Granada Tourist Board

There are several key things to keep in mind when traveling abroad. You need to know exactly what you want out of your vacation. For instance, if you are younger and are trying to save money, you will most likely want to be stayin in hostels. However, if you are older and money isn't an issue, you will probably want to be staying in a nice hotel. Granada has a range of hotels that vary from 1-4 stars. It's also important to keep in mind, however, that star rating differ in Europe than in America. A four star hotel in Spain might not be a great place in America, but in Europe it is considered good. A good way to keep yourself headed in the right direction is to use a tour guide book. For younger adults, a great source of information is the book series Let's Go . Let's Go has everything from the coolest bars and clubs to the best hostels to stay in. This book also lists nearly every major cities map and bus/train schedules. However, if you are older and want information on things like hotels, museums, and art galleries, you should check Frommer's . This book series has the best information on almost every major city, and their information on European destination is right on. These are the two major sources of information, but there are tons of others out there. The best way to find out, of course, is to visit for yourself.

Granada Arriving and Departing :
If you plan on flying to Spain and will be visiting Granada, you can either fly to Madrid first, or fly directly to Granada Airport. Granada Airport is not nearly as large as Madrid, but they accept international flights, and it is much easier than flying to Madrid. Madrid is a few hours away by train, and this would cause much more traveling which can easily be avoided. The only reason this might be an option is if you plan to visit the entire country and want to start out in Madrid. If you are traveling from within Europe, the most popular mode of transportation is using the Eurail. You can buy passes that will get you several uses to anywhere in Europe, or you can just buy one ticket at a time. The prices vary and can be expensive depending on what type of seat you get, but generally this is the best way to travel. You avoid the stress and strain of flying, and you arrive directly in your location with ease. If you want to drive to Granada, you'll be happy to find that Spain has wonderful roads. Unlike some other countries that have pretty bad streets and lousy conditions, Spain takes care of its national roads, and it is very easy to get around. The only thing to keep in mind is that you could be driving for a long time with nothing in sight. Granada is pretty far south--about an hour from the mountains and an hour from the beach. There isn't a whole lot to see in the surrounding area, so if you want to see other stuff, you will have a lot of driving ahead of you.

Granada Taxis and Rental Cars :
Taxis in Spain are generally less expensive than they are in other European countries, but you still need to watch out and make sure you are not being ripped off. If you try to hail a cab from an airport or train station, they will generally have to charge you standard rates that are pre-determined.
However, if you get a cab from a random location late at night and don't speak the language too well, the drivers can try to pull one over on you. If you get in a taxi and the meter is not running, you should ask the driver why not. Sometimes you can actually save money this way by agreeing to a fare before you get going, but unless you speak the language this can be difficult and drivers can sometimes misunderstand or get insulted if you say the wrong thing. In Granada, this is the same as it would be in Barcelona or Madrid.
Rental cars follow the same procedures as in any other country. You must have proper ID and insurance. You can either pay up front or after you return the car, but it depends on what agency you use and some other variables. Roads in Spain are very good, so this is a good option, especially if you want to take your time driving throughout the country.

welcome to Granada

Granada Culture :
Granada was the last of the Arab kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula, and retains a great deal of these influence, not only in the architecture, but also amongst the people, cuisine, musical traditions, etc. The City of Granada fell to the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in January, 1492, the same year Columbus was sent on his first voyage. The Moorish-influenced style of Granadino culture is generally called Morisco or Mudejar. The greatest cultural attraction of Granada, and the most visited historic monument in Spain, is the Alhambra Palace, a treasure of Mudejar architecture. It and the Albaycin neighborhood form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Albaycin retains the character and charm of an ancient Arab neighborhood and is well worth exploring on foot. Granada also contains a treasure trove of Rennaissance architecture, especially downtown surrounding Plaza Nueva. The most prominent example is the Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real), but also includes buildings such as the Royal Chancellary, now the Supreme Court of Andalusia, and parts of the University of Granada.
Flamenco is another important cultural component of Granada. In the gypsy cave village of Sacromonte, the visitor will find numerous tablaos, or small, family-run flamenco venues that offer a combination of dancing and singing in this distinctive style.

Granada Health and Safety :
There is a lot of nightlife in Granada, and a lot of people out in the streets in the evening, but common sense should be used when walking around after dark, especially in secluded alleys which can be difficult near the Cathedral area.

Granada Weather :
Unless you are near the coast, Spain has a very dry and arrid climate. The nice thing is that it's never really that humid that you feel like you can't go outdoors, but it can get extremely hot, especially in the spring and summer. While the Spaniards are used to the heat, even they sometimes get overwhelmed by the temperatures. Temperatures can usually reach the high 90's- low 100's in the height of the spring and summer months. Granada can get extremely hot because it is in the deep south of Spain. Though it is located an hour from the beach and an hour from the mountains, neither the sea breeze nor the mountain chills reach the city. With that in mind, it is probably best to avoid visiting during the middle of the summer if you can avoid it or have problems with extreme heat. The best time to visit is probably in the earlier spring months or the fall. The reason for this is you will avoid the extreme heat, as well as the colder temperatures of winter. If you like to ski, however, winter is a good time to go because you can go to the mountains to ski, but it is not freezing like other locations where you would be skiing. Another thing to keep in mind is that Spain has tons of students studying abroad. During March, they will be on spring break and will be going wild all throughout the country. If you want to avoid this, plan your trip around that to avoid that mess.