With its distinctive historical past and well-known tapas, a Granada metropolis break makes the right lengthy weekend of exploring and consuming, and an awesome vacation spot for households with older youngsters particularly.
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Exploring the Alhambra is fascinating for youthful youngsters too, and when you may need to skip the cobbled hills of the Albaicin when you’ve received a buggy, Spain is extremely family-friendly, so that you’ll be welcomed in every single place.
So when you’re contemplating visiting Granada with youngsters, I’ve pulled collectively all the ideas and inspiration in my posts, in addition to extra recommendation, to this Granada metropolis break information.
Granada: Getting there/round
There are presently no direct flights from the UK to Granada (there have beforehand been direct flights from London with British Airways, EasyJet and Vueling amongst others). For now, you possibly can fly not directly through one other Spanish airport, together with Barcelona and Madrid
There’s a daily airport bus from Granada airport to the centre, and taxis value round 30 Euros.
In any other case, the closest airport is Malaga, round 125km or a 90-minute drive away, with each bus and prepare hyperlinks.
When you’re in Granada, it’s very simple to get round on foot. Should you’d moderately not climb limitless hills, there’s additionally a great bus community together with routes as much as the Alhambra and Sacromonte, with single fares costing 1,60 Euros (which can be utilized for as much as 60 minutes when you switch onto one other bus)
There are additionally Credibus playing cards with cheaper fares, which is price when you’re planning to make use of the bus lots or are staying longer. The minimal credit score you possibly can add is 5 euros, and there’s a 2 euro cost for the cardboard (which you may get refunded).
The place to remain in Granada
We stayed in an AirBNB flat in the Albaicin which was compact however excellent for 2, on a quiet avenue and really central for exploring. Should you’re travelling with youngsters, take a look at my suggestions for the very best child-friendly residences too.
Should you’re in search of accommodations in Granada, reserving.com is at all times a great place to begin, together with accommodations with free cancellation.
For someplace memorable, take a look at i-escape for boutique accommodations too, in addition to Paradores of Spain for some fabulous transformed previous buildings throughout the nation, together with stays in Granada. Be ready to e book a good distance prematurely for these although, particularly at busy instances.
What to see in Granada
Should you love historical past and structure, Granada is a dream vacation spot for a metropolis break nevertheless it’s additionally a incredible place to wander, take in the solar and sights, and calm down – the Alhambra is deservedly the large draw (take a look at my tip on visiting beneath) however that’s not the one cause to e book a visit.
Discover the totally different quarters of the town and a few of its important landmarks and also you’ll take a journey by means of its historical past, and be taught concerning the individuals who lived right here over the centuries.
Town is understood for its viewpoints or miradors, particularly San Nicolas, wanting down onto the purple roofs of the town and out to the snow-topped mountains of the Sierra Nevadas, so save time to benefit from the views too.
Moorish Granada
Granada was the final outpost of Al Andalus, and the town remains to be the a part of Spain the place the previous Moorish environment endures most strongly. Not simply within the Alhambra itself however within the winding streets of the Albaicin.
Wander the twisting alleyways to find viewpoints out over the town, fairly squares, whitewashed buildings and a number of the oldest elements of the town.
Learn my tips about exploring Moorish Granada
Granada’s Catholic legacy
Isabella and Ferdinand united Spain throughout their rule, with Catholic Granada as certainly one of their crowning achievements, ending the road of Moorish kings who created the Alhambra.
As we speak, the cathedral dominates the town, in case you’re in any doubt as to the eventual victors, whereas the Capilla Actual, one other of the historic buildings created of their reign additionally holds their tomb.
Learn my tips about discovering Granada’s Catholic legacy
Granada off the overwhelmed vacationer monitor
Heading barely out of the centre takes you to the previous Jewish quarter within the Realejo, whose inhabitants are thought to have given Granada its identify.
Little stays of Jewish Granada or the Jewish group however there’s a small Sephardic Museum telling the neighbourhood’s story, in addition to extra picturesque streets (and many for foodies).
Learn extra about Jewish Granada
Sacromonte: Views and Granada’s Roma historical past
If there was nothing else to Sacromonte however the views, it will nonetheless be price climbing the hill (or hopping on a bus).
However Sacromonte can be the location of but extra of Granada’s legends, in addition to the house of the town’s Roma group, together with some fascinating cave dwellings courting again to the 14th century within the small museum.
Town is residence to a protracted flamenco custom – the actual stuff, not the spangled vacationer dolls – and that is the realm you’ll discover it too.
Learn extra about what to see in Sacromonte
The place to eat in Granada
Tapas and the options
Town is legendary for being one of many few left in Spain the place you’ll get a free ‘tapa’ together with your drink, though that’s getting rarer. There’s loads of tapas which is price paying for although, together with extra conventional menus in a few of Granada’s greatest eating places
Breakfast on chocolate
There’s a number of strolling to be completed in Granada, so gasoline up earlier than you begin with Spain’s well-known doughnuts dipped in chocolate courtesy of the town’s prime churros.
The basic cease is the Gran Cafe on Plaza Bib-Rambla – courting again to 1907, it’s additionally the town’s oldest. So that you’re fairly effectively sightseeing as the identical time.
Ice cream with model
it was chilly Spring once we visited but when the solar’s shining, right here’s the place to get your scoop of Granada’s greatest gelato.
Plan your go to to Granada
Suggestions for the Alhambra
From timed tickets to advance reserving and easy methods to get across the sprawling palaces, listed below are my prime tips about visiting the Alhambra to get essentially the most of your go to to this fabulous world heritage web site.
Guidebooks and vacationer information
I additionally purchased the Granada chapter from Lonely Planet’s Andalucia information which has extra options and recommendation, whereas there are additionally vacationer workplaces across the metropolis with maps and leaflets to select up.
Should you’re seeking to brush up your vocab, take a look at my assessment of Lonely Planet’s Quick Discuss Spanish for important phrases.
It’s additionally simple to mix a go to to Granada with a few of Andalucia’s different great historic cities, comparable to a day in Ronda with youngsters or a keep in Seville with youngsters.
Granada excursions
Try a number of the greatest excursions of Granada on Viator and Get Your Information, together with Segway and bike excursions.
For extra inspiration of locations to go to in Andalucia, take a look at my decide of the highest issues to do in Seville with youngsters and concepts for what to do in Ronda with youngsters
*First written in 2014. Up to date 2026*
PIN FOR LATER: GRANADA CITY BREAK GUIDE
Disclosure: This put up incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Pictures copyright MummyTravels/Cathy Winston
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