Granada Travel Guide
Granada is fabled for its exquisite palace-fortress, the
Alhambra, but there is more to the Andalusian city than its star attraction. The last redoubt of
Moorish culture in
Spain offers a potent mix of old and new, with a large student population bringing music and life to Granada’s network of dark, narrows streets.
Present-day
Granada has its roots in the 8th century when the
Moors conquered large swathes of the Iberian peninsular, starting an 800-year-long rule that transformed
Granada into one of the most important cities in
Moorish Spain.
The
Alhambra symbolised the peak of Islamic splendour in the 14th and 15th centuries, and was used as the home of the
Nasrid sultans. There is plenty to see in the fortified complex, which overlooks the city from a forested hill, including buildings constructed by the Catholic kings after the 1492 Reconquest.
Beneath the
Alhambra are the winding Moorish lanes and traditional houses of
Albaicín, which are essential viewing. The district contrasts with the white-washed houses of the former, cave-dwelling neighbourhood of the gypsies, known as
Sacromonte (some people still live in converted cave homes here).
There’s also
Alcaicería, the former Moorish silk market, and
Plaza Nueva, the city’s oldest square, which is full of bar terraces usually serving free tapas with each drink.
The area around the university is lively, with students filling up the wide boulevards and urban parks beneath grand Renaissance buildings. To the east of the city sits
Realejo, which was the Jewish district under
Moorish Granada, now a tranquil quarter with many scenic villas and gardens.
When you want to explore beyond
Granada, there are lots of options: day trips to
Cordoba or
Seville; hiking in the snow-capped mountains of the
Sierra Nevada during summer and skiing in winter; or swimming and other water sports along the Costa Tropical where beaches are less crowded and developed than other parts of
Spain.
The
Granada area has been populated for thousands of years. From around 1500BC, the region began to experience
Phoenician,
Greek,
Roman and
Visigothic influences. The 5th century settlement known as Elibyrge would later evolve into the Roman city of Illiberis.
In 711, Moorish groups conquered large parts of the Iberian Peninsula. The actual founding of present-day
Granada occurred in the 11th century, after the end of a civil war, when a Berber general decided to establish an independent kingdom.
The small village of the time was transformed into one of the most important cities of Moorish Spain, with the fairytale palace-fortress Alhambra symbolising its peak of elegance and splendour in the 14th and 15th centuries. The most famous Moorish rule was that of the
Nasrid dynasty from 13th century.
The Nasrids’ reign came to an end in 1492, when the
Reconquista reached
Granada, which was the final emirate to fall to the Catholic Monarchs. The Moors (and Jews) of the city were forced to convert or emigrate, resulting in the Morisco class of Arab converts.
Eventually the city’s mosques were converted to churches or destroyed, and the mighty cathedral and other buildings sprang up in their place. One of the most notable buildings was the beautiful Capilla Real which was erected as a mausoleum for the Catholic Monarchs. Streets were also widened and large squares created.
The expulsion of many Jews and Muslims caused economic decline and
Granada and the
Alhambra slipped into centuries of neglect. The first tourists interested in the city’s
Islamic heritage started to arrive in 19th century, but
Granada was then decimated in 1884 by an earthquake. The city saw resurgence in 1920s, as
Granada became a centre of Spanish art, but then came the Spanish Civil War in 1930s, which resulted in Franco’s repressive dictatorship until 1975.
After Franco’s death,
Granada witnessed a university boom, which helped transform the city’s economic fortunes. Massive modernisation followed, including the creation of the magnificent Science Park in 1995. Apart from being a tourist hub, today’s Granada is a thriving city with a vibrant student population.
Although the Reconquista is heralded as the end of
Moorish rule in
Spain, Granada is in fact thought to have been a tributary state of the
Spanish Kingdom of Castile as far back as 1238.
The
Alhambra, which was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, has its roots in an earlier 9th century fortress and was altered substantially by
Charles V in 16th century.
The year of the Reconquista was a big one for the most famous
Catholic Monarch,
Isabella I, as
Christopher Colombus reached the New World, funded by
Spain.
Summer can be oppressively hot, with temperatures easily over 33°C (92°F)but it is also a time of open-air festivals and outdoor eating and drinking.
Winter days and nights can be chilly, but they have their own charm with cosy bars to hole up in.
Spring, when the flowers burst into bloom, but the summer heat has not begun, when temperatures are around 23°C (73°F).
Autumn when the winter chills are still a way off, but the tourist hordes have receded.
Getting around Granada
The easiest way to get around Granada is on foot. However, there is a also a good, reliable city bus network operated by
Transportes Rober
Telephone: +34 900 710 900
Website: www.transportesrober.com including services to the Alhambra and Albaicín.
The small red and white minibuses with ‘Alhambra Bus’ printed on the side are the best way to explore Granada, the Albaicín and to get to the Alhambra – routes 30 and 34 connect the city centre to the Alhambra, with the 31 traveling up to Albaicín. Most routes run from approximately 07:00 until midnight. There are two circular routes (111 and 121) that offer a night service from midnight to 06:00.
Taxi companies include
Servicio Taxi
Telephone: +34 600 028 304
Reserva Taxi en Granada
Telephone: +34 654 014 840
PideTaxi Granada
Telephone: +34 958 280 000
Tipping is not expected, though you may choose to round up the fare to the nearest euro.
Driving in Granada should be avoided. Narrow, one-way streets restricted to buses, taxis, scooters, and tourists with hotel reservations combined with strict fines for violators mean it can be a stressful affair.
With its hills and busy traffic, Granada is not ideal for cycling but bikes are a great way of exploring the surrounding countryside and Sierra Nevada if you’re feeling adventurous. Rents out good-quality road bikes and can drop them off at your hotel.
Rent a Bike Granada
Address: Ctra. de Alhama, Churriana de la Vega, Granada.
Telephone: +34 638 023 358
Website: www.rentabikegranada.com
Are you planning a trip to Granada, the vibrant city in the heart of Andalusia? Make the most of your visit by renting a car with Travoley. You can explore Granada and its surroundings at your own pace. Visit the iconic Alhambra, wander through the historic Albayzin neighborhood, or take a scenic drive to the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Whether you are looking for car rental in Antwerp as part of a vacation, or renting a car for a special event, you will be sure to find a car to suit your needs from our wide range of economy and luxury models.
In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 21 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU licence must carry an International Driving Permit.
Our simple booking system makes it easy to reserve online before you go, offering flexible short- and long-term rental, all at great prices with no hidden charges, so when you arrive all that’s left is to discover the best of this exciting city.
In partnership with Get Your Guide
Book popular activities in Granada
Things to see in Granada
Attractions
- Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) and Cathedral
The Capilla Real was commissioned by Granada’s Christian conquerors, Fernando and Isabel, as their own burial place. Completed in 1521, it’s a gorgeous gothic building next to a grand Cathedral of combined gothic and Renaissance styles. The monarchs died before the chapel was finished, but Charles V moved the bodies of his grandparents to the chapel once it was completed.
Address: Calle Oficios 3, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 227 848
Opening times: Daily 10:00-18:30.
Website: www.capillarealgranada.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Albaicín, which survived as a bustling Moorish quarter for several decades after the Christian reconquest of Granada in 1492, is a picturesque and atmospheric maze of narrow, twisting streets. The neighbouring district of Sacromonte is renowned for its cave dwellings, flamenco shows and amazing views of the Alhambra.
Address: Albaicín, Granada.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Overlooking the city of Granada, the Alhambra is the most important and spectacular piece of Moorish architecture in Spain. Visitors can explore the Alcazaba, or citadel, which is the oldest remaining part of the complex, as well as the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife gardens. Be sure to book Alhambra admission tickets at least one week in advance.
Address: Real de la Alhambra, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 027 971
Opening times: Daily (1 Apr-14 Oct) 08:30-20:00 , Daily (Oct 15-31 Mar) 08:30-18:00.
Website: www.alhambra-patronato.es
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: Yes
For 10 years, Huerta de San Vicente was the summer home of Granada’s beloved writer Federico Garcia Lorca. It is preserved exactly as it was in the days before he was arrested and assassinated in 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War. Exhibitions on Lorca’s life and work are displayed throughout.
Address: Calle Virgen Blanca, Parque Federico Garcia Lorca, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 849 112
Opening times: Tue-Sun 09:30-14:30.
Website: www.huertadesanvicente.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Granada’s most visited museum is this modern, interactive science park that is as genuinely fun for grown-ups as it is kids. Highlights include the Eureka Hall, where visitors can play with a gyroscope, and the epic Planetarium, which opens up the heavens. For younger visitors, the key attraction is the Exploration Hall which has plenty of hands-on entertainment for those aged 3-7.
Address: Avenida de la Ciencia, 18006, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 131 900
Opening times: Tue-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-15:00.
Website: www.parqueciencias.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Monastery of San Jerónimo
San Jeronimo Monastery was the first monastery to be built after the conquest of the city by the Christians. Construction began in 1496, at Almoravid, now occupied by the hospital of San Juan de Dios. All the stones used for its construction were taken from the Arab gate of Elvira. The main attraction is the sacristy, but a beautiful alter created by Gil de Siloe and a riot of colourfully painted sculptures are worth exploring too.
Address: Calle Rector López Argüeta 9, 18001, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 279 337
Opening times: Daily 10:00-13:30 and 16:00-19:30.
Website: www.realmonasteriosanjeronimogranada.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This late baroque building actually started life as a Roman cemetery, but the land was given to monks in 1506 so they could build a monastery. It wasn’t fully completed for another three centuries, but today it has a magnificent church and features plenty of wonderful artwork too.
Address: Paseo de la Cartuja, 18009, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 161 932
Opening times: Daily 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00.
Website: www.cartujadegranada.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Hammam El Bañuelo doesn’t look particularly remarkable from outside but it is the ruins of perhaps the best-preserved Arabic bathhouse in Spain. Inside visitors can view the beautiful architecture and learn how the bathhouse functioned, with its hot and cooling rooms and scenic courtyard.
Address: Carrera del Darro 31, 18010, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 222 339
Opening times: Tues-Sat 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.alhambra-patronato.es
Admission Fees: Yes (free on Sunday).
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Museo Caja-Granada Memoria de Andalucia
This rather stark modern building is a real contrast to the historic architecture that defines much of Granada, but is worth a visit for the museum tucked away in its depths. Exploring everything from the environment and natural resources in the area to Andalucían communities, it’s one of the city’s best-kept secrets.
Address: Avenida de la Ciencia 2, 18006, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 222 257
Opening times: Mon-Sat 11:00-15:00.
Website: www.cajagranadafundacion.es
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
This impressive gothic-style building has been used as everything from a hospital for soldiers and pilgrims to a prison for the insane – even a treatment centre for venereal diseases. Today it houses the Rectorate and the Central Library of the University, and there are glorious gardens to explore as well as an art gallery with regularly changing exhibits.
Address: Cuesto del Hospicio, 18071, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 243 060
Opening times: Mon-Fri 09:00-14:00.
Website: www.biblioteca.ugr.es
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
- Oficina de Información Turística del Patronato Provincial
Address: Cárcel Baja, 3, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 247 128
Opening times: Daily 09:300-19:00.
Website: www.turgranada.es
The main tourist office in Granada offers local information, maps and guides as well as booking services for attractions, accommodation and transport. There’s also a tourist office at City Hall on Plaza Carmen and at the Alhambra.
Tourist passes
- The Granada Card (Bono Turístico)
Gives admission to several major sights, including the Alhambra, cathedral, Capilla Real and La Cartuja and San Jerónimo monasteries, plus nine rides on city buses and a one-hour city tour on the tourist train.
It’s worth purchasing if you’re stay in Granada a few days. You can buy the Bono at the City Hall tourist information centre on Plaza del Carmen, the Sciences Park Museum on Avenida de la Ciencia, the Press Stand Chalo on Plaza Neuva and the Press Stand on Plaza del Campillo. It is also available online and over the
Telephone: +34 858 880 990
Website: www.granadatur.comThings to do in Granada
Enjoy the buzz of rappelling, jumping, sliding and swimming and through gorges, waterfalls and natural slides on a day’s canyoning adventure on the Rio Verde near Granada. It takes four to five hours to complete the 3,500m-long (11,482ft) course. Thrill seekers should contact
Exploramás
Telephone: +34 952 477 951
Website: www.exploramas.com
Bullfighting might be a highly contentious activity, but in Andalusia it’s still a cultural totem so if you want to see Granadans in action there’s nowhere better than the
Telephone: +34 96 330 85 93
Website: www.entradastorosgranada.com
The cheap seats will be in direct sun, so don’t skimp and make sure you get sombra (shadow) tickets.
- Get abstract at the Jose Guerrero Centre
The abstract painter Jose Guerrero is one of Andalusia’s favourite artistic sons, and the
Centro Jose Guerrero
Born in Granada in 1914, his art took him to Madrid, Paris and into the circles of Rothko and Kline, but it’s here he’ll always be revered most to ensures his work endures through the generations.
Telephone: +34 958 220 109
Website: www.centroguerrero.org
Befitting its Moorish past, Granada is home to traditional hammams, which are the perfect place to while away an afternoon.
The Hammam Al Anadalus
Has been reopened after being shut back in the 16th century and offers a number of packages to relax body and mind.
Telephone: +34 958 229 978
Website: www.granada.hammamalandalus.com
The Sierra Nevada
Mountains provide Granada with a dramatic, snow-capped backdrop almost year-round. They are great for hiking in summer and for skiing from December to April. The Estación de Esquí Sierra Nevada (ski station) is 33km (20 miles) southeast of Granada.
Website: www.sierranevadaski.comGranada tours and excursions
Granada tours
Cicerone offers guided walking tours of the historic centre, the Alhambra and Generalife, the Albaicín, and the Capilla Real and Cathedral, which take around two hours. Guías Granada also does an Albaicín and historic centre walking tour, plus several other itineraries. Both also offer private tours.
Telephone: +34 607 691 676
Website: www.ciceronegranada.com
Telephone: +34 958 918 029
Website: www.guiasgranada.com
Granada’s tourist ‘train’ operates two hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tours, covering sights such as the El Generalife, Puerta de las Granadas and Torres Bermejas. Tours run throughout the year and are between 5.5km (3.5 miles) and 13.5km (8.5 miles) in length, with panoramic windows giving a fabulous view of the city.
Website: www.granadacitytour.com
Granada excursions
Nerja on the Costa Tropical offers 16km (10 miles) of beaches with powdery sand and sparkling waters. However, its principal attraction is the magnificent Caves of Nerja, where you will find archaeological treasures dating back 20,000 years. Split into the Show, Upper and New Galleries, the caves are also a popular venue for concerts and classical music performances.
Telephone:
+34 952 529 520
Website: www.thenerjacaves.es
Las Alpujarras are a set of deep valleys where impossibly picturesque white villages of Moorish origin cling to the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. They begin at Lanjarón, some 45km (28 miles) south of Granada, and are great for walking or vehicle-touring. Other highlights include Albuñol with its impressive 17th century Virgen del Rosario parish church and San Gregorio convent.
Shopping in Granada
Shopping in Granada offers plenty of opportunities to spend, spend, spend.
The best places to find distinctive Granada artisanry such as beautiful, intricate marquetry boxes and trays, and traditional green-and-white ceramics with the pomegranate emblem, are Cuesta de Gomérez (the street leading up to the Alhambra), the Alcaicería (the old Moorish silk exchange converted to a shopping arcade), and Calle Calderería Nueva in the lower Albaicín.
Calderería Nueva also sells alternative goods such as natural cosmetics and attractive Moroccan lamps, mirrors, slippers, hookers and North African pottery and is dotted with offbeat Asian-style tea houses. Good shops to check include Artesanía Carlos López, Alcaicería 10, and nearby Cerámica Fabre, Calle Pescadería.
For fashionable clothes and shoes head to Calle de los Mesones, a long, pedestrian street just south of the Alcaicería, or the busy streets fanning out from nearby Puerta Real.
Head for San Agustín market near the cathedral where stalls spill out into the surrounding streets, laden with fresh fruit, veg, bread and pastries, flowers, fish and seafood, and meat and deli products. Nearby is the herb and spice market, offering exotic spices such as paprika and cumin, cinnamon and oregano, and more. The market in Plaza San Agustín is open between Monday and Saturday from 10 am until 2.30 pm. Alternatively, head to the Lachana neighborhood on Wednesdays, El Zaidín neighborhood on Saturdays, and the Polígano de Cartuja on Sundays, for everything from clothing to furnishings.
You can’t go wrong with the ubiquitous Spanish department store El Corte Inglés on Carrera del Genil.
Shops are generally open from 10:00 to 13:30 and 17:00 to 20:30, although some shops, especially the bigger ones, forego the siesta.
The most interesting souvenirs to buy are ceramics and traditional flamenco fashions, Moroccan lamps and mirrors and arts and crafts, spices, wine and cheese.
Restaurants in Granada
Granada has a good array of restaurants, with many of the most atmospheric tucked away along the narrow lanes of the Albaicín. The restaurants in Granada below have been grouped into three different pricing categories:
Expensive (over €40)
Moderate (€20 to €40)
Cheap (up to €20)
These prices are for a three-course meal for one, with half a bottle of house wine or equivalent, tax and service included.
Expensive
Cuisine: Andalucian
Set in a villa with a garden in front of the Alhambra, this restaurant serves up traditional Andalucian cuisine such as partridge and other dishes of Magrebi origin, all capped with amazing views. The upstairs terraces serves lighter fare, and the downstairs dining room is more formal.
Address: Calle Atarazana Vieja 6, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 286 925
Website: www.elhuertodejuanranas.com
Cuisine: Innovative
Artfully plated Mediterranean fare in an old-world room or on a terrace with views of the Alhambra. El Trillo is a relaxed spot in an old carmen (an old Albaicín house with walled garden) with an outside space that’s perfect for dining in warmer weather. Unusually for Granada, it serves food with a Basque twist, including some imaginative vegetarian dishes.
Address: Albaicín, Callejón Aljibe del Trillo 3, Granada.
Telephone: +34 695 365 553
Website: www.eltrillorestaurante.com
Cuisine: Traditional
Serving traditional Granada food with some creative touches, this fine Albaicín restaurant is already one of the best eateries in the area – and that’s without mentioning its truly special views of the Alhambra. Book a seat on the terrace and don’t miss the crab soup with mint or the veal with black pepper sauce and three mustards.
Address: Albaicín, Carril de San Agustín 10, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 224 108
Website: www.lastomasas.com
Moderate
Cuisine: Seafood
Making use of the short hop to the Mediterranean, Cunini is a first-rate seafood restaurant that gives hungry patrons the choice of delicious tapas at its bar or a full meal in its restaurant. The wood-panelled dining room is a cosy retreat in colder weather, but there are outdoor tables overlooking the plaza as well.
Address: Plaza Pescadería 14, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 250 777
Cuisine: Moroccan
Moroccan in both decor and cuisine, Restaurante Arrayanes provides a delicious taste of North Africa with an atmosphere to boot. Suitably close to the alternative scene of Calle Caldereria Nueva, they don’t serve alcohol here, but the food is so good that you won’t miss it.
Address: Cta. de Marañas, 7, Albaicín, Granada.
Telephone: +34 624 512 851
Website: www.restaurantearrayanesgranada.com
Cuisine: Mediterranean
The effusively friendly proprietor, scrumptious but unpretentious Mediterranean-style food and buzzy ambience help to make Meson el Cordobesone of the best casual dining options in the city. The seafood medley and the exquisitely tender beef fillets are particularly worth sampling.
Address: C. Artesano Molero, Ronda, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 208 008
Cheap
Cuisine: Spanish
The food at this simple, rustic eatery is good, but what makes it really stands out is the view. Sit on the terrace to enjoy glorious vistas over the Alhambra while tucking into traditional Andalucían fare. Salads, fried fish, seafood and soups dominate the menu.
Address: Camino del Sacromonte 83, Granada.
Telephone: +34 667 204 072
Cuisine: Tapas
Join the locals crammed into this small but atmospheric bar for the best seafood tapas in town. There are several branches in Granada, but this is the original and best. Service is efficient, but you may need to queue unless you arrive at opening time. Culinary highlights include seafood, sherry-soaked clams and tempura aubergine.
Address: Pl. Nueva, 13, Centro, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 227 070
Website: www.losdiamantes.es
Cuisine: Tapas
Stop here if you’re in need of a quick fix. Service may not be the friendliest but the tapas will keep you going until the evening. Paella and moussaka are the in-house specialities, but this neat little local’s café is best known for its breakfasts: think giant croissants and excellent coffee.
Address: Calle Gran Via Colon, 13, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 220 752Granada Nightlife
Granada’s nightlife scene buzzes around Plaza Nueva and the Calle de Elvira area, at the foot of the Albaicín. Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes, heading northeast from Plaza Nueva along the narrow Darro valley below the Alhambra, harbour further drinking spots.
Don’t miss Granada’s flamenco scene either: away from the more touristic shows, several bars and clubs host authentic music and dance. Many Granada bars also maintain that magnificent tradition of free tapas with your drinks.
Bars in Granada
The bar is inspired by the mix of cultures, its cocktails are a fusion of Polynesian flavours, with flavours from Brazil and the Caribbean but always maintaining the essence of the Tiki cocktail bar with its glasses and its good energy.
Address: C. Piedra Santa, 22, Centro, Granada.
Telephone: +34 622 476 800
Website: www.grupoparipe.com
Another historic establishment in the heart of Granada, Los Manueles has been one of the most iconic bars in Granada for over a century. You can get some seriously delicious tapas here, including the biggest and best
croquetas in town. However, locals also love its subtle, unpretentious elegance, which makes it perfect for hosting birthdays and other special occasions.
Address: Reyes Católicos, 61, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 224 631
Website: www.losmanueles.es
Love wine? Love drinking it in charming little bars? La Tabernilla del Darro is the place for you. Located on one of the city’s most picturesque streets along the river Darro, you can enjoy stunning views of the Alhambra and Albayzín while you enjoy your meal and wine. Its unique location inside an ancient cistern adds to the charm.
Address: Puente de Espinosa, 15, Centro, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 227 244
Website: www.latabernilladeldarro.com
Clubs in Granada
Industrial Copera is an all-night electronic and hip-hop club located in Warehouse 7. It regularly hosts internationally renowned DJs and artists, and has a reputation for being one of the youngest and funkiest nightlife venues in the city.
Address: Parcela 13, Calle Desmond Tutu, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 637 837
Website: www.industrialcopera.net
Dress up to the nines if you want to get through the door of this uber-stylish nightclub, which is famous for turning away partygoers who don’t live up to its exacting standards. Once in, Mae West is a symphony of exposed wood and far-eastern décor, with a dancefloor that thrums to the beat of pop, commercial dance and Spanish music.
Address: Centro Commercial Neptuno, Calle Arabial, Granada.
Telephone: +34 659 185 612
Website: www.maewestgranada.com
Planta Baja is a two-level club with top DJs. It’s arguably Granada’s most popular nightspot, thanks to its conveniently central location and stellar line-up. Downstairs the tunes cross the genres of old school, hip hop and funk, while upstairs is more relaxed and lounge-like.
Address: Calle Horno de Abad 11, Granada.
Telephone: +34 691 298 226
Website: www.plantabaja.club
Live music in Granada
- Granada 10 Teatro Musical
DJ sets & dancing, plus cocktails & beers, in a popular nightclub with light shows. This shiny modern club has quickly established itself as one of the most exclusive nights out in the city. Live acts perform throughout the year, with the focus on commercial music and old school DJs.
Address: C. Cárcel Baja, 10, Centro, Granada.
Telephone: +34 621 291 423
This funky pub boasts a calendar packed with live acts, as well as other cultural activities such as poetry jam events, tango classes and life drawing sessions. Its famously cosy interior and the fun, easy-going atmosphere make it a favourite with locals.
Address: Calle Pintor López Mezquita 3, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 291 796
Website: www.tertuliagranada.com
Tucked away in Granada’s historic Albaicín quarter, this bar-cum-restaurant doubles up as one of the city’s premier flamenco venues. It hosts two performances per day, each lasting around an hour and featuring guitarists, dancers and singers. The food is excellent as well.
Address: Calle Panaderos 32, Granada.
Telephone: +34 958 206 266
Website: www.jardinesdezoraya.comGranada Food And Drink
Food In Granada
It is one of the best Caribbean islands for food, and its national dish, oildown, is a one-pot staple whose ingredients reflect aspects of Grenadian history. The name “oildown” comes from the fact that the oil from coconut milk is cooked down—absorbed—by the ingredients.
- Eggplants fried with honey
This dish consists of thin rodajas, or slices, of eggplant dipped in a thin layer of flour, fried in delicious olive oil.
It is a popular traditional egg dish that combines lamb or calf brains and testicles. Other additions include peas, breadcrumbs, nuts, potatoes, chorizo, and peppers.
The best thing about this dish is that besides being delicious, it helps us to warm up at a time when we usually need it. The recipe consists of a stew of rice, blood sausage, pork face and pringá, which is usually mixed with broth, dried beans and beans.
Another must-eat dish in Granada is the “remojón”, a very Granadian salad that mixes sweet and savoury. It combines orange, desalted cod, black olives, onion, garlic and may contain other ingredients such as hard-boiled egg.
Bonitos are a tribe of medium-sized, ray-finned predatory fish in the family Scombridae – a family it shares with the mackerel, tuna, and Spanish mackerel tribes, and also the butterfly kingfish.
The Iberian tostada is a dish made in spain that triumphs in Granada, especially in the early morning. This toast, as we serve it in Jardines de Zoraya, consists of a toast of sourdough bread with tomato, Iberian ham and extra virgin olive oil.
The Espeto is a typical dish from Málaga and the Granada Coast in Southern Spain, and consists of skewering fish, traditionally sardines, on thin and long rods, to roast it over firewood on the beach sand.
Piononos are a hallmark of Granaine culture, consisting of a thin sheet of sponge cake soaked in a sweet and smooth liquor that is filled with cream and cinnamon and then topped with toasted sugar.
Drink in Granada
Sangria is an iconic Spanish drink loved around the world. There are heaps of versions, but the classic recipe is made with red wine, brandy or vermouth, sliced apples and oranges, and sparkling soda. A crowd-pleasing pitcher of sangria is the perfect drink to share with friends over tapas.
The bitter spirit of choice for aperitivo has long been vermouth, a fortified wine made with aromatics and botanicals. Vermouth made its debut in Turin in the 18th Century then made its way to Spain — Catalonia, specifically — in the 19th Century.
Agua de València is a Spanish cocktail made with freshly squeezed orange juice, cava (sparkling wine), vodka, and gin. A fruity and refreshing cross between a mimosa and sangria, it tastes like Spain on a sunny spring day.
Mosto (apple/grape juice) makes a nice, thirst quenching change from the `usual suspect´ soft drinks.
Beer and wine are the most common options. A very popular choice to look out for is tinto de verano (this is not sangría but similar), a very refreshing red wine based drink.
Famed as the home of the enchanting Moorish Alhambra, Granada is a beautiful southern Spanish destination for culture and heritage aficionados. It’s also a buzzy city for keen foodies and sociable travellers to discover, with a plethora of brilliant bars and flamenco clubs. A tremendous selection of fantastic hotels and B&Bs await visitors, and it can be a challenge to select the best places to stay in Granada. Luckily, our Gurus have done the hard work for you — read on for their top recommendations!
The Alhambra, with its water gardens, intricate mosaics and marvellous colonnaded courtyards, is undoubtedly Granada’s most well-known attraction. Delve into the city’s rich Islamic heritage at the palace, or take a guided walking tour of the historic centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Realejo, the old Jewish quarter, is fascinating, as is hillside Sacramonte — once the preserve of Granada’s gypsies and now the best spot for live flamenco. Don’t miss the chance to experience a traditional hammam, or to marvel at the lavish Baroque Monasterio de la Cartuja.
If it’s wine, tapas and seasonal produce that you’re after, look to the bars of Plaza Nueva, Plaza Pescaderia and the Paseo de los Tristes. The bustling Mercado San Augustín, the finest market in the city, is another foodie highlight. Venture into the surrounding mountains for days of horse riding, hiking and mountain biking, before joining locals at hole-in-the-wall bars for sangria and flamenco aplenty!
But don’t forget that this is an incredibly popular destination — not just in the peak summer months. If you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Granada, get organised and book well ahead.