New Years Eve in Granada
Celebrating New Years Eve in Granada is generally a family affair. The most typical spot is Plaza del Carmen, the square outside Granada´s Town Hall. The Local Granada council organises live music and fireworks in the square. Usually beginning around 11pm and last until around 2am.
There is also a huge party at Sierra Nevada ski resort. Unless you have accomodation there you will need to make arrangements to get transport back to Granada ahead of time.
12 grapes at Midnight
In Spain it´s traditional to eat 12 grapes as midnight strikes. Get the 12 grapes ready before midnight. Seedless grapes work best ; ) On each chime of midnight you eat one. This brings good luck for the new year.
Each grape represent a month of the new year.
Where to celebrate New Years Eve in Granada
Dining out on New Years Eve can be an costly exercise. It´s typical to have elaborate dishes with fish and seafood as the last dinner of the year.
Many restaurants are closed on 31st December (dinner service) so you need to plan ahead to find out the places that are offering New Years Eve Dinner Menus and book in advance. Locals tend to eat together as a family and go out afterwards (after midnight)
Expect to pay around 70 euros – 120 euros for a New Years Eve dinner and drinks.
If you are staying in Granada over New Years, it is essential to plan ahead. Especially what your will do for dinner on New Years Eve. Make sure you get something that suits your budget and location.
Most bars will not open until 1am or a little later.
New Year Eve Menus in Granada
Here are four options that I have information about so far this year for 31 December 2019.
El Secreto de Humphrey Calle General Navaraez (close to Calle Recogidas)
Their New Year Eve Menu 2019 is made up of 8 courses and costs 75 euros including a drink at the end of the meal.
Restaurante La Platea has two locations, on Angel Ganivet and close to the Forum Building on Calle José Perez Pujadas. There New Years Menu looks fabulous this year. Priced at 100 euros per person for a five course meal.
Ruta del Azafran on Carrera del Darro Has a 5 course New Year Menu This location opposite the Alhambra in lower Albaicin costs 120 euros per person.
The Hotel Alhambra Palace traditionally has a Gala Dinner on 31st December. Find out more about New Years Eve 2019
New Years Day
On the 1st January shops and museums are closed.
Many restaurants are closed. Some may open on the evening of the 1st January.
Make sure you get any supplies on 31st Jan in the morning. (1st and 2nd January are holidays in Granada)
The Alhambra Palace is not open on 1st January 2020. So you need to book your tickets for 31st December or 2nd January 2020
Dia de la Toma
On the 2nd January Granada celebrates a local festival. El Día de la Toma which means the seizing or the taking of Granada. This day marks the conquest of the kingdom of Granada by Isabel and Ferdinard the Catholic kings on this day in 1492. This celebration is controversial. Some believe it is outdated to celebrate such an event. The main part of the day is held at Granada Town Hall in Plaza del Carmen at 12 noon.
The flag is waved from the town hall balcony. Then there is a procession. The bell above the Alhambra´s watchtower Torre de la Vela is also rung as it would have been all those centuries ago. The service does not last long, its around 30 minutes to an hour)
A Spanish Christmas
El Duende Fermin
Three Kings in Granada
Early on the evening of the 5th January the three Kings of orient arrive in Granada. The kings and their calvacades throw sweets as they walk through the city centre. The parade sets off from C/Rector Lopez Argueta. Then it moves along Gran Via and down into centre of town to Puerta Real. To see the exact route check local press the day before. (Ideal Granada or Ahoragranada)
- Starts: 6.00pm at Plaza Gran Capitán
- Calle San Juan de Dios
- Gran Vía de Colón then down along Calle Reyes Católicos,
- Puerta Real then to Plaza del Humilladero
- Carrera de la Virgen
- Puerta Real and to Plaza del Campillo
- Back to Calle Reyes Católicos and completes the route in Plaza del Carmen or Granada Town Hall. Estimated 10.30pm.
Cabalgata de Reyes
While watching the parade you may want to keep an eye out for umbrellas. Some people open them, turn them upside down, so they may catch more sweets. Some people take stepladders to get a good view too. There are around 20 floats and around 10,000 kgs of sweets throw by hundreds of actors in the Granada parade. This has been going more than 100 years in Granada, one of Spains oldest parades. It began in 1912.
In that first edition even local Poet Federico García Lorca took part. You will enjoy this lively street parade known as Calbagata de Reyes Magos and you may even line your pockets with some sweets.
Duende Fermin
Roscon de Reyes
Coal for Naughty Children
January Sales in Spain
In Spain the January sales begin at 10am on Thursday 7th January 2018.
Shops also open on the first Sunday of the sales from 11am to 4pm.
Hi! Is there any chance you’d have recommendations/tips for restaurants open for NYE that aren’t going break the bank? I don’t mind paying a bit more considering the occasion and for good food but I’m not looking for anything extravagant. Haven’t really been able to find much online or any of the forums. Will be in Granada with a friend for several days at the end of December and into the New Year. Would appreciate any tips/advice! 🙂
Hi
The dates before and after New Year will be OK to find places to eat out
On Evening of 31st Dec and Midday on 1st January I would recommend eating in if you can
Booking places will have a high price tag as explained in this article
Otherwise you can head out and see whats open in the main tourist areas (plaza nueva, bib rambla)
Hope this helps
Molly
hi, i’ll be visiting granada over new year’s eve with my husband and 8 month old baby. any recommendations for restaurants that we could take the baby to or other activities? thanks!
Hello Stephanie
I would check with your hotel (if you are staying in one)
otherwise I think that it could be tricky due to the timetable
New Years Eve dinner in Spain will be late typically starting around 10pm
You will also need to book ahead and as the best ingredients are used the dinner tends to have a high ticket price
including a party afterwards
I hope this information helps you to plan ahead
hi, i’ll be visiting granada over new years eve with my husband and 8 month old baby. can you recommend any restaurants we could take the baby to or other activities?
Hi,
I wondered whether you could advise whether bars and restaurants will be open on January 6 2019 (after the Three Kings parade on the 5th)? Thank you for your help.
Hi, on the evening of the 5th January bars and restaurants will be open as usual.
I would book somewhere if you have a particular place in mind.
On the 6th January there will be some places open on the evening on 6th jan and others closed.
Lunchtime on 6th January will be tricky to find places open. I would look for restaurants inside hotels or places around the main tourist areas such as Plaza Nueva or Plaza Bib Rambla
Hope this helps
Molly
Hi Molly,
Thank you for tour very informative blog!
We will be staying in Sierra Nevada during NYE but can’t find any information on the big party you mention, so I was hoping you could give a bit more info on that?
I have contacted some hotels but they only open for the guests that also stay the night, and we have an apartment booked.
Also advice on a restaurant would be welcome.
Many thanks!!
Hello,
I have included restaurants in the post above which are accepting bookings for New Year
Sierra Nevada ski resort have all the information, generally there aren´t details online. It´s best to ask the accomodation you have in Sierra Nevada or the Ski Station directly
Best wishes
Molly
Nice article. We hadn’t heard of the 12 grapes until we were there a few years back. Our friends convinced us you needed to take a mouthful of vino between each one….