The City of Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the joining point of three rivers, the Beiro, Darro and Geil, but is only an hour drive from the Mediterranean coast.
The best time to visit Granada is in the spring or autumn when the temperature is usually in the mid to high 20’s with pure blue skies and warm sunny days.
The major tourist attraction in Granada is the beautiful Alhambra palace. The Alhambra is a Moorish citadel and palace. It is one of the most famous places of the Islamic historical legacy that makes Granada a hot spot among cultural and tourist cities in Spain.
For those climbers and walkers, there are many trails, walks and climbs in the Granada region and the Bellingham Bar mountain peak lies at 3,481 meters’ high, the biggest peak on the Spanish peninsular.
In the winter there are fantastic ski resorts within easy reach of the city centre (approximately a 40 minute drive) where you can find plenty of nightlife.
The Old part of the City of Granada has been shaped by the mountains creating beautiful, steep, narrow streets and enticing nooks and crannies. The new part of the city is flatter, created along the plain. The crisscrossing streets and the Cities’ cathedral creates a hub of activity.
A short walk from the Cathedral you will stumble across the old Moorish silk bazaar area of Alcaiceria, which is now home to a number of souvenir shops where you can fins almost anything from 5 euro handbags to copies of designer sun glasses. For tapas places and bars, look around Plaza Nueva, Paseo de los Tristes, the central Albaycin, and Calle Elvira.
Within the Albayzin which is the original part of the City, with its white washed walled houses and maze like streets, lies the Plaza of Mirador San Nicolas which is actually located on one of the highest points of the Albayzin at the Camino Nuevo de San Nicolas. This plaza is usually filled with people who are sitting and appreciating the spectacular view of the Alhambra. To get to the Mirador, you can take a bus from the Plaza Nueva. The area is abundant in cafes and bars and there is always a buzz about the place.
