How much does it cost to travel to Granada?
You should plan to spend around $40 (C$1,457) per day on your vacation in Granada. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $14 (C$515) on meals
- $8.57 (C$315) on local transportation
- $34 (C$1,252) on hotels
A one week trip to Granada for two people costs, on average, $555 (C$20,397). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Granada has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Granada expensive to visit?
Granada is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Nicaragua, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Granada in depth.
Within Central America, Granada is a very affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 10% of cities in Central America for its affordability. Very few cities in the region are as affordable as Granada.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Granada Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Granada?
The average Granada trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Granada travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
C$1,252
($34)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
C$315
($9)
|
|
Food 2
|
C$515
($14)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
C$382
($10)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
C$10 -
29
($0 - 1)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
C$138 -
413
($4 - 11)
|
Accommodation Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Granada is $17 (C$626). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Granada is $34 (C$1,252). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Granada? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Granada is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $8.57 (C$315) per person, per day, on local transportation in Granada.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$8.57
C$315
How much does it cost to go to Granada? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Granada will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Granada can vary, the average cost of food in Granada is $14 (C$515) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Granada should cost around $5.61 (C$206) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Granada is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$14
C$515
Typical prices for Food in Granada are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Granada, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Granada typically cost an average of $10 (C$382) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$10
C$382
Typical prices for Entertainment in Granada are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Granada, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
Alcohol Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $7.50 (C$275) on alcoholic beverages in Granada per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.50
C$275
Typical prices for Alcohol in Granada are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Granada, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Water Budget in Granada
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $0.92 (C$34) on bottled water in Granada per day. The public water in Granada is not usually considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$0.92
C$34
Granada On a Budget
The market of Granada, Nicaragua
Granada is Nicaragua's oldest colonial city, and arguably, the most beautiful city in the country. It sits on the northern edge of Lake Nicaragua (Lago Cocibolca) and has many beautifully colored buildings and nice churches. The city's beauty and colonial architecture, along with its relative safety and accessibility, make it one of Nicaragua's top tourist destinations. The city has long been a center for commerce, but today its economy depends heavily on tourism. The city is the sixth largest in Nicaragua and a real estate boom in the early 2000's brought a large number of expats to the town.
Granada's climate is relatively consistent year around. High temperatures range from 32 degrees Celsius in March to 27 degrees Celsius in the late summer and fall. Low temperatures are in the low 20s Celsius year around. Rainfall is most frequent from late spring through the fall months and September is the wettest month of the year.
Sights
There are some great sights around town, many of which are rooted in the city's beautiful colonial architecture and its historic past. There are six beautiful churches around town, each with its own unique architecture and story. They are also in varying stages of disrepair. These churches include the Cathedral, La Merced, Guadalupe, Xalteva, San Francisco and Maria Auxiliadora. Also make sure you visit the historic fort built in the 18th century, Fuerte La Polvora. It has some interesting exhibits on its main level. Lake Nicaragua may not be the most beautiful lake, but if you head to the waterfront during the day you'll see many Nicaraguan families enjoying a picnic or relaxing in the sunshine. Also make sure you walk through the town's local market, which is a fascinating experience in and of itself. Here you'll find anything from local fruit and produce, to freshly slaughtered meat, or children's clothing and shoes. It offers you a chaotic glimpse into the everyday life in Granada.
If you're looking for an interesting way to get out on the lake, there are boat tours. The boats leave from Puerto Asese and you'll have a guide who can tell you all about the nearby islands.
Neighborhoods
Granada is located on the edge of Lake Nicaragua, which ranks twentieth in size world wide. The streets are narrow and charming, making the city fun to explore. The Central Park has the Cathedral and many colonial houses surrounding it. It's in the middle of town and you'll find many shops with handicrafts or snacks nearby. The local market is also an interesting area worth a visit. There are shops and stalls that sell anything and everything.
Activities
There are many tours and activities that you can enjoy while you're in Granada. Boat tours of Lake Nicaragua can be a fun way to get on the water and meet the local people on the islands. It's also possible to go horseback riding, hiking, or take a canopy tour on the side of Mombacho Volcano.
Food and Dining
Granada has an excellent reputation as a culinary city. For budget travelers, there are many street vendors that offer tamales, carne asada, gallo pinto, fried plaintains, and many other local dishes. On local specialty is Vigoron, which is made with cabbage, tomatoes, onions, and fried pork rind, all served on mashed yucca.
As Granada's economy has become increasingly dependent on tourism, it's restaurant selection has grown and diversified. There are high end restaurants that offer everything from organic international dishes to seafood, tapas, or Asian fusion. You can also enjoy local fish platters at Asese, which sits on the edge of Lake Nicaragua.
Transportation
Granada is a small city and it's possible to walk most places around town. There are also buses and minibuses that travel many places. Large, outdated American and Canadian school buses frequently travel routes and will stop to pick you up if you glance in their direction. Minibuses run on a somewhat set schedule but are slightly more expensive.
Aside from walking, taxis are generally the easiest way to make your way around the city. It's possible to hire a taxi for an entire day to show you the whole area, but it is best to get a recommendation ahead of time. If you arrange everything in advance, you can even have them pick you up at the airport. Basic local taxis have set prices and if you're taking a trip within town you can expect to pay about 7 to 10 cordobas during the day and 15-20 cordobas at night.
A slightly more glamorous way to see the city is by horse-drawn carriage. Called coches, these carriages travel from the cemetery in the southwest to the converted Rail Station in the north and the water from to the east. The tour is about an hour and a half and costs about US$30.
Boat tours also leave from Puerto Asese to Granada's islets.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.