The Día de la Cruz —or the May Crosses— is one of Granada’s loveliest festivals. Every 3 May the city fills with crosses made of flowers in squares and patios, and what starts as a daytime stroll ends, like almost everything in Granada, on a terrace with a drink in hand.
This is our guide to enjoying the Día de la Cruz and knowing where to finish it off when evening falls.
What the Día de la Cruz is
It’s a traditional festival in which neighbourhood associations, clubs and bars build crosses decorated with flowers and compete for the prettiest. There’s music, street atmosphere and lots of people strolling from cross to cross. It’s very local and very Granada: lived in the street from start to finish.
The daytime plan
Morning and afternoon are for walking the centre and the neighbourhoods seeing crosses: the Albaicín, the Realejo, the Cathedral area and many squares are decorated to the max. Wear comfy shoes, because there’s a fair bit of walking, and stop calmly for a drink when the sun bites.
When evening falls: to the terraces
This is where Granada does what it does best. After the cross route, people look for a terrace, a cold beer and conversation. It’s tardeo in its purest form (we cover it in depth in the tardeo guide), and Pedro Antonio is one of the liveliest areas for it.
Tips for 3 May
- Start early: the centre gets packed; mid-afternoon terraces are the comfiest.
- Stay hydrated between crosses: a beer with a tapa every couple of stops — it’s a long day.
- Leave the night open: the Día de la Cruz tends to stretch out on its own.
Where to finish off the day
At Margot you’ve got a terrace, deals until 9 pm and the perfect atmosphere to close the Día de la Cruz with a drink or a mojito. We’re at number 85 on Pedro Antonio, under the same old neon sign.
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When you've done the cross route, drop by number 85 on Pedro Antonio. And if you like it, leave us a Google review.
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