Granada ( grə-NAH-də; Spanish: [ɡɾaˈnaða] , locally [ɡɾaˈna]) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro. Ascribed to the Vega de Granada comarca, the city sits at an average elevation of 738 m (2,421 ft) above sea level, yet is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, the Costa Tropical. Nearby is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, where the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held.
In the 2021 national census, the population of the city of Granada proper was 227,383, and the population of the entire municipal area was estimated to be 231,775, ranking as the 20th-largest urban area of Spain. About 3.3% of the population did not hold Spanish citizenship, the largest number of these people (31%; or 1% of the total population) coming from South America. Its nearest airport is Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport.
The area was settled since ancient times by Iberians, Romans, and Visigoths. The current settlement became a major city of Al-Andalus in the 11th century during the Zirid Taifa of Granada. In the 13th century it became the capital of the Emirate of Granada under Nasrid rule, the last Muslim-ruled state in the Iberian Peninsula. Granada was conquered in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs and progressively transformed into a Christian city over the course of the 16th century.The Alhambra, a medieval Nasrid citadel and palace, is located in Granada. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the most visited tourist sites in Spain. Islamic-period influence and Moorish architecture are also preserved in the Albaicín neighborhood and other medieval monuments in the city. The 16th century also saw a flourishing of Mudéjar architecture and Renaissance architecture, followed later by Baroque and Churrigueresque styles. The University of Granada has an estimated 47,000 undergraduate students spread over five different campuses in the city. The pomegranate (in Spanish, granada) is the heraldic device of Granada.
If you intend on visiting many major tourist attractions within a short timeframe, the city's Granadacard may be a good investment . Valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours, it provides direct entry to the cathedral, Capilla Real, Alhambra & Generalife, Monastery of La Cartuja, Monastery of San Jerónimo, Parque de las Ciencias (Science Park) and provides a 25% discount for non-EU citizens who visit the Fine Arts and Archaeological Museum. It also includes 9 urban bus journeys (to the bus station, science park etc.) and 1 ride on the tourist bus (normally €6.80). The prices are €47 for 24h, €49 for 48h, and €57 for 72h.
Granada is notable as most of its bars will serve free tapas with each drink, which makes eating out in Granada inexpensive: a blessing for the local student population. Lunch is generally from 13:00 to 16:00 and dinner from around 20:00 till late (though even at 20:00 most tapas bars will be deserted, as locals eat dinner very late).
There are many popular restaurant areas where you are sure to find something good. Just about every plaza in the city has at least one outdoor restaurant. Calle Elvira and the adjacent streets north of Plaza Nueva have perhaps the largest concentration of tapas bars in the city. Plaza San Miguel Bajo is an area of outdoor fairly low priced restaurants in the Albayzín district and Calle Navas running south from the city hall in the center of the city is a pedestrian street lined with a wide variety of restaurants.
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. Delicious and 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
During summer many locals go to the coast and university students go home, leaving the nightlife quite dead.
As in much of Spain, be aware of siesta; most shops close in the afternoons, which depending on the business can be anywhere from 13:00 to 17:00. The main exceptions to this are large department stores and chain stores. However, nearly everything is closed on Sundays.
The area surrounding Puerta Real serves as the city's main shopping district. , Spain's department store chain, has a large store between Calle Acera del Darro and Calle Carrera de la Virgen just south of Puerta Real, while and the adjacent pedestrian streets between Puerta Real and the cathedral are home to a large number of fancy clothing and gift stores. If you're looking for postcards or other tourist wares, the Alcaiceria south of the cathedral (see above under See) is chock full of souvenir shops, although you can also find plenty of souvenir shops along Cuesta de Gomerez on the way up to the Alhambra from Plaza Nueva. If a mall is more your speed, the nearest one to central Granada is the , on Calle Neptuno next to the freeway (take Calle Recogidas west from Puerta Real).
Every third weekend of the month you will fine a handcraft market on Calle Chirimías.
Most places of interest are with walking distance of central Granada. Plaza Isabel La Catolica is just a block west of Plaza Nueva and marks the intersection of Gran Via de Colon (the main drag heading north) and Calle Reyes Catolicos (the main drag heading southwest to Puerta Real, where it splits into Calle Recogidas and Acera Del Darro, heading west and south respectively). The cathedral and royal chapel are just to the northwest of this square. The Alhambra and Albayzin (the Arabic quarter) are on opposite hills on the east side of town with Carrera del Darro and a small river separating them.
