GRANADA

 

Alhambra mug Granada

Alhambra mug Granada

GRANADA- The Basics

 

Visit the Alhambra

Buy at the SERVICAIXA cash point anywhere in Spain or online at Ticketmaster as far in advance as possible.  (see pic below)
It´s important to arrive a little earlier than the time printed on the ticket. (30 minutes before at least)

If you arrive at the Nazrid palace door later that the time printed on your ticket you will not be allowed entrance. The door is quite a way inside the complex.

Book day tickets well in advance as they sell out often. Especially in April/May.

There are two options for planning your visit. Nighttime or daytime visit.

The compact, short and sweet visit at nighttime. For evening visit select the latest entrance time.

This way you have time to have dinner or some Tapas beforehand. Be careful when purchasing the ticket, it must read VISITA PALACIOS

The full visit: If you go for the whole day, Put your trainers on.

Make sure you are prepared as some parts of the visit are outside, so you may need to take a jumper/coat or lashings of sun cream and hat depending on the time of year.

There are a few restaurants at the entrance road to the Alhambra and inside the complex itself there are sandwiches, baguettes and hot drinks sold.

View from a window of the Alhambra overlooking the city.

See Saint Nicolas Square

You can get a taxi up the hill for about 6 euros or you can get a bus from Plaza Nueva. (no 31 stops there)

The driver can tell you which stop to get off if you ask him clearly.
Once you get off the bus walk up the slope and then up the cobbled stairs to see the beautiful view

Afterwards cross the square, past the restaurant Kike San Nicolas with tables outside and keep going.
Walk downwards along the cobbled street. Turn right underneath the large stone archway. (Arco de las pesas)
Opposite there is a cafeteria called, Casa Pasteles. Here you can have coffee and a cake or an ice cream.

Here´s a suggestion for a walk after visiting San Nicolas Square or the Albaicin: A walk down the Albaicin

  • Have dinner in the Restaurante Agua casa de vinos. They serve Fondue and you have views of the Alhambra palace. Good  balance of price vs quality. See more about A Typical Carmen in Granada 
  • Get a taxi to Hotel Alhambra Palace, have a snack or a coffee on the terrace, see the city from above
  • Ice cream on Gran Via opposite the cathedral. Los Italianos. My personal recommendation is Cassata, a tutti frutti with choc chip wedge shaped ice cream. This is the House special.

Flamenco

There are many restaurants along the Camino de Sacromonte and in the Albayzin that offer Flamenco.
The authentic Flamenco shows that the locals go to are held at Corrala del Carbon usually run from July to August called Los Veranos del Corral

La Chumbera, at the end of Camino de Sacromonte has shows mainly on Saturday nights, this is probably my favourite place to see Flamenco dancing and music. Here is the latest programme for  Granada of events: Latest Flamenco shows You can buy tickets at the Theatre Isabel La Catolica ticket office, this is in the city centre at on Puerta Real.

At Peña La Plateria, at Placeta de Torqueros 7 in the Albaicin, this is mainly for members and can be difficult to get tickets to. If you are particularly interested you can ask at your hotel or a tour guide about this. Usually on Thursdays and Saturdays at 9.30 the shows are ticketed at 12 euros and can be obtained by non members.

If you are wanting to see Flamenco and not visiting Granada, please check this website De Flamenco which offers information for Spain and other International venues

 

VIP visits to Granada in April 2011

 

Travellers Choice Destination 2010 – It´s worth coming to visit Granada. So much to experience.

From the UK, best option is to Fly into Malaga, hire a car to get to Granada.

Granada Tourism Official: Website in English 

Need to take gifts home?  Here are 15 gift ideas from Granada & Andalusia

Quick tips: Granada

Download the PDF file to take with you:

Spanish version: [scribd id=61918139 key=key-2c7npnjkx3d2x0e25maw mode=list]

English version:[scribd id=61918277 key=key-2j2tq7oyllhhoiyze97p mode=list]

 

Transport – Useful information

  • Taxi telephone numbers in Granada city
    • Teletaxi 958 280654
    • Professional Taxi service VIP:  655 655985  They also have a website: Taxi VIP Granada
    • Currently a Taxi from Granada Aiport to the city costs 25 euros (July 2012)
  • Left Luggage Facility iLocker Granada Very close to Granada train station. Leave your luggage at this place and enjoy the city until your flight leaves.
  • Air travel from Granada. The airport offers flights are to Barcelona & Madrid and just a few other destinations. For a broader range of destinations travel from Malaga airport. Buses leave Granada bus station to Granada airport every hour. The journey costs just 3 euros. There are 3 buses from Granada bus station direct to Malaga airport too with Alsa bus company.

  • Bus the local bus company is Transportes ROBER in Granada city. You can hop on a bus and pay the driver, 1.20 euros per journey. Or you can buy a plastic card and fill up credit on it in multiples of 5, 10 or 20 euros The cost per journey is then reduced to 0.70 euros . (updated March 2012)
  • Bus outside the city. To visit villages around Granada such as Armilla, Alhendin, La Zubia, the bus company is CTA Granada
  • For long distance buses in Spain and Andalusia Alsa.es which is available in English too See ALSA website
  • Train travel. The train company is Renfe. From Granada there are trains to Cordoba, Seville, Madrid and other Spanish cities. RENFE 
  • Hire cars in Granada there are several Car Rental companies, Europcar, Hertz, AVIS. Pick up points are usually the Train Station or Granada Airport