Grand Time in Granada
We traveled here on a two week trip to Spain for our honeymoon. This was of the top places we wanted to visit because of its historical significance and proximity to nature.
Trip Recap
- Day 1: Checked into our cave house in Granada, then explored Sacromonte and Albaicín neighborhoods.
- Day 2: The Alhambra's Generalife and Nasrid Palaces were our favorite spots in Granada.
Highlights
Our two highlights were staying in the cave house and, of course, The Alhambra. Virtually everyone who visits Granda comes for The Alhambra and it's an absolute must-see, not only for it's rich history but also for it's immense beauty.
Day 1
We arrived in Granada and checked in to our cave house! Cave houses, also known as cuevas, are a really unique accommodation option in Granada and we knew we had to stay in one when we were researching this area of Spain. We also loved the neighborhood of Sacromonte where the cuevas are located. Even if you don't stay here, I highly recommend taking a walk in this part of town! We spent the rest of the day wandering around Granada and going on a little "photo safari" of the Albaicín neighborhood at the center of the old town. Granada is known for its free tapas as well so we spent most of that evening hopping between tapas bars, in search of the best tapa in town. Our favorite was Bodegas de Castaneda! It had a very traditional feel and the food was delicious.
Day 2
This was our only day to explore The Alhambra and we carved out an entire day to do so. There are several sections to see within the grounds, but the Generalife and Nasrid Palaces were our favorites! The Generalife is a gorgeous garden area, once frequented by the kings of Granada. Islamic architecture is common in this part of Spain due to its Moorish influence and the Nasrid Palace is thought to be one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture. Make sure to grab a glass of cava at Restaurante Parador de Granada while you're there! The views over the gardens are incredible and you'll get a sneak peak at an ancient hammam you can only see from the restaurant itself. This area was also the initial resting place of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. After spending our day exploring The Alhambra, we ended a perfect day in Granada with dinner and sunset at the best view in town, Mirador San Nicholas.
Anything you would add or do differently?
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I would book our tickets for The Alhambra further in advance! We ended up getting a bit pigeonholed in terms of the tickets we purchased due to the general admission tickets being sold out. Then we didn't realize that you need to book separate tickets for the Nasrid Palace itself. If you book far enough in advance you can also snag tickets to see the palace and grounds at night which I think would be a really unique and magical experience.
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