We think that Granada Spain is simply the best single place to visit in all of Europe. Yep, the continent with Paris, Positano, Portugal and no doubt many other amazing places that start with P (Plitvice Lakes is pretty beautiful though…). Granada beats them all in our opinion. The incredible sites, delicious food & drinks, and friendly local atmosphere are what make this single best place in all of Europe.
Guest post by Julie and Zach (more info in the authors bio in the end of the post)
The Famous Alhambra
To start with, Granada has some amazing and unique sites that will fill your days with an adventure during your time here. The Alhambra, the castle central to the city, is the most famous. This is a must-see enormous hilltop castle located right in the middle of town. You will need a ticket to enter, and tickets can be tough to come by, so plan ahead and order your ticket before making the trip to Granada.
Once you are inside, you will see why tickets are in such high demand. You’ll get an incredible history lesson on this region of Spain, see the mind-boggling architecture, and be treated to a great view of Granada and the surrounding landscape. The Alhambra is a must in Granada.
Sacromonte
Sacromonte is another site that is a must-see. This mountainside once was home to a group of Gypsies who lived in caves built into the land. You can go and tour the entire village, and walk in and around the hillside homes. While at Sacromonte, stop and imagine what it might have been like to live in one of these homes, it will be a memorable experience for sure.
An added benefit of this place is the stunning view of the Alhambra and the rest of Granada. If you can plan it, come to Sacromonte for sunset and you’ll see the beautiful sky change colors above the gorgeous Alhambra.
Views at San Nicolas and Other Granada Sites
San Nicolas
A third must-visit site in Granada is San Nicolas, which offers the single best view in the city. The Alhambra is a major part of the view, however just as stunning as the mountains and landscape surrounding this Spanish city. Every direction you look you’ll find both natural and man-made beauty, you might not want to leave this spot. Lucky for you, you can enjoy lunch or dinner at any of the many restaurants located in this area. While the daytime view is excellent, the nighttime view might be a tad better.
The Alhambra is lit up on all sides at night and bathed in a bright orange glow. The best place to see this is from San Nicolas without a doubt, make time for this experience at least once.
On top of those three sites, there are many other great activities to fill your days with adventure in Granada. El Bañuelo is an ancient bathhouse located right near the base of the Alhambra. Take a tour of this site and marvel at the inside. Tours are free on Sundays! If you are an outdoor adventurer, there are tons of amazing hiking opportunities in the nearby Sierra Nevada and Sierra de Tejada National Parks. You can spend days in these parks enjoying the natural beauty all around you.
Food & Drinks
Perhaps the single best part of a Granada visit is the food and drinks. Granada is world renown as a tapas destination, and this city fully lives up to every expectation. First off, tapas are free throughout the ENTIRE city! Free! All you have to do to enjoy tapas is walk into a local cafe or restaurant and order a drink.
Your drink will always be accompanied by a small dish that is special and unique to that restaurant. In some cases, you’ll even get to choose which tapas you’d like to eat! Because of this feature of Granada restaurants, the best activity is to hop between bars and restaurants across the city, having a drink and tapas at each place you visit!
The drinks served throughout southern Spain, and particularly in Granada, are wildly delicious. Of course, Granada is famous for Sangria, and they serve some of the best Sangria on earth. A bit less well known is a favorite local drink: Tinto de Verano. This is a wonderful blend of red wine and fruit soda and fresh fruit. The main difference between Tinto de Verano and Sangria is that Tinto de Verano is carbonated while Sangria isn’t. Both are so yummy, and especially refreshing on a hot day while exploring all of the beauty in Granada.
Granada Culture and Flamenco
The culture and general atmosphere in Granada are a major benefit to visiting this area. People who call this place home are very special and love to live life to the very fullest. Many Granadans take part in an afternoon Siesta, or nap, which we suggest you do as well! While in Granada, and everywhere in fact, live as the locals do. Immerse yourself in the local culture and you’ll better understand the city and people. And in Granada, that means you get a wonderful afternoon nap!
Another main aspect of the culture in Granada is Flamenco dancing. You simply MUST experience a live Flamenco dancing show while in Granada, you will never forget it. The Flamenco dancers are so beautiful, talented, and entertaining to watch. To see a dance show, there are a few options. Local theaters offer their own shows, which are no doubt excellent. The best way to see a Flamenco show, however, is with a local Granada dinner. This dinner-and-a-show is available at many local restaurants located all throughout town, and each one of them will be wonderful.
The third and final way to see a Flamenco show is to get lucky and stumble across a free show in progress! Sometimes dancers will put on a show in the streets for free, and if you happen to find one of these then stop and watch! Of course, if you loved the show, it would be good to leave the dancers a tip.
Granada, Spain is full of awesome sites, from the caves of Sacromonte to the stunning Alhambra. You can even experience some of Europe’s best hiking if you choose to! The food, tapas, and drinks will ensure you have a rush, entertaining experience. On top of that, the local culture is relaxed and enjoyable, and you can see some of the world’s best Flamenco dancing.
All of this included, Granada is the best destination in all of Europe. While other destinations are wonderful and memorable in their own right, there just isn’t anywhere quite like Granada, Spain. Enjoy your trip!
Author Bio:
Hi! We are Julie & Zach Ruhl, a couple who quit their jobs and set out for a life of full-time traveling in 2018 with our pup Kobe. We love hiking, exploring, and all things outdoors! Our travel blog is Ruhls of the Road and are on all Social Media @ruhlsoftheroad.
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Further reading
Julie and Zach made a large blog post, where they talk about things to do in Granada
Many bloggers list Granada as one of the best places to visit in Spain.
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