The most visited and well-known city of Andalusia, Granada. Today we land in the city with one of the most visited monuments in Spain, the Alhambra. An Arabian jewel with one of the oldest Universities in Europe. Andalusian people are considered among the most welcoming in Spain. If you ask for some Tapas, it is very easy that they offer you the first one, even if you have not asked for it. It’s one of the big reasons why I love these people. Book here the Free walking tour of Granada.
HOW TO GET TO GRANADA
Granada has an airport only 19km from the city center. The Federico Garcia Lorca Airport (GRX) is connected to the city center with the ALSA company bus, € 6 return.
Tickets can be purchased through their website. The journey is approximately 45 minutes. Buses depart from Granada City Center, at the Palacio de Congresos, 30 minutes after the arrival of each flight.
Granada train station is 5 minutes from the city center, while the bus station is behind the train station. Granada to Cordoba by bus, starting from 15 €, duration 3h approx. From Malaga less than 2hours, always with Alsa company.
THE ALHAMBRA
My advice is to keep you one day just to visit the Alhambra, visiting gardens and palaces can be more than 6 hours. Fares: € 14 adults, € 9 for young and old people, free for children. Alhambra by night: € 8, only gardens € 7. Opening times. No doubt that Granada, especially the Alhambra remind me so much Morocco.
The daytime general visit allows access to all the spaces that can be visited in the Monument: Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Carlos V Palace, public baths and the Mosque. This type of visit also includes visiting Gardens. Visitors must enter the Nasrid Palaces the time written on their admission ticket. Book here your ticket!
WHERE TO SLEEP AND TRANSPORTS
Granada is not a very large city, but I suggest you choose a centric hotel. Walking through the streets of the city is safe and pleasant. You will not need to carry less to get to the Alhambra. On foot it is 1km, it is not completely uphill but not for everyone.
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The parking of the Alhambra has 500 seats and is guarded 24 hours a day. As there are four zones, one for buses and caravans. The entrance to the Generalife is right next to the Pavilion entrance where you can buy the tickets.
The 30 and 32 lines of the city bus have the following stops in the Alhambra complex. Torre de las Cabezas, near the Charles V Palace and the Nasrid Palaces, Puerta de la Justicia is the nearest to the Alcazaba.
SOMETHING MORE ABOUT GRANADA
Often tourists think that once you visit the Alhambra there is nothing left. Granada is a very beautiful city that offers the Generalife, a set of gardens, built around 1315 near the Alhambra, in a higher position, extending to the mountains.
Madraza Palace, founded in 1349, was the first university in Granada, as well as one of the oldest in the whole of Europe. Even the Faculty of Law of the University of Granada I recommend you visit, its cloister is beautiful.
The Royal Hospital of Granada. This building is, without a doubt, the most beautiful example of Spanish hospital architecture given during the Renaissance period. Founded in 1504 today still part of the University of Granada.
The Cathedral is one of the greatest works in the Spanish Renaissance style, and finally the Monastery of San Girolamo.
