Situated in the sunny region of Andalucia, Granada is a fascinating and awe-inspiring destination for anyone – young or old.
Visitors to Granada love the Moorish architecture, which gives the town a North African feel. Perched right at the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, it’s also an excellent place to explore the local natural landscapes; hiking and adventure sports are within easy reach.
Don’t forget to indulge your appetite while you’re there – Granada is famous for its warmly spice Southern Spanish cuisine, as well as excellent local tipples.
Location: Granada – The sunny region of Andalucia in southern Spain.
Language: Spanish
Population of city: 235,000
Nearest airport: Federico García Lorca Airport in Granada, or for cheap and more frequent flights, head to Málaga Airport and take the frequent coach transfer to Granada Bus Station from there!
Main train/bus station(s): Granada, Estación de Autobuses de Granada
Best time to visit? May-Jun and September-October for comfortable sunny weather, and July- August if you can withstand heat!
Budget level? £ – Great for penny-pinching!
Best for: Scenery, Small & Quaint/Old Town-feel, Romantic Escapes, Budget -friendly, Excursions and Day Trips!
How long should I go for?
2 or 3 days is a good amount of time to see the main attractions and squeeze in time to stumble across its hidden gems, but we’d gladly stay for longer!
Getting there
This palace and fortress complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it really deserves the title. Originally built in the 9th Century, overlooking the city of Granada, Alhambra boasts some incredible designs, taking inspiration form Arabic architecture. From a distance, it is a truly grand sight and up close it is intricate and inspiring.
Way back in 1492, a community of Roma people have made a home in these Nomadic caves in the Granada hills. Impressively, they carved a series of caves, large enough for each family to live in, into the soft rock faces, creating a Star Wars-like feel. This fascinating dwelling has attracted tourists from all over the world and for good reason, too.
This beautiful Isabelline style building was founded by Catholic Monarchs in the 1500s. Originally built as a burial site for several members of the monarchy, this cathedral quickly became established as one on the main religious sites in Granada. With some incredible artwork, both on the inside and outside of the building, this isn’t one to be missed!
Granada’s Arabic routes can be seen all over the city, but one particularly popular feature of this that can be seen all over town are the Hammam baths. Each Hammam will have a series of rooms, with pools of varying temperatures, as well as steam rooms and massages available. The perfect place to head if you’re after some rest and relaxation.
This is the city’s main shopping and entertainment district and the best place to go to find the most vibrant nightlife. Standing right between the old and new quarters of the city, it serves as a hub to get to all of Granada’s attractions with ease.
High up in the foothills of the city, not too far from the district of Albaicin, this area is brimming with beautiful traveller’s caves and hidden drinking spots with the best views of the Alhambra. Be sure to get your fill of flamenco here!
Here you’ll find the Moorish area of the city, which also happens to be the oldest part, too! Wander through the narrow streets and marvel at its artisan workshops, vibrant marketplace, and stunning Arabic architecture.
The mainly residential, old Jewish Quarter climbing up the hillside leading to the Alhambra. Filled with little terraced cocktail bars and traditional cafes, and decorated with brightly coloured modernist street art, this is the place to get away from the hustle and bustle, and get a real taste of the city’s history.
This buzzing marketplace is a throwback to the city’s Arabic routes and one of the last of its kind to still be found in Spain. With colour fall stalls selling intriguing artifacts from all over, you’d be mistaken for thinking you’re in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Head here for a unique, Old-World feel and artisanal crafts.
If you’re heading up to the aforementioned caves, there’s a museum for you to explore too! This gives a great insight into the history of the caves and explains many of the mysteries of the wonderous site.
Granada’s full of lively narrow streets, making it very pedestrian friendly, so a great way of exploring the city is by foot. To get an insight of the city, and to really take in the culture, why not book onto a walking tour? There are plenty available and normally leave around 11am from Plaza Nueva.
