Hola Granada

After visiting Seville (see post here), we continued onto Granada for 2 nights. I had previously been to Granada for a hen do, so going with a baby was a completely different type of trip!

Here's what we got up to in the 2 days:

Alhambra & Generalife

The main sight to see in Granada is the Alhambra. Unfortunately (as I have a mum-brain), I forgot to book tickets in advance and therefore we missed out on visiting Alhambra during our stay. I had been to Alhambra before, so it was not big deal for me to not go this time. Luckily my parents are very easy going and didn't seem fussed to miss out either. They were happy as long as they could spend time with their grandson! 😀

It is advised to pre-book your tickets way in advance. It sells out online quickly especially in the summer. If you do not book tickets in advance, the queues are massively long and also sell out super early. We made the mistake of not pre-booking tickets and therefore were not able to visit Alhambra this time around. The last time I went to Granada, we joined a guided tour of Alhambra. This meant we could skip the queue and also have an expert guide take us through the history and architecture of Alhambra. There are plenty of third party vendors that sell guided tours such as Viator.com.

The Alhambra is a fortress and palace constructed in the Nasrid dynasty and built upon by Christian rulers. It is a mix of Moorish and Renaissance architecture styles. The Alhambra is huge and therefore you could easily spend a full day there. I would suggest to factor in at least 4hours so you can spend time in the palaces and also visiting the gardens.

The photos below are from my trip in 2017.

Nasrid Palaces

Generalife

View from The Alcazaba

Charles V Palace

When visiting the Alhambra, you must spend time walking around the gardens. The gardens is a serious work of art. They are all intricately balanced with perfectly trimmed hedges, beautiful flowers, orange trees and water fountains. It is serious garden goals.

Serious Garden Goals

To get to the Alhambra (step free), start at Plaza Nueva and follow along Cuesta de Gomerez. This is quite a steep road. Pass through Puerta de las Granadas and stay on the main bitchumen road. It is a steep walk and there are passing vehicles, however it is step free. If you go on the path on the left hand side, there are a few steps up the top.

Baby tip: There are a few steps in Alhambra and it is also quite hilly with cobbled stone streets. In addition, baby prams and strollers are not allowed inside the Nasrid Palaces. It is best to use a baby carrier when visiting. However if you do choose to bring a baby pram or stroller, you can check it into the cloak room and hire a baby carrier free of charge.

Granada Cathedral

Granada Cathedral is right in the heart of Granada. This cathedral is a combination of both Gothic and Renaissance style. Entrance is 5 Euros for adults.

Alcaiceria

The Alcaiceria was Granada's old Grand Bazaar and used to be filled with Moorish silk stalls, spices and other valuables before it burnt down in the 19th century. What remains are two or three streets which is a smaller scale replica of the original Grand Bazaar. Nowadays the markets are filled with souvenir stores. The streets are very narrow, however it is all step free. Be careful of pickpockets. The markets are free to visit.

Shopping

There are so many baby and children shops with gorgeous clothes. We spent hours browsing from shop to shop. Lucky 🥟 was spoilt by 婆婆 (grandma) as she couldn't resist buying so many clothes for him!

Baby Friendly Places to Eat

There are many tapas restaurants in Granada and many of them are very accommodating for babies and buggies. However baby change facilities are rare! We didn't eat out very much on our trip as we opted to cook in most nights. However we did have lunch out on both days and the below restaurant definitely stood out!

La Seda Cafe & Restuarante

This restaurant is located in the busy Plaza de Bib-Ramble. There are many choices of restaurants in this square. We were lucky to have chosen his one. It was definitely the most delicious food we had on the trip. It is not your usual tapas menu, it has a bit of a Peruvian twist. Everything is fresh and organic.

1️⃣ Step free access: Yes

2️⃣ Baby Change Facilities: No

3️⃣ Space for buggy: Yes, staff are accommodating and will create space for buggy

4️⃣ High Chairs: Yes

5️⃣ Breastfeeding Convenience: Yes

📍 Location: Plaza de Bib-Rambla, 6, 18001 Granada, Spain

Baby Friendly Place to Stay

Gemma Home

We stayed at Gemma Home which is an apartment rental right in the centre of Granada. The location was absolutely perfect as it was a close walk to everything. In fact there was a taxi rank and bus station located right outside the apartment. The apartment is fully equipped with kitchen, bathroom, sofa-bed, tv and cot is available free of charge.

1️⃣ Step free access: Not quite, there are a few steps up to the lift.

2️⃣ Cot: Yes, free of charge and available upon request

3️⃣ Kitchen: Yes

📍 Location: Granada City Centre

Getting There

Unfortunately there is no airport in Granada. Also, there is not fast train to Granada either. Malaga is the closest airport. From there you can catch a bus which takes 1.5 hours. As we were travelling from Seville, we had to catch a train followed by two buses. The train took us to Osuna where we got on our first bus. We then had to change for another bus at Antequera. It was a mission with a baby and I definitely do not recommend it.

Getting Around

Granada is quite a small town and all the main sights are within walking distance. Beware if you are using a buggy that Granada is quite hilly and there are areas where there are steps.

Travel Tips

- Getting to Granada is not easy as there is no airport or high speed train line. Malaga is the closest airport and there is a direct transfer by bus which takes 1.5 hours. From Seville, it takes 4 hours and is a combination of train and 2 buses. Therefore where possible, opt to travel from Malaga.

- It is advisable to book tickets on line as early as possible. Many tickets sell out quickly online especially in the high season.

- The Spanish eat fairly late and some restaurants do not open until 8pm. However there are all day Tapas bars especially near Plaza de Bib-Rambla. Therefore you don't need to wait to 8pm to eat.

- Siestas are a thing. Some shops close between 1pm and 6pm. It is best to plan ahead and check opening times.

- It is perfectly acceptable to have a pram in restaurants and tapas bars late in the evening. So definitely do not feel bad about it.

- April weather is unpredictable. One day it would be mid-20s and sunny, the next day it drops below 20 and is rainy. It is best to dress in layers.

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