Granada was once the greatest Islamic city in Europe. Located at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the area has been populated since before the Greeks and shows the marks of the various occupations since. No one has made more of an impact on the city than its Islamic rulers, who made Granada the stronghold of Moorish Spain. Even today, Granada is home to the greatest Moorish relic in Europe, the Alhambra. The Alhambra is considered by some to be one of the ten wonders of the world, a complex of palace and fortress, which was home to the Arabic Sultans who ruled the region.
Granada is not just a city of ancient wonders though, home to the prestigious University of Granada, it has a lively and cosmopolitan nightlife due to its large student population. With its charming historic centre, narrow twisting streets, lively restaurants and bars, travellers taking flights to Granada will discover a city with everything to offer.
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The summers in Granada, from June to September, are hot and dry with average highs in July and August of more than 32 degrees. The winter months have warm days but cold nights, with temperatures in January usually around the tens. Spring and autumn are warm and sunny, with September in particular hot and dry. In general there is very little rainfall.
Peak season
The height of the tourist season in Granada is July and August, when the city can become overcrowded with tourists. The city remains fairly popular into September and gets busy again leading up to summer.
Off season
Spring and autumn are ideal times to visit Granada, with warm days and not too chilly nights. September is a particularly good time to visit, as the summer heat is still lingering but there are far less tourists so you are much more likely to pick up a bargain. Even winter can be a good time for a trip, as the Sierra Nevada mountains provide the city with the most southern ski-resort in Europe.
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Buses are the most common way to get around in Granada. They’re also the most efficient. You’ll be glad you’re sitting in a bus when it starts chugging up the steep hills of the Albaicín. Once there you can see the Alhambra from the Plaza San Nícolas. The buses run until 11pm and you can catch most of them on the Granada’s main street, Gran Vía.
You can also rely on taxis to get around, which are fairly cheap. Rates are a bit higher after the sun sets.
Granada Federico Garcia Lorca (GRX), located 15.9 km from the city centre, is the airport you fly into when you book flights to Granada.