Granada

Introduction

Alhambra - Granada

© DiegoJesus

Granada is a city in the south east of Spain. It is the capital of the province on Granada, which is part of Andalusia. The town is most famous for the Alhambra, a complex of Castles and Palaces on the top of the hill overseeing Granada. The city is also a favourite destination for students. A lot of foreign exchange students (and also students from all over Spain), make Granada to the vibrant place it is.

History

Granada has been continuously inhabited by humans for at least 2500 years, originating as an Ibero-Celtic settlement prior to the establishment of a Greek colony in the area. Under Ancient Roman rule Granada developed as an economic center of Roman Hispania, with the construction of aqueducts, roads, and other infrastructure. With the fall of the Roman Empire the city was ruled by the Visigoths before being reconquered by the Byzantine Empire, all the time being maintained as a strategic military and economic center for the region.

The Moorish conquest of 711 CE brought Islamic rule to the Iberian Peninsula and Granada was quickly established as a center of Al-Andalus, the Muslim name for the region. New agricultural practices were introduced as the old Roman infrastructure was put to use for irrigation, leading to a major expansion of the city as it grew from the river valley up to the hills now occupied by the Alhambra and the Albayzín, with a major Jewish settlement, the Realejo, existing within the town. Following the fall of Córdoba in 1236 to the Christian Reconquista, the city became the center of the Emirate of Granada, and for the next 250 years Granada stood as the heart of a powerful and self-sufficient kingdom with the construction of the royal palace and fortress, the Alhambra.

Skirmishes continued between the Emirate of Granada and the Crown of Castile, and in the late 15th century the Christian Reconquista set its sights on Granada. Following a military campaign led by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, which included a siege of the walled town, King Boabdil of Granada was ultimately forced to surrender the town in 1492, bringing an end to Moorish rule in the Iberian peninsula and marking the end of the Reconquista.

The fall of Granada came at a crucial moment for Christian Spain, as it was that same year that Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas, bringing back reports of the wealth and resources that could be gained there. Flushed with the success of the Reconquista, Spaniards conquered much of the Americas and brought great wealth to the new Spanish Empire. In the case of Granada, the Christians soon forced the existing Jewish and Muslim residents to convert and began making significant changes to the appearance of the city in an attempt to hide its Muslim character, including replacing the city's primary mosque with the massive cathedral and constructing a large Christian palace in the heart of the Alhambra. Persecution against the Muslims and Jews took its toll, and over time the city began to suffer economically as these populations abandoned their homes in the area.

Granada remained a largely medieval-style city well into the 19th century, going through many economic slumps and seeing much of its architectural heritage destroyed. However, the last half of the 19th century saw Granada incorporated into the national rail network and the first stirrings of tourism thanks to reports of sites like the Alhambra to a global audience. However, the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s sunk Granada's economy, and it persisted largely as a bureaucratic and university town until the late 20th century, when the city underwent a massive period of modernization and development which brought new business and visitors to the city. Today you can still see this modernization in the reconstruction of old buildings in the city center and expansion of the town along the edges of the city.

Neighbourhoods

Albayzin

Situated on a hill above the center of town and across from the Alhambra, the Albayzín (also spelled Albaicín, Alayzín, and Albaycín) is an ancient Muslim neighborhood popular with visitors - and rightly so. Among its narrow, winding streets one will find beautiful white-washed old buildings, splendid Arabic shops and restaurants, scenic gardens, and marvelous views of Granada and the Alhambra. Today part of a UNESCO World Heritage site (along with the nearby neighborhood of Sacromonte and the Alhambra, covered below), Albayzín dates back to the fourteenth century and was built as a defensive town and thrived as one of the centers of Granada under Muslim rule.

Entering the Albayzín is simple enough - from Plaza Nueva it's just a matter of walking north (uphill), or proceeding east along the Rio Darro (to the Paseo de los Tristes, covered below) and turning north on any of the side streets. However, if coming from the Cathedral or anywhere else in central Granada, the best entrance is via 23 Calle Calderería Nueva (near bus stop Gran Vía 1), a stepped cobblestone street lined with Arabic restaurants, tea shops, bakeries and shops selling imported goods from North Africa. However once inside the Albayzín you'll find the layout of the streets very confusing, with many steep sections and stairways - though this is indeed part of the charm of the neighborhood, always with a new path to explore or a hidden surprise waiting to be discovered. However, if the climb or the confusing layout sound like too much, you can also take the C1 minibus to the top of the hill from Plaza Nueva.

Sacromonte

Sacromonte is another of the neighbourhoods that you can visit in Granada, (located above Albayzin), but with a unique twist. There are numerous cave dwellings in this area, with an interpretation center available for those who would like to see how the caves originated. Today many locals and hippies alike live in the caves, which (being that they are carved out of the mountain) are rent free. You can also enjoy a wonderful view over Granada from "Mirador San Miguel Alto". And have lunch in the very typical restaurant "Casa Juanillo".

Sights and Activities

Alhambra

Granada, Alhambra

© Herr Bert

The Alhambra: Part fortress (the Alcazaba), part palace (Palacios Nazaries), part garden (the Generalife) and part government city (the Medina), this medieval complex overlooking Granada is one of the top attractions in Spain, with many visitors coming to Granada expressly to see the Alhambra. The last Moorish stronghold in Europe, the Alhambra reflects the splendor of Moorish civilization in Andalusia and offers the visitor splendid ornamental architecture, spectacular and lush gardens, cascading and dripping water features, and breathtaking views of the city. This impressive fortress complex is deservedly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Alhambra was a palace, citadel, fortress, and the home of the Nasrid sultans, high government officials, servants of the court and elite soldiers from the 13th to the 14th century. Other notable buildings belonging to a different time period are also located within the Alhambra complex, most notably the Renaissance style Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum (with historical artifacts from the site) and the Fine Art Museum.

But in order to fully appreciate the unique architecture of the Alhambra set within the surrounding landscape, it is advisable to see the Alhambra for afar as well as up close: several locations in the Albaizín (most notably the San Nicolás Viewpoint) or Sacromonte - both covered below - allow you the opportunity to truly admire the Alhambra's spectacular location, lying just above the city of Granada.

The Alhambra is a vast complex, composed of many structures and gardens on its lush grounds, which alone are worth exploring - it is totally free to do so and they are open nearly all hours of the day - but there are four primary attractions: the Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, the Palacios Nazaries and the Generalife.

Cathedral

In the centre of Granada lies the Cathedral. It is one of the biggest churches in Spain. The main feature of this church is the burial chapel of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castilla.

Sacromonte caves

A lot of people go to Sacromonte to see the numerous cave dwellings. Once populated by gypsies, these caves are now lived in by locals or hippies who want to live somewhere different and rent free. There are even some caves which are being squatted. There is a club in one of the caves as well as a flamenco bar.

Events and Festivals

Corpus Christi

The big festival in Granada is the "Corpus Christi" week, which happens at the beginning of June every year (the exact dates will depend on the easter dates). The festival runs for a whole week but the main days are Wednesday and Thursday, when the catholic parade with the corpus christi will be taken around town in the morning. From Thursday to Sunday the party will be non stop at the "recinto ferial", the area just outside Granada, to the north, where all the fun fair activity, the dancing, the drinking and everything else will be happening day and night. Special busses from the center will take you there 24 hours a day, it is an unmissable festival!!!

Cross Day

Another important event takes place in Granada on the 3rd of May ("The cross day"). Different neighbourhoods enter a competition of crosses made with flowers. All around these crosses is partying and dancing, there are also open-air bars around.

Zaidin Rock Festival

The music festival in Zaidin neighbourhood, Festival Zaidín Rock, held in September each year, brings good musicians and it is free! For instance Mano Negra (prior group of Manu Chao) played in this.

Weather

Granada is 800 metres above the see level and lies on the skirts of Sierra Nevada (highest peak: Mulhacen: 3,483 metres). Granada is placed at around 40 kilometres from Sierra Nevada and around 50 kilometres from Motril (coast). This placement makes Granada "county" to experience different climate conditions: from subtropical weather along the coastal areas to the mild continental one in the city and the high-mountain one in Sierra Nevada.

It is not weird to have a temperature change of 15 °C - 20 °C from morning to night. In winter minimum temperatures can go as low as under 0 °C. In summer it can go as high as 43 °C.

The rain is scarce and sometimes it snows. Consequently, the situation with water in Granada situation is quite delicate and it is advisable to use it in a responsible way.

Getting There

By Plane

Granada Airport (GRX) is located a few miles outside of the city. A bus service will take you to the town (€3), and takes about 20 minutes. Most of the connections are from/to the main Spanish cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Melilla), but Ryanair also flies to Granada from Bologna, Girona), [[Liverpool, London-Stansted, Madrid and Milan-Orio el Serio/Bergamo Airport (one and the same).

By Train

Granada is connected by train with Madrid (2 trains a day). It is connected with other cities in Andalusia as well, including Seville and Cordoba. However, the short distances makes it easier to take the bus (being more frequent and cheaper).

By Car

It is easy to access Granada by car, but it is much more difficult navigating the city once in it! There are lots of constructions ongoing in the city (July 2009), and the centre is restricted to pedestrian and public transport.

One of the best ways to access the city is by using the Alhambra car park and then walking down to the city past the Alhambra, through the woods. There is a charge but many people find it's worth the small expense - it's pretty simple to navigate to the Alhambra from the motorways.

By Bus

The bus station is located to the north area of the city, and all the long distance buses stop there. Destinations included are virtually everywhere in Andalusia plus all the main cities in Spain. There are also connexions for international buses. The station is connected to the city centre by several local buses. For more information visit the map of Granada bus lines. You can also catch a taxi, there is a taxi stop just outside the bus station.

By Boat

Although there are tow little rivers (the Darro and Genil), there is not transport to and from the city.

Getting Around

By Public Transport

The local buses cover nearly all sights of interest and run quite frequently. Most city buses travel through the heart of town along Gran Vía (stopping in front of the cathedral). The small red and white minibuses with "Alhambra Bus" printed on the side are the best way to explore Granada, the Albaicín and to get to the Alhambra: route C3 connects the city center to the Alhambra, with the C1 traveling up to Albayzin and the C2 to the Sacromonte. The buses cost €1.20 per trip, but you can also buy a multi-trip card for €5, €10, or €20 (€0.79 per trip). Timetables for the individual routes are not available, but major bus stops along the main boulevards will have screens telling you when the next bus arrives. If you're at a smaller stop, you can find out when the next bus is coming by sending a text using the SMS system — directions are printed with images on each bus stop sign, which are easy to follow even if you don't know much Spanish.

By Foot

Walking in Granada is definitely the best way to experience the city (especially the older parts), but it can also be confusing at times. Streets are frequently short, winding, narrow, and some put you in very close proximity to auto traffic, to say nothing of the multitudes of scooters that dart down narrow alleyways and around cars and buses. Larger streets have sidewalks separating pedestrian traffic from vehicles, while alleyways have short iron posts along the side to make a small informal sidewalk. With a decent map you can find your way around, but many streets are so short they won't be named on a map. Still, if you keep some of the local landmarks in mind (church towers and hills are frequently good ones) you can maintain a general sense of direction - which is often all you need to find your way around. Additionally, Granada has several hilly areas (most notably the Albayzin and the entrances to the Alhambra) with many stairways and steep streets, and climbing them can be strenuous - buses can take you to the major tourist sights if the climb is too much. Mind your step in the residential areas! Granada has a serious problem with dog excrement, and while the street sweepers do an effective job they won't save you every time (however this is much less of an issue in the heavily touristy areas).

By Car

Driving in Granada is a nightmare best avoided at all costs. The central district is a mess of narrow, one-way streets and is restricted to buses, taxies, scooters, and tourists with hotel reservations, enforced by a system of traffic cameras that will capture a photo of the license plate and fine violators. Hotels will often recommend not driving in, but if you're insistent you can contact the hotel in advance with your license plate number and they will give you directions to their hotel or a parking garage which you must follow exactly or risk a fine. Outside the historic center streets are wider and travelling by car isn't nearly as much of a hassle, but there are few tourist sights in these areas.

Best deal for parking in Granada can be found on parkvia.com website. You get a 12 EUR per night rate at Parking HH Maristas in the center of the city as well as unlimited entries to the garage. When you enter the parking garage get the ticket from the machine and present it along with the website receipt to the booth attendant. He will register it in the system which will allow you to use it to go in and out.

Eat

You can't miss the "tapas" experience in Granada, which is one of the best in the country. Unlike other cities in Spain, the tapas in Granada are for free, and included with your drink. As an general rule you will normally pay around 2 euros for a beer with a tapa, which normally is big enough to keep you happy! Tapas can be anything and sometimes you get to choose them, or you just get a different ones with every round of drinks. The area around Plaza Nueva is good to try the tapas, and also the bars by the Darro River, in the Paseo de los Tristes. If the tapas bars aren't open, you could try one of the ubiquitous kebap and shawarma shops, some which stay open until early in the morning!

Arrayanes, Cuesta Marañas, 4 (In the middle of the Albayzín), ☏ +34 958 22 84 01. A fine place where you can eat real Moroccan cuisine. Don't ask for wine or beer, they are not in the list, but their refreshing lemon juice or mint tea is a wonderful substitute.
Bar Oum Kalsoum, c/ Jardines 18. 20:00-24:00 (get there early to get a table). Beautiful Arabian style tapas bar. Offers alcohol unlike many other Arabian places.
Bar Poë, c/ Verónica de la Magdalena 40. 20:00-closing (tapas until 00:30). A tapas bar run by a friendly English couple. The free tapas here are excellent and make others look average in comparison, although they are a little small.
Bella y Bestia, Calle Elvira. One of many tapas bars on this stretch. Big tapas and young (too young) locals.
Bodegas Castañeda, Calle de Almireceros, 1 (not to be confused with Antigua Bodegas Castañeda, around the corner on Calle Elvira), ☏ +34 958 21 54 64. Daily 11:30-16:30, 19:30-01:30. A traditional bar popular with locals, and well-known for its selection of wines. Atmospheric, with a good selection of tapas, particularly montaditos (small open-faced sandwiches). The waiters can sometimes be a bit gruff, but the food is excellent.
Café Fútbol, Plaza de Mariana Pineda 6. An excellent restaurant that serve simple free tapas with a drink but is better known for their great dishes, especially their exquisite deserts and sweets - the churros con chocolate here may be the best in town. Friendly service and good atmosphere; you can eat out in their large seating area on the plaza or inside.
El Tabernáculo, Calle Navas, 27, ☏ +34 958224702. M Tu Th-Sa 12:00-16:00, 20:00-24:00. A tiny bar with walls completely covered with images from the Semana Santa. Great atmosphere, fantastic tapas and friendly service.
Kabab King, One on Calle Reyes Católicos and one on Calle de Elvira both within a block of Plaza Nueva, and one on Calle Pavaneras in Realejo. If you need food quick, are looking for something cheap but filling, or are just hungry for some greasy, meat-filled goodness, you can't do much better than Kabab King, a chain of shawarma and falafel stands in town serving delicious kababs and shawarmas with halal chicken and a signature yogurt sauce. €3 will get you a shawarma with chicken and €5 will get you a combo meal, and the servers are cheerful with a good grasp on English. If you want the same food in a sit-down setting, Shawarma King on Calle Reyes Católicos just down from Plaza Nueva is an Arabic-themed restaurant which also has a large selection of teas on the menu and hookahs available. €3-8.
La Blanca Paloma, Reyes Católicos, 48. Lots of different pastries, pies, croissants, coffee, and more. The selection is intense, which can make it difficult to decide what to eat! Very good attention, very friendly.
La Oliva, Calle Rosario, 9, ☏ +34 958 22 57 54, ✉ [email protected]. 11:00-14:30 and 19:00-22:00. A small little shop that sells high end Spanish wine, olive oil and a number of high end items, but it also has great, small private meals. Francisco, the shops owner, is a friendly person who will warmly welcome you, speaks great English and French and is patient for those who want to try out what little Spanish they have. Wide variety of dishes, from a €1 olive oil tasting with fresh bread to a 10-course meal with a wine flight for €38.50. At times Francisco will even cook the meal in front of you. Reservations for the tasting menu must be made at least one day in advance.
Taberna Catedral, Catedral de Granada. Located on a street filled with bars, cafés and restaurants, close to Catedral de Granada. For €10 you can get 10 varieties of tapas, which is absolutely delicious and filling for 2 people. It has a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere. The staff are very friendly, and one of them speaks Spanish, English, French and Italian.

Drink

If you want to try a local wine ask for "un costa" – the quality is extremely variable and it is more like sherry (but not fortified) than a table wine. Another option is "tinto de verano", or "summer wine", which is red wine and lemon Fanta. Absolutely delicious and very refreshing.

The local beer is Cerveza Alhambra, an excellent lager from a local craft brewery which you can get just about anywhere in Granada. Alhambra Premium is the most common, but you can also get other varieties like Alhambra Especial and Alhambra Negra, which are darker with a slightly higher alcoholic content.

Most bars serve tapas for free, so there is no need to eat a huge meal before you go out

Unfortunately during summer many locals go to the coast and university students go home, leaving the nightlife quite dead.

Sleep

AB Pension Granada, Infanta Beatriz 3 (off Camino de Ronda - taxi recommended), ☏ +34 958 253 129. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:00. Comfortable new beds, inexpensive, clean, warm and helpful hostel. Free Wi-Fi at reception. Spanish family-run hostel where English is also spoken. 12€.
Funky Backpackers Hostel, Cuesta de Rodrigo del Campo, 13, ☏ +34 958 22 14 62, fax: +34 958 22 05 68. A rowdy, centrally-located hostel set in a grand old townhouse.
Granada Inn Backpackers Hostel, Padre Alcover, 10 (100 meters from Puerta real), ☏ +34 958 26 62 14, ✉ [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Deluxe dorms (which are actually shared apartments). Breakfast Included. Free Wi-Fi. Corral-style patio and many activities. Beds from €12.
Oasis Backpackers' Hostel, Placeta Correo Viejo, ☏ +34 958 215 848, ✉ [email protected]. Pleasant hostel on the edge of the Albayzin district with a lively atmosphere. 24hr tea & coffee, welcome drink, daily activities, internet & Wi-Fi and a lovely patio and big roof-top terrace. from 15€.
Rambutan, 5 Vereda de Enmedio, ☏ +34 958 220 766. Check-in: 08:30, check-out: 11:30. A true "backpacker" hostel. Provides house instruments to play with, free towels to use, and a bike you can borrow. A huge garden and terraces to enjoy. €14.50.
White Nest Hostel, Calle Santísimo San Pedro 4, ☏ +34 958 994 714, fax: +34 958 995 701, ✉ [email protected]. A good budget backpackers hostel. Clean and cheap with shared or private rooms. €13.
Abadia Hotel Granada, Triana Baja 7, ☏ +34 958 271 979. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 11:00. A hotel with an 16th century-style patio and decor. €49.
Granada Five Senses Rooms & Suites, Gran Vía, 25, 18001, ☏ +34 958 285 464, ✉ [email protected]. Modern-style hotel in the centre of Granada. edit
Hotel Macià Plaza, Plaza Nueva, 5 18010, ☏ +34 958 227 536, ✉ [email protected].
Hotel Villa Blanca Granada, Ctra A44 Bailén - Motril km 117,5 Albolote Granada., ☏ +34 958 453 069, ✉ [email protected].
Hotel Monasterio de los Basilios, Paseo de los Basilios, 2, 18008, ✉ [email protected].
Hotel Condor Granada, ☏ +34 958 283 711, ✉ [email protected].
Hotel Real de la Alhambra, Mirador Del Genil, 2, ☏ +34 958 216 693.
Hostal Granada Eurosol, Camino de Ronda 166, ☏ +34 958 27 99 0. Rooms have air conditioning and private bathrooms. Prices change with the season.
Hostal Zurita, Plaza de la Trinidad, 7, ☏ +34 958 275 020. Very nice, clean and well run place near the Cathedral. Run by a friendly young couple. Rooms have air conditioning and some have private bathrooms. Some have balconies looking out on the square. Prices change with the season.
Hotel Cerro del Sol, Salvador Dalí 1, ☏ +34 958 486200. Design hotel with 15 rooms, gardens, swimming pool. Double room with views, parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast from €50/night. The hotel also offers tickets for the Alhambra and forfaits for Sierra Nevada.
Hotel Navas, Calle Navas, 22, ☏ +34 958 22 59 59. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. Very convenient location in the centre on a pedestrian street that's buzzing all night with popular tapas bars, but quiet rooms. Clean, comfortable beds, friendly and helpful staff. Free WI-Fi, air-con; buffet breakfast for €7. Double with ensuite €60 (when booking online).
Hotel Plaza Nueva, Plaza Nueva, 2 (C/ Imprenta, 2), ☏ +34 958 215 273, ✉ [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Centrally located, facilities include non-smoking rooms, an onsite restaurant, and free Wi-Fi. Private parking €20/day. Doubles €50+, breakfast €7.
Hesperia Granada, Plaza Gamboa, S/N, ☏ +34 958 018 400. A recently renovated hotel located in the old part of town. The rooms are very cozy and comfortable and the hotel offers a limousine service, DVD rental and Wi-Fi. Rooms from 69€.
House at Mirador Cruz de la Rauda, Calle Cruz de la Rauda 10 (in the upper Albaycin), ☏ +34 958 201 557. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. €85-€200. edit
NH Inglaterra, Cettie Meriem, 6, ☏ +34 958 221 559. In the center of town.
Pension Alcazaba, San Juan de Dios 38, ☏ +34 958 291 380. Clean, cheap and cheerful with comfy beds, the owner speaks excellent English and gives great recommendations on what to do, see, and eat in town. Double with bathroom €32.
Pension Suecia, Huerta de los Ángeles, 8 (just off Calle Molinos), ☏ +34 958 225 044. A quiet hostel with a charming terrace to have breakfast. A bit far from the busy city center but very close to the Alhambra. 40€.
Pensión Venecia Gomérez (formerly Hostal Venecia), Cuesta de Gomérez, 2, 2nd floor, ☏ +34 958 224 803, ✉ [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00-23:00, check-out: 12:00. Excellent location on Plaza Nueva, but hard to find as it's on the 2nd floor and the sign facing the plaza is small and high. Extremely clean and quiet for a hostel. Has non-smoking rooms, free Wi-Fi; private parking €20/day. Pets permitted on request. €33+.
Granada Rental, ☏ +34 666 951 289. Traditional house in the Albayzin with views of the Alhambra from terraces. Ideally placed to visit the old town and city. Owners will do shorter lets. 3 Bedrooms including cave room. €600/week.
Hostels Granada Nest (Hostels Granada Spain), Calle Santísimo, 4, ☏ +34 958 994 714, fax: +34 958 049 788, ✉ [email protected].
Hotel Granada Nest Style, Plaza del Carmen,29, ☏ +34 958 058 708, fax: +34 858 991 998, ✉ [email protected].

Learn

• University of Granada

Keep Connected

Internet

Internet is widely available within Spain. Most airports have wifi-zones and in most towns there are internet cafés or shops where you can use internet for a fixed price. Wi-Fi points in bars and cafeterias are available after ordering, and most hotels offer Wi-Fi connection in common areas for their guests.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

The international access code for Spain is +34. The emergency number for police, ambulance and the fire brigade is 112.

In cities you can find plenty of public phones, and 'locutorios'. The latter are small shops where you can use the phone and use internet. Most of them also sell prepaid cards for mobile telephones. These shops are used a lot by foreigners to call to their mother country.

The main mobile network operators in Spain are Yoigo, Vodafone, Movistar and Orange, as in most of Europe voice and data coverage is generally good in urban areas however it can be patchy in rural locations. Cheap mobile phones (less than €50) with some pre-paid minutes are sold at FNAC or any phone operator's shop (Vodafone, Movistar, Orange). Topping-up is then done by buying scratch cards from the small stores, supermarkets, vending points (often found in tobacco shops) or kiosks.

Post

If you want to post a card, you can head to the post office (Correos). The Spanish post is not yet as efficient as colleagues in other countries so receiving a card can take a bit longer than the number of days that it should take. On the website of Correos, you can find the locations of nearby post offices.
Post offices are generally open from 8:30am to 2:00pm, although times will vary according to the size of the city/town and the main post offices might be open until the early evening. Most will also open again on Saturday mornings, but in the smaller towns will close as early as 12 noon. When posting a letter, look for a yellow box and, if possible, post at the post office itself where there will also be divisions for local, national and international mail. Be prepared for long queues at the post office. This is why tobacco shops sell stamps and many will also have the facility to weigh packages. Standard letters/postcards of up to 20 grams sent within Spain are €0.34. However, non-standard letters/postcards of up to 20g are €0.39. Letters/postcards of 20 to 50 grams are €0.45. In the case of international shipping, the price is €0.64 to most countries within Europe for standard envelopes (letters/postcards) up to 20g, for a few European countries and outside Europe it is €0.78. If you want to send a package you are probably better off with a private courier company like TNT, DHL or UPS, as they offer quick and reliable services against competitive prices.

External Links

• Granada official website
• Granada tourist office