Our city: Granada
Granada is the capital of the province with the same name and is situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, in the Sistema Bético, the Iberian Peninsula’s highest mountain range. Located to the east of Andalusia, in southern Spain, Granada enjoys one of the country’s greatest cultural heritages. As well as the world-famous Alhambra and the Albaizín district, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Granada boasts a Renaissance cathedral dating back to the 16th century. We can also visit the underground passageways and caves as well as Granada’s various cármenes (traditional villas).
Granada is the city of García Lorca, a city which is “open all year round”. It doesn’t matter when you choose to visit, there’s always something to do. Some of the more well-known events include: the International Festival of Music and Dance, the International Jazz Festival, the Hocus Pocus Festival, the Tango Festival, together with the complete cultural agenda on offer. The main fiestas include Semana Santa (Holy Week), declared to be of National Interest for Tourists, Corpus Christi and Día de la Cruz (Day of the Cross).
And if this weren’t enough, you can go skiing in winter making use of the superb facilities on offer at the Sierra Nevada ski resort situated less than 30 km from our hotel, or take a dip in the warm waters of the Mediterranean on any of several beaches along Granada’s Costa Tropical: Motril, Salobreña, Almuñecar, all just a 40-minute drive away by car.
The cuisine in Granada and Andalusia is rich and varied. This alone is certainly a good enough excuse to visit the city. There is a large number of bars and restaurants where you can taste succulent dishes, including migas (fried breadcrumbs), remojón (traditional salad made with cod), habas con jamón (broad beans with ham), tortilla del Sacromonte (a type of omelette) and gazpacho (cold soup made with tomatoes and peppers)… In Granada you can also discover the art of “tapas”. With each drink you order, bars offer a free taster of food. The most well-known tapas areas are Albaizín, Campo del Príncipe, Realejo, Plaza de Toros and Zona Centro.
Do not wait any longer! Meet this fantastic city, come into their corners and feel the magical charm of Granada. To do this we have prepared a special program to visit the most interesting highlights ofr Granada to do not miss any detail. Meet Granada in 24 hours!
Places of interest
The Alhambra and Generalife
The World Heritage-listed Alhambra and Generalife complex is Granada’s most symbolic, famous and visited landmark.
Citadel, fortress and palace of the monarchs of the Nazarí dynasty, its rooms and gardens are Europe’s most typical expression of Muslim art.
Due to the size of the complex and the captivating beauty of its rooms, a visit will take at least two and a half hours. It’s more or less essential to book in advance, especially during busy periods. A night-time visit is a superb alternative for those who are already familiar with the landmark and wish to experience the new smells, sounds and images awakened by night in the Alhambra.
Alhambra opening times
November to February:
Daytime
Monday to Sunday 8.30 am – 6.00 pm
Ticket office: 8.00 am - 5.00 pm
Evening
Friday and Saturday 8.00 pm – 9.30 pm
Ticket office: 7.30 pm - 8.30 pm
March to October:
Daytime
Monday to Sunday 8.30 am – 8.00 pm
Ticket office: 8.00 am – 7.30 pm
Evening
Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 pm – 11.30 pm
Ticket office: 9.30 pm – 10.30 pm
The Alhambra is closed on 25th December and 1st January.
Routes:
- Route 1: The Alhambra and the Carolina's Granada: The Emperor´s dream.
- Route 2: The Christian City. A new politic, social and religious order.
- Route 3:Women in the Moorish and Renaissance Granada. Private spaces and spaces of interrelation.
- Route 4: The conquest of water. The landscape of water in Moorish and Christian Spain.
- Route 5: The Alcazaba: Territory, space and city. Artistic and functional standards in Nasrid culture.
Further InformationAlbaicín and Sacromonte
Albaicín (World Heritage Site) and Sacromonte are two of Granada’s most vibrant, charming and historic districts.
Walking through the Albaicín district is taking a journey to its Moorish roots as well as being a real treat for the senses. Discover the labyrinth of narrow streets filled with the scent of jasmine, gaze at the gardens of the cármenes (typical villas) or combine an aromatic tea with a delicious Arab pastry: these are all experiences not to be missed. Ivy and bougainvillea hang down the whitewashed walls. Within those walls, pretty gardens, vegetable gardens and fruit trees turn the cármenes into little farmhouses. There’s a burst of exuberance and colour shared too by their streets. From here you can also take in some outstanding views of the Alhambra, the city, and Granada’s floodplain, as we can see for example at the viewpoints of San Nicolás and San Cristóbal.
The Sacromonte district is famous for its caves where gypsies still sing and dance, staging their flamenco performances every evening. This is where the gypsies settled who accompanied the Catholic Monarchs’ troops when they conquered the city. Craftsmen worked with wicker, forge and copper and artists established the roots of flamenco. It’s also the birthplace of the traditional zambra performance, with native dances and songs like the mosca or the cachucha
Triunfo Gardens (Jardines del Triunfo)
These gardens occupy the site of the old bullring and were opened in 1960. Made up of wide sloping paths, they are crowned with the statue of the Triunfo de la Virgen and a 75-metre long fountain with water and light shows. In the lower gardens, on the right-hand side, there is a statue dedicated to San Juan de Dios, while on the left-hand side there is a low circular fountain with water jets.
Granada Cathedral
Built by order of the Catholic Monarchs next to the Mezquita Mayor (Great Mosque), its construction was started at the beginning of the 16th century by Enrique Egas but soon passed over to Diego de Siloé, who designed what is considered to be the masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance. The main façade is a superb Baroque creation by Alonso Cano, with the bell tower at one end. Inside, windows brought from Flanders crown the walls of the Capilla Mayor (Main Chapel) and the soft light filtering through them illuminates two of the cathedral’s main treasures: the Crucifix by Martínez Montañés in the sacristy and, underneath, Alonso Cano’s Immaculate Conception.
Festivals of interest
The Holy Week in Granada - International Tourist Interest
The Holy Week in Granada has been declared as an International Tourist Interest. Come and get to know this event full of emotions and purity that is assisted by thousands of persons every year
Things to do
Sierra Nevada
These days there’s no denying that Sierra Nevada is one of Spain’s top ski resorts and one of Europe’s too in certain respects. Its high altitude above sea level (2,100m to 3,300m) means snow is almost guaranteed during winter time. What attracts people to Sierra Nevada is unquestionably its superb weather, with sunny days over 70% of the time during the ski season, which guarantees an unbeatable setting for skiing, while the high altitude ensures the snow is kept in tip-top condition.
The resort has 84 km of slopes. Of these, 10 are green, 35 are blue, 36 are red and 5 are black.
Tour Bus
We’re delighted to offer you the chance to get to know a little bit more about Granada and its historic district. Enjoy a guided tour around the city’s main landmarks and attractions, with an audio guide available in 8 languages.