The Colors of Granada

The colors of Granada, Nicaragua are something else. As a small colonial town tucked next to Lake Nicaragua, Granada is pulled from technicolor dreams. Every door is a bright pink, blue, yellow, orange or green (or sometimes both!) 

As you know, I’m a huge fan of color. It makes spaces feel more alive and happy. I went giddy while in Granada — it’s really overwhelming when every house is instagramable! 

Founded in 1584, Granada is the first European city in mainland Central America, hence the very strong Spanish influence in architecture.

The town is small and can easily been seen in one day with another dedicated to water activities on Lake Nicaragua, like paddle boarding or kayaking.

There’s a cigar factory in Granada called Mombacho that has tours for $4 and is well worth the visit. Six cathedrals are available to explore and, if you have the time, make a visit to Ometepe, an island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua that is home to a large volcano and a cloud forest.

We stayed at Patio del Malinche (directly above) and loved the pool area, staff and, most importantly, A/C! I would recommend staying there when you visit Granada. 

I enjoyed the casual way of life in Granada. Long lunches in the shade to escape the heat, dinners out on Calle de Calzada (the main stripe of restaurants) or other patios to cool off and people watch. Life is simple in the sleepy, dreamy town. Colorful, happy and the perfect way to spend a few days.