We arrived in Granada by coach from Malaga (check out my Malaga trip report elsewhere on this site).
The journey from the coast to foothills of the Sierra Nevada took 1.5 hours by coach - we paid a very reasonable €9.20 per person for tickets with Alsa.
Like Agra with the Taj Mahal, Granada is so well known for a single monument - the Alhambra - that one might think there is nothing else to the city. This could not be more wrong, as wandering the backstreets and hills of Granada is endlessly fascinating and enjoyable.
It is a city that oozes old school elegance while at the same time possessing the edge that inevitably occurs in places that have seen many layers of history and tumult. Make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes to explore.
We stayed in Granada for 4 days which felt about right to get a good feel for the place.
In the sections below, I have only listed places that I have personally visited.
STAYING (prices are from February 2024)
Áurea Catedral by Eurostars (C. Cárcel Baja, 11)
This was the first time staying in a Eurostars hotel and it was a very enjoyable experience.
The location of the Áurea Catedral is unbeatable. The name is not a marketing exaggeration, the hotel is literally next to the Cathedral.
The hotel, which blends into the environment in a very sympathetic way, is modern and welcoming and consists of two wings with nice outdoor spaces including a beautiful courtyard.
The room was very comfortable with lots of space to spread out and a great bed. I took advantage of the well-equipped gym and sauna every day.
We paid €125 per night before taxes (via hotels.com)
Highly Recommended.
EATING (prices are from February 2024)
Restaurante el vecino de la Romanilla (Pl. Romanilla, 7)
We arrived in Granada just in time to rendezvous with some friends for lunch.
Walking around the Cathedral we came across a group of restaurants and picked the one that had a table free in the sun.
We all opted for the Menú del día, at €14.50 each and what a bargain it turned out to be. We ordered some beers and glasses of vino blanco and soaked up the rays of the February sun.
Not fancy dining, and not open during the evenings while we were there, but perfectly lovely for what it is and excellent value for money.
Highly Recommended.
Vino Y Roso (C. Álvaro de Bazán, 12)
I had read about this restaurant and the reviews prompted a booking for our party of four.
With a reservation for 8.15pm on a Thursday night on the first day of February it was not a surprise that the restaurant was largely empty when we arrived (and pretty much stayed that way until we left two hours later).
Chef Patron was charming, he came over and spent quite a bit of time with us and talked us through the menu.
After some lovely appetizers from the kitchen, we each ordered a starter and an entrée and shared a couple of desserts. The food was excellent and generous and timed perfectly so that we could enjoy catching up with our friends. The service was friendly and on point.
Including two bottles of wine we paid €155.00 between the four of us which represented good value for money.
Highly Recommended.