podtour
The Alhambra from Outside: Hill, Woods and Gates
You don't need a ticket to start understanding the Alhambra.
The Upper Albaicín: from San Nicolás to the Puerta de Elvira: audio walk in Granada
Thirteen stops, all downhill: a mosque hidden in a courtyard, an unarmed archbishop facing an uprising, the viewpoint and its sunset, a gate nobody wanted to open, a forger of Roman ruins, the house of the Lady, Boabdil made king for the second time, and the bookseller of the Puerta de Elvira.
What this walk is about
There's more to the Albaicín than the viewpoint. You start in the Plaza del Salvador, in the courtyard where the quarter used to pray, which outlived both the mosque and the fire, and in the little square where, in 1499, an uprising was stopped by an archbishop on foot, carrying nothing but a cross. From San Nicolás you look across at the Alhambra and take apart the most famous sunset in the world. You walk down through the square that was emptied when the Moriscos were taken away, pass the gate a prophecy kept shut, and reach the little square where a cleric planted fake ruins. You carry on past the citadel of the Zirid kings and the house of the Lady, hear how Boabdil was recognised as king for the second time just round the corner, look for the horseman who turned with the wind, and leave through the Puerta de Elvira, where a poor bookseller sold to the day labourers before the city took him for a madman.
- Start
- A mosque hidden in a courtyard
- Finish
- The bookseller at the Puerta de Elvira
- Who it is for
- For anyone looking for the Albaicín beyond the viewpoint. For people interested in al-Andalus and the Moriscos.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk has slopes or changes in level. There are cobbles or uneven surfaces. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
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Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
A mosque hidden in a courtyard
- 2
The unarmed archbishop in the square
- 3
Two towers on the same hill
- 4
The sunset you can't see
- 5
How names are invented
- 6
The rope on the eve of St John's Day
- 7
The gate nobody wanted to open
- 8
The forger of Placeta de las Minas
- 9
The Lady's house
- 10
Boabdil, king again in the Albaicín
- 11
The horseman who turned with the wind
- 12
The gate of the threshing floors
- 13
The bookseller at the Puerta de Elvira
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Granada, before you go
Check the slope before joining two dots on the map. Good shoes, breaks and one neighbourhood at a time keep Granada’s hills from taking over the whole trip.
More walks nearby
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The Carrera del Darro is narrow, beautiful and full of stories told in a low voice.
The Realejo: The Jewish Quarter You Can't See and the Convent District
The Realejo is a living neighbourhood that keeps few stones and a great many stories.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
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Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
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One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.