Granada is a magical city located in the Andulicia region of Spain, which is in the southernmost part of the peninsula. It is nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains and has such a gorgeous landscape surrounding it. Granada is famous for many reasons, namely the palace and fortress created by the Moorish rulers in 899 AD. Beyond this ancient and stunning structure, there is so much to do, see, and eat, around the city and in the outskirts. If you want a vacation that is enchanting and allows you to still appreciate the Spanish culture, visit Grenada.
What To See
The Alhambra, or “red castle” in Arabic, is a breathtaking palace and fort that was originally built in order to protect the city from invaders. However, now it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that gets thousands of visitors every day. The grounds are laden with pools, stunning architecture, gardens and cannons. The views you get from the Alhambra are better than you could have ever expected, so make sure you buy your tickets in advance because they do sell out quickly!
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Albaicin is an area within Granada that is another UNESCO World Heritage Site! This area is known for its cobblestone streets and Moorish architecture. There you can also find lots of local shops with items native to the region that reflects the Moorish influence.
What To Do
Since the south of Spain gets so hot in summer, there are a few ways to beat the heat in this gorgeous city. The ultimate Spanish experience is to take a siesta between 3pm-6pm just as the Spaniards do. You will find that almost all shops and restaurants will be closed during that time because of the intense heat.
Another fun way to stay out of the heat is by visiting the Sacramonte area of the city. This area is famous for its many caves, which can be at least 15-20 degrees cooler because of it being underground. Within these caves, you can find local artist studios, as well as many flamenco dance shows.
If you really can’t stand the weather, you are only a short drive away from the coast! One of the closest, less than an hour, beaches which happen also to be absolutely stunning is Peñón de Salobreña beach. The clear turquoise waters will cool you off immediately, and the town is also very interesting to walk around.
What To Eat
A great way to cool off and enjoy the city is by drinking sangria. While normally sangria is mostly a tourist trap throughout Spain, it is actually authentic when you get it in Grenada! Because the heat of the Andalucia region, it is said sangria was started there as a way for locals to cool off. Another authentically Andalucian dish served is gazpacho! The same idea with the weather applies to this cold soup, and you should definitely eat it while you’re there. You should also try queso montefrieño, a local goat cheese that is to die for.
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