A city break in Granada - a brilliant weekend
Recently we flew out to Malaga and then went onto Granada and had a fabulous weekend there seeing the sights of this beautiful city.
We did the usual meet & greet for the car at Gatwick which is such a stress-free way to start your holiday – no waiting around or lifting your cases in and out of packed shuttle buses. At Malaga, I’d arranged a private transfer and soon we were being checked in by the friendly staff at our hotel. We went out to a nearby restaurant, to sample the wine and tapas, before a restful night in our lovely room.
After a good breakfast, we walked to the coach station in minutes, and got our very comfy coach to Granada. Luckily I’d booked our seats in advance as the coach was full. It was a great way to see some of the countryside that we’d otherwise miss, including line after line of olive trees stretching as far as the eye can see.
On our way to our hotel situated in a lovely wide avenue near the Genil river, we saw decorated floats parading the streets – by chance, we’d chosen a weekend when a festival was being celebrated. Later we saw a procession of horses ridden by locals; the ladies wearing flamenco dress and the men wearing cordobés hats and pinstripe trousers – an unexpected pleasure to witness.
I’d pre-booked our tickets for the Alhambra Palace where we spent the afternoon. It is certainly not to be missed – beautiful buildings, fascinating history and wonderful views of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We had lunch at the Parador which was a highlight, with the courtyard providing a quiet oasis. In the evening, we went out to enjoy the buzz of the bars and restaurants.
Next day we went straight out to get the City tour bus, a great way to discover the highlights of the city & get your bearings, so that you can make the most of your weekend stay. Having said this, Granada is very walkable too. The cathedral was very near our hotel, although the 16th-century Capilla Real adjacent is far more impressive.
We picked out a lovely place to stop for a long, lazy lunch – high up in El Albayzín. It was so enjoyable sampling gazpacho and gambas a la plancha, with a nice Rioja, whilst sitting out in the Plaza in the beautiful sunshine. We jumped back on the tour bus down through the warren of white houses and then wandered through the narrow streets & alleys, to recce a nice restaurant for dinner. We picked a great place where, after our meal, we could linger over a digestivo (on the house) and watch the world go by.
Next day, we set off back home - it seemed like days since we left the UK, and such a great way to spend the weekend. We’ll go again so we can do some of the hikes in the hills & mountains of Granada, which can be quite strenuous but have amazing views - and also combine our visit with another city. If you would have been meaning to get away on a city break, do contact me for a chat on 020 3432 2510 and I’ll arrange a great break for you too.