Experience in Granada, Spain by Laura

What's it like to live in Granada? How is it?

Living in Granada is perfect. It's a small city, easy to go from place to place on foot, bike, roller-blading or bus. Going by car is not a good idea because there usually is no parking available. The streets are always filled with people, day and night, there are loads of foreigners visiting the most symbolic monuments in the city; you'll never find yourself alone. You can get lost amongst the gardens of the Alhambra or take in the views from San Nicolas or even simply take a hike along the 'Llano de la Perdiz'.

Granada, Spain

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How is student life in Granada?

Granada has the most lively University atmosphere. All the flats are rented by university students, so at night the streets and bars in the Pedro Antonio area - an area with loads of pubs and clubs - are filled with people. There's also quite a hippy atmosphere as well as a preppy one. You can meet all sorts of people and find your kind of style.

Students in Granada

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How's the cost of living in Granada?

You can live well for little. Depending on the area it can cost more or less. The Arabial zone, Plaza de Toros, Constitucion avenue and Cartuja are the cheapest places to live, close to the centre but not right in the centre. It's standard to co-habit in shared flats, ideally in one with 3-4 bedrooms, there are ones with 7-10-15 but this is commune. To each their own. The prices start at 120 euros up to 220-250 euros a month, close to the centre there are studios and flats, but these are more expensive.

You can rent a flat from 120 euros a month

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Was it hard to find accommodation in Granada? Do you have any advice?

No. Simply searching 'flats for rent in Granada' in an internet search engine brings up thousands of results. It's important to know who the flatmates are and the type of contract before going there. Avoid co-signing contracts, and take into account that the majority of them are done 'off the books'.

How's the country's food? What are your favourite dishes?

Food in Granada is exquisite and if you go to eat in the places in the streets, you can enjoy your drink with a free tapa. Migas (a typical Spanish dish made using breadcrumbs and chorizo) and Alpujarreños (a Spanish dish made with black pudding) are the best, as is couscous in Arabic restaurants and of course, kebabs - delicious.

Migas

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Alpujarreño dish

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There are loads of restaurants in Granada

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What places do you recommend visiting in Granada?

• The San Nicolas viewpoint
• The Alhambra
• The Carmen de los Martires garden
• The Alhambra grounds
• Granada subterranean (there are excursions with agencies)
• The Arab baths at the 'Paseo de los Tristes'
• The Perdiz hiking trail
• 'Tres Juanes' church (on the outskirts)
• The 'Tres Ventanas' cave (in the town of Piñar)
• 'Carmenes' (a type of urban dwelling typical of the area) in the Albaicín neighbourhood
• The Cartuja monastery
• The cathedral
• The tomb of the Catholic kings

Granada Alhambra

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The Alhambra gardens

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The Cathedral

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Carmen de los Martires

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What about eating out in Granada? Can you tell us your favourite places?

For tapas the best area is Gonzalo Gallas. Navas street is very expensive for tapas but there are some bars which have flavoursome, but small tapas. The area of Plaza Nueva and Plaza de Toros. I also recommend Ecu and Puro Pecatto in the Zaidin neighbourhood.

Navas street has many restaurants

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What places would you recommend for a night out in Granada?

The pubs: Ganivet and the Pedro Antonio areas. As for clubs: Comborio, Principe and Mae West.

Camborio

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Mae West

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Do you have any advice for students coming to Granada?

Don't let yourself get carried away by the parties which take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and miss your classes!

Study!