We loved our month in Granada, Spain. It’s walkable, beautiful, and there were tons of things to do to keep my sweet toddler entertained! There are certainly parks, playgrounds, and the like, but there are also many things that are unique to Granada that my girl absolutely loved. If you’re planning a trip to the “City of Pomegranates,” here are the best things to do in Granada with a toddler!
Go to a Flamenco Show
My daughter, Iris, loved this so much! I’m glad we did it early in our trip so that we could go to another one later. I wish we had gone to more! She danced and clapped and danced some more. She blew kisses to the dancers and singers. She payed close attention to every note and step. I loved watching her watch the Flamenco shows. I really had no idea what to expect, and I was prepared to take her outside if she was being a distraction to the other audience members around us, but she did great! I highly recommend this. It’s big, it’s flashy, it’s colorful, it’s fun. Definitely take in a flamenco show in Granada with a toddler!
All the details: Your Guide to Flamenco in Granada, Spain
Visit the Archaeology Museum
This museum is small, inexpensive, and totally manageable with a toddler! There were not a lot of “untouchable” items within reach of a walking toddler, which was a relief to this single mom. It’s normally just €1.50 per adult, but the day we visited, they let us in for free! Maybe because they were doing some work and not all the exhibits were open? Maybe because it was January and the lowest of the low season? Who knows? It’s just a few galleries spread over two floors, and it’s in a beautiful, Moorish building with an open courtyard in the middle. I’d say it’s a great “starter” museum for little ones who aren’t quite ready for the Louvre just yet.
Keep reading: How I Prepared to Spend a Month Abroad with a Toddler
Run Around the Alhambra Grounds
You definitely need to visit the Alhambra while you’re in Granada with a toddler! It’s probably already on your to do list, and I’m here to reassure you, it’s good with a toddler. It’s a lot of walking, but you can bring a stroller if needed. My daughter is on the smaller side, so I mostly kept her in the carrier inside the Nasrid Palace and a few other sites, but there was also so much open space here where she could run off that big, toddler energy! Even better, you can come up here and enjoy parts of the site for free! Bring a picnic or get yourself a coffee while you’re here, and let that little one run around inside a piece of history.
(Coming soon) Get the Details: Your Guide to Visiting the Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Go Souvenir Shopping
No, I’m not saying you need to buy your toddler a ton of toys or anything. But the shops are filled with colorful items, bright scarves, children’s books, lights, wooden swords, and more. Popping into some stores while you walk along the historic streets makes for a great opportunity to learn some new words and feel some new textures. And Spaniards love babies and toddlers. Iris was the star everywhere she went, blowing kisses and making friends with all the shop owners. I did get her a little, brightly colored bag that she kept going back to at one of the shops. Has she played with it since? Maybe once or twice. But that’s okay. She’ll eventually start to play with it again, I’m sure!
Some ideas: The Best Souvenirs to Take Home from Granada
Get a Treat at a Coffee Shop
This is for you and for your little one! Granada has dozens of amazing coffee shops, and I tried to hit them all during our month there. Every time I got a coffee, Iris got a very small steamed milk, and we would sometimes split a plain croissant. Toddlers are sometimes so easy to please (sometimes!). Again, she made friends with all the baristas, and she loved when I would let her pay, either with cash or my credit card. Mostly she loved how the baristas would clap for her when she did it. So cute! I will always treasure the memories I have of Iris’s and my little mother-daughter coffee dates in Granada.
Our favorites: Stories, La Finca, and La Tienda de los Unicornios (the Unicorn Cafe), which is vegan, but they have the best cinnamon rolls!
Essential info: The Best Coffee Shops in Granada
Take the “Train” Tour
This is a great one with kids because they get to ride in a “train” (which is on wheels, not tracks), and because you can see a lot without wearing yourself out in the process. Granada is very much a walkable city, but it’s definitely good to get a lay of the land and get a feel for where things are in relation to each other. This little train tour allows you to do just that. It’s also narrated in several languages, but you will want to bring your own wired earbuds. You can also buy them at the kiosk where they sell tickets, in case you need a pair. This is one of the best things to do in Granada with a toddler.
More here: The Best FREE Things to Do in Granada
Try New Foods
Who knew my little girl would love the croquetas? And paella! My toddler has gotten a little pickier (i.e. more “discerning”) in recent months, but she’s usually a good sport to try things, especially if she sees me eating them first. Turns out, she was a huge fan of the croquetas fillings, especially the creamy cheese and potato part. And while she was hesitant at first, she really enjoyed some rice from the paella we got on our second night there. She also loved European milk more than she likes milk at home. Definitely try a few new things while you’re here!
Some suggestions here: Everything You Need to Know Before You Visit Spain
Want more? Check out my dedicated Spain Page!
Love this post? Pin it for later!
