5 Must-See Things To Do In Granada
Granada is a beautiful city located on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and it is famous for preserving some of the finest colonial-era architecture in the country! With bustling local markets, traditional ways of life and colonial charm, the lively city is worth exploring on your next adventure.
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How to get to Granada
Granada is 45 minutes away from Managua International Airport (MGA) and the easiest way to get from the airport to Granada is by organising a shuttle in advance or hailing a taxi when you arrive. You can expect to pay between $35 USD - $50 USD for this service and be prepared to barter.
Alternatively, you can get a chicken bus which is the local form of transport. This will be your cheapest option, but it will take the longest and will most likely require you to pay in cordobas.
Where to stay in Granada?
If you are still deciding on where to stay in Granada, I spent a few nights at Hostel Oasis which was in a great location, had fantastic excursion options and was perfect for meeting other travellers. They even had a free drink happy hour each day which was where I met my first friends while solo travelling!
5 Must See Places in Granada
Tower La Merced Church
While you are visiting Granada, make sure to visit the Tower La Merced Church for the best views of the city! It will only cost you $1 USD to climb the bell tower for the beautiful panoramic views. This church is only a short walk from many of the hostels in the area so make sure to add it to your itinerary.
Visit Laguna De Apoyo
Laguna De Apoyo is a nature reserve located between Granada and Massaya. It is a beautiful lagoon nestled in the crater of an old volcano! The water is a gorgeous blue colour and the lagoon has some of the cleanest water in Central America. The entire area is simply stunning and it’s a perfect place to go swimming and relax by the shore.
I visited on a tour organised by Hostel Oasis in Granada. For approximately $15 USD we got a private shuttle to the reserve where we were dropped off at 10:30am and picked up at 4pm. We had a day pass to Paradiso Hostel so we spent the day floating in the lake, relaxing in the sun and even trying our hand at pottery!
There are various tour, taxi and chicken bus options to get to this area as well. I would recommend spending a day here while you are visiting Granada as this area really highlights why Nicaragua is known as the land of lakes and volcanoes.
PS: If you stay at Hostel Oasis this is super easy to organise, I only signed up the day before!
Sunset at Volcano Masaya
Seeing active lava in a volcano was pretty high on my bucket list and this is something you can tick off when visiting Granada!
Volcano Masaya is found in Nicaraguas, first and largest national park. This area is located near Granada and is easily accessible by tour or taxi. I visited on a tour through Hostel Oasis and for approximately $20 USD our local guide drove us to the national park, covered our entrance fees and led us on a short hike up to a nearby ridge for sunset.
During the hike, our tour guide explained the geological history of the area and gave us a plethora of information about the surrounding natural features. We watched sunset from the ridge then made our way back down the hill to see the glowing lava in the dark. You do have to stand in a fairly specific spot to get a good view of the lava but it was worth the wait.
This tour is definitely a once in a lifetime experience and something worth making time for when you're in Granada.
PS. It is possible to visit both the Laguna De Apoyo and Volcano Masaya in one day. I signed up for both tours through Hostel Oasis and they coordinated everything for me.
Parque Central de Granada
Parque Central de Granada, otherwise known as Central Park, is the bustling centre of town. Similar to many colonial Spanish towns, Central Park forms the heart of Granada with the streets radiating outwards.
This vibrant location is filled with market stalls, community buildings and small restaurants and cafes. Here you will find the Granada Cathedral which is a stunning, vibrant yellow building with three distinctive peaks towering above the park. There are also plenty of fountains and statues that are lovely to wander among on an early morning.
Visit the famous Garden Café
The Garden Cafe in Granada is a beautiful restaurant located near Central Park. This popular cafe is in a beautiful Spanish colonial home and it is owned by an American/Nicaraguan couple. They started the cafe as a way to share healthy food and generate stable working conditions for those in the community.
Their mission is “to serve fresh, honest food and to disrupt the cycle of poverty by generating opportunities that help our team and community grow.”
The food at the cafe is delicious and the location is stunning. Food in Nicaragua is very cheap and you will find the price point here to be higher than standard, but for me the meal and mission is worth it.
Granada is a beautiful place to visit while you are in Nicaragua and the above activities are some of my favourite!
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