The Alhambra of Granada, its towers and ramparts in front of the Sierra Nevada

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada

Granada, the Alhambra and the Moor’s last sigh

An hour and a half from the coast, Granada is the essential cultural escape of any stay in Andalusia. The Alhambra, its Nasrid palaces and Generalife gardens overlook a lively, student-filled, food-loving city where a tapa still comes free with your drink.

Book the Alhambra weeks ahead — it is the first thing I take care of — then lose yourself in the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter, up to the San Nicolás viewpoint at sunset. Sacromonte and its caves host the city’s most authentic flamenco; the cathedral and Royal Chapel hold the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs.

In winter, the Sierra Nevada offers skiing forty minutes from the centre, and you can ski in the morning and swim in the afternoon on the Costa Tropical. A folly I recommend at least once.

Granada

What to see and do in Granada

The Alhambra and Generalife

Nasrid palaces, Alcazaba and gardens: booking required, with a fixed time slot.

The Albaicín

White lanes, secret carmen gardens and the San Nicolás viewpoint facing the Alhambra.

Flamenco in Sacromonte

Zambras in the caves, Granada’s gypsy tradition.

The tapas route

Every drink ordered comes with a free tapa: dine as you wander.

Practical information

From Málaga airport: About 130 km · 90 min by road
Best season: Spring and autumn; winter for the snowy Sierra Nevada and the Alhambra without the crowds.
Ideal for: History and architecture lovers · Two-day escape from the coast · Ski & beach combo in winter

My advice