6+ Fun Things To Do In Granada, Nicaragua
Granada, Nicaragua is a colonial-style city just a 5-minute walk away from the shores of Lake Nicaragua. After having not such a fabulous first few days in Nicaragua, we didn’t love Leon. There was a sigh of relief when we arrived in Granada and immediately discovered the charms of the city.
Don’t get it confused with the Spanish city people, thanks to Spanish colonisation the similarity in names appears all over Central America. The city of Granada was named by Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernández hence the same name.
Just like many Central American colonial towns expect plenty of colourful buildings, cobbled streets and a buzzing atmosphere. But there is so much more to do in Granada than explore the gorgeous streets. So keep reading to discover the 6+ fun things to do in Granada, Nicaragua.
Islets Tour on Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and the shores are only a short walk away from the centre of Granada. A popular activity to do from Granada is a kayak tour of the 365 mini islands known as the ‘islets tour’. These small islands were actually created from Volcano Mobacho’s last eruption in 1570. You’ll discover secluded spots, benefit from local knowledge and get gorgeous views of Volcano Mobacho.
We actually ended up opting for a different way to see the Islets on Lake Nicaragua as the day we arrived at our hostel, Oasis, they were having a booze cruise. It cost us $20 each and included a 2-hour boat trip around some of the islands with a stop to go swimming before heading to a bar back on the lake shores for a party into the night. We also got 5 free Nica Libres (rum+fresco) and a free fruity shot.
Do I kind of wish we had done the islets tour instead? Yes, I do, we didn’t see an awful lot of the islands from the boat. It was more of a party than a sightseeing mission, but nonetheless it was a great time and would be the perfect place for solo travellers to meet people.
See the Lava Glow at Volcano Masaya
We were slightly volcanoed out (love making up a word) at this point, so we decided to skip this one, however many people we met spoke highly of this activity.
Most tours that run from Granada will pick you up in the early hours of the evening so you can see the Santiago Crater lava lake by night. There is no hiking involved in this tour the transport will take you straight to the car park with amazing views of a very active volcano and glimpses of the lava in the crater below you.
If however, you would prefer to hike around Volcano Masaya instead of simply visiting to gawp at the views, I direct you to this detailed guide —>
Lake Apoyo
Spending the day at Lake Apoyo was one of my favourite days in Granada, we had a blast kayaking and chilling on the shores of the lake. I recommend getting the day pass to Paradiso hostel, it costs $14 USD per person (from Oasis hostel) and includes transport from Granada, entrance to Paradiso and use of their kayaks and other facilities, you leave at 10 and return around 5ish.
When we arrived we plopped ourselves down on the deck chairs by the lakeside, soaked up the sun and read. When the heat got a bit much we opted for a dip in the lake and floated around in the free rubber ring. After all the relaxing we got a bit peckish so went and grabbed some food and a few cocktails at the onsite restaurant, highly rated the Passion Fruit Mojito. We left just enough time to jump into the kayaks and paddle around the lake before the day came to an end.
Such a great way to escape the humid weather in the centre of Granada and if you find yourself with a few days to spare you can even stay at Paradiso, they offer both dorms and private rooms.
Watch the Sunset Over the City
There was something about sunset in Granda, it quite literally glowed between the hours of 5 and 7. The sunset felt like it put an incredibly beautiful filter over the whole city. And the best place to watch the sunset is the top of the bell tower at Iglesia Merced.
It will cost you $1 per person and the entrance is just left of the main door of the church. You can go see the views over Granada from the bell tower in the daytime and if you don’t fancy dealing with the crowds of people at sunset.
Visit the Garden Cafe
A gorgeous cafe with courtyard seating, a pretty garden, an extensive set of books to borrow and even a little gift shop. I highly recommend stopping by this place, it’s not the most budget-friendly option but the portions were massive and the food was delicious.
Not to mention it is a great cafe for anyone who needs to get some work done, they have wi-fi and a fabulous rose because wine and work go hand in hand right?
Treehouse Party
Infamous among backpackers in Central America and dubbed the rave in the jungle, the treehouse party pulls many people into the city of Granada. It will cost you $25 per person and includes transport that leaves from the Townhouse Hostel in Granada. You can also stay at the Treehouse Wednesday through to Saturday and given its jungle location it’s a unique opportunity for sure, also staying guests will get a discount to jungle rave. Find out more here —>
Other Things to Do in Granada, Nicaragua
Explore the hectic markets
Take a free walking tour to learn more about Granada
Learn about cacao and how chocolate is made at the ChocoMuseo
Witness the daily life of locals in the Central Parque
Eat and drink at the many restaurants and bars on Calle La Calzada
Don’t miss the Cathedral of Granada located in Central Parque and at the top of La Calzada
Walk along the shores of Lake Nicaragua
Visit the Convento y Museo San Francisco
Day trip to Volcano Cerro Negro for volcano boarding
Things to Know Before Visiting Granada, Nicaragua
Be prepared for some serious heat in Granada, throughout the year the average temperature is between 26 and 33 degrees celsius and it’s humid too.
It’s worth noting air con is super expensive in Nicaragua due to high electricity bills. For this reason, many accommodations don’t offer it or require an extra charge for you to use it
The national currency of Nicaragua is Cordobas, but many places in Granada accept dollars as well. It’s normally a little cheaper to pay in Cordobas, however.
Talking of currency, when it comes to getting cash out we had a few issues in Nicaragua a lot of ATMs wouldn’t accept our cards. If you have the same problem I recommend BAC bank, find the location in Granada here.
We opted for shuttle travel around Nicaragua, you can pretty much find shuttles to all popular destinations from Granada. There is also the option for public transport, it tends to be a longer option due to having to change buses.
Slightly niche but if you find yourself in Granada for a while and need a good supermarket La Union is a short walk out of town and will have everything you need, find it here.
I would advise against taking a horse and carriage ride as from my understanding the treatment of the horses is not good.
If you're looking for a good hostel in Granada, I highly recommend Oasis, you can find my full review here.
I don’t recommend walking by the lake shores at night for two reasons, it's not that safe after dark and you will get eaten alive and harassed by bugs and flies.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Granada, we ended up spending a whole week here which was more than we first planned. However, it was the perfect place to do some exploring and was also a great base to get some work done.
If you have visited Granada in Nicaragua before, share your favourite thing about the city in the comments below.
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