Christmas Markets in Granada: Complete Guide to Enjoy Christmas 2025
The arrival of December transforms Granada into a city filled with light, tradition, and festive atmosphere. The Christmas markets in Granada become one of the main attractions every year for both locals and visitors, combining Christmas shopping, traditional gastronomy, handicrafts, and an incomparable historic setting. The short distance between the main markets allows visitors to walk the entire route in one morning, while also enjoying the Cathedral, the Albaicín, or a pleasant stroll through the historic city center.
The Christmas season usually begins in late November with the official lighting ceremony in Plaza del Carmen, accompanied by a light and sound show that marks the start of the festivities. From December 1st, the markets are set up in their usual locations and remain open until January 6th, with some schedule adjustments on public holidays.
The Two Main Christmas Markets in Granada City
Unlike other Andalusian cities where markets are spread across different neighborhoods, Granada concentrates its main Christmas offer in just two markets, located only a few minutes’ walk from each other. This allows for a comfortable and fluid route, ideal for combining shopping, cultural visits, and gastronomy.
Plaza Bib-Rambla Christmas Market
Plaza Bib-Rambla, located next to the Cathedral, is the heart of nativity tradition in Granada during Christmas. For decades, this square has hosted dozens of stalls specializing in nativity figures, making it a must-stop for anyone setting up a Christmas crib at home.
Here you will find figures of all sizes and styles, from classic clay pieces to more elaborate works by Andalusian artisans. There are also traditional sweets such as mantecados, pestiños, and turrón, as well as moss, small lights, miniature houses, and all the accessories needed to complete the nativity scene. The atmosphere is especially lively in the afternoons, when the square lights up and nearby churro stands invite visitors to take a sweet break between purchases.
On weekends, the market tends to be quite busy, so weekdays are more comfortable for a relaxed visit.
Puerta Real Craft Market
Just a few minutes’ walk away is the Puerta Real Craft Market, located around the Fuente de las Batallas. This market offers a more artisanal and less touristy approach, with stalls featuring traditional ceramics, leather goods, silver jewelry, wooden toys, and convent-made sweets.
It is the perfect place to find original gifts with a clear Granada identity. Its proximity to main shopping streets such as Reyes Católicos or Recogidas also allows visitors to continue their shopping day without leaving the city center. The atmosphere is calmer than in Bib-Rambla, ideal for chatting with artisans and learning about the origin of each piece.
Christmas Markets in the Province of Granada
Beyond the city, the province of Granada stands out for offering some of the most original Christmas markets and nativity scenes in Andalusia—true experiential proposals that delight families and Christmas lovers alike.
In Huétor Tájar, one of the largest monumental nativity scenes in Spain is displayed, with more than 500 figures, many of them in motion, and recreations of historic villages integrated into biblical passages. The experience blends tradition and technology, with settings created using 3D printing and lighting effects.
Alhama de Granada presents a biblical nativity integrated into the town’s architecture, with a theatrical route that combines local heritage and Christmas scenes in a more intimate and peaceful atmosphere.
In Válor, in the heart of the Alpujarra, a living nativity scene is held, where locals recreate the trades and scenes of the birth using real people. Shepherds, blacksmiths, and bakers bring an immersive representation to life that especially fascinates children.
Meanwhile, Sierra Nevada surprises visitors with a Christmas market right in the ski resort, in Plaza de Andalucía in Pradollano. Shopping for gifts in a mountain setting at over 2,000 meters above sea level is a unique experience in Andalusia, with children’s workshops and special activities throughout December.
Nativity Scene Route in Granada: The Perfect Complement to the Markets
A visit to the markets can be complemented with the traditional Granada nativity scene route, which each year brings together some of the city’s most outstanding monumental nativity displays.
Among the must-sees are the Municipal Nativity Scene at the City Hall in Plaza del Carmen, the Cáritas Parish Nativity on San Matías Street, the Nazareno Brotherhood Nativity at the Convent of the Carmelites, and the Casa de los Tiros Museum Nativity, featuring figures from the historic Jiménez Mariscal workshop. The full route can be completed on foot in just twenty minutes, making it a perfect plan for a Christmas afternoon in the city center.
How to Get Around the Christmas Markets in Granada
The two main markets, Bib-Rambla and Puerta Real, are connected by pedestrian streets and are easily explored on foot. If you arrive by car, the San Agustín parking is a good option due to its proximity and reasonable daily rate. To visit towns in the province, having your own vehicle is recommended, as public transport does not always match tourist schedules. Within the city, urban transport operates normally during the holidays.
Experience Christmas at Seda Club Hotel
For those wishing to combine a visit to the Christmas markets in Granada with an exclusive dining and accommodation experience, Christmas takes on a special dimension at Seda Club. Located in the heart of the historic center, the hotel transforms each year into an elegant setting where the city’s festive lights, the shopping atmosphere, and high-end gastronomy come together.
Its restaurant dresses up for the season with a culinary proposal starring local products reinterpreted with subtlety and creativity. Guests can explore this carefully curated offer through the Lunch Menu, as well as celebrate key dates with the exclusive Christmas Menu and the sophisticated New Year's Eve Menu.
At Seda Club, every meal becomes a tribute to tradition, flavor, and the essence of Christmas in Granada. Experience Christmas in a luxury hotel in Granada and enjoy everything it has to offer, from the magic of the markets to fine dining. Book your stay now and let yourself be embraced by the comfort, elegance, and warmth that only a five-star hotel can provide.
