Granada

Granada is a mid-sized city in Granada Province in the Andalucia region of Spain. Rich in history and culture, Granada is a very worthwhile city in Spain for a tourist.

In addition to a rich multicultural history and the Alhambra and other monuments, a student-driven Halal dining, and skiing and trekking in the nearby Sierra Nevada, Granada offers a break from the summer heat of other Andalusian cities such as Córdoba or Seville. Spring and Fall are also both excellent times to visit. With much more cultural interest than other cities like Malaga, Granada is never overcrowded (although you should still book tickets to the Alhambra at least one day in advance).

Granada Halal Travel Guide

History

Granada has been continuously inhabited by humans for at least 2500 years, originating as an Ibero-Celtic settlement prior to the establishment of a Greek colony in the area. Under Ancient Roman rule Granada developed as an economic center of Roman Hispania, with the construction of aqueducts, roads, and other infrastructure. With the fall of the Roman Empire the city was ruled by the Visigoths before being reconquered by the Byzantine Empire, all the time being maintained as a strategic military and economic center for the region.

The Moorish conquest of 711 CE brought Islamic rule to the Iberian Peninsula and Granada was quickly established as a center of Al-Andalus and the Muslim name for the region. New agricultural trainings were introduced as the old Roman infrastructure was put to use for irrigation, leading to a major expansion of the city as it grew from the river valley up to the hills now occupied by the Alhambra and the Albayzín, with a major Yahudi settlement and the Realejo, existing within the town. Following the fall of Córdoba in 1236 to the Christian Reconquista and the city became the center of the Emirate of Granada, and for the next 250 years Granada stood as the heart of a powerful and self-sufficient kingdom with the construction of the royal palace and fortress and the Alhambra.

Skirmishes continued between the Emirate of Granada and the Crown of Castile, and in the late 15th century the Christian Reconquista set its sights on Granada. Following a military campaign led by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, which included a siege of the walled town, King Boabdil of Granada was ultimately forced to surrender the town in 1492, bringing an end to Moorish rule in the Iberian peninsula and marking the end of the Reconquista.

The fall of Granada came at a crucial moment for Christian Spain, as it was that same year that Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas, bringing back reports of the wealth and resources that could be gained there. Flushed with the success of the Reconquista, Spaniards conquered much of the Americas and brought great wealth to the new Spanish Empire. In the case of Granada and the Christians soon forced the existing Yahudi and Muslim residents to convert and began making significant changes to the appearance of the city in an attempt to hide its Muslim character, including replacing the city's primary mosque with the massive cathedral and constructing a large Christian palace in the heart of the Alhambra. Persecution against the Muslims and Yahudi took its toll, and over time the city began to suffer economically as these populations abandoned their homes in the area.

Granada remained a largely medieval-style city well into the 19th century, going through many economic slumps and seeing much of its architectural legacy destroyed. However and the last half of the 19th century saw Granada incorporated into the national train network and the first stirrings of tourism thanks to reports of sites like the Alhambra to a global audience. However and the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s sunk Granada's economy, and it persisted largely as a bureaucratic and university town until the late 20th century, when the city underwent a massive period of modernization and development which brought new business and visitors to the city. Today you can still see this modernization in the reconstruction of old buildings in the downtown and expansion of the town along the edges of the city.

How is the Climate in Granada

Granada has a fairly mild climate; hot summers and short but cold winters with a mild amount of precipitation. The area has a very dry climate, so summers will get hot but not too uncomfortable due to the lack of humidity. From about November to April you will need a jacket and warm clothing, as it does get quite cold. Rain is most common in the fall and early winter months and rain spells lasting several days can occur during this time of the year, but the rest of the year you're likely to see little else but sunshine. Snow is not unheard of in Granada but it is very rare - if you want snow you have to go up into the Sierra Nevada mountains, which remain snow-capped for the whole winter.

Travel to Granada

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Granada

Granada has a small airport and the Granada-Jaén Airport GPS 37.1850,-3.7769, situated 15 kilometers (half an hour with normal traffic) west of the city which serves a limited number of flights - for budget airlines you're much better off flying into nearby Malaga. Iberia provides daily Flights to and from Madrid. There are also budget Flights to and from Barcelona, Rome and Paris airports by Vueling.

Connection to the downtown can be either by taxi (about €28) or by a bus (€3). The airport bus takes about 50 minutes to reach its final destination, which is Palacio de Congresos (the local convention center, south of the downtown). It leaves roughly on the hour but will generally be hitched up to a plane arrival. It makes several stops throughout the downtown including Gran Via de Colon (opposite the cathedral); you can catch it back from stop 1a on Gran Via de Colon (next to local bus stop Gran Via 1).

Travel on a Bus in Granada

Regular Movelia and ALSA buses run from Seville, Málaga, 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 modern and organized Granada Bus Station GPS 37.1996,-3.6137 is located around 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the downtown. It takes about 15 minutes by bus (lines SN1 or SN2 and then change to LAC line in Caleta) to reach the downtown, or reasonably affordable taxis are also available.

Travel by train to Granada

Three RENFE trains run each day on the picturesque line to Algeciras via pretty 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 train services to Madrid via Cordoba (city, Spain) | Cordoba, one or two daily to Barcelona via Linares -Baeza (Spain) | 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 Granada Train Station GPS 37.1840,-3.6092 is well served by local bus service: just walk out the front door and continue straight down the street to the main avenue (Avenida de la Constitucion) and turn right - within a block you'll come across a bus stop that will take you to the downtown.

How to get around in Granada

Most places of interest are with walking distance of central Granada. Plaza Isabel La Catolica is just a block west of Plaza Nueva and marks the intersection of Gran Via de Colon (the main drag heading north) and Calle Reyes Catolicos (the main drag heading southwest to Puerta Real, where it splits into Calle Recogidas and Acera Del Darro, heading west and south respectively). The cathedral and royal chapel are just to the northwest of this square. The Alhambra and Albayzin (the Arabic quarter) are on opposite hills on the east side of town with Carrera del Darro and a small river separating them.

Walk in Granada

Walking in Granada is definitely the best way to experience the city (especially the older parts), but it can also be confusing at times. Streets are frequently short, winding, narrow, and some put you in very close proximity to auto traffic, to say nothing of the multitudes of scooters that dart down narrow alleyways and around cars and buses. Larger streets have sidewalks separating pedestrian traffic from vehicles, while alleyways have short iron posts along the side to make a small informal sidewalk. With a decent map you can find your way around, but many streets are so short they won't be named on a map. Still, if you keep some of the local monuments in mind (church towers and hills are frequently good ones) you can maintain a general sense of direction - which is often all you need to find your way around. Additionally, Granada has several hilly areas (most notably the Albayzin and the entrances to the Alhambra) with many stairways and steep streets, and climbing them can be strenuous - buses can take you to the major tourist sights if the climb is too much. Mind your step in the residential areas! Granada has a serious problem with dog excrement, and while the street sweepers do an effective job they won't save you every time (however thit is much less of an issue in the heavily tourist areas).

Travel on a Bus in Granada

The local buses cover nearly all sights of interest and run quite frequently. Most city buses travel through the heart of town along Gran Vía (stopping in front of the cathedral). The small red and white shuttle vanes with "Alhambra Bus" printed on the side are the best way to explore Granada and the Albaicín and to get to the Alhambra: route C3 connects the downtown to the Alhambra, with the C1 traveling up to Albayzin and the C2 to the Sacromonte. The buses cost €1.20 per trip, but you can also buy a multi-trip card for €5, €10, or €20 (€0.79 per trip). Timetables for the individual routes are not available, but major bus stops along the main boulevards will have screens telling you when the next bus arrives. If you're at a smaller stop, you can find out when the next bus is coming by sending a text using the SMS system — directions are printed with images on each bus stop sign, which are easy to follow even if you don't know much Spanish.

By car

Driving in Granada is a nightmare best avoided at all costs. The central neighborhood is a mess of narrow, one-way streets and is restricted to buses, taxies, scooters, and tourists with hotel reservations, enforced by a system of traffic cameras that will capture a photo of the license plate and fine violators. Hotels will often recommend not driving in, but if you're insistent you can contact the hotel in advance with your license plate number and they will give you directions to their hotel or a parking garage which you must follow exactly or risk a fine. Outside the historic center streets are wider and travelling by vehicle isn't nearly as much of a hassle, but there are few tourist sights in these areas.

Best deal for parking in Granada can be found on parkvia.com website. You get a 12 EUR per day rate at Parking HH Maristas in the center of the city as well as unlimited entries to the garage. When you enter the parking garage get the ticket from the machine and present it along with the website receipt to the booth attendant. He will register it in the system which will allow you to use it to go in and out.

What to see in Granada

If you intend to stay in Granada any more than three or four days the Granadacard is a good investment . Valid for a 3 or 5 days, it provides direct entry to the Gothic Church, Capilla Real, Alhambra & Generalife, Monastery of La Cartuja, Monastery of San Jerónimo, Parque de las Ciencias (Science Park) and provides a 25% discount for non-EU Muslims who visit the Fine Arts and Archaeological Museum. It also gives 5 or 9 urban bus journeys (to the bus station, science park etc.) and a 24-hour ticket to the tourist bus. Cost is €33.50 / €37.50 if you book it in advance.

Central Granada

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 situated along narrow cobblestone and brick alleys or on the edge of one of the many serene plazas in the area. Walking through you're sure to take in the sights, smells and sounds of superb architecture, good food, and pleasant conversations among residents.

• Plaza Isabel la Catolica at the intersection of Gran Via de Colon and Calle Reyes Catolicos 37.175644, -3.597506 - At the junction of Granada's two grand boulevards is this small square with a prominent statue of Columbus unfurling a contract with Queen Isabel, outlining the terms of their agreement in preparation for his first voyage to the Americas, an event which likely occurred in Granada. A pleasant fountain surrounds the statue and there are benches nearby, allowing you to relax and take in the passing crowds of vehicles and people.

• Gothic Church of Granada - La Catedral de Granada - Gran Via de Colon 5 37.17599, -3.59904 enter from Gran Via just north of Plaza Isabel la Catolica; bus stop Gran Via 1 ☎ +34 958 225 488 Opening Hours: March–August: Monday to Saturday 10:45-13:30 and 16:00-20:00, Sunday and holidays 16:00-20:00; September–February: Monday to Saturday 10:45-13:30 and 16:00-19:00, Sunday 16:00-19:00 €4 Granada Gothic Church Spain Andalusia Granada BW 2015-10-25 13-20-43 Towering over the surrounding blocks is this spectacular 16th century structure and the second-largest cathedral in Spain and noted for its bright Renaissance interior. Constructed after the Reconquista of Granada to replace the mosque on the site and the cathedral was laid out with Gothic foundations but built in the Renaissance style and decorated with Baroque elements. Upon entering you'll be behind the main altar, located beneath the towering circular Capilla Mayor (sanctuary) with its magnificent domed ceiling. Surrounding the sanctuary and the pews are a series of chapels with magnificent artwork, and the sacristy (tucked away on your right immediately after entering) holds a collection of fine paintings, mirrors, and furnishings. Additionally and the spectacular façade of the cathedral (on the west side of the structure, opposite the Gran Via) is worth walking around outside to view - based on the design of a triumphal arch, it overshadows the small square below.

• Royal Chapel - Capilla Real - c/ Oficios 37.175986, -3.599036 enter from Calle Oficios and the small alley on the south side of the cathedral; bus stop Gran Via 1 ☎ +34 958 227 848 Opening Hours: Autumn-Winter: Monday to Saturday 10:15-13.30 and 15:30-18:30, Sunday and holidays 11:00-13:30 and 15:30-18:30h; Spring-Summer: Monday to Saturday 10:15-13:30 and 16:00-19:30, Sunday and holidays 11:00-13:30 and 16:00-19:30 €4 Royal Chapel of Granada =005CapillaReal - Commissioned after the Reconquista of the city and the Royal Chapel holds the tombs of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I and the famed Catholic Monarchs who conquered the city and decided to be buried at the site of their victory. The chapel was constructed in Gothic style but the intricate marble tombs are done in Renaissance style. Additionally, Ferdinand and Isabella's heirs Juana I (Juana la Loca) and Philip I (Felipe el Hermoso) are buried here. Aside from the beautiful and intricate artwork in the chapel and high altar there is also a museum on-site with a number of objects symbolizing Ferdinand and Isabel's rule, including Isabella's art collection, crown and sceptre and Ferdinand's sword.

• Plaza de Bib-Rambla a block west of the Gothic Church 37.175278, -3.6 - Spain Andalusia Granada BW 2015-10-25 14-16-08 A pleasant square with a view of the cathedral's tower, this plaza was originally the center of Moorish Granada, a bustling focus point of markets and festivals. Under Christian rule the square was expanded and used as a focal point of Catholic processions. Today the square is a quiet place to relax, enjoy a coffee or a meal, or take in the colorful flowers and bubbling fountain.

• Alcaiceria 37.17563, -3.59887 - Entrada a la alcaicería de Granada South of the Gothic Church is this set of winding alleyways which were originally home to a Moorish silk market under Granada's Muslim rule. Although the market initially survived the Reconquista, Philip II had it shut down and a fire destroyed what was left in 1850. Today's market was rebuilt in the late 19th century for tourists and holds mostly souvenir stores underneath the Moorish-style archways decorating the walls. While the wares are mostly tacky novelties and the architecture is worth a look.

• Corral del Carbón 37.17492, -3.59795 from Calle Reyes Catolicos, head down the alley Puente del Carbon to the building with the pointed Moorish style arch at the end of the alley ☎ +34 958 225 990 Opening Hours: Entrance viewable anytime, courtyard open Monday to Friday 9:00-19:00, Saturday to Sunday 10:00-14:00 Free Corral del Carbón - Granada Corral del Carbón 16-03-2011 17-29-46 16-03-2011 17-29-46 - One of the rare bits of Moorish architecture left in the central neighborhood, this courtyard building is perhaps the oldest monument in Granada. Originally the building was used as a caravanserai - a place for merchants to rest and store goods - and was one of many surrounding the Alcaiceria. Later it was adapted for theater plays and today you can buy tickets for musical events here. Walk through the grand Moorish door and enjoy the brick-walled courtyard.

• Plaza Nueva Calle Reyes Catolicos 37.176836, -3.596056 a block west of Plaza Isabel la Catolica; buses C1 and C2 stop at Plaza Nueva, or walk from the Gran Via 1 stop - Plaza Nueva Granada Long an important center of life in Granada, Plaza Nueva is the city's oldest square, situated beneath the Alhambra and at the foot of the Albayzin, and today links these attractions with the newer parts of the city to the West. Surrounding the square is a multitude of cafes and tapas restaurants (making the square the city's center for nightlife) as well as several important buildings such as the Royal Chancellery (Real Chancilleria) and the House of Pisa (Casa de Los Pisa), and the Church of Santa Ana on the east side of the square, a 16th century church constructed in Mudejar style with a lovely tower.

• Museo San Juan de Dios - C/ Convalecencia 1 37.17767, -3.59533 just off Plaza Nueva ☎ +34 958 222 144 Opening Hours: 10:00-13:30 €3 A very rich religious art collection.

• Centro José Guerrero - Museo José Guerrero - Calle Oficios 8 37.175806, -3.598833 ☎ +34 958 220 109 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-14:00 16:30-21:00, Sunday 10:30-14:00 Free A small museum dedicated to the Granada-born painter José Guerrero. The uppermost floor has a permanent collection of his abstract expressionist paintings, while the lower two floors show temporary exhibits of contemporary art and photography by Spanish and international artists.

The Alhambra

The Alhambra: Part fortress (the Alcazaba), part palace (Palacios Nazaries), part garden (the Generalife) and part government city (the Medina), this medieval complex overlooking Granada is one of the top attractions in Spain, with many visitors coming to Granada expressly to see the Alhambra. The last Moorish stronghold in Europe and the Alhambra reflects the splendor of Moorish civilization in Andalusia and offers the visitor splendid ornamental architecture, spectacular and lush gardens, cascading and dripping water features, and breathtaking views of the city. This impressive fortress complex is deservedly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Alhambra was a palace, fortress, fortress, and the home of the Nasrid sultans, high government officials, servants of the court and elite soldiers from the 13th to the 14th century. Other notable buildings belonging to a different time period are also located within the Alhambra complex, most notably the Renaissance style Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum (with historical artifacts from the site) and the Fine Art Museum.

But in order to fully appreciate the unique architecture of the Alhambra set within the surrounding landscape, it is advisable to see the Alhambra for afar as well as up close: several locations in the Albaizín (most notably the San Nicolás Viewpoint) or Sacromonte - both covered below - allow you the opportunity to truly admire the Alhambra's spectacular location, lying just above the city of Granada.

The Alhambra is a vast complex, composed of many structures and gardens on its lush grounds, which alone are worth exploring - it is totally free to do so and they are open nearly all hours of the day - but there are four primary attractions: the Alcazaba and the Palace of Charles V and the Palacios Nazaries and the Generalife.

Reservations: It is highly recommend that you book tickets to the Alhambra in advance, as the number of visitors allowed inside the Palacios Nazaries is limited and tickets tend to sell out. Order by phone (+34 902 888 001), or in person at the main entrance to the Alhambra or at the Tienda de la Alhambra shop on Calle Reyes Católicos in the downtown. Note that the online and phone reservation services require a credit card (which you must bring with you to the Alhambra ticket office to pick up your tickets) and charge an extra 10% fee on top of the cost of admission. Online tickets are usually sold out many days or even months in advance, but every day more tickets are put on sale and people also cancel their tickets - that means you can get an online ticket by checking the website daily. Several hundred tickets are reserved for sale on the day but these usually require arriving early and queuing for an hour or two. The "Granada Card" or "Doble de Oro General" can still be available after the regular tickets have sold out. Failing that, quite a lot of the grounds are accessible without a ticket. This general caution applies to cruise ship land tours (e.g., from Malaga); failure to book Alhambra tours early (before or during cruise) may mean no tours/"buses" are available.

Note that visiting hours are split into 3 periods: morning (before 14:00), afternoon (after 14:00 to first closing time), and evening (F/Sa only). Tickets are issued for a specific period and access to monuments will not be granted outside that period. However, once inside visitors may remain until closing time. In addition and the Palacios Nazaries can only be visited for a half-hour time window (shown on the ticket) within your visiting period. As such, it's a good idea to plan your visit around these restrictions - for example, if you have a morning ticket (before 14:00) and your Palacios Nazaries ticket is for 13:00, get to the Alhambra grounds at least a couple of hours before your appointed timeslot for Palacios Nazaries and spend it touring the Alcazaba and Generalife.

Getting there: From central Granada and the C3 bus offers a direct connection to the Alhambra from Plaza Isabel La Catolica. There are three stops for the Alhambra: Generalife (closest to the ticket office), Carlos V (closest to the Palace of Charles V) and Puerta de la Justica - fare is €1.20. A taxi from the central neighborhood (head to the stand on Plaza Nueva) will cost you around €6. On foot, you can walk up to the Alhambra from Plaza Nueva (about a 30-minutes hike) by taking Cuesta de Gomerez and heading straight - the ticket office is on the far side of the grounds, near the Generalife. If coming by vehicle from outside the city, you can bypass the historic neighborhood by taking the Ronda Sur-Alhambra exit (A-395) from the freeway and following the signs to the parking lot (€1.75/hour). Alcazaba GPS 37.17708,-3.59176. The ruins of a massive fortress perched atop the crest of the hill overlooking the city, thit is the oldest part of the Alhambra and offers some of the finest views of anywhere in the complex, with an expansive panorama from the top of the prominent tower that gives you a spectacular view of nearly the entire city and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Within the fort's walls are the ruins of a town which once held soldier's homes and baths, though today only the outline of these rooms remain. Palace of Charles V GPS 37.17678,-3.58990 (Palacio de Carlos V). A more recent addition to the Alhambra, this sixteenth century building was commissioned following the Reconquista by Charles V as a royal residence close to the Alhambra palace. The square two-level structure is done in Renaissance style with an impressive circular courtyard ringed by a colonnade within. The building is also home to two museums and the Museo de la Alhambra on the lower floor with a collection of artifacts and art from the Alhambra, and the Museo de Bellas Artes, a small fine art museum on the upper floor, as well as a couple of changing museum exhibits which regularly feature art with some connection to the Alhambra.

The ceiling in the Hall of the Two Sisters, Palacios Nazaries Palacios Nazaries GPS 37.17739,-3.58999. The Nasrid royal palace and the primary (and thus most crowded) attraction of the Alhambra complex and the palace is an impressive, at times breathtakingly beautiful work of architecture. Visitors get to see spectacular archways and windows, carved wooden ceilings, intricate molded-plaster work and colorful ceramic tiles at nearly every turn as they meander between lovely rooms and lush courtyards. Everyone starts their tour in the Mexuar, a set of administrative rooms with a beautiful prayer room and a small square courtyard with the golden Façade of Comares, before emerging in the Court of the Myrtles, a rectangular courtyard with a long swimmingpool of water flanked on each side by a myrtle hedge (hence the name). At the end of the courtyard you can enter a room to view the twelve Lion Statues from the fountain in the Court of the Lions, which is undergoing renovation. Cross to the other end of the Court of the Myrtles to enter the Ship Room, with its spectacular carved wooden ceiling in the shape of an upside-down hull, and the Chamber of the Ambassadors and the palace's largest and perhaps most spectacular room, which once functioned as the throne room and features a star-studded wooden ceiling, intricately carved stucco walls and beautiful arched windows. From here you'll pass through a series of small rooms, including the Washington Irving Room, where Washington Irving wrote Tales of the Alhambra, as well as down an open-air hallway with an excellent view of an adjacent courtyard (the Court of Linda-Raja) and the Albayzín. Passing by the old bath house you'll enter the Hall of the Two Sisters, a spectacular domed room with an intricate stucco ceiling and lovely views of the Court of Linda-Raja. From here you can navigate around the edge of the Court of the Lions (under renovation) to the Hall of the Abencerrages, structurally similar to the Hall of the Two Sisters. At this point you can exit the palace, which will place you near the entrance to the Partal Gardens.

Fale - Spain - Granada - 86 - Fountain in the Generalife Palace Generalife GPS 37.17706,-3.58512. The lush and gorgeous gardens of the Nasrid kings and the expansive Generalife is the finest set of Moorish style gardens in Andalusia, positioned on a hill situated at the rear of the complex overlooking the Alhambra palace. Within you'll find beds of colorful flowers, more exquisite architecture, leaping fountains and cool shade. There are two entrances to the Generalife, one at the ticket booth on the east side of the complex and another next to the Palacios Nazaries which will take you through the Partal Gardens GPS 37.1767,-3.5886, a collection of palace gardens with flowing water streams and a large swimmingpool of water which reflects a nearby portico. From the Partal you can follow the Promenade of The Towers and the remains of the main wall and its adjoining towers that separate the Alhambra palace grounds from the Generalife. As you cross a bridge over a small canyon you'll enter the Generalife proper, where you can follow a promenade past the amphitheater to the Lower Gardens, a collection of hedge rows with rectangular ponds at the center and colorful flower beds throughout. Past thit is the Generalife Palace GPS 37.1780,-3.5856 and the white structure sitting atop the hill and the highlight of a visit to the gardens, for it is within that you will find spectacular views, lovely architecture, and the much-photographed Court of the Main Canal, with its crossing jets of water that arc over the rectangular pool. Nearby is the Soultana's Court, another picturesque courtyard with leaping fountains. Above the palace are the High Gardens, where you can find a gorgeous long pergola and the Water Stairway, which true to its name is a beautiful stairway with water flowing down its parapets. The gardens are huge, but the layout is simple as everything in the Generalife can be seen along a long, circular path.

These are the four primary attractions, but the grounds hold many secondary sights as well, some of them quite splendid in their own right and many off the beaten path. If entering the Alhambra on foot from Plaza Nueva, you'll travel up Cuesta de Gomerez through the Granada Gate GPS 37.17609,-3.59305, an ornamental archway which marks the entrance to the grounds. From here you can continue straight into the Bosque (forest), a delightfully lush and shady wooded area in the canyon beneath the palace complex with streams running along the footpaths, fountains and statues and, in the summertime, fragrant smells from the trees. If you take the rightmost path up the hill and make a right up the next path you find, you'll come across the Bermejas Towers GPS 37.17551,-3.59338, an outpost of the Alhambra on the very edge of the complex, with massive square towers perched on a hill over the neighborhood of Realejo. The towers themselves are locked up and mostly in ruins, but the views of Granada and the Alhambra are splendid. If you take the leftmost path from the Granada Gate you'll travel up to theJustice Gate GPS 37.17615,-3.59030 (Puerta de Justica), an imposing Moorish-style archway and entry that served as the primary entrance to the palace complex in days of old.

Within the main palace complex, just above the Justice Gate is a lovely courtyard area and the Plaza of the Cisterns GPS 37.17674,-3.59050 (Plaza de los Aljibes) between the Alcazaba and the Palace of Charles V next to the Wine Gate (Puerta del Vino), another picturesque horseshoe-shaped archway which once protected the grounds. Continuing along the small road past the Palace of Charles V to the upper part of the palace complex, you'll come across a line of woodworking and souvenir shops and the prominent St. Mary Church GPS 37.17642,-3.58917 and the ruins of a village and the Parador GPS 37.17589,-3.58721}}. Though most of the Parador is a restaurant and hotel, parts are still open to the public, including the lovely courtyard entryway and the ruins of a Franciscan monastery, which holds the lovely remains of a small chapel with a view into the hotel's lavish patio area.

Above the main palace complex, to the east of the Generalife, are a number of visitor facilities, namely a large parking lot. A short hike uphill from the parking lot is the Silla del Moro GPS 37.1784,-3.5839 and the ruins of a guard outpost directly above the Generalife Palace. While it requires an uphill hike and it isolated from the rest of the grounds and the Silla offers what may be the most spectacular view in all of Granada, giving you a rare opportunity to look down at the Alhambra palace, as well as a sweeping vista of the city and the valley and the surrounding mountains, with the added benefit of not being nearly as crowded as the San Nicolas Viewpoint in the Albayzín or requiring admission like the Alcazaba.

Albayzín

Situated on a hill above the center of town and across from the Alhambra and the Albayzín (also spelled Albaicín, Alayzín, and Albaycín) is an ancient Muslim neighborhood popular with Muslim visitors - and rightly so. Among its narrow, winding streets one will find beautiful white-washed old buildings, splendid Arabic shops and restaurants, scenic gardens, and marvelous views of Granada and the Alhambra. Today part of a UNESCO World Heritage site (along with the nearby neighborhood of Sacromonte and the Alhambra, covered below), Albayzín dates back to the fourteenth century and was built as a defensive town and thrived as one of the centers of Granada under Muslim rule.

Entering the Albayzín is simple enough - from Plaza Nueva it's just a matter of walking north (uphill), or proceeding east along the Rio Darro (to the Paseo de los Tristes, covered below) and turning north on any of the side streets. However, if coming from the Gothic Church or anywhere else in central Granada and the best entrance is via Calle Calderería Nueva GPS 37.17781,-3.59722 (near bus stop Gran Vía 1), a stepped cobblestone street lined with Arabic restaurants, tea shops, bakeries and retail outlets selling imported goods from North Africa. However once inside the Albayzín you'll find the layout of the streets very confusing, with many steep sections and stairways - though thit is indeed part of the charm of the neighborhood, always with a new path to explore or a hidden surprise waiting to be discovered. However, if the climb or the confusing layout sound like too much, you can also take the C1 shuttle van to the top of the hill from Plaza Nueva.

• San José Church - Iglesia de San José | C/. Cementerio de San José, 2 37.17864, -3.59616 ☎ +34 958 227 671 Opening Hours: Open for masses - winter: Monday to Friday and eves of festivals 18:30, Sunday and festivals 11:00; summer: Monday to Friday and eves of festivals 19:00, Sunday and festivals 11:00 Located in a spot previously occupied by the Almorabitín, or mosque of morabites, and is one of oldest churches in Granada, dating back to the sixteenth century. The architecture of the old mosque is still visible in parts, particularly in the minaret-turned-bell tower.

• San Nicolas Viewpoint - Mirador de San Nicolas | Plaza San Nicolas 37.18112, -3.59266 from the church at the end of Calle Caldereria Nueva, climb the path leading to the left and keep following the stairs uphill - eventually you will reach Camino Nueva de San Nicolas; at this point turn right and follow the cobblestone street uphill (at one point the road will fork - take the left route) until you reach the viewpoint; or take shuttle van C1 to Plaza S. Nicolas stop - Opening Hours: Always open Free The most popular attraction in the Albayzin for tourists, this spot offers a spectacular view of the Alhambra and the mountains behind, as well as excellent vistas of the city and up the Rio Darro canyon.

• Mosque of Granada - Mezquita Mayor de Granada - 37.18134, -3.59201 just off Plaza San Nicolas ☎ +34 958 20 25 26 Free Following the Reconquista, Islam was banished from Spain and its practitioners were persecuted, effectively stomping out any training of the religion in Spain for centuries thereafter. But in recent years Islam has been making a comeback in Spain and this mosque, built in 2003, now stands as a link with the Muslim Granada of old. The mosque maintains an open-door policy and while you need to arrange an appointment to see the main prayer spaces, you are free to enter the fragrant garden and take in the architecture of the rather humble yet beautiful building. Even if you have little interest in Islam the place is still worth visiting for the garden's marvelous view of the Alhambra and for the sight of Moorish-style architecture that's newly constructed rather than ancient and crumbling.

• Plaza Larga | Cuesta de Alhacaba and Calle del Agua del Albaicin 37.18261, -3.59342 - A small and shady plaza, thit is the center of Albayzín for its residents, removed from the tourist crowds of the San Nicolas Viewpoint, surrounded by local shops and restaurants and home to a local market on Saturday mornings. On the west edge of the plaza, tucked around a corner, is Puerta Nueva, a passageway to Placeta de las Minas situated at the end of a remaining section of defensive wall which once protected the Albayzín. The wall itself is mostly inaccessible, but excellent views of the wall, which really speak to how imposing it must have looked from the outside, are available from the Mirador de San Cristobal GPS 37.18312,-3.59625 uphill from Plaza Larga (another option you can just walk along Cuesta de Alhacaba west from Plaza Larga from excellent views from beneath the wall).

Below the Albayzin is Carrera del Darro, a narrow street winding from Plaza Nueva along the meandering Rio Darro. Thit is one of the most scenic walks in Granada, packed with pedestrians strolling the cobblestone way, who have to squeeze to the side every few minutes as a taxi or a shuttle van passes by. Old shops, apartments, and other buildings cluster up the hill in the Albayzin on one side, and across the Rio Darro along the other side is the steep hill upon which is the Alhambra. Along the street are beautifully preserved buildings, remains of Arab houses, stone bridges crossing the Rio Darro, and plenty of nice restaurants.

• Hamman El Bañuelo Carrera del Darro 31 37.17832, -3.59316 immediately across the street from the Bañuelo bus stop, routes C1 and C2 ☎ +34 958 027 800 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-14:00 Free An unassuming-looking building from the outside and the Bañuelo is the ruins of perhaps the most impeccably maintained Arabic bath house in Spain. Once a popular socializing spot during Muslim Granada, most of the bath houses in the city were destroyed followed the Reconquista - this one survived due to the construction of a private home above. Inside you can view the beautiful architecture and learn how the bath house functioned, with its hot and cooling rooms and scenic courtyard.

• Paseo de los Tristes | at the end of Carrera del Darro 37.17891, -3.58935 bus stop Paseo de los Tristes, routes C1 and C2 - Perched above the Rio Darro at the end of Carrera del Darro, this plaza was once on the busiest gathering spots in Granada, positioned along a curve of the river between the Alhambra and the Albayzin. Today it is a popular place to eat owing to the restaurants lining the north side of the square and the magnificent views of the Alhambra palace it offers.

Sacromonte

Locals often consider the Albayzín a world away from the rest of Granada, but even the Arabic quarter can't hold a candle to the relative isolation and uniqueness of Sacromonte, a gypsy (Roma) neighborhood situated east of the Albazin, demarcated by the road Cuesta Chapiz. The neighborhood is noted for its many cave dwellings built within the sides of the hill poking out here and there between the scrubby bushes and cacti. The neighborhood is also famous for its flamenco shows popular with tourists and the amazing views of the Alhambra.

To get to the neighborhood, you can walk or take the C2 shuttle vanes up Carrera del Darro to Paseo de los Tristes. From there walk up Cuesta Chapiz until you reach Peso de Harina (where you'll find a small plaza with a statue of a man with a strange hat, Chorrojumo, who was regarded as the king of the gypsies). From there walk along the Camino del Sacromonte.

• Museo Cuevas Sacromonte - Barranco de los Negros 37.1828, -3.5842 ☎ +34 958 215 120 Opening Hours: Summer: Daily 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00; Winter: Daily 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00 €5 This museum offers the chance to get to know this neighborhood, with geological and historical exhibits on the caves and the biology and the people and the form of living as well as the traditional handicrafts of the local residents.

• Sacromonte Abbey - 37.1832, -3.5772 Founded in the seventeenth century. Local legend says that the catacombs under the church are where the city's first bishop (and today Granada's saint) San Cecilio underwent his martyrdom.

North Granada

Cartujamonastery granada - Inside the cloister of the Cartuja Monastery

Stretching north of central Granada and the north side of town encompass a set of newer neighborhoods with wide boulevards, modern and grand classically-designed buildings and lovely urban parks. This section of town is defined to a great degree by the presence of the local university (Universidad de Granada), government buildings, and two of the main points of entry into Granada - the train station and the bus depot.

• Elvira's Gate - Puerta de Elvira | Plaza del Triunfo 37.18216, -3.60018 - Arc of Elvira - Granada Puerta de Elvira 16-03-2011 13-29-20-1 Once the principal gate to the old city, Elvira's Gate now stands on the edge of a plaza, a grand Moorish-style archway over a local street.

• Hospital Real Av. del Hospicio 37.184722, -3.601111Av. del Hospicio and Calle Ancha de Capuchinos ☎ +34 958 243 025 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00-14:00 Free Hospital Real de Granada. Portada Commissioned in 1504 by Isabel and Ferdinand, this massive square red-brick building was originally used as a hospital for the poor and soldiers who had been injured in the Reconquista of Granada. Situated on a hill over a nearby park and the structure now belongs to the University and is worth looking inside for its splendid architecture.

• Triunfo Gardens - Fuente del Triunfo | Avenida de La Constitucion 37.1839, -3.6021 between Av. Divina Pastora and Av. Del Hospicio - Free A A beautiful urban park situated beneath the Hospital Real and the gardens hold a large fountain and an isolated column with a monument to the Virgin at the center overlooking the Avenida de La Constitucion. Evening is the best time to come, when the fountains are lit and the backdrop with the illuminated Hospital Real is most dramatic.

• Cartuja Monastery - Monasterio de La Cartuja | Paseo de Cartuja 37.1919, -3.59943 buses 8, C and U, Ciencias de la Educacion stop ☎ +34 958 161 932 Opening Hours: Winter: Daily 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00; Summer: Daily 10:00-13:00 and 16:00-20:00 €3.50 Granada Charterhouse Monasterio de la Cartuja Granada A spectacular example of Baroque-style architecture, this monastery was commissioned in the 16th century but construction was interrupted and not completed until over three centuries later. Upon entering you'll pass through a cloister garden that serves as the building's tranquil courtyard, with small rooms splitting off from here, many with grisly paintings of martyrs meeting their fates. The single-nave church is spectacular and lavishly decorated, with the sanctuary and sacristy containing many beautifully crafted and intricate artworks.

• San Jeronimo Monastery - Monasterio San Jeronimo | Calle Rector Lopez Argueta 9 37.179228, -3.603901 bus C6, Fuentenueva stop ☎ +34 958 279 337 Opening Hours: Summer: Daily 10:00-13:30 and 16:00-19:30; Winter: Monday to Saturday 10:00-13:30 and 15:00-18:30 €4 Monasterio de San Jerónimo, Granada Monasterio de San Jerónimo (Granada). Portada 55435 The first monastery to be built in the city after the reconquest by the Christians, this monastery is noted for its picturesque courtyards and the Spanish Baroque-style sacristy and the splendid artwork on display.

• Basilica San Juan de Dios - Calle San Juan de Dios 15 37.18059, -3.60297 from bus stop Avenida Constitucion 1, walk down Calle San Juan de Dios ☎ +34 958 275 700 Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 10–13 and 16–19, Sunday 16–19 €4 which includes audioguide A gorgeous example of the Baroque granadino style with an over-the-top interior—not an inch isn't lavishly decorated. The basilica is also the final resting place of many of Granada's saints: ask permission to climb the stairs to the room behind the main altar where 190 bones and other relics are displayed.

South Granada

Puertareal granada - The bustling modern center of Granada, Puerta Real

Defined by its proximity to the Rio Genil and the main river through Granada and the south side of town is an interesting mix of old and new. To the east, on the foothills beneath the Alhambra, sits Realejo, once the Yahudi neighborhood under Muslim Granada and now a sleepy neighborhood with many scenic villas and gardens among its narrow streets. To the west, closer to the center of town, lies bustling Puerta Real GPS 37.17345,-3.59964}}. Surrounding the intersection of Calle Reyes Catolicos, Calle Recogidas and Acera Del Darro, Puerta Real is the center of modern Granada, a neighborhood of grand classical and modern buildings and the city's primary shopping destination. South of the river is a modern section of town with many apartment highrises and office buildings.

• Santo Domingo Church - Iglesia de Santo Domingo | Plaza de Santo Domingo 37.17298, -3.59443 in Realejo; take shuttle van C3 to Santo Domingo stop ☎ +34 958 227 331 Opening Hours: Hours of worship: Monday to Saturday 8:30-9:30 and 19:30-20:30, Sunday 9:30-14:00 Free A Founded in 1512 by the Catholic Kings, this beautiful church sports a handsome stone portico entrance with a lovely painting and sculptures beneath an impressive bell tower. Inside and the high ceilings and domed sanctuary are spectacular and the chapels feature intricate artwork.

• Carmen de los Mártires Paseo de los Mártires 37.17254, -3.58727 entrance is at the end of Paseo de los Mártires; take shuttle vanes C3 or C4 to C.C. Manuel de Falla stop ☎ +34 958 248 140 Opening Hours: Summer: Monday to Friday 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-19:00, Saturday to Sunday and holidays 10:00-19:00; Winter: Monday to Friday 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-18:00, Saturday to Sunday and holidays 10:00-18:00 Free An absolutely beautiful set of gardens near the Alhambra, this place is well worth a side trip if you have an hour or two to spare. The gardens date to the nineteenth century and have a blend of Moorish-style elements such as amble shade, decorative arches and bubbling fountains with English and French romantic style elements - one garden has an ornamental duck pond complete with statues, grottoes and follies (keep an eye out for the peacocks that wander the gardens). In addition and the views of Granada and the Alhambra from the terraces are absolutely marvelous.

• Federico García Lorca Museum - Huerta de San Vicente | Virgen Blanca s/n 37.1706, -3.6094 a block west of Camino de Ronda; buses 5, 10, 11, 21 and 22, stop C. Ronda 4 ☎ +34 958 258 466 Opening Hours: Museum: October–March, Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-12:30 and 16:00-18:30; April–May and June–September Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-12:30 and 17:00-19:30; July–August Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-14:30. Park: daily 8:00-1:00 Museum €3, Park free On the outskirts of town is this charming house that was once the summer home of poet Federico Garcia Lorca. The house-turned-museum holds the original furnishings from when he lived here in the 1920s and 30s and is pleasant enough, but the real attraction here is the splendid public park that surrounds the house that was once the family's private estate. Within the park you'll find tree-lined pathways, streams of water, a duck pond, a large rose garden, and a children's playground.

• Basilica Nuestra Señora de Las Angustias C/ Carrera del Genil 37.169877, -3.597112 on C/ Carrera de la Virgen near Puerta Real ☎ +34 958 226 393 Opening Hours: Open during hours of worship Free A The temple to Granada's patron saint, this seventeenth century church has a richly decorated interior and is a center for local Catholic processions. The evening mass held here is one of the most heavily attended in the city and is one of the best opportunities to experience the city's religious legacy firsthand.

• Rio Genil 37.1691, -3.5930 While the river itself, which is crucially a large canal, isn't much to look at and there is a nice tree-lined promenade running alongside the river from Acera Del Darro along Paseo del Salon with some very pleasant gardens. From here a pleasant trail follows the river south out of the city into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

• Parque de las Ciencias - Science Park - Avd. de la Ciencias s/n 37.1624, -3.6054 take buses 1 or 5 to Parque de las Ciencias stop ☎ +34 958 131 900 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00-19:00, Sunday and holidays 10:00-15:00 6€ general, 5€ seniors and children Four different exhibition areas with lots to see, so make good use of the 2-day ticket. Bird show every day, but take note of timing. The Al-Andalus and Science Pavilion is a major highlight, featuring unique technology brought here by the Arabs, particularly in the fields of astronomy and architecture.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Granada

• Aquaola - C/ García Lorca, 53 (in Cenes de la Vega) take the SN1 bus and at la Plaza de Villacantoria and there is a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes ☎ +34 958 48 61 89 Opening Hours: 15:00-20:00 7.50€ A local water park with man-made wave pool, slides, and large floats.

• Hammam Arab Baths - Gran Hammam Baños Arabes - ­granada.­hammamspain.­com C/ Santa Ana, 16 37.17774, -3.59404 near Plaza Nueva, behind Iglesia de Santa Ana ☎ +34 958 229 978 Opening Hours: 10:00-24:00 22€ for bath only, 32€ bath and massage A modern spa reconstructing the ambiance and decorations of the ancient Muslim baths in Granada.

• Plaza de Toros de Granada - Avenida Doctor Oloriz, 14 37.1890, -3.6076 ☎ +34 958 27 24 51 5€ Granada's bullfighting ring.

Study in Granada

For those wishing to make a real attempt at learning the language and there are plenty of Spanish language schools in Granada.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Granada

As in much of Spain, be aware of siesta - most shops close in the afternoons, which depending on the business can be anywhere from 13:00 to 17:00. The main exception to this rule is large department stores and chain stores. However, nearly everything is closed on Sundays.

The area surrounding Puerta Real serves as the city's main shopping neighborhood. El Corte Inglés GPS 37.1706,-3.5976, Spain's department store chain, has a large store between Calle Acera del Darro and Calle Carrera de la Virgen just south of Puerta Real, while Calle Mesones GPS 37.17454,-3.60040 and the adjacent pedestrian streets between Puerta Real and the Gothic Church are home to a large number of fancy clothing and gift stores. If you're looking for postcards or other tourist wares and the Alcaiceria south of the Gothic Church (see above under See) is chock full of souvenir shops, although you can also find plenty of souvenir shops along Cuesta de Gomerez on the way up to the Alhambra from Plaza Nueva. If a mall is more your speed and the nearest one to central Granada is the Centro Comercial Neptuno webneptuno.com/ GPS 37.1681,-3.6073, on Calle Neptuno next to the freeway (take Calle Recogidas west from Puerta Real).

Halal Restaurants

To be updated

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

• AB Pension Granada - Infanta Beatriz 3 37.1731403, -3.6073186 off Camino de Ronda - taxi recommended ☎ +34 958 253 129 Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 11:00 12€ Comfortable new beds, affordable, clean, warm and helpful hostel. Free Wi-Fi at reception. Spanish family-run hostel where English is also spoken.
• Funky Backpackers Hostel | Cuesta de Rodrigo del Campo, 13 ☎ +34 958 22 14 62 +34 958 22 05 68 - A rowdy, centrally-located hostel set in a grand old townhouse.
• Granada Inn Backpackers Hostel - Padre Alcover, 10 100 meters from Puerta real ☎ +34 958 26 62 14 Check-in: 13:00 / Check-out: 11:00 Beds from €12 Deluxe dorms (which are actually shared apartments). Breakfast Included. Free Wi-Fi. Corral-style patio and many activities.
• Oasis Backpackers' Hostel - Placeta Correo Viejo 37.178134, -3.597137 ☎ +34 958 215 848 from 15€ Pleasant hostel on the edge of the Albayzin neighborhood with a lively atmosphere. 24hr tea & Coffee, welcome drink, daily activities, internet & Wi-Fi and a lovely patio and big roof-top terrace.
• Rambutan - 5 Vereda de Enmedio 37.182162, -3.588268 ☎ +34 958 220 766 Check-in: 08:30 / Check-out: 11:30 €14.50 A true "backpacker" hostel. Provides house instruments to play with, free towels to use, and a bike you can borrow. A huge garden and terraces to enjoy.
• White Nest Hostel - Calle Santísimo San Pedro 4 37.178766, -3.591006 ☎ +34 958 994 714 +34 958 995 701€13 A good budget backpackers hostel. Clean and affordable with shared or superior Muslim friendly rooms.
• Abadia Hotel Granada - Triana Baja 7 37.181736, -3.603241 ☎ +34 958 271 979 Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 11:00 €49 A hotel with an 16th century-style patio and decor.
• Granada Five Senses Rooms & Suites - Gran Vía, 25, 18001 ☎ +34 958 285 464 - Modern-style hotel in the centre of Granada.
• Hotel Macià Plaza - Plaza Nueva, 5 18010 ☎ +34 958 227 536
• Hotel Villa Blanca Granada - Ctra A44 Bailén - Motril kilometers 117,5 Albolote Granada. ☎ +34 958 453 069
• Hotel Monasterio de los Basilios - Paseo de los Basilios, 2, 18008
• Hotel Condor Granada - ☎ +34 958 283 711
• Hotel Real de la Alhambra - Mirador Del Genil, 2 ☎ +34 958 216 693
• Hostal Granada Eurosol - Camino de Ronda 166 ☎ +34 958 27 99 0 - Rooms have air conditioning and private bathrooms. Prices change with the season.
• Hostal Zurita | Plaza de la Trinidad, 7 ☎ +34 958 275 020 - Very nice, clean and well run place near the Gothic Church. Run by a friendly young couple. Rooms have air conditioning and some have private bathrooms. Some have balconies looking out on the square. Prices change with the season.
• Hotel Cerro del Sol - Salvador Dalí 1 37.163400, -3.545709 ☎ +34 958 486200 - Design hotel with 15 rooms, gardens, swimming pool. Double room with views, parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast from €50/night. The hotel also offers tickets for the Alhambra and forfaits for Sierra Nevada.
• Hotel Navas - Calle Navas, 22 ☎ +34 958 22 59 59 Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Double with ensuite €60 (when booking online) Very convenient location in the centre on a pedestrian street that's buzzing all night with popular tapas bars, but quiet rooms. Clean, comfortable beds, friendly and helpful staff. Free WI-Fi, air-con; buffet breakfast for €7.
• Hotel Plaza Nueva - @plazanueva.com Plaza Nueva, 2 37.17707, -3.59620 C/ Imprenta, 2 ☎ +34 958 215 273 Check-in: 13:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Doubles €50+, breakfast €7 Centrally located, facilities include non-smoking rooms, an onsite restaurant, and free Wi-Fi. Private parking €20/day.
• Hesperia Granada - Plaza Gamboa, S/N ☎ +34 958 018 400 Rooms from 69€ A recently renovated hotel located in the old part of town. The rooms are very cozy and comfortable and the hotel offers a limousine service, DVD rental and Wi-Fi.
• House at Mirador Cruz de la Rauda - Calle Cruz de la Rauda 10 in the upper Albaycin ☎ +34 958 201 557 Check-in: 15:00 / Check-out: 12:00 €85-€200
• NH Inglaterra - Cettie Meriem, 6 ☎ +34 958 221 559 - In the center of town.
• Pension Alcazaba | San Juan de Dios 38 ☎ +34 958 291 380 Double with bathroom €32 Clean, affordable and cheerful with comfy beds and the owner speaks excellent English and gives great recommendations on what to do, see, and eat in town.
• Pension Suecia - Huerta de los Ángeles, 8 just off Calle Molinos ☎ +34 958 225 044 40€ A quiet hostel with a charming terrace to have breakfast. A bit far from the busy downtown but very close to the Alhambra.
• Pensión Venecia Gomérez - formerly Hostal Venecia - Cuesta de Gomérez, 2, 2nd floor 37.17656, -3.59583 ☎ +34 958 224 803 Check-in: 14:00-23:00 / Check-out: 12:00 €33+ Excellent location on Plaza Nueva, but hard to find as it's on the 2nd floor and the sign facing the plaza is small and high. Extremely clean and quiet for a hostel. Has non-smoking rooms, free Wi-Fi; private parking €20/day. Pets permitted on request.
• Granada Rental - ☎ +34 666 951 289 €600/week Traditional house in the Albayzin with views of the Alhambra from terraces. Ideally placed to visit the old town and city. Owners will do shorter lets. 3 Bedrooms including cave room.
• Hostels Granada Nest - Hostels Granada Spain - Calle Santísimo, 4 37.178766, -3.591006 ☎ +34 958 994 714 +34 958 049 788
• Hotel Granada Nest Style - Plaza del Carmen,29 37.174245, -3.598838 ☎ +34 958 058 708 +34 858 991 998

Stay Safe

Luckily violent crime is not usually an issue. However, be very careful about your belongings: As in any city and there are many thieves & pickpockets in Granada (especially in tourist areas and around the Gothic Church). Sometimes thieves use distractions and work in teams. Be watchful, and don't set bags down where they could be whisked away from you. Police officers generally do not speak English - if you are robbed they will probably direct you to the police station and connect you with someone who can understand your language, who will have you make a report.

Travel Next

• Cordoba is just a few hours' drive, train or bus ride to the northwest. If you've seen the Alhambra and want to see more architecture from the height of Muslim civilization in Spain, visit the Mezquita with its peppermint striped arches, wander the old streets of the Yahudi quarter or visit the nearby Medina Azahara archeological site.
• The Sierra Nevada Mountains lie to the south of Granada and offer skiing within thirty kilometers of town (accessible by bus from the main station) in the winter as well as good hiking or mountain biking in the summer.
• Beyond the Sierra Nevada range and the Costa del Sol offers sun and sea just a couple of hours from Granada. The nearest beach towns to Granada are Salobreña, Almunecar and Nerja, each of which offer pleasant beaches without the massive crowds of much of the rest of the Costa del Sol. To the west sits Malaga and the largest city on the Costa del Sol and home to a handful of lovely cultural attractions as well as beaches.
• Seville is a few hours west of Granada, feasible as a long day trip but better as an overnight or weekend excursion, and home to many incredible cultural attractions, most notably the massive Gothic Church and the Alcázar.

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