If you are looking for a complete Andalusia tour on your next visit to Costa del Sol resort town Marbella, an excursion from Marbella to Granada and some other notable cities and resorts promises a good experience.
Situated next to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this historic city of Granada houses some of world’s greatest monuments, including the Alhambra palace and fortress complex.
The city is conveniently located from Malaga, and a road trip from Marbella (to the northeast) takes a total driving time of 2 hours. Frequent bus service further eases your travel while bringing fabulous natural settings on your way to Granada.
Granada travel attractions
On your arrival, you will surely be captivated with its beauty and symbols of historical legacy preserved in those centuries-old monuments. The most popular one is indeed the Alhambra de Granada located on top of a hill known as La Sabica, on the left bank of the river Darro.
You can either ask for a dedicated guided tour of Alhambra Palace to your travel operator or contact the tourist office for the same. A leisure walk inside the red sandstone fortress will introduce you to the magnificent Islamic architecture. On your excursion from Marbella, this stunning 13th-century building is a must visit site.
However, there is much more in Granada than just visiting Alhambra Palace. Among others, there is the Arabic old quarter ‘The Albaicin’ with cobbled streets and whitewashed apartments to set you in a vibrant atmosphere.
There are many local eateries including tapa bars to sample some of the finest Andalucian cuisine while those gift shops offer you some beautiful handicraft products including local ceramics and pottery. Visitors, and local alike, find those old-fashioned squares and patios to hangout for a while taking the pleasure of surroundings.
The Alhambra is listed under the World Heritage Sites list of the UNESCO
Among few other sites that you may visit on your excursion trip is the Granada Cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Monastery of La Cartuja, Historic Baths (El Banuelo), and many more small monuments built in the typical Mudejar style. Most of these monuments are built after the Reconquest and hence the style of architecture, which is a mixture of Christian and Muslim cultures.
Moving around Granada
It’s the Islamic historical legacy that makes Granada one of the top most tourist cities in southern Spain. Those who travel to Marbella prefer Granada as their nearby attraction to spend a day or two as excursion.
If you travel to Granada from Marbella by bus, after reaching there you can either hire a taxi or take the city buses or special city sightseeing buses. Tourist buses run every day of the year and the first tour starts at 9.30 am.
The city sightseeing bus tour which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes covers some of the important attractions of Granada: the Cathedral, Acera del Darro, Alhambra, Museo Federico Garcia Lorca, Palacio de Congresos, Science Park, Arabial, Monasterio de la Cartuja, and Plaza de Toros.
