Andalusia 7-day Itinerary
Spain
Where to go and what to see in Andalusia to get the most from your trip – a 7-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Dana Facaros.
Website >
Overview >Bucket list experience:
Flamenco in Granada
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Last updated: 15 January, 2023
Andalusia expresses its passionate soul in the guitars, singing and twirling, stamping steps of its native flamenco – declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.
Most scholars believed the seeds of flamenco arrived in the 15th century with the Roma from India. Over the centuries they slowly migrated west with their castanets and tambourines, absorbing songs and dances in the Middle East and North Africa along the way. The Spanish at first considered it a foreign art, or ‘Flemish’ – hence flamenco.
By the 19th century flamenco as we know it emerged – popularized by Bizet’s Carmen – with shows performed in cafés cantantes (singers’ cafés), the forerunners to the modern tablaos. These are intimate venues with small wooden stages, perfect for the exhilarating machine gun-like zapateado (dancing).
You can hear flamenco’s eastern origins in the singer’s cante jondo (‘deep song’), evoking pain, sorrow and joy, while dancers express each emotion with their bodies, driven by the pulsing percussive strumming of the guitars.
A good show, and there are many here, can send chills down your spine with their duende, the ecstatic ‘demon’ spirit that brings listeners out of themselves.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Price from: £15
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 5+
Frequency: daily
When: Daily
Duration: 90 minutes
Getting there & doing it
Always book tickets for a tablao or club in advance, either via an organised tour or on the websites of the clubs. Options usually include a show and a drink or tapas or dinner with a choice of set price menus. Performances run around 90 minutes.
When to do it
Most clubs put on two shows every evening, usually around 7pm and 9pm.
Experience
Casa Ana
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
You won’t find a more authentic and emotion-filled flamenco show in Granada than this one. Gypsy-inspired and operated, it’s unique amongst the Granadan tablaos in having a theatre format – the flamenco show encompasses stage, lights and dramatic curtain reveal.
Best for ages: 5+ | £17 | 1 hour
Website >
Overview >
Experience
Casa del Arte
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Intimate theatre just under the Alhambra, where the young guitarist, singer and dancers perform with passion; you can also book supper, but it’s separate, as to not distract from the show.
Best for ages: 5+ | £17 | 1 hour
Website >
Overview >
Experience
Cueva de la Rocio
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
The Maya family performs a zambra gitana, a traditional gypsy wedding in the Sacromonte caves of Granada, harking back to the days when the dances were banned by the Inquisition and had to be held in secret.
Best for ages: 5+ | £20 | 1 hour
Website >
Overview >
Experience
La Alborea Tablao
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Well-respected, very friendly and central club just east of the Cathedral, with excellent hour-long shows of authentic flamenco, with seats right up next to the stage; dinner and tapas options available, too.
Best for ages: 5+ | £15 | 1 hour
Website >
Overview >
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Traditional Flamenco Show in the Heart of Granada
Granada
We have a large theatrical space in which flamenco acquires a superior condition in the quality of the show. The sets of curtains and lights...
€20 | Rating 4.88 / 5 [154 ratings]
Website >
Tour supplied by:
Traditional Flamenco Show
Granada
In the Tablao Casa del Arte Flamenco you can enjoy this art that began its journey in Andalusia at the beginning of the 19th century and tha...
€20 | Rating 4.65 / 5 [76 ratings]
Website >
Tour supplied by:
Flamenco Show in the Center of Granada
Granada
The most central tablao in Granada. It is located in Plaza Nueva, a tourist enclave of the city. An important factor when choosing this show...
€20 | Rating 4.76 / 5 [25 ratings]
Website >
Tour supplied by:
Flamenco Show in a Cave Restaurant in Granada
Granada
Prepare for passion and magic in this 1 hour flamenco show, that takes place in a cave-restaurant located in Granada. This century-old cave ...
€26 | Rating 4.52 / 5 [259 ratings]
Website >
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Eurostars Washington Irving
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
A peaceful, contemporary five-star hotel with a rooftop pool and views, just a few minutes down from the Alhambra.
Official star rating:
La Almunia del Valle
Sierra de Nevada, Andalusia, Spain
A delightful rustic-chic boutique hotel in the Sierra Nevada, perfect for hiking or skiing – and only ten minutes from Granada.
Official star rating:
Parador de Granada
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Granada’s parador, occupying a late 15th-century monastery, combines charm, history, service and enchanting views with an incomparable location, right on the grounds of the Alhambra.
Official star rating:
Hotel Casa Morisca
Granada, Andalusia, Spain
Overlooking the Alhambra, Granada’s most evocative boutique hotel occupies a superbly restored 15th-century mansion, full of romance and charm.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Andalusia
Andalusia, Spain
A big dazzling region, packed with fascinating cities, beautiful landscapes and beaches, colourful fiestas and oodles of sunshine.
Website >
Overview >
Granada
Andalusia, Spain
Crowned by the dreamlike Alhambra, this vibrant Spanish-Arab culture capital combines fascinating sights and lively nightlife with the Sierra Nevada on the doorstep.
Website >
Overview >