“If we had to visit only one city in Spain, it would have to be Granada”. This is how the United States writer Ernest Hemingway referred to the Andalusian city. Hemingway, like many other celebrities, was in love with the Alhambra and the city, its white streets, its people, its smell. Granada maintains its indescribable beauty, its own charm, an unforgettable magic that makes everyone who visits it want to return.
The Alhambra, a World Heritage site, is Granada’s most important monument, first obligatory stop for all tourists. Located in a privileged spot at the top of a hill, it offers an impressive panorama of the entire city, that it looks out over from above.
To access the palace it’s necessary to buy a ticket ahead of time, weeks before you go to the city. The Alhambra is a city in itself, with a multitude of paths and nooks and crannies to get lost in. Visitors can begin by looking at the Alcazaba, the military area and also the oldest of the complex. Continuing on, it’s a must to go into the Nasrid Palaces, an artistic and architectural marvel, made up of three buildings built by different Arab monarchies: the Mexuar,the Comares and the Leones.
After this visit, there still remains to visit the Generalife, next to the gardens and fountains, a place of refuge for the old kings who desired to recreate here a paradise on earth.
One of the best views of the Alhambra is the one from the Mirador de San Nicolás, in the Albaicín district. With the Sierra Nevada in the background and the city at its feet, watching the sunset from here is almost an obligation and a joy for the senses.
The Albaicín itself is another one of the most visited places in the city. Its whitewashed houses, cobbled streets, its typical houses (cármenes) with their gardens and courtyards, the smell of jasmine flowers … invite one to walk through and get lost in this area without thinking about the passing of time. Above the Albaicin one finds the Sacromonte, famous for its caves with flamenco clubs where gypsies have their parties of singing and dancing every night.
And down below, Granada´s historical centre isn’t lacking of charm either. It’s an absolute must to visit its cathedral, the Royal Chapel, where the Catholic Kings are buried, the surrounding streets, where the visitor will find a multitude of shops to buy souvenirs and other products typical of the area.
In Granada its worthwhile to lose oneself without a plan and discover its jewels like the Cartuja Monestary or the San Jeronimo Monestary, as well as its various mansions, cármenes, and historical houses of interest, among which can be found the Moorish House of Horno de Oro or the House of Father Suarez.
The cultural atmosphere of the city is quite diverse, as along with organizing various musical or movie festivals, it hosts all kinds of museums such as the modern Science Park, an interactive center that is more than 70,000 square meters in size.
To eat in Granada, the usual thing consists of going to a bar and trying the tapas that are offered for free when you ask for a drink which is, besides being a cheap option, a good way to discover the area’s gastronomy.
At night, after tapas, comes the time to go out and enjoy the night life. Granada is full of vitality because of its being a university city. Pubs fill the center’s streets, overall Elvira street and the Pedro Antonio de Alarcón area.
And to stay in Granada, there’s no better place than our two hotels in the city, both of them right in the center and both of them four star: the Vincci Granada 4* and the recently inaugurated Vincci Albayzín 4*, where you’ll enjoy every convenience and service for a perfect stay in Granada. Check out our offers and promotions and head off for Granada province’s capital. We’re waiting for you!