada Cathedral, the blue San Francisco Church, 4 museums and art galleries. Noteworthy, the Museo Convento San Francisco houses a collection of history, art and ancient catacombs. It showcases the pre-Columbian heritage and colonial history of the region.
Granada Cathedral
Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral
The gold-colored neoclassical Granada Cathedral is arguably the most beautiful cathedral in Nicaragua. You cannot miss its grandiose appearance on the square facing west with it 2 bell towers and dome. It is free to go inside and have a look.
La Merced Church
Just 3 blocks west of Parque Central is the baroque La Merced Roman Catholic Church, dating back to the 16th century. There is much more to this church than meets the eye. Behind this crumbling façade is one of the most important churches in Nicaragua. It’s free to enter the polished interior. In addition, for $1 you can climb the spiral stairs to the rooftop for one of the best views of Granada and its surroundings.
Calle La Calzada
It’s wonderful to walk along the picturesque Calle La Calzado, the most historical and important artery in Granada. It connects the Parque Central to Lake Nicaragua waterfront (Malecon). The street is flanked by vibrant colonial architecture and known for its culinary and nightclub scenes. There is lots to explore here with its upbeat boutiques, art galleries, bars and restaurants.
As you approach Lake Nicaragua waterfront, there is a historic park with statues of the national poet, Ruben Dario and Hernandez de Cordoba, the conquistador that discovered Granada. Also, at the end of the street is the Granada Pier with colorful flags and the iconic neon yellow LOVE Granada sign for photos.
Islets of Granada Sunset Boat Tour
About 200,000 years ago Mombacho volcano erupted and spewed lava, creating an archipelago of 365 small islands in Lake Nicaragua. Just off the shores of Granada, the Islets of Granada are lush with vegetation and the area is known for its incredible birdlife. For example, we saw herons, cormorants, hawks, kingfishers, ospreys, hawks and parrots.
The Islets of Granada Sunset Boat Tour was one of my favorite things I did in Granada. The lighting for photography was stunning with so many beautiful birds. We even rescued a Kingfisher, trapped in a net. It was rewarding to watch this desperate bird freed and fly away. We cruised by the “Monkey Island” and El Castillo Fortress. The fort protected Granada from pirates in the 18th century. Also, we stopped at San Pedro Island for the magical sunset viewing and photos.
From the dock you can rent kayaks or do the boat tours. I am glad that we did the sunset boat tour, because we were able to see more of the islands in comparison to being on a kayak.
Choco Museo
Here is your chance at Choco Museo to experience everything chocolate: Chocolate Museum, Bean to Bar Workshop & even a Chocolate Spa. We enjoyed a quick group interactive chocolate experience with a very animated guide. It included a lot of laughing and taking a turn at grinding cacao before taste testing chocolate rum. It’s all good fun and especially a delicious stop for chocolate lovers! There are also locations in Peru, Mexico and Antigua, Guatemala. I did the Bean to Bar Workshop in Antigua and had a wonderful experience making my own chocolate bar.
Café de las Sonrisas – Smiles Café
All employees are deaf!
We very much enjoyed our breakfast at Smiles Café being served by staff members that are all deaf. Things are in some ways just like any café, however, in this one you communicate with your hands. When ordering, I pointed at the menu for scrambled eggs, rice, beans, plantains, coffee and papaya juice. While you are waiting for your food, there are murals with the hand speaking alphabet and phrases to practice.
This breakfast and brunch café opened more than 10 years ago by “Tio Antonio” or Uncle Tony from Spain. We even got to meet Uncle Tony and hear his story. Wow, such compassion and kindness here and most importantly jobs for those with hearing impaired disabilities. Alongside the café is a store with hammocks, jewelry, chocolate and other handicrafts all handmade by the deaf employees. Even more, many companies in other parts of the world are following this idea, creating job opportunities for those with disabilities.
Garden Café
The Garden Café is one of the most popular, sustainable and healthy restaurants in Granada. It is much more than just a restaurant. Its colonial building also has a tropical garden, bookstore, souvenir shop and bakery. The menu offers meat and vegan options, including eclectic culinary choices with fresh, farm to table ingredients. Being close to the Parque Central, the restaurant is open daily from 7 am to 9 pm. Reservations are recommended for peak times and weekends.
Masaya Artisan Market
Masaya is known for having the highest quality handicrafts in Nicaragua. It’s just 14 km west of Granada. The Masaya Artisan Market is a creative wonderland and the perfect place to find authentic souvenirs. I spent a couple hours here wondering the stalls, seeing lots of fresh produce, colorful hammocks, baskets, pottery, paintings, t-shirts, leather goods and more. This is such a fun way to delve into the creative aspect of this culture and interact with the local artisans.
Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro
Known as ‘the land of lakes and volcanoes,’ Nicaragua is home to 19 active volcanoes. About a 2-hour drive from Granada, the Cerro Negro (“black hill”) is the youngest volcano in Central America. It first appeared in 1850 and last erupted in 1999. This basaltic cinder cone stands at about 728 meters high with steep sides.
Volcano Boarding is somewhat like riding a sled down a steep hill, however, you are sliding down an active volcano on ash. Most people sit on the heavy board, however, some brave ones stand on it like snowboarding. It can be an extreme sport if you have the need for speed. The speed record at Cerro Negro is over 100 kph. However, being cautious, I safely experienced it feeling in control. By keeping your feet in the sand as you go down, the brakes are on to manage speed.
You can only experience volcano boarding at Cerro Negro on an organized tour. We did ours from Leon, which is closer, but you can arrange a tour from Granada. For more information, check out my blog below.
Related: Epic Volcano Boarding at Cerro Negro: Tips and How to Plan
Masaya Volcano National Park
Just outside the city of Masaya is the Masaya Volcano National Park. This is the largest national park in Nicaragua. It’s a geological masterpiece with 5 volcanoes, lava fields, hiking trails and 2 craters. Be sure to check into this before planning a visit, because it closed in March 2024 due to volcanic activity.
In the past, one of the most popular things to do in the area was go to the Santiago Crater of Masaya Volcano at night for viewings of the glowing lava. It’s called the “Gate of Hell.” When I was in Granada, we originally had plans to visit this. However, the park closed due to a landslide covering the active lava lake. This blocks the volcanic gas release and increases threats for explosions.
Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve
(Crater Lake)
About 7 km west of Granada is the Apoyo Lagoon Natural Reserve. This beautiful blue lake fills the crater from an extinct volcano. It’s about 6.6 km in diameter and 175 m deep. There are a couple resorts on the lake offering ways to enjoy the refreshing water on a hot day. Don’t miss out on the beautiful photo op as shown above from on top the hill.
We enjoyed the Laguna Beach Club for about 3 hours to cool off and relax. By purchasing the day pass, you are free to use the beach or any of the water gear, like kayaks and paddle boards. I ordered chicken and rice with plantains from their restaurant. Then, I grabbed a kayak and ventured out into the water. This resort offers accommodations for all budgets, with options for dorms or private rooms.
Enjoy Granada!
Granada is an incredible city with lots of historic sites and natural beauty. If you are short on time, these top 10 can mostly be seen in 2 days. If your travels bring you to Granada, please share any tips below in the comments.
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