Granada - Day 1 - Walking tour of the historic centre and the Arab quarter

After our bus journey we unpacked at the lovely compact apartment in the centre of town and headed out for a bite to eat and a wander. We knew little about Granada but had heard only good things so we were excited to explore over the next couple of days but with no real idea of what to expect.

Our first evening was a great start with cobbled streets winding through the neighbourhood, guitar playing locals and sangria and tapas for supper and ice creams and flamenco dancers to finish the evening how could we not be impressed.

We slept well and were up and out early for breakfast and to join a guided tour of the historic centre and the Arab quarter. A scrummy pain au chocolat and freshly brewed coffee solo gave us the boost we needed and off we went!

Our guide was a knowledgable and funny guy and we thoroughly enjoyed the two hour tour which took us through the streets of the city and ended up high to a vantage point with stunning views of both the Alhambra palace and the surrounding countryside.

We learned about the history of Granada and also some tips on places to eat including local vegan restaurants!

We enjoyed the architecture, mainly colonial, many plazas, churches and also the cathedral. 

We loved the sights and sounds of the Arab quarter with the bustling markets and smells of fresh tea leaves and spices.

The cobbled alley ways provided shade and relief from the hot sun and the pretty gardens in some of the houses were a real surprise find.

At the end of the tour we sought out a restaurant recommended by the guide where we enjoyed a relaxing lunch of Spanish tortilla with salad and of course the obligatory cool beers!

Panoramic views at the end of the tour. The photos do not really do it justice.

The Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance.