Granada On a Budget
Granada, Spain
Sights
The most famous and most alluring sight of Granada is the Alhambra, a medieval complex that overlooks the city. The hilltop fortress spans a massive area, encompassing royal palaces, serene patios, and reflecting pools from the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the fountains and orchards of the Generalife gardens. Existing as the last Moorish stronghold in Europe, the Alhambra reflects the splendor of Moorish civilization in Andalusia giving visitors an inside look of the area's history. A breathtaking example of ornamental architecture, the complex is also home to the Palace of Charles V which now houses Alhambra Museum (with historical artifacts from the site) and the Fine Art Museum.Down below in Granada itself there exist more inspiring sights like the Cathedral Granada with Gothic-Renaissance-Baroque foundations, the Royal Chapel with the tombs of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, the historic and picturesque square Plaza de Bib-Rambla, as well as the Plaza Nueva the city's oldest square. Another interesting sight is the Alcaiceria, a set of winding alleyways which were originally home to a Moorish silk market under Granada's Muslim rule. Today the market holds mostly souvenir stores underneath the Moorish-style archways decorating the walls.
Plenty of other things to see and do can be found in this dynamic city, as it's not just all about the main attractions. Check out this guide to non-touristy things to see in Granada for more details and things to see (such as the secret gardens).
Neighborhoods
Oriented around the intersection of Gran Via de Colon and Calle Reyes Catolicos, central Granada is the historic center and bustling heart of the city. With its many shops, restaurants, bars, and attractions, the city center is a hub for activity. Many of the buildings are situated along narrow cobblestone and brick alleys or on the edge of one of the picturesque plazas in the area, which all add a certain charm as you go about your day. Walking through the streets, the sights, smells, and sounds will take you into a world of superb architecture, good food, and friendly faces with local hospitality. As far as shopping goes, ceramics, silver, and inlaid woodwork are just some of the most famous craft products from Granada. Many traditional shops selling items like these are located along the streets of the city center.Activities
The gem of the city in Granada is the architecture, and one could spend days exploring the fortresses, castles, cathedrals, and cobbled streets. It is evident everywhere you go, even in amidst the modern bustle of shops, bars, and restaurants. Needless to say, sight-seeing and shopping can occupy much of a visit.Another unique attraction of Granada includes Aquaola, a local water park with man-made wave pool, slides, and large floats. At la Plaza de Villacantoria, visitors can take the #3 bus to get to the park.
The Hammam Arab Baths, near Plaza Nueva, are another one-of-a-kind activity to engage in during your stay. Though it is a modern spa with affordable baths and massages available, the ambiance and decorations of the place reflect the ancient Muslim baths in Granada.
Finally, if you're a thrill-seeker looking for some traditional action in the Spanish city, try catching a show at the Plaza de Toros de Granada, Granada's bullfighting ring.
Food and Dining
Tapas, tapas, tapas! Granada is known for serving the tasty bites free with any drink order, making it super affordable to taste your way around the city. Lunch is generally 13:00 to 16:00 (1pm-4pm), and the dinner starts from 20:00 (8pm) to the late hours of the night. Because of siesta, where most shops and businesses close for the afternoon, locals are accustomed to having dinner very late. Tapas bars can generally be found on Navas and Sarabia streets near the Town Hall, the Albaicín neighbourhood, around the bullring, or in Plaza Bib-rambla. Because the city is near the Sierra Nevada ski resort and the Costa del Sol, where tropical fruit is grown, the traditional cuisine of Granada has an exotic touch, with deep Moorish roots. Fish from the sea, country dishes from the Alpujarra, and delicious produce from vegetable gardens in the area also add a unique flair to Granada cuisine.Transportation
By plane, Granada has a small airport situated 12km (half an hour with normal traffic) west of the city which serves a limited number of flights. For budget airlines it is best to fly into nearby Malaga. Iberia provides daily flights to and from Madrid. Vueling operates budget flights to and from Barcelona, Rome and Paris airports.Regular buses run from Seville, Malaga, Madrid, and Cordoba as well as a few direct services to the port of Algeciras. Malaga is well serviced by buses and is a good place to transfer if a direct service is not available. The bus station is located about 2 miles from the city center.
Three trains run each day on a picturesque line to Algeciras via Antequera and Ronda. Granada is also on a stop on a line between Almeria and Seville, with four trains daily. There are also two daily trains to Madrid via Cordoba, one or two daily to Barcelona via Linares-Baeza and Valencia, and one to Linares-Baeza. For Malaga, take the Algeciras train to Bobadilla and change to a Malaga-bound train there.
The train station is well served by local bus service.
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Train and Bus Prices
The best prices for buses and trains in Spain can be found on Omio (formerly GoEuro). They let you search across all train, bus, and plane routes throughout the region.
