A week-end in Granada

A week-end in Granada

Granada has long been on my bucket list and I was looking forward to visit the Andalusian city which offers one of the most beautiful monument in the world, the Alhambra. It belongs to Granada like the Eiffel Tower to Paris and there is hardly anyone who leaves the city without having visited it. It’s considered the most beautiful monument of Moorish architecture and it is one of the most visited attraction in Europe.

We spend a day at the Alhambra. Check out our visit here.

Albaycín

Albaicín is one of the most beautiful areas of Granada. It is the oldest and most authentic part of Granada and is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You definitely should not leave Granada without taking a walk through Albaicín. It is known for its picturesque streets and white houses. Albaicín is located on a hill and gives you a perfect view of the Alhambra.

We started our walk at the Mirador de San Christobal  from where you have a beautiful view of the city. Here, you are at the highest point and it is very comfortable to walk downhill (and kids usually prefer) between the beautiful, white Andalusian houses. After 15 minutes walk you reach the mirador de San Nicolás, which is probably the most famous Mirador of Granada. At sunset, it attracts many tourists who enjoy the impressive view of the Alhambra.

Carrera del Darro

Our walk continues to the Paseo de los Tristes along Rio Darro. If you manage to arrive at sunset you can see the walls of the Alhambra, overlooking the paseo ,take the color red, which is a beautiful spectacle. Our walk goes further to the city center and ends in Plaza Isabel la Catolica.

*We suggest taking the bus to start the walk at the Mirador San Christobal. Bus Nr. C34 from Plaza Nueva (Ctra Murcia Stadium 47 – Col. Ave Mª San Christobal)

Catedral de Granada | Capilla Real

The historic center of Granada and the bustling heart of the city has many shops, restaurants, bars and attractions. The Alcaiceria district, south of the cathedral, originally sheltered a Moorish silk market under the Muslim domination of Granada. You can see Arab influences everywhere and it reminds how close Morocco is. You will find there many shops of Moroccan souvenirs with rather basic and cheap products. I rather recommend you to come here one evening and eat a delicious tajine or couscous. Kids love it!

In the center of Granada is situated Granada’s Renaissance Cathedral (Santa Maria de la Encarnación de Granada). After the Alhambra, the cathedral is the most important monument of Granada. With its unusual height, the cathedral is also very impressive from the inside. Right next to the Cathedral borders the Royal Chapel, called Capilla Real. Here are the mortal remains of many Spanish kings.

Tips: If you book online, you get a free entrance every Sunday from 15 to 17:45. In Capilla Real, it’s every Wednesday between 2.30pm and 6.30pm.

Tapas vs Tajin

I have heard a lot about the tradition of tapas in Granada. Tapas, like flamenco, were born in Andalusia and I couldn’t wait to try some. I did not really find the quality better compared to the tapas I have eaten in other places in Spain. But there is a small difference, we liked very much! The bars and restaurants offer tapas to guests when they order a drink. With every drink comes a different tapa and several rounds of drinks means a full meal can be had. It’s probably also a reason that the restaurants are always packed and very lively with a good mix of locals and tourists.

You can find our “Best Restaurant of Granada” list on the map below. And if you have eaten too much tapas, I can recommend the Moroccan restaurants in the Alcaiceria district. As Morocco is really just around the corner, the quality of the restaurants is very good and we can recommend it. Buen provecho!

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Barcelona | Tibidabo, the amusement park in the clouds

Barcelona | Tibidabo, the amusement park in the clouds

Barcelona is surrounded by many mountains and hills and the tallest by far is called Tibidabo. Many locals ride up to the top on their bikes, take a walk along the panorama path Carretera de les Aigües or enjoy a family day in the Amusement Park. Tibidabo is definitely worth a visit and still remains one of the last touched tourist attraction in the city.

From almost anywhere in Barcelona you can make out the Sagrat Cor church and it’s statue of Christ keeping watch over the city. From the viewpoint in front of the church, you can enjoy the most stunning view over Barcelona and the Costa Brava. Just below was built the Amusement Park Tibidabo, one of the oldest in the world!

The park has over 30 rides and attractions but is a little bit past its best days as theme parks go. But it still offers a fun day of viewing Barcelona from the mountains, whilst riding around in a rollercoaster.

If you do not want to visit all the Amusement Park, you can just enjoy the most emblematic part of the Park, the Panorama Area. Here you have a spectacular view over Barcelona and the possibility to use some attractions. If you’ve got a head for heights, take a ride on the 50m high Ferris wheel ‘Talaia’ which will make you the highest point in Barcelona. “Avio” is another ride that offers you a stunning view of Barcelona while you are sitting in a small red airplane, slowly and horizontally rotating.

HOW TO GET THERE: Take the Ferrocaril L7 to the terminus Avenida Tibidabo. From there, take bus no. 196 or the old blue tram (Tramvia Blau) to the ground station of the Funicular. The Funicular takes you directly to the entrance of the park.

OPENING HOURS: Since the opening hours and dates vary almost every month, it’s best to check the latest schedules before you plan your visit: tibidabo.cat

TICKETS: General Entrance Tickets: 28.50 Euro | Children (under 1.20m in height): 10.30 Euro | Children (<0.90m in height): 0.0 Euro

Panoramic Area ticket: 12.70 Euro | Children (under 1.20m in height: 7.80 Euro | Children (<0.90m in height): 0.0 Euro

To avoid the lines you can buy your tickets online here.

Carretera de les Aigües

The panorama path Carretera de les Aigües is rarely known by any tourist. It is a great alternative to the Amusement park and maybe a more authentic way to enjoy the nature and the view of Barcelona. With its nearly 10 kilometers in length, it is a popular trail for cyclists and hikers. The path is practically horizontal which makes it perfect for a walk with kids. Here you can enjoy the rich and varied flora and fauna. It’s a great place to take a picnic under the pine trees with an amazing view on Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea.

HOW TO GET THERE: The easiest way to get to the Carretera de les Aigües is to take the Funicular de Vallvidrera which stops one third of the way along the path.

STROLLER FRIENDLY: Absolutely!

DURATION: 1h – 1.5h walking time – Length: 10 km

Check out the walk on the map below:

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BARCELONA | A WALK ON MONTJUÏC

Barcelona | A walk on Montjuïc

Barcelona | A walk on Montjuïc

Montjuïc is a great place to escape the noisy city life and relax in the many green areas and parks. The possibilities are wide on the small mountain of Montjuïc and it is easy to find a quiet place for a family picnic.

For athletes, Montjuïc is “the place to be.” Most sports facilities were built for the Summer Olympics 1992 and are still in use today. I can recommend the outdoor swimming pool Montjuic, with its wonderful view of Barcelona ​​or the Open Camp, where children can try over 25 different sports activities.

But now, I would like to show you one of my favorite walk in Barcelona, ​​where you come across some of the best places and views on Montjuïc. We start at the Castillo de Montjuïc. and to get there you have 3 options: 1. take the bus n° 150 from Plaza España and stop at the castillo. 2. Take the metro to station Paralell and there change to the funicular. 3. Take the cable car from Port Vell up to the castillo and enjoy the fantastic view on Barcelona and the sea.

At the top of the Castillo de Montjuïc (185m), the view is simply mind-blowing. When the weather is clear you can distinguish the costs of the Costa Brava or observe the activities of the port of Barcelona. The visit of the Castillo is only worth because of the stunning view you have from the top view-points. The long history of the place is unfortunately not shown in a deserved way.

During the summer months, the Sala Montjuic takes place in the garden of Castillo. This popular outdoor cinema starts always with live music. Friends and families gather together for a picnic, to listen to music and at dusk the movie session begins. Don’t miss it and reserve your tickets in advanced here.

We continue our walk downhill through the Jardin de Joan Brossa where you come along  charming ponds with aquatic plants and you may spot dragonflies and frogs. When you arrive at Avenida Miramar, you will see the Miró Foundation.

FONDATION JOAN MIRÓ

The Fundació Joan Miró was created by Miró himself and built in collaboration with the architect Josep Lluís Sert. You can recognize the complicity between the artist and the architect, making the collection integrate wonderfully into the white building and underlines the work of Miró in a very positive way.

Fundació MiróParc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona

The walk then continues towards Plaza España through the Jardins de Laribal. A walk through this garden is a real pleasure. The lush vegetation, the water that gently flows out of small fountains and between the stone walls, ornate benches and small places to rest constitute an extraordinary beauty.

The path continues to the National Art Museum of Catalonia. It stands out primarily for its exceptional displays of Romanesque and Gothic collections, which are among the finest in the world. For a visit, you should plan at least one full afternoon. But let’s go past the imposing building and take the escalators down to Plaça de les Cascades. This area of Montjuïc is more touristy and very busy during the summer months. To experience the Font Màgica, the spectacle of the magical fountain, you should come after sunset. The lights and water games last about 15 minutes and are repeated several times in the evening.

Plaza España is only a 10 minutes walk away and from there you have many bus and metro connections.

Duration: the walk alone lasts about 1 hour. But for the whole excursion with a visit of the castle and the museum, you have to plan a good day.

Drink/Eat: Montjuïc does not have many restaurants but we can recommend 2 chiringuitos:

El Cims | Passeig dels Cims, s / n | 08038 Barcelona

The Caseta del Migdia | Mirador del Migdia, s / n | 08038 Barcelona

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