Ultimate Guide To Granada Geopark (Top Spots And Activities)

Granada Geopark (Geoparque de Granada) is one of the most special and unique natural destinations I’ve visited in Southern Spain. It isn’t as well-known as Sierra de Cazorla or Cabo de Gata, but it’s home to spectacular rock formations and landscapes that will make you think you are not in Spain.

I was completely amazed by the place, and some of my fellow travellers compared some areas with Cappadocia or even the Grand Canyon. I can’t say the same since I haven’t been to these, but I can assure you that you’ll find some of the most breathtaking mountain views in Andalusia.

The geopark is extensive, and there’s so much to do and see. While I haven’t visited every single corner, I’ve compiled some of the attractions and towns I wouldn’t miss if I were you, and tips for exploring the area.

Pinterest pin that shows landscapes of Granada Geopark.

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Table of Contents

Unique experiences at Granada Geopark

A beautiful rocky and mountain landscape in Granada Geopark.

Granada Geopark has so much to offer, and you’ll find beauty anywhere you go. I included some of the highlights in the section below, but here is a quick summary of the unique activities you might want to do:

Hot air ballooning over the Badlands. I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel about this, but I don’t rule it out for the future. I know some people who have done this in Granada Geopark and loved it. You can book a hot air balloon experience with a company like Glovento Sur.
Sleeping in a cave house. It isn’t something one does every day, right? I liked it and would definitely do it again. I stayed in El Atochal, and you can read more about it here.
Seeing impressive dolmens. There are a few places in Spain where you can see dolmens, and Granada has so many (over 220 Neolithic dolmens)!

Must-see places in Granada Geopark

Granada Geopark is a paradise for archaeological and nature lovers; there are over 70 places of geological interest. These are some of the places I would recommend exploring in two or three days.

Angosturas

A short drive from Gor, you’ll find Angosturas, the most important archaeological site in the area. It isn’t very well-known compared to others in Spain, but this site has remains from the Neolithic, Eneolithic, Iberian, and Arabic periods in Andalucia. There’s still a lot of work to do to uncover all the objects and remains in the area, but archaeologists have already found ceramic works and tools that prove the importance of this place back in the day.

I visited Angosturas with an archaeologist guide, which was a plus because it was the only way to really understand the history behind this place and find remains.

Gor

Main church in the town of Gor, Granada, Spain.

This village has been recognised as one of the Pueblos Mágicos de España (Spain’s most magical villages). It’s very, very small, but it’s an emblematic spot in Granada Geopark, and its people are so welcoming.

Some of the highlights of Gor are the public laundry room, its fountain with seven canyons, its church (Parroquia Ntra Señora de la anunciación) and its bullring. Whilst I’m against bullfighting, I need to mention the bullring as it’s such a big attraction in Gor. The interesting thing is that the bullring is built inside what was a castle.

I ate twice at Restaurante Mora, the only restaurant in the town, which serves traditional dishes.

Mirador Puntal de Don Diego

If I had to pick only one viewpoint in Granada Geopark, it would be this one. I thought I had seen beautiful landscapes, but Puntal de Don Diego surpasses any other. Seeing its rock formations was my highlight in my itinerary. I would even dare to call it the Grand Canyon of Spain!

Near the viewpoint, you can see La Casa de Cristal del Desierto! This glasshouse in the middle of the Gorafe Desert looks amazing, and you can actually stay in it. I didn’t, but it would be a one-of-a-kind experience to do so, as you get the best views of the night sky and stars.

Baza

If you want to visit a large town in the area, Baza is my suggestion. The city has many more historical sites, museums and restaurants.

My visit to Baza was short but sweet. I normally create my own itinerary as I love researching places, so I don’t miss out on anything; however, I took a tour this time. It wasn’t just any tour, but a theatrical guided visit to Baza with Más Drama. We visited top locations like the Arab Baths and the Baza Archaeological Museum while learning about the town’s history in an entertaining way. The guides and actors were so good!

Other top locations in Baza are Iglesia Mayor, Plaza de los Moriscos and Palacio de los Enríquez.

Castillo de la Calahorra

Woman wandering the main courtyard in La Calahorra Castle.

Castle lovers can’t miss the opportunity to visit Castillo de la Calahorra. It’s one of the first Renaissance-style castles built in Spain. This impressive castle on a hilltop is a true gem, and it has made an appearance in series like House of the Dragon.

It recently opened to the public, and it’s free for the first few months since they’re still restoring some parts of it. However, you need to book a visit via Optima Cultura, and do it as soon as possible, as it’s fully booked for months.

Megalithic Interpretation Centre of Gorafe

This interpretation centre is one of a kind. It’s the go-to place to learn about megalithic art and its chronological, cultural and spiritual context. But it’s also the sky interpretation centre, so you can discover all about astronomy and the astro-tourism in Gorafe.

It was such a great addition to my Granada Geopark itinerary as it helped me understand a bit more about the past civilisations that shaped today’s landscapes.

The visit starts with 3D films about the life of previous civilisations in Gorafe and its surroundings, and then you move along the centre, which has space recreations as well as tools used in the past.

One of the things that impressed me the most was how dolmens were built and the culture around these graves.

You can actually see some of the dolmens. They’re a short drive from the Megalithic Interpretation Centre of Gorafe.

Guadix

Guadix is among the three main towns in the Granada Geopark. The highlight of this historic city is its impressive ancient caves; in fact, there’s even an area called Barrio de las Cuevas (the neighbourhood of the caves).

Besides this, it has monuments and historic buildings worth seeing, such as its Cathedral, the Alcazaba citadel, and the Tropolis, its history museum.

Map with top sights in Granada Geopark

Here is a map with the locations mentioned in the article:

Tips for exploring Granada Geopark

Views of a bridge in Angosturas archaeological site in Gor, Granada.

You need a rental car to travel around the park. Unlike other destinations like the Costa del Sol, this is a very remote area with little transport, and it’s impossible to move around without a car. Therefore, if you don’t drive, this type of trip isn’t for you.
Talking about cars, some roads are quite sandy and rocky, so I’d go with a 4×4 or a similar style car. If you pick a regular car, the engine might struggle in some areas, and the lower part of the car can be damaged. Alternatively, you can book a 4×4 guided tour like this one to explore the most rugged areas.
Travel to Granada Geopark in late autumn or winter, as summers are very dry and hot. I’m used to high temperatures, but I’d still struggle here.
Pack comfortable clothes and shoes. This is a rural area, so I’d go for leggings and trainers. If you visit it outside the summer months, make sure to take a coat too. It’s pretty cold, especially when you’re exploring in the early hours.
You won’t find many restaurants around the area, unless you go to bigger cities like Baza, so food options are limited to traditional Spanish dishes or those from the area. Many dishes include meat, so I don’t think it’s the most vegan or vegetarian-friendly place to explore in Spain. However, many accommodations are self-catered, so you can cook your own food.
Don’t overpack your itinerary. The park is full of geological sites and places of interest, making it impossible to cover in a trip. It’s the sort of place you need to come a few times to see most of it. During my journey, I realised that places seem close to each other, but it takes longer to reach them because of the rocky and windy roads.
Be a responsible traveller by not leaving any rubbish or disturbing the wildlife or the locals. Also, please do not pick any fossils, minerals or plants. Let’s keep this place alive.

What to eat in Granada Geopark

Cold meats and cheese from Gor, Granada.

I didn’t eat at many different restaurants during my time at the geopark, and the one I can only recommend is Bar Mora in Gor; however, I did try some of the local gastronomy, so if you’d like to do the same, ask for these dishes:

Migas de Gor. It’s my favourite dish. It consists of fried breadcrumbs with green peppers and garlic, but you can also have it with chorizo. What I found odd is that they usually eat them accompanied by melon. I’ve always had migas with orange but not melon.
Jaleo. It’s a soup made with ingredients such as red peppers, potatoes, onions, chorizo, flour, garlic and water. According to locals, it’s the perfect remedy for a cold day.
Gurrupina. This dish, typical of Baza, is another winter dish. It has the consistency of a stew and contains tomatoes, potatoes, dried peppers, green peppers, flour, bacon, chorizo, and spices like paprika.
Andrajos. It’s a traditional recipe from Jaen and Granada. The stew is made with tomato, red pepper, onion, garlic and rabbit.

In addition to these, cold meats produced in the area are very popular as starters.