Mirador de San Nicolás

Viewing Point in Granada

The Mirador de San Nicolás is a viewing point in the in the historic Albaicín neighborhood of the Spanish city of Granada, in Andalusia. The Mirador de San Nicolás is perhaps the most famous viewpoint in Granada.  If you are planning a trip to Granada, Mirador de San Nicolás as a must for those classic sunset shots of the Alhambra sprawled along a wooded hilltop with the Sierra Nevada mountains looming in the background. The Mirador is located in the Albayzin neighborhood and is famous for the charm of its surroundings, its cobbled streets, white houses, tapas bars, and its people.

What can be seen from the Mirador de San Nicolás overlook?

This spot offers one of the best panoramic views of Granada. In fact, former U.S. President Bill Clinton rated the views from the overlook as one of the best in the world during his trip in the summer of 1997 and said it has “the most beautiful sunset in the world”.

The most comprehensive views of the Alhambra Complex and its gardens, with Sierra Nevada as the backdrop, can be seen and admired. The Generalife is on the left and the Palacio Nazaríes and the Alcazaba are on the right. Of the Nasrid palaces the Torre del Peinador de la Reina is prominent.
One of the most popular photos taken from the scenic overlook is of the wall on the far end of the small square in front of the church, where visitors sit with their legs hanging as they marvel at the landscape.

What can you visit at the Mirador de San Nicolás

Church of San Nicolás

Once you have basked in these amazing views, taken the obligatory photos and assimilated everything, it’s time to turn around. With your back to the overlook, you will be facing the Church of San Nicolás. The church was built in 1525 on an ancient mosque, like many other churches in Granada. The building with a Gothic and Mudejar style features a single central nave and two side chapels. The white façade is perfectly paired with the reddish hue of the Arab tiles. This scene goes hand in hand with the lookout. The church is open to visitors during service hours and donations received are allocated to the renovations it needs.

Tours of Mirador de San Nicolás and the Albayzin

If you were wondering which tickets and tours are the best ones to explore the area around the Mirador de San Nicolás?  Check out these popular options:

How to get to the Mirador de San Nicolás?

  • By bus: You can get to the Mirador de San Nicolás from Plaza Isabel Católica in the small ‘microbus’ (Alhambra Bus) route C31 and C32 that cover the Albaicín quarter.
  • By car: It’s best to leave it parked and make your way to the scenic overlook via the other two options since the narrow streets have extremely tight curves.
  • By foot: If you like exercise, you can walk up the hill through some very pretty little Albayzin streets and probably get a little lost along the way!. The best alternative is to walk up along Paseo de los Tristes, Cuesta del Chapiz, and turn left when you reach the Church of El Salvador, and then keep going along the Carril de las Tomasas, or if you prefer, cross Plaza Larga and continue along Cuesta de Alhacaba.

Tips about Visiting the Mirador de San Nicolás

  • Avoid visiting at the weekend at sunset it is too busy
  • It’s always busy with street musicians and handmade jewelry sellers etc but this also means you should be wary of pickpockets.
  • Checkout some of the nearby restaurants and tapas bars nearby as they will probably also have great views.
  • Try and arrive in late afternoon for sunset and wait patiently until the sun is down and the Alhambra is all lit up. Some people leaving before the lights come on!
  • If you are walking there wear sensible shoes – its at the top of the hill!

The Mirador de San Nicolás appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Granada!

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Visiting Mirador de San Nicolás

Hours:

24 Hour


Price:

Free

Address: Mirador San Nicolás Plaza Mirador de San Nicolás, 2 18010 Granada Spain
Duration: 1 hours

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