Granada, Nicaragua, founded in 1524, is one of the oldest European-established cities on the mainland of the Americas where visitors can explore cobblestone streets lined with brightly painted facades. The mustard-yellow Granada Cathedral dominates the central park and provides an easy reference point for those navigating the city on foot or by traditional horse-drawn carriage. The nearby San Francisco Convent Museum houses pre-Columbian statues from the nearby Zapatera Island, offering a glimpse into the region’s Indigenous history.

Lake Nicaragua, just a few blocks from the city center, adds another layer to Granada’s appeal. Visitors can take boat tours through Las Isletas, a group of over 300 small islands formed by volcanic activity. Many of the islets are privately owned, some with holiday homes, but others host monkeys, birdlife, or simple fishing villages. From the water, travelers get a unique view of Mombacho Volcano, which looms just south of the city. Mombacho offers guided hikes through cloud forest trails, some leading to panoramic views that stretch all the way to the Pacific Ocean on clear days.