Located in the southern region of Andalusia in Spain, Granada is a city filled with wonders. Ancient churches overlook cobblestone plazas, narrow streets lead towards the Moorish fortress of the Alhambra, and the white carmenes buildings have views towards the Albaycin district.
Explore the nearby beaches.
Granada is located closer to the Sierra Nevada mountains: meaning it is the ideal place to stay at if you want to spend your holidays enjoying the culture of the city and the ski resorts up in the mountains. If you are more of a beach person, then you should rent a car to explore the region, focusing on the white, sandy beaches of Almuñecar and Motril, located less than 100 kilometers away.
Take a guided tour of the Alhambra.
The Alhambra is one of the star of this city. The ancient Arab fortress is the city’s symbol, sitting on top of a hill overlooking the city. It used to be the residence of the Nasrid sultans, which is why you will find several Nasrid palaces. These palaces are a must-see, with murals and fountains. Get lost in the tiled courtyards and patios decorated with fragrant plants and pools reflecting the buildings. After the palaces, head to the Generalife and its gardens, which are located on the Cerro del Sol Hill.
Spend an afternoon in the Albaycin.
The neighbourhood of Albaycin is another must see. It is considered to be one of the most ancient districts in Granada, together with the gypsy Sacramento district. These two distrcit are filled with bars, restaurants and some flamenco bars where you will be able to listen to authentic Andalusian music and watch the dances.
Take a walk around the Cathedral area.
When walking around the city center, you will find many whitewashed house lining cobblestone streets. North of the river Darro stands the Cathedral, a large building that was built on the site of a main mosque. Check out the inside of the Cathedral, where you will find many chapels filled with flowers and decorated with sculptures of saints. The most famous chapel is the Royal Chapel, the place where the Catholic Kings Isabel and Ferdinand are buried.
Take a tapas tour.
Another way to discover the city of Granada is to take a tapas tour around the city. Tapas are appetizers that can be found in most of the city’s bars, accompanying a variety of drinks. Granada is not only known for its architecture and its history- its variety and generous size of tapas is known all around Spain. Head to the University district and the Albaycin for authentic Andalusian dishes. Some of the most typical tapas are meatballs albóndigas, tortilla de patata potato omelet, gambas al pil-pil shrimps fried in olive oil with cloves of garlic and calamares fritos deep fried squid.
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The place is filled with wonders
The part about the tapas being extra generous in Granada surprised me—I’d always heard that about the south of Spain, but it was wild getting a free plate of food with every drink. We ended up just bar-hopping in the Albaycin for dinner one night and barely spent anything.
The part about the tapas in the University district really brought me back—I remember ordering a drink and getting a plate of patatas bravas that was almost a full meal. Definitely the best way to explore the city on a budget.
The tapas tour part got me—Granada really does give you free food with every drink, which is unheard of in most of Spain. I remember stuffing myself on albóndigas and tortilla in the Albaycin and barely spending anything. Wish I’d known about the beach option too, but the mountains were a solid trade-off.