Visitor’s guide at Capilla Real only 0.10
by Hopkid
No audio guide at the Capilla Real but they do have a descriptive pamphlet in various languages for only 0.10 euro. Definitely worth it if nothing else just to get rid of the 0.10 euro coin from your pocket! Unless you have some other guide book description of the building, you’ll really miss out if you don’t get the pamphlet as there aren’t a lot of descriptions of the major features of the chapel and its contents. Bottom line: GET THE PAMPHLET.
Eat, Drink and be Merry!
by Acesabe
Granada, and its province, is (fairly) renown for its culture of free tapas (small snack) served will beers, wines, tinto de verano, etc. (NOTE - you will not get served tapas with spirits or after ordering food!)
This practice dates back to the 'Moorish' time where alcohol was less popular - food being served with the drink to lessen the harmful effects of alcohol intoxication - a practice i would like to see everywhere where drinks are served (and drunk to excess!!)
Top Tapas Tips:
- Most bars/restaraunts serve tapas regardless of how up/down market they may be,
- Cafeterias/Pastelerias/Pubs/Clubs usually don't,
- There are so many bars in granada it is not realistic to list the good ones - it in fact would be easier to list the bad ones as most serve good tapas, the area between Calle Elvira and Gran Vie de Colon - near Plaza Nueva is a good place to start,
- Tapas is served lunchtime - 12-4 and in the evening - 8-12, bars in more touristy areas may serve it all day,
- Don't ask - it nearly always will arrive a few mins. after you get your drink - if not - bad luck!
- Most bars will just serve a tapa of whatever is going that day, while other bars may offer a choice,
- The longer you stay i.e. the more drinks you stay for - the better the tapa gets with each round - well usually!
- Tapa means (literally -lid) a covering plate of a snack to be eaten with your drink,
- It makes no difference to the tapa you get if you order a caña
[pronounced - kan-ya] (275ml) or tubo (330ml) vino or whatever, but if you are in a group you may be limited to a couple of choices only(if a choice is offered),
- If you are planning to 'do tapas' before eating out - be warned - you will not have much of an apetite by the time you get to the restaurant!!
- To find the best tapas - look further afield, often in small local bars throughout the province, you will be served with tapas that many would consider a main course in a restaraunt!
more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapas
Salud - Enjoy!
Wonderful tea houses
by vanessadb
Because of the large Marrocan population, Granada is full of charming and typical tea houses. I recommend the one called Al-Andalus in the street called Caldereria Vieja which also worth taking because of its arabic crafts shops, as well as cute and cheap bars and restaurants. Also, this street takes you to the bottom of the Albaicin district where you should absolutely wander around and climb up to the San Nicholas square and mirador.
Other than wonderful teas, Al-Andalus also serves delicious typical pastries as well narguiles (water pipes.)
Tapastastic
by leok about Plaza Nueva
As mentioned before tapas in town are free. This used to be a tradition in most Spanish towns and villages but mostly died out - but not in Granada. While this might mean a couple of slices of tortilla and some olives if you go to some of the bars off Plaza Nueva the portions are superb. For the price of a beer (about 1 Euro) you get mini-hamburgers, kebabs or other treats with chips and salad. Might tasty they are too. From our experience it seemed that each time you ordered another beer the tapas got better as well. We only managed 3 before we were full though.
Just up from the Placa there is a narrow road with Arab coffee shops offering exotic tobacco smokes - try the apple tobacco.
Buses to Other Towns.
by blint
Granada is very well connected by bus however from my experience the drivers are usually a little dangerous. I never travel by bus from Granada to Cádiz because at least 2 drivers have really scared me. Others report the same experience. It also costs roughly the same as the train and takes roughly the same tame too (the bus is one hour quicker because by train you have to change).
However I usually travel by bus to and from Malaga as the buses are way quicker than the trains (as you have to change at Bobadilla and it is a VERY long wait-hours!!!!).
It is about 3 hours to Cordoba and
Sevilla and about 4.5 hours to
Madrid on Continental buses. Madrid-Granada costs 14,22€ one way.
The best company to take is Alsina Graells if you are travelling from Granada around Andalucia. Please find the number below.
You can get the bus to the Sierra Nevada from the Palacio de Congresos. Look for the Autobus Viajes Bonal (958 34 06 25). To the Alpujarras get an Alsina Grealls bus at the bus station.