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Granada
Parade during Fiestas the 
Third Week of August
photo by Dawn Wohlfarth
Parade during Fiestas the Third Week of August photo by Dawn Wohlfarth
Granada is a charming town with cobblestone streets and plenty of traveler-friendly spots. One of Central America’s oldest towns and Nicaragua’s first, Granada was founded on the shores of Lago de Nicaragua and the base of Volcán Mombacho in 1524. Today it is a hub for travelers taking daytrips in the area or for those who just want to relax in this peaceful town loaded with international restaurants and inexpensive lodging. Most attractions are within a six-block radius of the Parque

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Granada is a charming town with cobblestone streets and plenty of traveler-friendly spots. One of Central America’s oldest towns and Nicaragua’s first, Granada was founded on the shores of Lago de Nicaragua and the base of Volcán Mombacho in 1524.

Today it is a hub for travelers taking daytrips in the area or for those who just want to relax in this peaceful town loaded with international restaurants and inexpensive lodging. Most attractions are within a six-block radius of the Parque Central. Lago de Nicaragua is a 15-minute walk from the center of town. Just a few blocks south of the main pier on Lago de Nicaragua there is a lovely stretch of restaurants, bars and picnic spots along the lakeshore.

Highlights in Granada:

The spacious and active Parque Central is almost always populated by food stalls. Centrally located just south of the larger Plaza de la Independencia, most of the hotels and international restaurants are in this area and in the blocks leading towards the lake.

The Centro Turístico is a 2 km stretch of lakefront restaurants, picnic areas and playgrounds shaded by mango trees. There are a few beaches but the water is polluted. There is a small entrance fee into the complex just south of the main pier near town.

The Lago de Nicaragua offers several daytrips by boat which can be easily arranged at tour agencies in Granada, through your hotel, or down at the pier.

Around Granada:

An easy jump from Managua, Granada is a great base town when visiting some of Nicaragua’s highlights like: Lago de Nicaragua, Isla Ometepe, volcanoes in the area and more.


- Las Isletas: A group of over 350 little islands scattered in the Lago de Nicargua were formed by the last eruption of Volcán Mombacho, over 10,000 years ago. The islands are rich in birdlife and some have small restaurants. Catch a motorboat from the main pier or from the southern end of the Centro Turístico.

- Reserva Natural Volcán Mombacho: Declared a protected area in 1999, the Volcán Mombacho looms over Granada sending up a puff of smoke from time to time to remind the town of its presence. The last volcanic activity was in 1570. Today, there are some excellent hiking paths through a cloud forest within the volcano’s national park. Make arrangements in Managua or Granada and you can stay at the rustic lodge-style biological research station. Other activities available in the park are: canopy tours on the east slope of Mombacho, crater diving, and visits to the butterfly reserve.

-The nearby San Juan de Oriente is a small town with Nicaragua’s best pottery shop.


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Things to See and Do in Granada

Cathedral

This magnificent neoclassical cathedral is the jewel in the crown of Granada's architectural beauty. Although, like most of Granada's great buildings, it had to be rebuilt after William Walker ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia de Guadalupe

The crumbling facade on this ancient building gives way to a beautifully maintained interior. Decked out in Granada's traditional yellow and white with Corinthian columns, the church features an ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Kayak Las Isletas

This is a truly fantastic experience. Las Isletas is an archipelago of 365 (so they say!) tree-covered islands, some inhabited and some natural, all in close proximity on the shores of Lake ...
Kayaking
Granada, Nicaragua

Convento y Iglesa de San Fransisco

This fascinating place keeps even the non-Museum person interested. The complex, which dates to the 16th century, is a pleasant place, planted with tall palms in the central courtyard, and is ...
Museum
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia la Merced

Described by some as the prettiest church in Granada, Iglesia la Merced is best visited at sunset. For 20 C you can ascend to the top of the belltower and watch the sun go down over Granada's ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Plaza de la Independencia and Parque Central

These adjoining parks are a pleasant place to hangout, and the center of Granada's cultural and social scene. Parque Central is host to souvenir vendors, food and ice-cream stands, and artists by ...
City Plaza
Granada, Nicaragua

Forteleza la Pólvora

This 250-year-old fort was built by the Spanish. It was later used as a torture and interrogation center during the Somoza dictatorship. The fort was rebuilt in the 1990's, and now houses a small ...
Ruin
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia Xalteva

This elegant old church follows the usual Granada pattern: a decaying original exterior hiding a gleaming renovated interior. The frescoes and beautifully carved altar are worth checking out, and are ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Cemetery

This cemetery holds the remains of Granada's rich and powerful. Six presidents are among those interred here. Students of Nicaraguan history will also recognize the recurring names of Chamorro and ...
Other Activity
Granada, Nicaragua

Pueblos Blanco

While probably not the highlight of a trip to Granada, Pueblos Blancos can be a nice side trip for a few hours. The bus takes around one hour to reach Catarina, where it is difficult to spot the ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Casa de los Tres Mundos

Housed in a beautiful early 19th century colonial building, this international cultural center is also often known by its former name, the Casa de los Leones. Operated by the foundation "Casa ...
Museum
Granada, Nicaragua
Historical Granada

Cathedral

This magnificent neoclassical cathedral is the jewel in the crown of Granada's architectural beauty. Although, like most of Granada's great buildings, it had to be rebuilt after William Walker ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia de Guadalupe

The crumbling facade on this ancient building gives way to a beautifully maintained interior. Decked out in Granada's traditional yellow and white with Corinthian columns, the church features an ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia la Merced

Described by some as the prettiest church in Granada, Iglesia la Merced is best visited at sunset. For 20 C you can ascend to the top of the belltower and watch the sun go down over Granada's ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia Xalteva

This elegant old church follows the usual Granada pattern: a decaying original exterior hiding a gleaming renovated interior. The frescoes and beautifully carved altar are worth checking out, and are ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Pueblos Blanco

While probably not the highlight of a trip to Granada, Pueblos Blancos can be a nice side trip for a few hours. The bus takes around one hour to reach Catarina, where it is difficult to spot the ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Antigua Estación de Ferrocaril

Granada's historic train station has now been restored and converted into a carpentry and metalworking school. Although this station is not generally a major tourist draw, as trains no longer run, ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

La Capilla María Romero Meneses

This tiny chapel honors a Granada-born nun, María Romero Meneses, who dedicated her life to helping the poor of Costa Rica. For her work, she was beatified in April 2002. The chapel is nothing ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua

Casa Natal Sor Maria Romero Meneses

Maria Romero Meneses (1902-1977) is known as Central America’s first official saint for her humanitarian work and miracles. At the age of 12, she suffered from a form of rheumatic fever which left ...
Historical Building
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada Hotels

Dolphin Guest House

The Dolphin Guest house is located in a private and safe community, with a nice breeze that comes from the lake, just seven minutes away from the main square of Granada. Buses go by the entrance ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hostal Central

This is a good place for those on a low budget. It offers a variety of accommodation types, all of which are clean, if scruffy (concrete is falling off some room walls). But what you do get is a ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Posada San Jose

Posada San Jose is a new hotel in Granada, opened in early November 2008. The owner, Edgar Monterrey, gave us a lift back to Granada when we were stranded at Asese restaurant on the lake. Posada San ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Casa Silas B & B

Casa Silas offers very comfortable queen-sized beds and en-suite bathrooms with hot showers. The rooms are equipped with air-conditioning and ceiling fans, and also have skylights through which you ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Oasis Hostel

This hostel totally lives up to its name. It is a real oasis in the sweltering town of Granada. The entrance leads into a tree-filled courtyard that has hammocks and whicker chairs surrounded by ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

El Club

This is a lovely place. There is WiFi, very nice rooms and the staff is great! What else could you ask for? ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hotel Dario

Located in a charming 19th century neoclassical building, the Hotel Dario blends seamlessly with the beautiful architecture of Granada's downtown core. The intimate swimming pool and tranquilly ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hotel Granada

The Hotel Granada is located between the Central Park and the Lake, in front of the Guadalupe church. The Hotel Granada offers guests unforgettable holidays thanks to the personal service and the ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hotel Nuestra Casa

Run by the same affable Floridian behind the Alabama Rib Shack, this hotel is particularly popular among Peace Corps visitors. Rooms are clean, though not immaculately so. Their honeymoon suite would ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hotel Terrasol

Hotel Terrasol is a small bed-and-breakfast with a lot of character. The 10 double rooms are fresh and immaculately clean. Everything is new and spotless, and upper level rooms have a small window ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua

Hostal Amigo

Some of the dorms at Hostal Amigo are a little shabby, however the rest of the Hostel is quite clean. Although the rooms are relatively expensive the price does include a free breakfast, which ...
Hotel
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada Tours

Explore Central America - Nicaragua

Explore Central America - Nicaragua is a small, family owned and run tour operator that offers responsible tourism packages to Nicaragua. Affordable, and down to earth they enable visitors to see a ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

ORO Travel

ORO Travel, a well established international travel agency and the pioneer of tour operators in Nicaragua, provides high quality services such as: day tours, packages, circuits, self-drive tours, ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

Nicaragua Adventures

From kayaking on Lake Nicaragua to all-inclusive tours of Isla de Ometepe, this French tour agency offers a wide range of services . They do trips to just about every volcano in the region, with ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

CAST

An international tour operator with connections in Costa Rica and Panamá, CAST is an excellent resource for booking tours or accommodations in these countries. They also book international and ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

Va Pues / Paxeos

In a small blue house next to Granada's cathedral is an office that houses three separate tour agents. Va Pues offers volcano and nature expeditions around the country, Isletas Express offers ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

Amigo Tours

Centrally located within the Hotel Colonial, Amigo Tours offers a wide range of services. They can organise trips, and of course tours, including popular visits to local volcanoes. They can also ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

Leo's Tours

Leo's Tours is a locally owned and operated organisation. They offer trips to volcanoes throughout the region, as well as city tours of Granada. Although Leo’s Tours is definitely one of the ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua

NicarAgua Dulce SA

NicarAgua Dulce SA is the only aquatic tour operator in all Central America that specializes in sightseeing the wetlands, islands, rivers, birds and also offers photo tours, all with its own ...
Tour Operator
Granada, Nicaragua
Restaurants in Granada

El Jardin de Orion

On the terraces of the oldest house in Granada, this restaurant serves up great cuisine in a lush, natural environment. They offer great French food, original cocktails and an extensive wine list. ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Garden Café

Set around a delightful garden, this open air restaurant offers a wide range of tasty sandwiches and salads. Perfect for breakfast or a light lunch, the restaurant also features fresh juices, a book ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Tele Pizza

On a good day you will be hard pressed to find a better pizza in Central America (if anyone finds one please write in!) The busy, pleasant restaurant (a bit too busy on a Saturday) offers thin and ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Rainbow Juice Bar

Rainbow Juice Bar is Viva's choice for breakfast in Granada's historic center. Western-style fried eggs and bacon are excellent, as are their traditional Latin American dishes such as gallo pinto and ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Roadhouse Grill

Roadhouse Grill offers a range of fine dining options, from filet mignon to cordon bleu. The atmosphere of this place is more bar and grill than candlelight and romance, but their patio seating ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Centralito

Centralito is a popular, centrally located, restaurant and late-night bar. During the day the lunch specials are well within the budget price range. The cheap and tasty burgers are an especially ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Jimmy "Three FIngers" Alabama Rib Shack Bar and Grill

It's a bold statement to lay claim to the world's finest ribs, but Jimmy's backs it up. Dishes here are absolutely mouthwatering. Ribs, along with other grilled options, are heartily recommended. ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

El Tercer Ojo

El Tercer Ojo’s darkly bohemian lounge and bar, decorated in Asiatic style, leads out to an attractive patio dining area that seems to be popular in the evening (reservations are welcomed and ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Euro Cafe

This easy-going little café is situated right next to the Hotel Colonial, on the northeast corner of Granada’s Parque Central. You can either sit looking out onto the square or head to the airy ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Street food

If the bar is closed and you're still hungry, stumble on over to Parque Central. You'll usually find the asado lady is still on duty, right across from the cathedral. The completo is a full-sized ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua

Hospedaje Ruiz

Although not generally known as a restaurant, Hospedaje Ruiz offers mouthwatering asado at rock-bottom prices. Expect to pay $.55-75  for a generous helping of grilled meat or chicken, served ...
Restaurant
Granada, Nicaragua
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