This has got to be one of the best weekend city breaks around.
It is easy to get to from a wide range of European airports.
This is always a good start as it does away with a long drive to begin your break and it also cuts down costs. Of course some may be coming from much further afield so it is a good idea to do a 2 or 3 centre break.
There are also many European coach tours, which visit all the main cities in Andalucia.
If you are looking for good Europe travel guides it is always best to spend time searching around the Internet and using the online tools to build your own break.
Granada is a spectacular city as it is built around the high point of the Alhambra.
This ancient citadel is the main reason most people initially plan their visit to Granada and it is not a disappointment. It is also much larger than most people realise.
There are a few things to consider when planning your visit to the Alhambra.
The best advice is to buy your tickets on line before you go, as the queues are invariably long and the numbers per session are limited so if you are in the queue and the limit is reached you have queued for nothing.
Also it is quite a climb to reach the entrance as you would expect, but there are buses from the centre of Granada.
It is impossible to describe fully how wonderful the Alhambra is.
It has streets and shops, hotels and a palace besides the pools and gardens it is famous for.
The Generalife gardens are a must see but they are a little way from the centre of the Alcazar.
Some of the more famous areas i.e. the Nazareen Palace will have a timed entrance on your ticket and it is important to stick to this.
Wear comfy shoes, as there is a lot of walking.
There are also night visits, which usually mean you can be there for sunset.
If the Alhambra were the only reason to visit Granada it would be worth going, but as with so may cities they have diverse attractions. For example the Cathedral is spectacular and it is where the tombs are of Ferdinand and Isabella who conquered Granada in 1492. Also, as with many Cathedrals there is plenty of wonderful art and artefacts so allow plenty of time for your visit.
It is an excellent city for walking around, as it is not too big.
There are lots of narrow streets or ‘calles’ with Tapas bars which are an especially good way to start off an evening, which by the way could be a trip to the caves to experience the Flamenco.
How would you like to enjoy Granada calles strolling?
I can’t imagine many answering ‘no’.
The city has so much to offer. You may just visit when the Medieval market is on when the whole of the square in front of the Cathedral looks, for a short while as though it has slipped back 500 years. There are spit roasts, stalls selling crafts brought in by the people who have actually made the jewellery, food etc that they are selling. There are stalls selling toys of the period and a group of musicians playing medieval instruments stroll around the market.
Unless you want to travel outside Granada a weekend is just the right length for a first visit and if you fall ‘under its spell’ you can always return.
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