Today we're going to be...tour guides!

THE FIVE "W"s

The Alhambra and Generalife

• Who? Everyone. Whether you're interested in history or not, it's still worth a visit for the amazing views over the city and of the Sierra mountains. 

• What? The Alhambra, meaning “the red one” in arabic, is a palace-fortress with a complicated history that Jeremy Kyle wouldn’t even be able to handle. It has been home to Nasrids, Sultans and the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. Generalife, a simple but spectacular structure, was the summer house that the last Nasrid family used to reside in during the hottest months of the year and has some of the nicest gardens ever. Despite being close to the Alhambra, it was considered to be outside of the city, so visitors would take a horse and carriage over. Lazy buggars. 

• Where? It's quite a steep uphill walk to the Alhambra from the centre and takes around 15 minutes. However, if the weather's a bit crumby or you're not able to walk, there's a red bus (C30) that takes you up there for 1,40 euros.

• When? Although it’d be best to visit in drier months, it’s still amazing in the rain or when you’re dying of dehydration because it’s about a million degrees. If you buy tickets, they’ll state your access times. 

• Why? It is such a significant part of Granada’s history that it would be rude to ignore it. Book in advance! We bought tickets over a month before we visited, it sells out super fast. But don’t worry, if you don’t fancy paying stupid prices there are parts that are free to access.

The Cathedral and the Capilla Real

• Who? If you love history and culture, this one’s for you. 

• What? Granada Cathedral, built on the site of a mosque, is an impressive and grand cathedral in the Spanish Renaissance style. It was built by an Italian architect, who changed the style from Gothic to Renaissance because it was more in fashion in Italy. Typical Italians, huh? It costs 5 euros to enter the Cathedral (or 3,5 euros for students!) with a free audio guide.The Capilla Real, or the Royal Chapel, is a chapel where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, along with many of their family, are buried. This is a 5 euro flat rate to enter the Royal Chapel. However, this website (https://entradasgratuitas.diocesisgranada.es/) often gives free entry to monuments in Granada, so keep checking back to see if the Cathedral pops up!

• Where? Just off the Gran Vía de Colon street, you can access it through the ornate gates and down the steps.

• When? Both are open from 10-6:30 from Monday to Saturday, though they tend to be quieter on weekdays.

• Why? It's not just for nuns. While big religious buildings filled with shushing priests and disapproving nuns might not normally be at the top of your list, the stunning architecture in both the Cathedral and the Capilla Real are a must-see for anyone visiting the city.

Banuelo

• Who? Those with a love for Arab history and a bit of an imagination (when the iPads don’t work…)

• What? These Arab baths from 11th century are still amazingly preserved and, with the help of iPads, you can see what each room would have looked like when they were actually in use. 

• Where? The Banuelo is located on Carrera del Darro, near Plaza Nueva, but the door is tucked away and easy to miss. 

• When? Entry is free on a Sunday, but any other day it costs 2,5 euros. 

• Why? It’s amazing to see how the Arab architecture has stood the test of time, and if you’re not so bothered about that, there’s a great place for a photoshoot right outside.

Carrera del Darro, Paseo de los Tristes and Plaza Nueva

• Who? If you’re partial to eating, drinking, shopping or wandering, and who isn’t, these streets are for you.

• What? Plaza Nueva is one of the oldest squares in Granada. It’s a great place to enjoy a beer or coffee, or have a meal in one of the restaurants. Carrera del Darro is one of the oldest streets in Granada. Wander alongside the river (made less romantic by narrowly avoiding getting run over by buses and taxis) and admire the bridges, tapas bars and little souvenir shops which it has to offer, leading down to Paseo de los Tristes (nice segue there…). From this street you can see the Alhambra from below, whilst enjoying a meal in one of the affordable restaurants that it has to offer. 

• Where? All three places are located in the centre of Granada. You can take many buses including C1, C2 and SN4. It’s also nice to wander in from the commercial shopping side, a short walk up Calle Reyes Católicos.

• When? Although they are more lively on an evening, they’re perfect for an afternoon stroll or a mid-morning beer!

• Why? Your Instagram game could be upped exponentially, as well as satisfying your tastebuds and relaxing until you’re horizontal.

Corral del Carbón

• Who? The Corral del Carbón is another one for you architecture and history nerds like us.

• What? This hidden gem is the oldest Arab monument left in Granada. It used to be a shelter for goods sellers (and a warehouse for said goods), but when the Christians conquered, it became a place for performances. There is also a small museum at the back, filled with artefacts, maps, and paintings. And the best part is, you can visit all of this for free!

• Where? You can find it just off Calle Reyes Católicos, almost opposite H&M.

• When? It’s open every day from 9-7, a perfect way to spend half an hour on a lazy Sunday when not much else is open.

• Why? Why not! It’s an important building in Granada’s history and, although understated, is quite impressive in both architecture and history.

Albaicín and Sacromonte

• Who? There’s another steep uphill climb if you want to visit Albaicín or Sacromonte, but never fear! If you’re not an avid walker, you can catch the red C32 bus from the centre.

• What? Albaicín is the old Arab quarter. Take an afternoon to meander through its tranquil, narrow streets and you will feel like you’ve been transported into another world. Sacromonte is the Gypsy quarter; gypsies settled in Granada in the 18th century and still remain today.

• Where? Once in Albaicín, it’s enough to get lost in the streets and happen upon breathtaking views and small, friendly bars, however we would recommend Mirador de San Nicolás, a popular viewpoint overlooking the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains. In Sacromonte, seeing all the cave houses which still remain is interesting, however if you want to learn more about the history of cave houses, we urge you to visit the cave museum.

• When? The sunset from Mirador de San Nicolás is a must-see if you are in Granada. If a bustling vibe is what you’re looking for, visit Sacromonte on an evening. That is, the Spanish definition of evening, we’re talking after 10pm!

• Why? These locations really capture the diverse influences that Granada has to offer.

Flamenco Show

• Who? Flamenco music and dance is typical of the region of Andalucía so it would be a crime not to see one whilst in Granada.

• What? If you’ve never heard flamenco music before, you’re in for a real treat. Although most of the shows in the city centre are aimed at tourists, the music and dance is still as authentic as it would be in a cave in Sacromonte. Be prepared to experience an hour of wails, stomps and claps like you’ve never seen it before.

• Where? Los Jardínes de Zoraya is our favourite spot, but have a scout around the centre for other good offers.

• When? This particular restaurant has two shows a night: one at 8PM and one at 10:30.

• Why? Going to a flamenco show is a perfect excuse to get your glad-rags on and feel cultured as heck.

Monachil and the Sierra Nevada mountains

• Who? The avid walkers among you will adore exploring the mountains. The route we chose was supposedly the 'easy route' and we crawled under rocks, clung onto walls and were covered in bruises so bare this in mind if you choose to take on the challenge!

• What? As you may have read in one of our first blog posts, we went for a lovely mountain and waterfall walk, and despite our complaints and aching bodies, we absolutely loved exploring the nature around Monachil! We didn't get to see much of the village, but from what we saw it was picturesque and there were some lovely cafes.

• Where? Monachil is located just outside of the city of Granada, around 20 minutes away by bus. The 183 (or 181 on a Sunday) bus from Paseo de los Basilios will take you right to the village!

• When? We definitely recommend visiting during the end of September/October for a nice walk when it’s cooler. Pro tip: be sure to check the bus timetable for the last bus, or risk walking around 30 minutes to the next village, with a group of strangers...

• Why? If you need a break from the city and want to be in the fresh air, check out the Los Cahorros walk!

Cartuja Monastery

• Who? As with the cathedral, the Cartuja Monastery isn’t just for religious folk. Anyone who can appreciate stunning architecture or ‘religious bling’ is in for a treat.

• What? It is still a working monastery, but for a small fee (there’s student discount) you can pay to visit the courtyard, dining hall filled with beautiful paintings, and the chapel with its ornate sacristy. There’s also a free audio guide which is informative and not too long.

• Where? The monastery is located a few miles out of the city centre, but the U3 bus can take you right there, or you can get a taxi from the city centre.

• When? It’s open from 10-8 every day except Saturday, when it’s closed for a two hour siesta between 1 and 3.

• Why? When you’re fed up of the cathedral, this monastery makes a nice change.

We hope you've enjoyed reading about our favourite places, be sure to let us know if you get the chance to visit them!

Annie & Rebeka