Living in Granada comes with its perks, scenic views, a slower pace, and sunshine that tends to linger, but even the most charming places can start to feel a bit too familiar by Wednesday. That’s when the midweek mini-break comes into play. An unofficial adventure that gives you that gear change without changing too much of the rest of your calendar.
These are some of the best day trips out of Granada that are budget-friendly, hassle-free to arrange, and that leave you with enough time afterwards to whip something up in the evening at home.
Salobreña: Sea Breeze and Slow Lunches
About an hour out of Granada, this small beach village is blissful during the middle of the week. The houses are piled up against the mountain in white as if in some unread postcard. During slow periods, you can listen and you can hear the ocean breathe onto the beach.
Go mid-morning, walk along the beach, and indulge in barbecued sardines and local tipple. You just need a short itinerary. Walking along the prom is enough. The local market is also worth a visit on Tuesdays, with more locals than tourists.
Montefrío: When You’d Prefer to Witness Something Stunning with Low Crowds
This one is a bit of a longer drive; it’s around 75 minutes or so, but it is well worth the distance. The town is surrounded by two cliffs, with the well-known round church rising high above the rest. Being on so many “most beautiful towns in Spain” lists, but midweek? Practically empty.
Alhama de Granada: Thermal Waters and Tapas
If you fancy a soak and a slow lunch, try Alhama. Just over an hour west of the city, this sleepy little town sits on top of an extraordinary gorge and has thermal springs, cobbled streets and the kind of air that makes your shoulders droop just that little bit more.
There are spa facilities if you’re feeling luxurious, but the riverside natural pools are free, and honestly, beautiful. Midweek is excellent, too; you’re not surrounded by bellowing gangs or photo shoots.
Córdoba: If You’re Harking After Culture sans Overnight Bag
Yes, it’s a bit further, in two hours there and two hours back, but with the right timing, Córdoba is totally doable in one day. The Mezquita, the patios, the riverside promenade… all in your reach if you take an early train.
Start with a decent cup of coffee from the station, take something worthwhile to read on the train, and book back with flexible booking options, in case you find you’d like to linger over just one more tapa. You wouldn’t be the first.
If you’re lucky enough to visit during the week, you will miss the school kids and the coach parties. The alleys off the ancient Jewish quarter are more relaxed. Space to breathe. And if you visit at sunset, you will be glad you did.
Local Olive Groves and Tastings
At other times, to your choosing, you don’t have to get out of the province. Just take your car on an excursion into the countryside, and you will pass through olive groves that have existed for centuries, because they have.
There are only a handful of small producers who have tastings during the week. There is the guided tour, the walk through the grove, and the pouring of the oil over the bread that will make you question all that you have ever bought in any supermarket. Some also have wine, which is always a plus.
It’s a lovely one if you’ve got people in from the UK. It’s special but relaxed at the same time. You can even have the lazy picnic and be home again before the school run.
Practical Bits to Make Life Easy
Midweek travels from Granada are relatively straightforward, even last-minute. The routes are quieter, the trains easier to book, and the roads pleasantly deserted. Most of the travels don’t demand more than a small rucksack and a water bottle.
If you’re the sort who likes some planning, jot down two or three destinations you’d like to visit, but keep the rest quick. Planning is great, but having some time in there for that stray pastry or mountain-side getaway keeps these weekends away refreshing.
When you live somewhere lovely, you’re tempted to forget that you’re allowed to see it like a visitor now and then. These midweek breaks are the perfect opportunity to re-experience why you moved there in the first place. A change of scenery. A new square-shaped snack. An excuse you should be rocking sunglasses at somewhere you’ve yet to visit this year.
