Me and my girlfriend were here last winter, and one of our highlights of the trip was an unexpected one. On a freezing weekday we spontaniously decided to go a hammam (turkish baths and massage) called Al Andalus and the whole experience was amazing! The baths were beautifully built like they we're 500 years old, there were candles and scents everywhere and the whole atmosphere was just extremely relaxing. It felt like stepping back in time. The people working there we're so nice and professional and the massage afterwards was the cherry on top. We liked it so much we went again a few days later but at the Malaga location. Unfortunately here we felt rushed and the people working there were not so nice. Perhaps because of all the drunk tourists in that city. But 1000% recommend the one in Granada to anyone who needs to wind down and relax! Especially on a cold winters night. 😉
@alexpervanoglu74206 ай бұрын
The Baths of Hammam Al Ándalus were built in the 13 century, this is why they looked old to you. Glad you enjoyed your visit here in Granada and Andalucia in general. It's beautiful here. All the best from La Alpujarras.
@BinishAhmed-e4lАй бұрын
❤❤
@JuanWayTrips7 ай бұрын
Hot take: the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palace might be the most beautiful palace in Europe.
@lauramartin-bk9nr6 ай бұрын
The Royal Palace in Madrid is the largest in Europe, and the Palaces of Aranjuez and La Granja are beautiful.
@IhtishamNawaz-o1tАй бұрын
Beautiful❤
@tamaramadelin48317 ай бұрын
We went to Granada and LOVED it all...But, the Mirador San Nicolás is not to be missed and we discovered it only by chance! We loved the freestyle music and dancing!! Tapas every evening and it's a must!!
@franciscopc42796 ай бұрын
Here's another tip about the Alhambra and Mirador de San Nicolás: don't go there in the centrals hours of the day. Instead, wait until the sun is about to set, when the temperatures are less suffocating, and you'll see possibly the most beautiful sunset ever.
@cgr48177 ай бұрын
Another place worth visiting in Granada is the "Monasterio de la Cartuja". Totally recommended and not very crowded.
@anthonyhind13087 ай бұрын
Visited Granada in March last year.It's amazing, from the Alhambra, the Albacin neighbourhood,Sacromonte Abadia and caves,the food,and the people.I also love Lorca,so to visit his house and the Lorca Centre to see his handwritten poems and drawings was brilliant.I went to see the Civil War execution wall by the cemetery which I found quite moving.
@MarkDarnell-cq2wy4 ай бұрын
Yes...LORCA! He is seldom mentioned in travel videos! - possibly, THE Greatest Poet of the Spanish-speaking World!!!
@xqueenfrostine7 ай бұрын
I went to Granada last November and had an amazing time. Such a gorgeous city with amazing food. Also between the fruit trees (both orange and pomegranates), the flowers and the various shops shelling teas and spices, the city just smelled wonderful. I wish I had allowed more than 2 nights here. Also yes, the Alhambra is not to be missed. So magnificent!
@davidcolin65196 ай бұрын
You missed out; DON'T miss out the Generalife Gardens. I didn't see them the first time and realised afterwards my mistake. And if you speak Spanish, the workers will LOVE to talk to you. They are underapreciated but very knowledgeable.
@paulkoza86527 ай бұрын
One big don't that you left off. If you are driving, don't think you can just drive to your hotel or B&B. Street cameras are everywhere and driving in the old city is highly restricted. We stayed at a B&B and had our host meet us on the outskirts of town. He got into the car with us and we drove into the old town avoiding the cameras. GPS is really useless. The streets are narrow and windy. I stress the narrow part. If you are a large group with a large vehicle, parking is a nightmare. Another don't, really a do. Keep your eye and hands on your money. We ran into a tourist who had their wallet stolen - inside of the Cathedral. Churches are notorious spots for pick pockets. Glad you mentioned the public buses. A great way to get to the top of the Sacromonte without the hike. Easy to walk down. Great restaurants up there with views of the Alhambra. Worth the price of a dinner. Make reservations.
@angechrissy7 ай бұрын
I agree that the GPS is useless. The hotel that I stayed at Granada last winter sent us direction in PDF to get to the hotel. We stupidly didn't put that into our Google map. What we learned is that Google doesn't pick up road closures in Spain as quickly as it is in North America. We were going around circles for at least half an hour before we arrive at the hotel's parking garage.
@Karetvv7 ай бұрын
Studied abroad there and yes so chill! Supposedly the enchantment is if you went once you'll go again, hopefully, because I loved it!
@yami.jx137 ай бұрын
Granada ❤❤❤ uno de los mejores recuerdos que llevo en el corazon
@molinaafo3 ай бұрын
Mark, your videos are the best. I find other travel videos are either nice, fun, or okay. Yours are informative, engaging, and you alude expert vibes
@bclement857 ай бұрын
Spot on as always! Spent a few days in Granada a year ago (between Seville and Madrid), and loved it! I can’t emphasize enough that you need your passport at the Alhambra - i think they checked 3 times.
@mmms19797 ай бұрын
Just went. I had a 5pm Alhambra ticket. I left my hotel at 4 pm to walk up to the entrance. Took a wrong turn and ended up in a garden with no exit and had to backtrack and run up the hill to the main entrance which I arrived at 4:45 and the women said "you need to go directly to the palace". I would recommend everyone plan on getting to the main entrance an hour before your timed entry, not leave the hotel an hour before like I did. Also, I booked my trip late and had to buy the Granada Card in order to get an Alahambra timed ticket. When I was at the palace entry they scanned my passport, and NOT my printed out Granada Card ticket, so you need to bring your passport with you when you visit the Alahambra.
@fuenmonzo5 ай бұрын
Flamenco in el Sacromonte is a must
@garrettargenti59097 ай бұрын
Mark!! I’m going to Granada in a couple months.. perfect timing on your video 🤝
@pascalolivier44587 ай бұрын
Don't miss the Alpujarras when you go to Granada. It's worth the trip.
@juliamallon29487 ай бұрын
I hope you are staying a few days!! It is a great place to visit.
@historical_lisa3157 ай бұрын
One of my favorite places! We showed up thinking we could buy tickets on the day of our visit, but they were sold out. We went to a little tour operator at a little gift/shop/store outside the entrance and had to pay a couple hundred for a tour, but it was well worth it.
@juliamallon29487 ай бұрын
You were lucky. Most tour groups sell out
@bradleycooper31907 ай бұрын
Oh man i love you and youyr family! im bindge watching your channel. Love it!!
@WDH595107 ай бұрын
Another great video Mark. When we went to the Alhambra (in 2011) it was part of a guided visit from our hotel on the Costa del Sol. So that might be a way of getting hold of those precious tickets (obviously the tour operators buy huge blocks of tickets in advance).
@garypurcell71836 ай бұрын
For any doubters, I watched three Japaneses women get flatly turned away from the Nazarene Palace because they arrived nearly an hour late. They're strict about it. Also, regarding the views, Mirador San Nicolas may be the best indeed, but also wander up Sacromonte, there are some little cave bars there with seats out the front (if you can get one!). One of the best afternoons of my life was sitting outside cafe Pibe in mid-March, a good 30 degrees in the sun, drinking cold beer to the backdrop of La Alhambra across the valley.
@fuenmonzo5 ай бұрын
Las Alpujarras are so beautiful
@Lazzarros7 ай бұрын
I wish I had seen that before going to Granada. Last year we did just that. Didn't have tickets and couldn't go in 🤦♂😥 We will definitely visit again, and this time, we will be better prepared. Thanks Mark!
@woltersworld7 ай бұрын
That sucks :( sorry i didnt get this out sooner to help you out
@brianmcallister1143 ай бұрын
Thanks for this great video. It brought back memories of my trip there a couple of years ago. I visited in early October and the weather was beautiful. In the low 80's but with relatively low humidity. If I may I would like to add a couple of pieces of advice for anyone who might be contemplating a trip to Granada. You most certainly have to arrive on time for your entrance to the Alhambra but you can forego the long walk if you enter the grounds by the Puerta de la Justicia rather than the main entrance. From there it is only a short walk to where you enter the palaces. Then stroll down to Generalife and from there to exit from the main gate. Secondly, you mentioned tapas. You must not leave Granada without getting a good sample of tapas. And the street to go for tapas in Granada is Calle Navas. This is a pedestrian walkway full of tapas bars and among one of the most well known is Los Diamantes a bar specializing in seafood tapas. It is closed in the afternoon but when it is open it is usually packed. But there are plenty of other tapas bars with excellent food.
@jennyoshea19587 ай бұрын
Granada looks amazing. Such wonderful architecture ✨⭐🙏
@hassanalihusseini17177 ай бұрын
The Alhambra is the must place to see when visiting Spain. Have been there many many years ago before social media and overtourism. No problem thgat time to get a ticket. Actually I was so impressed that I decided to go again the next day. If I want to go again? I don't know.... Too many people with "Bucket lists".....
@Timetraveler1111MN7 ай бұрын
Hey dear, how are you doing? Really great to see your video and your face and having a good time getting some sun doing a lot of white walking up hills that’s great. Been really wanting to go to Spain I feel spiritually drawn there. They’re supposed to move there past life, so this popped up perfect timing. ❤❤
@HelenShaghaghi7 ай бұрын
I'm so going here in November ... Nice, diving into this video
@paulkoza86527 ай бұрын
You are going at a good time of year. Cool weather, fewer crowds. My daughter and I were there in Nov just before Covid hit. Reference my other comment. If you are going to other spots in Spain, don't pass up Toledo. It is a short train ride from Madrid and very walkable and beautiful.
@HelenShaghaghi7 ай бұрын
@@paulkoza8652 we did the Madrid Toledo and I think segovia a few years ago ... This time Granada and Morocco !!! I can't wait
@xqueenfrostine7 ай бұрын
I was in Granada last November! Great city. Absolute highlight of my time in Spain
@KinzaFarhan-q6k20 күн бұрын
Beautiful
@euroschmau7 ай бұрын
I just spent four days in Granada back in late April. As mentioned, there is so much more to the city than Alhambra. I agree, the San Juan Dios Basilica is amazing. Another lesser-known but beautiful church is the Basílica Virgen de las Angustias. Also dont forget Granada's two great monasteries: San Jerónimo and La Cartuja. Additionally, a trip to Abadía del Sacromonte, it's well worth it. Take a taxi up and the you can easily walk down from there through the Sacromonte neighborhood (the one with the cave houses and flamenco). The road is peaceful down from Sacromonte and you have great views of the Alhambra. My four days were packed and I was rather exhausted each day, there is a ton to see! Four days to cover it all, five or six to do it and be more relaxed.
@garyrandall73645 ай бұрын
I have lived in Granada many years and this is great video!!
@alexpervanoglu74206 ай бұрын
A DO for the Alhambra is definitely book a private guided night time tour. These tours go in one direction only and the views of the interior are incredible. And yes, as long as you use no flash, you can take photos. All the best from Granada province Andalucia. And yes our summers are hot, up in the 40s ⁰c and some. As for free tapas, it is actually still law here in Andalucia to serve free tapas with certain drinks. Enjoy. Ps there are small buses that go up to Albacin where Mirador de San Nicolas is. But the walk through the little cobbled streets is much more worth it. And yes winters are cold here, with snow, which is why we have skiing. Ah yeah and the dish with beans and ham. Habas y Jamon. It is absolutely gorgeous, don't miss it, you'll be very surprised.
@MrKoyama20044 ай бұрын
lol there's no law regulating tapas. Glad you had a good time in our city, hope you come back soon.
@alexpervanoglu74204 ай бұрын
@@MrKoyama2004 not my understanding but fair enough.
@MrKoyama20044 ай бұрын
@@alexpervanoglu7420 I promise you. Maybe somebody said it as hyperbole and you took it literally?
@alexpervanoglu74204 ай бұрын
@@MrKoyama2004 Quite possibly, thanks though.
@IshmalFatima-v2bАй бұрын
Wonderful view
@FewTechOfficial2 ай бұрын
Excellent
@tayyabakamranwasimiqbal91762 ай бұрын
Good information
@punchtravelchannel7 ай бұрын
Spot on video, like always! I visited Granda, mainly the Alhambra in 2023; and really loved the city.
@ginaflynt35157 ай бұрын
Thank you for video...very informative, especially about buying the entrance ticket way aheas of time!
@iqrafatima47392 ай бұрын
Unforgettable experience of being there 😮
@AfterCoffeeWithJess7 ай бұрын
my favorite city in the world ❤
@Mussaratashfaq-m6qАй бұрын
Spain❤
@marshac14796 ай бұрын
Ooh I'm going next month.
@annieferoz4146Ай бұрын
Informative video 👍👍
@stannieholt8766Ай бұрын
One "don't" for anyone planning their first visit to Granada: Don't get confused by references to the "Nasrid" vs. "Nazaríes" Palaces in the Alhambra. Both names refer to the same place -- which is the incredibly grand architectural complex everyone wants to see. But sources in English tend to use the -SRID spelling vs. -ZARIES in Spanish (signs, websites, some guidebooks). I was quite confused in my travel planning until I realized that.
@MisbhaParveen-n5r2 ай бұрын
Wow wonderful
@joho9815Ай бұрын
Hey Mark. Very informative video. How many days would you recommend to spend in Granada? And is it expensive say compared to Barcelona?
@ibrahimilyas7685Ай бұрын
Great
@debbiedennison7 ай бұрын
We stayed 3 nights in Albaicin, an apartment next to the San Nicolas Mirador with an insane view from the terrace. Could’ve stayed much longer, we loved Granada!!
@lauramartin-bk9nr6 ай бұрын
Try the variety of gazpacho which is healthy, and careful with some tapas that have a lot salt and fat.
@joannunemaker63327 ай бұрын
Beautiful area. Thank you for sharing. 😊❤
@CJWJR6 ай бұрын
I went on a weekend excursion to Granada when studying in Sevilla on Thanksgiving weekend of '07, and it was beautiful, especially with the fall colors and the snow-capped mountains in the background! There are so many gardens in the Alhambra, and I still have pictures of them as screensavers and desktop backgrounds on my computers to this day. Are you going to visit Ronda, too?
@عربىفىأمريكا-ه4ت14 күн бұрын
Granada cathedral was a mosque.
@shozabmirza50542 ай бұрын
Amazing
@CricketTVHD2 ай бұрын
Great place ❤
@lindylee11397 ай бұрын
Such a beautiful city!
@shawwak5 ай бұрын
Any recommendations for accommodation for families? Hotels vs Airbnb?
@juliamallon29487 ай бұрын
We were in Spain April 2023. The Alhambra should be on everyone's bucket list. We spend 3 days in Granada.
@zdc89143 ай бұрын
@@juliamallon2948 we are going there this year for about 6 Days and i think thats a little bit to long🥲 but im excited anyway
@SheelaRusia-yp7qu23 күн бұрын
Good 👍
@Angela-t7y2 ай бұрын
Wow amazing 🤩
@cryan0042 ай бұрын
BOOK!!!! Alhambra Way in asdvance. I'm here in late September looking to get in early October. Fully booked. One guided tour will take me in for $250 (robbery). Book well in advance. I'm bummed, but will look to visit next time. Opportunity to see other things the tourists miss.
@tobiojo64697 ай бұрын
Hey Mark, great video
@anrn53032 ай бұрын
awesome video!
@muhammadrazzaq30862 ай бұрын
Awesome
@MagnificentGermanywithDarion7 ай бұрын
What an awesome video Mark !!!!
@SheelaRusia-yp7qu23 күн бұрын
Nice ❤❤❤
@RehanSaab-v4vАй бұрын
Nice work
@angiebee5987 ай бұрын
Thanks for the "heads up" about John the Baptist's ;)
@dantheman82797 ай бұрын
Good tips here, thank you! The food looks, um, well, not good. I like your honesty about the moroccan food!😂
@drazeemofficial21472 ай бұрын
Wao good job
@subparnaturedocumentary7 ай бұрын
the placeta joe strummer is in granada also
@Toobaurooj-u6hАй бұрын
I see your vlog
@rodericmitchell84967 ай бұрын
I made the mistake of spending too little time in Granada in March this year, only enough to visit the Alhambra. I'm back again in March 2025 and spending four nights there. For this longer visit I plan to buy a top-up card for the local public transport. This includes the minibuses which serve the Alhambra and immediate neighbourhood. The narrow winding streets preclude the use of bigger buses, so these minibuses are often rammed with tourists, which I guess must be a problem for local inhabitants attempting to go about their daily business. I agree with your advice about visiting the Alhambra: allow a whole day, take your time, and take a water bottle.
@nomigondal35903 ай бұрын
So nice 👍
@LearningSpanishwithDrL7 ай бұрын
Great video!
@AtifKhan-fw5jd2 ай бұрын
Nice 👍
@AyeshaArslan-j1w2 ай бұрын
nice
@MuhammadHashim-j6j2 ай бұрын
Nice
@javierortega8795 ай бұрын
Lo mejor de Granada somos los granadinos que somos muy guapos y divertidos🤪
@MrKoyama20044 ай бұрын
Somos de lo que no hay 🙂
@jojolafrite9265Ай бұрын
Si guapos de espalda 🤣🤣
@TomWatsonB17 ай бұрын
Before even watching, one don't is don't go to Granada or Andalucia in the summer. Just don't.
@virtual_travel_worldwide6 ай бұрын
what a great video and content creator :)
@estudiantes685 ай бұрын
Please, cite temperatures in Celcius. Nobody outside the United States knows how much 110 degrees Fahrenheit is.
@aaronhurst43797 ай бұрын
I can imagine fishy, salty and sweet working together quite well in its own way, when considering that cod, orange and olive salad
@javiermartingonzalez47594 ай бұрын
Granada is much more in winter there is a sky station and summer the re is a beach 30 minutes away.
@waiman58865 ай бұрын
I am planning my first trip to Spain in end of Sept. 2024. Will be flying to Granada, then Seville and my last stop is Madrid. Would you recommend taking the train or bus from Granada to Seville? and from Seville to Madrid? I read that the bus station at Seville is very dirty and has a lot of beggars. Also read that taxi drivers are notorious at the train station. Can I get Uber at the train station?
@ignacioheredia95993 ай бұрын
@@waiman5886 train. Punctual, fast and efficient.
@stannieholt8766Ай бұрын
I visited Spain in October. I took trains everywhere -- fast, on time, and affordable. I took the train from Cordoba to Granada, and then from Granada back to Madrid. The train stations are often several miles from cities' historic centers; luckily, taxis are inexpensive by U.S. standards (especially because drivers don't expect tips beyond an extra Euro or rounding up). As a woman traveling alone, with only junior-high Spanish, I never had a bad experience with a taxi driver. One plus of taking the AVE train (high-speed, state-run) to Madrid and straight on to the airport is that AVE tickets include a free connection to the commuter trains (cercanías) that go straight to Terminal 4 (international flights). But it's not at all self-explanatory which cercanía to take from Madrid. (At least, I had a hard time finding it and almost missed my flight.) I'd recommend a taxi or the Exprés Aeropuerto bus instead.
@mariajoseserranodecontrera68034 ай бұрын
The BEST time to visita Granada is may.
@amberalihamdani32782 ай бұрын
❤❤❤
@Tramptraveller7 ай бұрын
❤❤❤❤❤
@RichardUllman-y1x7 ай бұрын
The must-reserve-sometimes-months-in-advance tickets at Alhambra are only for the Palacios Nazaries section, correct?
@rodericmitchell84967 ай бұрын
No, you have to pre-book for the whole-site visit, and then nominate a fixed time slot for the Palacios Nazaries. A late morning/early afternoon slot is suggested. You need a full day to do the Alhambra properly.
@AbdulMajid-me3dy10 күн бұрын
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@karlacarballo98997 ай бұрын
Love your videos
@wendyurquia40347 ай бұрын
Controversial opinion: The best way to see the Alhambra, hands down, is from the mirador looking back at it. Better yet, book a table at any restaurant with a view to it, and enjoy a long, leisurely meal with someone you love. Unless you really, really want to see the architecture, I wouldn't bother with a tour. It's a big time commitment and the crowds are awful so the return on your investment might not be the best.
@aestheticvibes15173 ай бұрын
❤
@esseferio7 ай бұрын
Ironically, the very first "don't" is: "don't pronounce the H in Alhambra" :)
@ahmd57 ай бұрын
I don't know how it is pronounced in Spanish but actually in Arabic, it is not to pronounce the B
@esseferio7 ай бұрын
@@ahmd5 in spanish we just say "alambra". I'd even go as far as to say that real locals say "l'alambra" instead of "la alambra" :)
@hassanalihusseini17177 ай бұрын
@@ahmd5 Yes, it is "Qasru l-hhamra'" (with the strong Arabic "hh").
@marshac14796 ай бұрын
I was thinking that too!!!
@diegoflores92377 ай бұрын
What's your hometown?
@timlang72036 ай бұрын
Just a don't: Don't park your car near the Albaicín and leave bags, etc, visible. Put them in the trunk. Always keep your passport on you. I visited Granada in late 1987 between Xmas and New Years. Our car was broken into and my passport stolen. Major trip disruptor! Also, there were a lot of Roma people at the time in touristy areas trying to get money off of you...grab your hand, tell your fortune, then ask for money. Groups of kids would try to surround you holding up cardboard to hide their hands going to puck your pocket. Saw this in Italy too. Just use common sense. Tell them no thanks, leave me alone. Granada was beautiful. No linesxat that time to get it to the Alhambra. Just got a ticket at the entrance. But that was in the mid 80s. Looks like tourist sites have changed with the times and technology. Go to eat in the Albaicín.
@ignacioheredia95993 ай бұрын
Long long time ago. Has passed away only just Almost half a century. You've only lacked the warnings for stagecoach robberies from Richard Ford's travel books.
@miriamzajfman43057 ай бұрын
In many European countries "brains " are their specialty ! 🤔😋😅😘
@mcrheaume71372 ай бұрын
yes ! i was surprise Mark put it in the ''don't''. Must be ameraican culture ! lol
@Ibraheemmalik-kj1doАй бұрын
😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
@martinmaynard1417 ай бұрын
¡joder! a video about Granada which doesn't mention Federico Garica Lorca!
@tashafoxx173 ай бұрын
😸😸
@stefansoder69037 ай бұрын
Or you can go in December and there are no ques at all to the Alhambra...
@HenrikWind7 ай бұрын
You often talk about security, like blend in, dont look to much as a turist, etc. A big man with a backpack and a silly hat hmm.... sorry I could not resist 😄😄