At just two hours’ drive from Marbella, Granada is the ideal venue for a weekend break. Brimming with culture and sites of historical interest, there is something for everyone. Quite a compact city, it’s possible to explore most areas on foot or alternatively make use of the great network of bus routes connecting the main tourist areas.
For many, the first stop is The Alhambra – a magnificent Moorish citadel comprising a palace, fortress, castle and gardens dating from AD 889 and renovated in the 1200s and 1400s by the then Emirates of Granada at a time when they ruled much of the surrounding area. To get the most possible pleasure out of The Alhambra, you need to dedicate a day to your visit and pre-book tickets. Entry to the Nasrid Palace is limited and by timed ticket only. Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.es. For a truly wonderful experience, try and coincide your visit with the Granada Festival and attend one of the beautiful dance performances in the amphitheatre of the Generalife Gardens. www.granadafestival.org.
From The Alhambra it’s a pleasant walk via La Cuesta de Gomérez, a pedestrian path through trees and waterways, down to the bustling city centre. Here you’ll find a super 
mix of independent shops and larger chain stores interspersed with some fantastic restaurants and tapas bars. Granada continues an old tradition of serving free tapas with every drink purchased in most of its bars. This dates back from when tapas were served on top of your drink glass to stop the flies getting in! It’s a welcome and sometimes unexpected treat for most visitors to the city!
Across the city is the old Arab Quarter of Granada called the Albaycin. Still medieval in atmosphere it comprises narrow streets, wells, baths, churches and the cave houses of Sacromonte, but perhaps it is best known for its view of The Alhambra. If you visit late afternoon, you’ll be treated to the most spectacular sight of the sun setting behind The Alhambra and (depending on the time of year) the snow capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the distance.
While you’re visiting Granada, make time also to visit the Renaissance style cathedral built over five years after the 15th Century Reconquest of Granada, and the Corral del Carbon – a fascinating relic of the Moorish occupation of Granada.
No visit to Granada would be complete without a drive (or bus ride) up the mountains to the Sierra Nevada – a ski resort in winter and popular with walkers during the summer months. From the top, the views across the countryside to the Mediterranean are incredible on a clear day.
Granada is a real jewel in the Andalusian crown and is best visited with plenty of time to spare. There are many attractive hotels located either in the city centre or near to The Alhambra, so that you can get the most out of your visit and enjoy wandering the city streets while absorbing the unique Granadeño ambience.