Granada: A Hidden Gem

My last trip on my Erasmus year was to Granada. I decided to write about it because I think it’s one of the most underrated cities in Spain. Granada has an amazing fusion of cultures and religions thanks to its great history. Once a stronghold for the Moorish Empire, it became a symbolic place for Catholicism in Spain, following the Conquest of Granada.

Accommodation

In my experience, accommodation in Granada is quite decently priced. When I went in June, I stayed in Pensión Olympia, on Calle Alvaro de Bazán. It’s just off Gran Vía de Colón, so it’s very central. I paid just under 58€ for two nights (for me and my friend). The host was very friendly and gave me a map, which ended up being very handy because I didn’t have data at the time!

I would recommend looking for accommodation on Booking (this is where I found my accommodation) or Airbnb. Location wise, it’s best to stay central as all the main sites are there.

Things to see

Granada Cathedral is a renaissance masterpiece, unlike most cathedrals in Spain, because it was built in the 1500s after the Conquest of Granada. It was the first renaissance cathedral of its kind in Spain. For students, tickets cost 3. 50 € and you get a free audio guide; for non-students, tickets are 5 €. Girls don’t have to worry about covering their shoulders and legs, possibly because of the scorching heat; it was 38˚C when I went in June!

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The Royal Chapel is another must-see, especially if you have an interest in Spanish history as it is the burial place of the Catholic Monarchs- Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. It also holds the tombs of Phillip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad. Tickets cost 4 € but it’s 2. 50 € for students. As well as the tombs, there is a gallery with artwork and belongings of Spanish royalty. Unfortunately, you cannot take photos inside the chapel so I don’t have any to share.

A site you can see for free is Plaza Isabel la Catolica, at the end of Gran Vía de Colón. There is a monument which depicts Christopher Columbus, before Isabel I of Castile, as she gives him her permission to make his voyage to what would later become known as the Americas. The statue is surrounded by a fountain, making it impressive to see at both day and night.

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Of course the main site to see in Granada is the Alhambra which dates back to the 1230s. The Islamic architectural masterpiece is comprised of amazing palaces and gardens, so it is worth spending a whole day there. I cannot stress enough how important it is to buy tickets online well in advance; they sell out fast. Me and my friend booked tickets at the start of April and went at the end of June because they were the earliest tickets we could actually find! If you do want to buy a student ticket, you will need a European Youth Card or you will not be able to get the ticket. We found out the hard way and had to pay an extra 5 € each to make up the difference for a standard ticket. Student tickets cost 12. 79 € online.

The main site within the Alhambra is the Nasrid Palaces and you must go at the designated time on your ticket otherwise you will be denied entry. Depending on how busy it is, I would recommend lining up at least 30 minutes before your designated time. It is well worth the wait! You get to see an amazing Arabian fortress with beautiful gardens and fountains.

Other must-sees in the Alhambra include the Generalife and the Alcazaba. There are also some places you can see free of charge, such as the Wine Gate, Charles V Palace which also holds the Museum of Fine Arts (free only for EU citizens, if not 1, 50 €) and the Alhambra Museum. Unfortunately, the Museum of Fine Arts was shut when we went so make sure you check opening times for everything!

Places to eat

There are countless restaurants, cafes and bars in Granada but I would like to just share a few that I went to. They are ideal if you’re on a budget; it was almost the end of my Erasmus so money was very tight!

Tapas bars are great because you usually get free tapas when you order a drink and some tapas. I loved Bar la Fontana because it’s super cheap and the staff were really friendly. We also went to Gran Café Bib Rambla which serves cheap tapas, has friendly staff but also serves full meals if you don’t fancy tapas.

I’m a vegetarian so I really enjoyed Tetería Generalife because they have the tastiest falafel, and you can get a falafel wrap, chips and a drink for just 5. 50€! I ended up going twice! A great cafe for vegetarians and vegans is Mimimi because they have a big range of food which is all really cheap. I would recommend the breakfast because they have so many different types of toast and drinks.

Top Tips

Finally, I just wanted to finish with some general tips about Granada. If you’re going in summer, make sure you drink plenty of water and use lots of sun cream because it gets very hot! If you’re travelling to Granada from another area in Spain, you’ll probably have to take the coach as not many trains go there. From just outside the bus station, you can get the SN1 to the centre which takes just 20 minutes and they are regular. Once you are in the centre, everything is walking distance. And, final tip, just enjoy yourself and hopefully you’ll love Granada as much as I did!

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