This Nerja to Granada motorhome route is for when you’re craving a real change of scenery: you start out looking over the Mediterranean and end up surrounded by Nasrid palaces, tapas, and mountains. In just a few days you can combine sea + city + Sierra, with that constant feeling of travelling “from one world to another” without doing impossible distances.
It’s designed for 2–4 days, depending on the pace you like: you can do a quick sea–Granada–return version, or stretch it out to enjoy the city and the surroundings of Sierra Nevada properly.
Quick route summary
🕒 Duration: 2–4 days
🧭 Ideal for: combining sea + city + mountains
🎁 What you’ll get: culture, tapas, and landscapes
The Nerja → Granada motorhome route links the eastern Costa del Sol with one of the most special cities in Andalusia. Granada mixes Arab heritage, historic neighbourhoods, viewpoints, tapas bars, and in the background, the silhouette of Sierra Nevada.
Day 1: Leaving Nerja for Granada
We set off from Nerja, which you already know from the other routes. It’s a great place to:
Do a final supermarket shop.
Check water, gas, and the motorhome basics.
Take one last quick stroll along the Balcón de Europa if you fancy a coastal farewell.
From Nerja, take the A-7 towards Almería and then connect to the A-44 towards Granada. The drive is roughly 1 hr 15 – 1 hr 30, with good roads for almost the entire journey.
Arriving in Granada by motorhome
When you get to Granada, the key is not to drive your motorhome into the historic centre. The best plan is:
Look for motorhome areas or large car parks on the outskirts or mid-zone.
Get into the centre by bus, light rail (metro), or on foot, depending on distance.
Granada is a busy university and tourist city, and parking a large vehicle right in the centre simply isn’t worth it. Your Nerja → Granada motorhome route will be much more comfortable if you separate “driving” from “exploring on foot”.
Day 1 (afternoon/night): First taste of Granada
Once you’re settled, it’s time to start enjoying the city:
Walk around the centre: Cathedral area and shopping streets.
First tapas round: in Granada, you often order a drink and a tapa comes included, which makes tapas-hopping almost a local sport.
Evening stroll around Gran Vía, Reyes Católicos, and Plaza Nueva.
This first day is about feeling the city, getting your bearings, and starting strong with what this route promises: culture and tapas.
Day 2: The Alhambra and the Albaicín
Day two of your Nerja → Granada motorhome route is for the essentials:
The Alhambra
The Alhambra is Granada’s most famous monument and one of the most visited places in Spain: Nasrid palaces, gardens, walls, and views over the city with Sierra Nevada behind it. Ideally:
Book tickets in advance (always).
Block out almost half a day for the visit.
After the Alhambra, you can walk down towards the city through the Alhambra forest, which is a really pleasant route.
Albaicín & San Nicolás viewpoint
In the afternoon, continue to the Albaicín, Granada’s historic Arab quarter, with cobbled streets, white houses, and lots of steep climbs. Perfect for:
Getting lost in its little alleys.
Ending at the Mirador de San Nicolás, with Granada’s most iconic views of the Alhambra facing Sierra Nevada, especially at sunset.
Grabbing a drink on a terrace with views—if you manage to find a free table.
With this day, the “city” side of the Nerja → Granada motorhome route is nailed: Alhambra + Albaicín + viewpoints.
Day 3: A mountain touch (optional but highly recommended)
If you’ve got time and you really want that sea + city + mountains combo, dedicate day three to heading towards Sierra Nevada.
You don’t have to drive the motorhome all the way up to the highest areas if you don’t feel like it. It’s enough to:
Head towards the road up to the ski resort area.
Stop at mid-level viewpoints.
Do a short hike if the season and weather allow.
In winter, if you plan to go high up, check road conditions and snow. In spring or autumn, the mountains are perfect for slow walks and fresh air after a day or two in the city.
This day gives your Nerja → Granada motorhome route that “complete trip” feeling: sea at the start, city in the middle, mountains at the end.
Day 4: Easy return or a coastal stop
If you have 4 days, use the last one to:
Drive straight back towards Nerja/Málaga via motorway only, or
Make a stop on the Costa Tropical (Salobreña, Almuñécar) for a quick swim or a seaside lunch before wrapping up.
The idea is for the route to adapt to your schedule: 2 days for express, 3 days to enjoy it, 4 days to take it very easy.
Practical tips for the Nerja → Granada motorhome route
To keep this route smooth:
Book the Alhambra in advance if you know your dates. It’s the cultural centrepiece of the trip.
Don’t try to enter the city centre with the motorhome. Use large car parks and public transport.
Wear comfortable shoes: Granada means hills, cobblestones, and lots of walking.
Expect temperature changes: even if you’re coming from the coast, Granada is cooler—and even more so if you head towards the mountains.
Balance your days: mornings more “touristy” (monuments), afternoons more “tapas and strolling” so you don’t burn out.
This is a perfect route if you’ve been doing several coastal days by motorhome and want something different without going too far.
🧭 How to fit this route with the others
Within your Caravan Hill Routes blog, this Route 3 – Nerja → Granada works really well as:
A “change of mindset” after Routes 1 and 2 (Nerja + Maro / Nerja – Frigiliana – Cómpeta).
A bridge into longer routes through eastern Andalusia (Granada, Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada…).
You can internally link to it from:
Your coastal routes (Nerja + Maro, Costa del Sol).
The mountain / Sierra Nevada route we already created.