Salobrena and the Costa Tropical are 60 minutes south of Granada with chiringuito beach restaurants, mango groves and the Castell de Ferro seafood spots.
Tip: The Castell de Ferro seafood lunch is the canonical day-trip; combine with a vermut on the beach at Salobrena.
Rio Frio near Loja is the trout-farm village 50 minutes west of Granada, with seven restaurants serving the same locally farmed Sierra Loja trout.
Tip: The trout farms run continuous lunch service; arrive at 13:30 to beat the Sunday Granada-day-tripper rush.
Antequera is the food town 55 minutes west of Granada, the home of porra antequerana and the mollete antequerano flat bread served across Andalusia.
Tip: Pair the porra antequerana lunch with a visit to the Dolmen de Menga or El Torcal natural park.
Almunecar and La Herradura on the Costa Tropical are 75 minutes south of Granada, with chiringuito-style beach seafood and the citys closest snorkelling cove.
Tip: Sunday lunch chiringuitos book out on the La Herradura beach; reservation by phone is the safer move.
Trevelez in Las Alpujarras is the high-altitude village famous for its PGI cured ham, 90 minutes from Granada on the A-348 through the Sierra Nevada.
Tip: Combine Trevelez with Pampaneira and Capileira for a full Alpujarras circuit; allow a full day.
Santa Fe is the 1897 birthplace of the pionono pastry, 10km west of Granada with the original Casa Ysla still trading on the towns main avenue.
Tip: Casa Ysla in Santa Fe is the original; the recipe was created here by Ceferino Isla to honour Pope Pius IX.
Sierra Nevada Ski Resort in Pradollano is 45 minutes from Granada with alpine restaurants and apres-ski venues at the Pradollano village base of the slopes.
Tip: Ski season runs November to April; outside that the resort is a mountain hiking base.