Photo: Jebulon · CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Granada
The Alhambra, a Moorish hill quarter and a free tapa with every drink.
A city under the snowy Sierra Nevada, crowned by the Alhambra, the last palace of Moorish Spain. Across the valley the white Albaicín climbs the hill, and in many bars a free tapa comes with every drink.
Places to see
- The AlhambraSight · A walled hilltop of palaces and gardens: halls covered in carved plaster and verses, the…≈ A$39
Royal Chapel of GranadaChurch · A late Gothic chapel with a gilded iron screen, carved marble tombs, and the plain lead…≈ A$12
AlbaicínWalk · A steep hill of white houses, walled gardens and cobbled lanes facing the Alhambra, with…Free
Mirador de San Nicolás
When to go
- Jan13° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Feb15° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Mar18° / 5°Some rainBusy
- Apr20° / 7°Some rainVery busy
- May25° / 10°Some rainVery busy
- Jun31° / 15°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul34° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Aug34° / 17°Mostly dryBusy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The centre. Flat streets around the cathedral and Plaza Nueva, with the monasteries a little further out; handy for buses and full of tapas bars.
Albaicín. The white Moorish quarter on the hill facing the Alhambra: beautiful and steep, with several hostels.
Flying in
Granada (GRX): Airport bus to the centre, about 45 min, ≈ A$5. Timed to the flights, stopping near the cathedral (check).
Málaga (AGP): Direct bus from Málaga airport, about 2 h 15 min, ≈ A$26. More flights land in Málaga; a few direct buses a day, or go via Málaga's bus station (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Granada; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$2. The centre is walkable but the Alhambra, Albaicín and Sacromonte are steep. Small minibuses climb to all three, city buses and one metro line cover the rest, and the station is a 25-minute walk from the cathedral (check).
Tourist tax
No tourist tax in Granada at the time of writing; Andalusian cities have been discussing one (check).
