A family holiday in Granada

Rebecca — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:37:10 +0000

Andalusia is a wonderful place to visit with children and Granada is a particularly welcoming place for families. The main pull to this stunning city in the south of Spain is its history and architecture – which may not sound especially alluring to a family with small children but, Granada is also a place where parents and children can enjoy a wonderful sunny climate and a deliciously slow pace of life; really taking time over meals, strolls and outdoor play. Here are some of the best things about Granada for families:

Forget babysitters and putting the kids to bed early and do as the locals do – take your children everywhere with you, let them eat out with you late at night and then play in the square under the moonlight while you enjoy a glass of wine and some tapas! It may seem strange at first, but you’ll soon see that it really does make sense to get out and about with children after sun down, especially during those hot summer months, and if it means you get a lie-in in the morning, so much the better!

There is no shortage of apartments for rent in Granada which make a great base for you and your family to enjoy an independent stay in the city. The Albaicin area is a particularly picturesque and pleasant place to book accommodation.

One of the down falls of travelling to Granada with small children is that it is a very hilly place. If you are taking a pushchair, it can be pretty hard work. A good way around this is to use the hop on – hop off sightseeing bus which is a very pleasant (and restful) way of seeing everything that Granada has to offer and getting a general feel for the place.

If your children are having a hard time with the heat and they don’t share your enthusiasm for Moorish architecture, treat them to a day at the seaside. Salobreña is only 45 minutes away by car and is well equipped with restaurants, sun umbrellas for rent, shops, etc.

Granada has plenty to offer for the sweet-toothed too. Chocolate y Churros (hot chocolate and deep-fried, sugary twists of dough) is a classic and can be found in pretty much any café. Piononos (cinnamon cakes) and Glorias (Almond cakes) are two other local specialities.

Sea, sand, sun, sweets, late nights and relaxed, happy parents…now doesn’t that just sound like every child’s dream holiday?

Grananda – from the sea to the snow!

Rebecca — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:39:40 +0000

Granada is one of the largest and most famous cities in the region of Andalusia, renowned for its sunny climate, laid back lifestyle and friendly locals. Granada has a few surprises for visitors though, one of them being its proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountain range where you can practice winter sports six months a year! You can literally swim in the warm sea in the morning and ski on snowy slopes in the afternoon at certain times of year.
Another striking feature of Granada is its stunning Moorish architecture. This Spanish city displays so much beautiful Islamic-influenced architecture that you are constantly reminded of how close it is to North Africa. The Moors settled in Granada in 711 and established a town which would grow and prosper over the years to come. In 1238 Mohammed ben Nasar founded the Nasrid dynasty which went from strength to strength, crowning 20 kings until the Catholic Monarchs, King Ferdin and Queen Isabella crushed King Boabdil in 1492, banishing the Islams from the territory. By the time this happened though, Granada had already been peppered with spectacular architecture such as the Alhambra, today a World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain today, and Generalife as well as the Albayzin neighbourhood.
Its interesting mixed cultural history makes Granada an exciting place to visit and a place of great importance in the history of Spain. There is plenty that’s modern in Granada too though as it is an important university city with a big student population. Here you can visit festivals such as the International Dance and Music festival, the Hocus Pocus magic festival and the wonderful Jazz festival. Another great attraction to this city in southern Spain is its food: cured hams, gazpacho and all kinds of tapas, and what’s more, it’s really cheap!
To find budget accommodation in Granada look for B&B’s or hostels or treat yourself to accommodation with a view to remember in one of the many hotels near to the Alhambra and wake up every morning feeling like you are on an exotic film set. You can’t come to Granada and not see the Alhambra, it’s true, but there is a lot more to Granada than just this monument though so just ask the receptionist at your hotel for some local tips and find out what it is about this stunning Andalusian city that has people coming back for more.

Vacation Rentals Spain » Granada

A family holiday in Granada

Grananda – from the sea to the snow!