Granada Things to Do Tips by Dabs Top 5 Page for this destination

Plaza Bib Rambla

Since our hotel was within a 5 minute walk of Plaza Bib Rambla, we ended up passing through it, stopping for a bite to eat or doing a little last minute souvenir shopping at least a dozen times in our 3 days in Granada. The Plaza is a lovely pedestrianized area where you can eat, shop and do some people watching.

Cafes line the square, we ended up eating in at least three of them but our favorite was Gran Cafe Bib Rambla where we enjoyed breakfast each morning and lunch one afternoon. Our visit to Ooh La La was less successful and we realized that there was a reason why it was a more or less empty cafe. The third one was fine, we opted for the Menu of the Day option but I forgot to write down it's name.

The entrance to the Old Moorish Silk Market is at the north end of the plaza, you'll also find souvenir shops, places to indulge in a gelato or buy some flowers and to the south you'll find more streets with shops on them.

In the center of the Plaza, there the Fuente de los Gigantones (Giants Fountain) which dates back to the 17th century and features giants supporting the lower bowl topped with a statue of Neptune.
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Capilla Real ROYAL CHAPEL Review

The Capilla Real, or Royal Chapel, was commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella to be their final resting place as at the time they thought the reconquest of Granada would be their highest achievement although they are much better known, at least in the US, for their role in Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World. It was finished in 1521, after they died, their bodies were moved here after the Chapel was finished. You can see their tombs, along with those of their daughter, Joanna the mad (Juana la Loca), Joanna's husband Phillip the Handsome (Felipe El Hermoso), and Ferdinand and Isabella's grandson, Miguel. The tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella are slightly lower than the others, reportedly because Phillip was the son of Holy Roman emperor Maxmillian.

I don't have any pictures of the interior, I believe there was a no photograph policy inside. Or maybe I was just lazy ;-)

There's a small museum at the end of the visit with Ferdinand's sword, Isabella's sceptre and crown and some artworks including a Botticelli.

Entrance to the Royal Chapel is separate from the Cathedral, admission is 3E. Both the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel close midday from about 1:30-3:30 pm (4 pm in the summer).

Address: Oficios 3

Directions: Cathedral

Phone: + 34 958 227 848

Cathedral Cathedral Review

I missed the Cathedral on our 1st visit to Granada, like many places in Spain, it closes for a siesta midday so plan your visit accordingly. On my second visit I made sure that we made time to see the Cathedral so we did a little shopping and then headed over to see it once it opened back up at 4:00 pm.

They started work on the Cathedral in 1521, after the deaths of Ferdinand and Isabella, and it was completed in 1714. The interior is mostly white and gold, none of my pictures do the interior justice. The main attraction inside the Cathedral is the gilded, domed Capilla Mayor, the dome painted in a heavenly blue starred design. There's a small museum inside the Cathedral, make sure you take a look.

Entrance to the Cathedral and the Royal Chapel next door are separate, I believe it was 3E to visit the Cathedral and 3E to visit the Royal Chapel.

Watch out for the gypsy ladies wielding rosemary here!

Address: Plaza Pasiega s/n

Phone: + 34 958 22 29 59

Old Arab Quarter Albaicin Review

This part of Granada was probably my favorite, we tried wandering through the area following the map in Lonely Planet but as we were doing it backwards at some point I missed a connection and we decided to go whatever route looked most interesting (and didn't require too much climbing!). We were more or less by ourselves except for the construction workers we ocassionally encountered so we seemed to be well off the beaten path. It's built on one of Granada's two hills so at points you can't see the Alhambra, my point of orientation, but every now and again we'd catch a glimpse of it and I'd know which way we were headed. Once we had enough, we headed down and ended back up in the Plaza Nueva.

The next morning I got up and decided to do the tour properly from the Lonely Planet book, I encountered quite a few more people "on the beaten path", many holding the same guide book as me or following along after an umbrella toting guide.

Lonely Planet's guide to this area was pretty good but I'd supplement their map with a more detailed street map. Frommer's had little coverage of this area.

It's a very interesting area, with buildings dating back to the time of the Moors, old gates in the defensive walls and breathtaking views of Granada and the Alhambra. For more pictures and a bit more on what you'll see in this area, please visit my travelogue

Address: Albaicin neighbourhood

Directions: This area is between Calle Elvira, Plaza Nueva and the sacromonte

Website: http://www.albaicin-granada.com

Mexuar THE ALHAMBRA: NASRID PALACES Review

FINALLY it was our appointed time to see the Nasrid Palace, the highlight of the Alhambra. We headed over a little bit before our slotted time and already the masses had gathered and were pushing and shoving. We finally figured out where the individual ticket line was and 20 minutes later we squeezed our way into the Nasrid Palace past the remaining hordes of tour groups pushing to get in (I became quite skilled at the art of a well placed elbow on this trip!).

You'll start your visit to the Nasrid Palace in the Mexuar, built in the 14th century as council chambers and a waiting area for people wishing to visit the emir (Sultan). The public would likely not have been allowed past this point in the day of the Moors but since we've paid our 10E admission, we're allowed to continue on

The room has been altered since the time of the Moors, it was converted into a chapel in the 16th century so you will see design details that are both Muslim and Christian. The lavishly decorated prayer room has a nice view of the Darro River.

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: advanced booking is advised to prevent crowdings

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es

Fortress THE ALHAMBRA: ALCAZAR Review

After visiting the gardens and palace at Generalife, we headed over to the other part of the Alhambra where you will find the rest of the sights you'll want to visit-the Palacio de Carlos V, the Nasrid Palace and the Alcazaba.

The ticket to the Alhambra has three tear off tickets, one for Generalife, one for the Nasrid Palace and one for the Alcazaba, the fortress built in the 9th century. You'll want to climb the Torre de la Vela (watchtower) for the spectacular view of the town below and the snow capped Sierra Nevada Mountains in the distance as well as Generalife.

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: Tel. bookings: BBV bank : 902 224 460 from Spain or through web site

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es

Summer Palace THE ALHAMBRA: GENERALIFE GARDENS Review

After strolling through the gardens at Generalife, we headed up the stairs into the Summer Palace along with several tour groups which I imagine you encounter no matter what time of day it is.

The first patio you come across is the Patio de la Acequia, built around a long rectangular pool with jets of water. From there you pass into the Patio de la Sultana where you will find the trunk of a 700 year old cyprus tree where legend has it that Abu al-Hasan caught his favorite harem girl, Zoraya, with the leader of the Abencerraj family, which led to the family being murdered at a banquet in the Sala de los Abencerrajes at the Nasrid Palace.

From here you go to the upper gardens where you can see the Escalera del Agua (water staircase) running along a set of stairs.

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: advanced booking is advised to prevent crowdings

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es

Gardens THE ALHAMBRA: GENERALIFE GARDENS Review

Since we had afternoon tickets and a 18:00 time slot to visit the Nasrid Palace, we started our visit around 14:00, the earliest time you can start your visit with an afternoon time slot for the Nasrid Palace, with a leisurely stroll through the lush gardens at Generalife. Pronounced heh-ner-rah-lee-feh, the name means "architect's garden". The sultans would retreat here to spend the hot Andalusian summers here with their harem.

The gardens were started in the 13th century but have been modified over the years, the original gardens contained orchards and pastures. Today in the gardens leading to the Summer Palace, you'll find beautiful roses, manicured shrubbery (why do I always hear Monty Python voices in my head when I say that word?) and a long pool filled with lilypads not to mention some beautiful views from the gardens across to the Nasrid Palace.

If you are not able to secure tickets to the Nasrid Palace because you dillied and dallied, you can still visit Generalife for 1/2 the price of the full ticket, currently 5E for a garden only ticket. "Garden only" tickets were still available when we picked up our reserved tickets.

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: advanced booking is advised to prevent crowdings

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es

Palacio de la Leones THE ALHAMBRA: NASRID PALACES Review

From the Palacio de Comares, you move through to the Palacio de la Leones (Palace of the Lions), not surprisingly my favorite part of the Nasrid Palace, I am a Leo after all ;-) Built in the 14th century under Mohammed V, it was said to house the Royal Harem and would have been the most private part of the Palace. The Palace surrounds the Patio de los Leones (Patio of the Lions), the fountain of which is the most well known image of the Palace.

The Palacio de la Leones is supposed to symbolize Islamic paradise, divided into 4 parts by rivers (water channels) that meet at the fountain. The courtyard is lined with 124 marble columns.

The hall with the most interesting history in this part of the Palace is the Sala de los Abencerrajes on the southern side of the Palacio. It was here that the Abencerraj family, rivals of the last emir, Boabdil, who invited them to a banquet and then had his guards kill them right in the middle of it. Seems I've heard similar stories, the one I remember involved Vlad the Impaler who lit his guests on fire, it's a wonder anyone ever accepted dinner invitations!!!!

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: advanced booking is advised to prevent crowdings

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es

Palacio de Comares THE ALHAMBRA: NASRID PALACES Review

From the Patio del Cuarto Dorado you pass into the Palacio de Comares. This part of the Palace was built as a private residence for Emir Yusef I, built around the Patio de los Arrayanes (Patio of the Myrtles). The rooms surrounding the patio were likely quarters for the emir's many wives. On the northern end is the Sala de la Barca (Hall of the Boat) which features an inverted wood ceiling shaped like a boat followed by the Salon de Comares (Hall of the Ambassadors). The beautiful domed wood ceiling is in a pattern of stars representing Islam's seven heavens through which the soul ascends before reaching the eighth heaven where Allah resides.

Address: Calle Real s/n

Directions: advanced booking is advised to prevent crowdings

Phone: + 34 958 227 525

Website: http://www.alhambra-patronato.es