Day Trip
Transportation
Train from Cordoba Station to Granada Station.
Places Visited
We arrived in Granada at 10 am and had until 6 pm to see the Alhambra and the Old Arab Quarter which were the two things I knew I HAD to see.
Walk to Alhambra
My mom and I decided that we would slowly walk to the Alhambra since our tickets for the Nasird Palaces were for 2 pm. This was a great idea because we got to walk through some cool streets and do some souvenir shopping.
Alhambra Grounds
My main purpose in Granada was to see the famous Alhambra. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! The photos you are about to see do not do justice! In person it is better than the photos I saw in my architecture classes!
We arrived at the Alhambra at 1 pm and had an hour before we could enter the Nasrid Palace. We took this time to stroll the grounds and see the other sites there.
Like archeological ruins,
Gardens
And the Church of Santa Maria
There was a whole another section called Generalife that we didn’t even get to see. Click here for the map.
Nasrid Palaces
Then…ladies and gentlemen, for the main attraction…
And I mean check out these details…
We spent about 3 hours here. Honestly, we could have spent more. If you can help it, take out a whole day just for the Alhambra.
Albaicin – The Old Arab Quarter
This was such a workout! The quarter is beautiful with white washed walls, narrow winding streets and flowers hanging everywhere. I loved walking around and wish I had more time.
If I can one day, I would love to come and stay here for a few days!
Where We Ate
Unfortunately, I have no list of places to eat in Granada as most of our time was spent in awe of the palaces.
Doner Kabob
We grabbed a quick bite to eat at one of the many doner kabob shops that came up on our way to the Alhambra. I don’t think you could go wrong with any of these to be honest.
While at the grounds, I purchased a popsicle from a shop and had some granola bars in my backpack that I had brought from home.
After we were done with our tour, we stopped at a small café near the train station to grab a snack before heading back to Cordoba (at our Airbnb). We got a croissant and a strawberry smoothie. It kept us going until we got to Cordoba where we had dinner.
Tips
You have to purchase your tickets to see the Nasrid Palace at least 2-3 months in advance. Nasrid Palace is the main attraction and you are only allowed to enter this part of the Alhambra at the time you select when purchasing your ticket. Make sure you are at the entrance 15 minutes before so you don’t miss your chance to enter at the time.
Also, be sure to carry your passport with you. My mom was stopped to show ID with her ticket. Not sure why exactly, but glad we had it.
And lastly, make sure you have very comfortable walking shoes!
