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Ever since Bill Clinton visited Granada in 1997 and declared that he had witnessed “the most beautiful sunset in the world”, the Mirador de San Nicolás has become one of the most famous viewpoints on the planet and a must-see spot for tourists from far and wide.

 

This stunning vantage point offers unrivalled panoramic views of the Alhambra and Generalife, which stand face to face, and the Mirador de San Nicolás is uniquely poised with the city at its feet and the majestic Sierra Nevada at its back.

 

The charm of its surroundings, in the heart of the Albaycín neighbourhood, with its cobbled streets, its crafts stall, its tapas bars and its people, adds even more flavour and liveliness to this romantic corner of Granada.

 

Once you've enjoyed the wonderful views, taken the required photos and taken a moment to take it all in, turn around. With your back to the viewpoint, you won’t be able to miss the Church of San Nicolás, which gives its name to the emblematic square and viewpoint.

 

The church was built in 1525 on an old mosque, like many other churches in Granada. The building is in the Gothic and Mudejar style, with a single central nave and two attached side chapels. The façade has whitewashing combined perfectly with the reddish Arabic tiles.

 

 

There are two buses that arrive at Mirador de San Nicolás: C31 and C32 and both lines pass through Plaza Nueva, Paseo de los Tristes and Carrera del Darro.

 

The C32 also has stops in the Alhambra and the Realejo neighbourhood, so visitors can hop on any of these to go to the Mirador de San Nicolás.

 

These buses are small, with capacity for only about 20 people. They are almost always full so it’s best to get there early or you will have to wait for the next coach to come along.

 

Alternatively, the C34 leaves from Plaza Nueva and although this is a bigger bus, passengers will have to disembark halfway up the Cuesta del Chapiz and make the rest of the ten-minute journey on foot.

 

Image: Nicolas Vollmer via Wikimedia Commons