Granada holidays
Granada holidays at a glance
We think Granada is one of Nicaragua’s most beautiful destinations, and it’s easy to see why. Set on the shores of Lake Nicaragua and beneath Mombacho Volcano, it has a setting we’d struggle to match anywhere else on the continent.
Granada’s history hasn’t been an easy one – piracy, invasions and destruction have all left their mark – but the city has become Nicaragua’s great symbol of restoration. Today it’s peaceful, colourful and easy to explore on foot, with colonial architecture lining every street and plaza.
What we love most about Granada isn’t just the architecture, it’s the atmosphere. Narrow streets, historic buildings and that lakeside setting all add up to somewhere that invites you to slow down and fully enjoy one of Central America’s great colonial cities.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Granada
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Colourful architecture, history and lakeside, Granada remains one of Central America’s most rewarding colonial cities.
When to visit Granada
Granada has a warm, tropical climate year-round. Thanks to that warm climate, Granada remains one of Nicaragua’s most popular destinations whenever you choose to go.
Very warm with clear sunny days and an increasing chance of rain towards the end of May.
Rainfall and temperatures increase from end of May making it feel very hot, humid and sticky. As the wet season progresses there is an increased chance of tropical storms.
Top Things to do in Granada
Granada offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in colonial history, explore volcanoes and discover the landscapes surrounding Lake Nicaragua. Whether you’re interested in architecture, culture or the outdoors, Granada has much to offer.
Follow the Puma Trail through cloud-forest clinging to the slopes of an active volcano.
Drift past the volcanic ‘isletas’ that dot the vast surface of Lake Nicaragua, mirroring the colours of the sunset.
Visit Matagalpa to experience the local culture and take a tour of a chocolate factory for an insight into the production process and the chance to sample the finished product.
Soak up the authentic atmosphere at a colourful Indian market beneath a spectacular volcano.
Explore the historic treasure trove of one of Latin America’s oldest and most beautiful cities.
Accommodation in Granada
We think Granada’s accommodation strikes a lovely balance – colonial charm with a convenient location near the city’s historic attractions.
Friendly and welcoming hotel in the heart of Granada. All profits go towards local schools and social causes.
Quietly elegant hotel within a restored historic mansion, with lovely ornamental gardens and an excellent location.
Colonial-style hotel in a modern, upmarket commercial and residential district of Managua.
Lovely colonial hotel with stylish, unfussy rooms arranged around pleasant courtyards in a convenient central location.
Plaza Colon is an attractive colonial-style hotel on the delightful main square in Granada.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Granada
Group Granada Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Alción: Central America Discovery
Places visited: Panama City · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Caribbean coast · Monteverde and the cloud forest · Ometepe Island · Granada · Leon · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Suchitoto · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
22 days from £4,174
Cotinga: Off the beaten track Nicaragua
Places visited: Granada · Ometepe Island · Rio San Juan · Corn Islands · Leon
18 days from £3,737
Tropicbird: Highlights of Central America
Places visited: Granada · Leon · Suchitoto · Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages · Maya mountains and jungle
19 days from £4,804
Tailor-Made Granada Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Self-drive Nicaragua: Adventures by road
Places visited: Matagalpa and the north · Leon · Granada · Ometepe Island · Pacific coast
14 days from £2,350
Signature Nicaragua: Fire, water and revolution
Places visited: Rio San Juan · Granada · Ometepe Island · Pacific coast · Leon
13 days from £3,075
Signature: Best of Costa Rica and Nicaragua
Places visited: San Jose, central highlands and central valleys · Arenal and the north · Rio San Juan · Granada · Ometepe Island
12 days from £3,100
Undiscovered El Salvador and Nicaragua
Places visited: San Salvador · Ruta de las Flores · Suchitoto · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Leon · Ometepe Island · Granada · Rio San Juan
19 days from £4,700
FAQs about visiting Granada
Granada is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When To Go
Granada has a typical tropical climate with high temperatures all year round May-Nov is rainy season, but the countryside looks its best at this time. It can be windy Nov – Feb. Hurricanes possible Jun – Nov.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- Language
Spanish.
- Getting Local Currency
- Time Difference
GMT -6 hours.
- Combines With
A visit to Granada’s historical rival, colonial León (114 km); Ometepe Island, reached by road and ferry (50 km).
- Getting There
An hour’s drive from Managua.
- Key Events
La Hípica, Granada, 2nd week Sep. Horse riding events preceded by bull running through the town’s streets.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.