Is Granada Worth Visiting?

Granada. While not the capital of the Andalucian region, it certainly seems to be it’s beating heart. From the towering watch of the Alhambra to the gorgeous wandering alleyways of the Albaicin neighborhood, this city has plenty to draw the tourist in. However, like so many, ‘premier destinations’ in Europe, before visiting, I had to ask myself, is it gonna live up to the hype? Will it meet any of the demands laid upon it by my friends and family who have visited before me? After a few days there in Winter 2019 I can unequivocally say, ‘Yes, yes it does.’ You can put that on record.

GRANADA

**WHERE**: Andalucia, Spain
**WHY**: The Alhambra, amazing food.
**TIME**: 3 nights

The Alhambra is stunning

I’m not one of those ‘monument seeker’ types. Especially in Europe. You could fill a dumptruck with the guidebooks that come out every year advising you each ‘special church,’ or ‘unmissable monument,’ that you need to see in each country. In short, these are largely garbage. Many churches are easily skipped over, and after a while, all forts and castles start to look alike. Not so the Alhambra. This bad boy is to Europe as Macchu Picchu is to South America – you’d be a boorish philistine to skip it, queues be damned. I was glad of the hours that I spent wandering the hallways of the Alhambra, tracing the intricate Moorish passageways, wandering beneath great domes of such beauty, such breathtaking simplicity and opulence that even writing this, I know I’m falling short. I wrote about the Alhambra a little more over here, however, let me say this, the 14 euros that you spend on tickets for this place may well be the best that you spend in all of Spain.

Gonna visit the Alhambra? Great! Read our guide to visiting here, and our guide for taking the best photographs of it here.

The Barrios genuinely are charming

You know how you’re told stories by elderly aunts, or neighbours about the ‘charming neighbourhoods’ they wandered whilst in Europe. Your eyes will roll, your attention will waver, and you’ll start to mentally imagine grass growing to escape the boredom of such a tale. However, the neighbourhoods of Albaicin, Sacromonte and Realejo all pack some of the greatest history, individual stories and charm that you’re likely to find in Europe. Each demands your attention individually, disarming you with their beauty, wandering alleyways and fairly affordable drinking holes. Each of these neighbourhoods are worth a few hours of wandering alone. Note well how awesome the street art is in Realejo alone.

The Tapas is good

The Tapas is good. No greater platitude has ever been said. After my time in San Sebastien, Pamplona and Leon, I thought that I had tasted the best tapas Spain had to offer. Not so. I admit my ignorance, publicly. The Tapas bars of Granada are legendary for a reason. The food on offer here with each drink is worthy of at least a novella, or a gushing, too long speech at a wedding. Seriously. The stuff we were being served with our vino Tinto was better than most meals in other cities. My guide for the best tapas in town is at Taberna St Germain, Bodega Castaneda, Bar Los Diamentes and La Botilleria - all easily reached via walking - go for a Tapas crawl, you’ll feel the vague sense that you might actually be doing as the locals do.

Looking for more on food and drink in Granada? Read about it here.

The city is beautiful

Granada is a tourist haven, that’s for sure. However, they’re coming here for a reason. Hell, I came here for a reason. The city is bloody beautiful. From the worlds best sunset at Mirador San Nicolas to the beauty of the cities many grandiose churches, the city oozes beauty. As I walked around the city I found myself constantly tripping over, so great were the sights surrounding me. Whether it was (yet another) amazing church, or another teeming market, I was consistently needing to crane my neck to scope out something new. On that front, nothing else needs to be said, simply put, come here and see it for yourself.

It’s nicer than Seville

Yes, Seville is the capital of Andalucia. I know. However, Granada can’t be beat for how pedestrian friendly it is, how accessible its monuments are, and how much…nicer it feels than Seville. It’s one of those intangible sixth-sense things, I just got a bad vibe from Seville. Not so in Granada – this place welcomed me with open arms and didn’t let go. The people here seemed, by and large, friendly, welcoming, and more than happy to speak to two travelers with broken Spanish. What more could you ask for?