Granada on a budget: 3 days under €80/day

Morning (09:00–13:00): Albaicín walk to Mirador San Nicolás

Walk from Plaza Nueva up Cuesta de San Gregorio into the Albaicín. The neighbourhood's street plan is largely unchanged since the 12th century. Whitewashed walls, steep callejas, occasional Carmen garden doors left ajar. Follow signs for Mirador San Nicolás.

Afternoon and evening: Calle Navas tapas + Sacromonte walk

Lunch via the tapas bar system on Calle Navas in Realejo. Order a drink — cerveza, tinto de verano, or mosto (grape juice) — receive a free tapa. At Los Diamantes the free tapa is usually fried fish or seafood; at the smaller bars on Calle Navas and nearby Calle Sarabia it varies by what the kitchen is running that day. Three drinks at three different bars (move on when your glass is empty) costs €9 to €15 and fills you completely.

After lunch: walk to Sacromonte. The Camino del Sacromonte climbs the Valparaíso ravine past cave dwellings — some residential, some converted to flamenco venues. Walking the path in the mid-afternoon is free, takes 45 to 60 minutes, and gives views back over the Albaicín and the Alhambra. The Sacromonte Abbey at the top is worth reaching for the panoramic views.

Morning (08:30–12:00): Mirador San Miguel Alto

Mirador de San Miguel Alto sits on the eastern edge of the Sacromonte hill. Approach via Calle Camino del Sacromonte on foot (25 minutes from the city centre) or by taxi (€5 to €7). At 09:00 the viewpoint is nearly empty. The panorama takes in the full Granada bowl: Alhambra to the south, Albaicín to the west, the university district below, the Sierra Nevada behind everything.

The chapel at the summit is occasionally open; the terrace around it is always accessible. Free, no queue, no crowds before 10:00. Return via the Sacromonte path or take a taxi back for €5.

Late breakfast or early lunch at a café near Plaza Nueva before heading to the Alhambra. Café con leche and a tostada con tomate at a local café costs €2 to €3.

Afternoon (14:00–18:00): Alhambra

The Alhambra afternoon slot runs from 14:00. Check current pricing at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es — afternoon tickets have historically been cheaper than morning slots. Book at least 2 to 3 weeks ahead; afternoon slots are easier to secure than morning slots but still sell out in peak season.

For a budget visit, the general admission ticket (Nasrid Palaces + Alcazaba + Generalife) is the best value per attraction. The Generalife gardens are included. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours for the afternoon visit. You will not feel rushed; the afternoon crowd is lighter than the morning.

Morning (09:00–12:00): Pay-what-you-wish walking tour

Free walking tours depart from Plaza Nueva daily. GurúWalk and Freetour.com both list Granada tours; book online the day before for the slot you want. Tours run 2 to 2.5 hours and cover the Cathedral exterior, the Alcaicería bazaar, Realejo overview, and Albaicín entry points. The guide works on tips; €10 to €15 per person is the standard.

The value is not primarily the sights — you have already walked most of them — but the context. A good guide explains the story behind what you have been looking at for two days, and usually adds recommendations that are not in any guidebook.

Afternoon: Generalife revisit + San Ildefonso market

The Generalife is the garden section of the Alhambra complex and is included in the Day 2 ticket. General Alhambra tickets are for a single day only, so this applies if you choose the gardens-and-Generalife-only ticket option rather than the full general admission. Check your ticket type; if it covers the gardens separately you may be able to revisit. Otherwise, spend the afternoon in the city.

Mercado de San Agustín, near the Cathedral, is the city's covered market. Open Monday to Saturday mornings to around 15:00. Local cheese, jamón ibérico sold by weight, fresh fruit, bread. Cheaper for a picnic lunch than any café or restaurant. The outer stalls on the Calle Pescadería side are less tourist-oriented than the central aisles.

Final evening: one more tapas crawl. Bodegas Castañeda near Plaza Nueva is a traditional choice with well-priced house wines and reliably good tapas. End on Calle Navas for the walk back.