Granada was originally inhabited in the first millennium BC when it was the hilltop town known as Elybridge. Once taken over by the Romans, along with much of the surrounding area, it grew in importance. Overlook by the southern slopes of the famous Alhambra hill, this walled city has a vibrant scene through the day and night and is a great place to stay and get a good feel for Andalucía.
How to Get There
Granada has it’s own airport which is around 17km from the town, but this only handles domestic flights which run daily to the capital, Madrid and the major and beautiful city of Barcelona in the North West of Spain. Most international visitors arrive via the airport at Malaga which is a key destination for many budget airlines as a gateway to the Costas. Aside from air travel, Spain’s modern motorway network puts Granada easily within reach of most Andalucian towns and cities and is only an hour from the coast.
If you are looking for a hotel Granada center then parking can be a bit of an issue in Granada with much of the centre only accessible to residents or hotel guest who have booked what can often be expensive parking.
Best Time To Visit
As with much of southern Spain, Granada gets incredibly hot during the summer months. Winters are cold, with excellent access to Skiing facilities. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable, yet warm temperatures in which to explore.
Looking for a Hotel Granada Style
Granada has a massive range of accommodation on offer which means you’re never too far from luxury or a frugal place to say. The cheaper places are known as pensiones which offer great value. The best place to stay, and arguable the most romantic are around or even in the Alhambra itself, or their is the old Moorish quarter, Albaicin, where there are renovated large mansions that now operate as hotels. If you are on a bit more of a budget then a good area to try is Cuesta de Gomerex which is the hill leading up to the Alhambra. This is a fantastic location but a busy road so it could be noisy, but this is a cheaper option of course.
Other budget options are on offer around the University area, C San Juan De Dios. Something to watch out for is that many Pensiones do impose curfews, and with great Granada nightlife on offer it’s worth checking any restrictions before taking a room.
City Quick Guide
The main areas to be aware of in Granada are La Alhambra, which is one of Spain’s most significant and impressive historical monuments. It is now the second most visited tourist destination in Europe and tracks back to the cities Moorish past.
El Albaicin, which rises over the Darro on the other side to Alhambra, is Granda’s interesting quarter. Formely the area where the bulk of the cities population resided, it is full of Moorish remains.
The Catederal Area and it’s surroundings are fascinating, and as with many other cities through Europe there is the obligatory University District to add a bit of flair and fashion to this great city.
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