Here is what we recommend:

When To Visit
An unbeatable time to visit Granada is during Semana Santa (Holy Week) in late March/April, i.e. the week before Easter. Witness spectacular processions throughout the city all week long - it's worth joining the crowds to see this bit of history happen before your eyes.

Another great time is in the run up to Christmas and New Year. Christmas markets abound, festivity is in the air and New Year's celebrations are great fun! 

Early summer has great weather but avoid July for the heat and especially avoid August as the locals head to the mountains or beach for a break from the heat and so many shops and restaurants are closed for the entire month. 

How to Get There & Around
Personal transport: What you'll quickly notice in Granada is the abundance of pedestrian streets, hills and cobblestones, and more mopeds than cars. It's not advisable to bring a car to Granada as there are restricted driving areas within the centre of town and parking garages are so tiny. Since it's such a small city, it's completely walkable so there's no need for a car anyway.

Flying in: The easiest and fastest option is Granada Airport (GRX) being just a €3 & 30min bus ride to town. While Malaga (AGP) can have cheaper and more frequent flights available, it's a 2hr bus ride away (€12). 

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Avoid Tourist Traps
Flamenco shows - take care when booking a flamenco show as some are catered completely toward tourists and you won't find a local or Spaniard in sight. We suggest checking in with local theatre (such as Teatro Alhambra) for any shows that will really be spectacular.
Our absolute favourite flamenco show in Granada is El Templo del Flamenco in the lower Albaicín, a short walk from La Puerta de Elvira. Connected to a Flamenco School and drawing upon the students and professors as performers, the shows take place in a huge, 3-chambered cave where all seats are good seats. Come here for an included dinner (and the food is good!) or just a drink and get swept away with the staccato beats upon the tablao, the whirling bodies and haunting singing. 

Sacromonte Caves - the joke in Granada is that these caves are free to enter but not free to exit! So take care when strolling through Sacromonte and being invited in 'for free' to view a cave.

Eat & Drink Like a Local
Granadinos are certainly the biggest proponents of the tapas culture - a free small dish with every drink served - but they also enjoy their late evening meals with friends and family. In Granada, you won't find many restaurants open and willing to serve the evening meal until after 20:30h but typically it's better to wait until 22h or later when the Granadinos start their meals, including the children. Don't spend much more than €20/person incl. drinks.

Enjoy your (invariably excellent) coffee in the morning standing up at the café counter or maybe alongside a tostada mixta (butter & jam).
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Walk, Explore & Relax
Since Granada is so walkable, it can all be seen in a few days. If you find yourself with extra days, why not hire a car and drive to the coast, or up the mountains to the Alpujarras or a day skiing in the Sierra Nevada.

Take the full morning or afternoon for your (pre-booked) visit to stroll around the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens and really appreciate the view of Granada from above.
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Get lost in the Albaicín neighbourhood and find a café in the sun to have a few cervezas and tapas and ideally a view of the Alhambra.

Granada Quick Links

Tapas Bars
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Tips for Visiting the Alhambra
Things to Do
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Tips for Visiting Granada
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