Granada Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Granada offers a lot more to see and do than you would normally expect from a provincial capital. The biggest attraction is no doubt the Alhambra, which consistently draws more visitors than any other sight in Spain. Because Muslim rule lasted the longest in Granada—roughly 250 years longer than in Cordoba and Seville—the city has the widest-ranging inventory of medieval Moorish structures on the Iberian Peninsula: Arab courtyard homes, bathhouses, cisterns, defensive walls and horseshoe-arched gates, mostly in the Albaicin district. Likewise, the Christian conquest in 1492 sparked a building boom as the new monarchs put their stamp on the city. Centuries-old monasteries, churches, palaces and civic buildings in styles ranging from Gothic, baroque and Renaissance to mudejar define the cityscape.

As impressive as its monuments are, modern-day Granada in no way languishes in the past. In restaurant terraces and tapas bars, fun-loving Granadinos mingle with a steady stream of tourists from all over the world and a local and international student population of 60,000. As the beautiful views and gastronomic bounty attest, nature has been extremely generous. Traveling less than an hour in any direction will take you to lovely mountain or coastal scenery where, depending on the season, you can ski, snowboard, hike, cycle, kayak or swim.

Must See or Do

Sights—The Alhambra; the Generalife; the stunning panoramic view from the Mirador de San Nicolas in the Albaicin; the Cathedral and Royal Chapel.

Museums—The Museo de la Alhambra.

Memorable Meals—Savor the innovative tasting menus at La Fabula and Restaurante Damasqueros; more traditional local fare paired with a breathtaking view at Mirador de Morayma.

Late Night—Squeeze into the popular Bodegas Castaneda for beer and tapas; see a flamenco show; enjoy a glass of wine with cheese and charcuterie at La Trastienda.

Walks—Stroll along the river on Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes in the Lower Albaicin; walk up Cuesta de Gomerez before taking the wooded path to the Alhambra.

Especially for Kids—Interactive and engaging exhibits at the Parque de las Ciencias and Memoria de Andalucia.

Founded on the shore of Lake Nicaragua in 1524 by Francisco Fernandez de Cordoba, Granada, Nicaragua, is the nation's oldest city, one of the oldest cities in the New World and foremost attraction for tourists from around the world.

Granada is the cleaner, better renovated and grander of Nicaragua's two colonial towns (the other being Leon). It's also superbly situated at the base of Mombacho Volcano and along the northern shore of huge Lake Nicaragua. It's also located within one hour of several noteworthy excursions to volcanoes, crater lakes, artisan villages, nature reserves and the nearby cities of Managua and Masaya. Thus, Granada makes a great base for visiting many of Nicaragua's main attractions.

Granada has two main streets, divided in their centers with greenery: Calle la Calzada leads from the main plaza and cathedral down to the lake's edge. For several blocks near the plaza it is lined by upscale restaurants, cafes, bars and shops. This is one of two major nightlife areas in town. Calle Real Xalteva heads west from La Merced Church uphill to Fortaleza de Polvora, passing upscale shops, two significant churches and a lovely park full of stone columns and greenery.

History

Granada was originally dubbed "The Great Sultan." Unfortunately, it was completely ransacked by pirates three times in the mid-1600s and then burned to the ground by William Walker in the mid-1800s. Most of the city's current stunning, grand architecture dates from the massive re-building of the late 1800s following Walker's fateful arson attack.

A true jewel of colonial architecture, Granada has been almost entirely restored, thanks to a major government effort partly funded by Spain and to an influx of foreign investors who are turning venerable mansions into boutique hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars.