Travel advice & practical information for travelogue:

'City Trip Granada'

Spanish Consulates:

New York
150 East 58th Street
New York NY 10155 -U.S.A.
Tel.:212/ 355-4080
Fax.: 212/644-3751

London
20 Draycott Place
London SW3 2RZ
Tel: 020 7589 8989
Fax: 020 7581 7888

Paris
165 Boulevard Malesherbes
PARIS CEDEX 17
FRANCE 75840
E-Mail: info@cgesparis.org
Tel.: +33 (0) 1 44 29 40 00
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 40 54 04 74

Useful addresses

www.spain.info is the official Spanish tourism web site, which also offers information about Andalusia.

www.andalucia.org is the official Andalusia site, in 4 languages.

Tourist Office Granada (Turismo): c/Mariana Pineda, for free city plans with sights

Language

Granada is a university city. Students and people who work in tourism usually speak English. But outside the tourist centers and outside the city it's a good idea to bring a phrase book.

Best time to travel

In July and August the temperature can easily reach 40 degrees Centigrade. These months are really not good for a visit. Any other time of the year is good for visiting Granada. Winter sports afficionados: Granada is in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, so you can combine winter sports and culture.

Accomodation

Granada has accomodation in every price class. Our experience at Hostal Landázuri, Cuesta de Gomérez 24 was good. This is the street that leads to the Alhambra, so you can get there early, before the tourist buses arrive. The hostal has a pleasant roof terrace with a view of part of the Alhambra. In May the hostal was aready booked up early in the evening, so don't arrive too late in the day.

Food and drinks

The best place to eat in Albaícin is the atmospheric Plaza Largo. On Cafetin La Porrona's terrace, a neighborhood restaurant that serves a good meal for a reasonable price, the Plato Alpujarranes will please meat lovers. For little money you can drink a bottle of Rioja with it.

Around Plaza San Miguel Bajo in the same neighborhood are bars and restaurants whose terraces have a view of a 16th century monastery.

If you don't want Spanish food for a change, La Cantina Mexicana, Cuesta del Realejo 1, has excellent tacos, quesadillas, etc. Lots of students eat here, so it's definitely cheap.

The outdoor café on the little square next to Mirador S. Nicolás (Albaícin) is a good place to have a drink after climbing all the way up. They serve free, delicious tapas with their drinks.

On the outskirts of the city center is Chikito (Plaza Campillo 9), a restaurant with a rich history. It's famous litterary regulars' table 'El Rinconcillo' was the meeting point for Garcia Lorca and other intellectuals. The many photos on the walls are proof. It has a great atmosphere, very Spanish and the food is good. You probably should make a reservation. Tel. 22 33 64

Grand-café Via Colon (Gran via de Colon 13) is not just a waiting room for the many buses that leave from here, it's also worthwhile to have a cup of coffee here and to enjoy the special interior.

An atmospheric restaurant is La Ermita en la Plaza Toros, which is situated in the catacombs of the arena. Here you can enjoy Spanish cuisine in a special ambiance.

Alhambra and Generalife

Opening hours in the summer: 9 AM - 8 PM. The cash desk opens half an hour earlier.

In the tourist season you can visit Alhambra and Generalife in the evening, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 10-12 PM.

A typical piece of advice from the Rough Guide Andalucia: "Within the walls of the citadel there are some restaurants that overcharge. But no one seems to mind if you bring a bottle of wine to the Generalife and cool it in one of the fountains - maybe this is the best way to appreciate the luxury and enjoy it."

Money

If you know in advance which places you're going to visit, you can find out online if and where there are ATM's where you can use your MasterCard and Cirrus or Visa to withdraw money.

Plan your trip to Spain online

Through online reservation systems like À la Carte Vacations you can book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars and holiday houses. You can build a fly-drive itinerary with maximum flexibility, book a flight plus a hotel hotel for a night or weekend. Without the limitations of package deals from travel organisations and most times for a much better price.