Morning at the Hotel
June 18, 2025
We went to the breakfast buffet right at the opening time, 7:30 a.m. It had a generous selection — freshly squeezed orange juice, flaky croissants, and various kinds of cheese. For 12€ per person, it was absolutely satisfying.
Since we had reserved 8:30 a.m. entry tickets to the Nasrid Palaces (see on map), we had to hurry after breakfast. The main entrance (see on map) closest to our hotel, Hotel Guadalupe (see on map), officially opened at 9:00, but showing our Nasrid Palace tickets and passports allowed us to enter earlier.
Visiting the Nasrid Palaces
When we arrived, there was already a line, but it moved quickly. The famous Lion Fountain — often called the highlight — was less intricately carved than expected, and I couldn’t help but think, “Is this really the main attraction?” Later, I learned this section was once the harem, much like a women’s quarters in Japan.
There wasn’t a Japanese audio guide available when we visited, and I hope they bring it back someday.
The early morning visit turned out to be the right choice — it was cool, not too crowded, and the sunlight streaming onto the marble floors was beautiful. By the time we left, the sun was blazing again, and the pleasant coolness had already vanished.
Walking Through the Fortress Walls
We walked to the fortress walls (see on map). With no shade, it was intensely hot, but the panoramic view of the city made it worthwhile.
The Generalife Gardens
Next, we went to the Generalife Gardens (see on map). The courtyards surrounded by buildings were beautiful, and the flowerbeds were vibrant. Pomegranate trees — granada literally means “pomegranate” — were blooming with orange flowers. Roses and water lilies were in full bloom as well.
We were surrounded by flowers in every direction, and we felt deeply glad we had come.
There were several drinking-water stations around the vast grounds, so we refilled our bottles while walking.
Terrace Café Overlooking the Gardens
We stopped at the terrace café (see on map) attached to Parador de Granada, which offered a lovely view of the Generalife Gardens. We ordered a beer and an orange juice. A staff member asked, “Would you like some water?” and when we said yes, a bottle arrived — for 3€. The total was 13.50€ (2,343 yen). It was a refreshing break before the afternoon heat.
Afternoon Siesta
We returned to the hotel intending to take a siesta, but despite lying down on the bed, we couldn’t really fall asleep.
Evening in the City
In the evening, we took the bus downtown. Our first stop was Alhambra Churrería Granada (see on map), where we had crispy, delicious churros. They were even lighter and crunchier than the ones we had in Ronda, and the hot chocolate was thick and rich. When I told the clerk how good they were, she proudly said, “Five generations.” The bill came to 5.90€.
At the nearby square, there was another festival-like event, this time with a Pikachu?-like balloon — or maybe it was Raichu?.
Exploring the Islamic Quarter
We walked through Calle Calderería Nueva (see on map), a street with a strong Moorish atmosphere. We stopped by Tetería Dar Ziryab (see on map), a beautifully decorated Islamic-style café.
I ordered mint tea and baklava, while my partner chose a tropical smoothie. The baklava was soaked in syrup — intensely sweet at first, but the sweetness faded cleanly, leaving a pleasant nutty taste from the pistachios. The mint tea was refreshing, though the tea at the bottom of the pot was shockingly bitter. Everything cost 12.50€.
Afterward, we walked up the steep slope to Mirador de San Nicolás (see on map), a viewpoint overlooking the Alhambra and the city. In hindsight, we should have taken the bus — the hill was steep and the place was packed with people. The view was magnificent, but it was hard to find a comfortable spot to sit.
Dinner at a Local Bar
We took the bus back down and had dinner at Bodega Los Tintos – A Elegir (see on map). The staff didn’t speak any English, but using a translation app on my iPhone helped us communicate.
We ordered two glasses of sangria, and three small tapas came with it: eggplant fritters, anchovies topped with caviar, and a few other bites. When we asked for gazpacho, the staff said, “We have salmorejo instead,” so we tried it. The garlic flavor was strong and delicious — I wished I had ordered more.
Since I love eggplant, I was happy to see it among the tapas, though I thought thicker slices would have made it better. The total was 16€.
As we left, we took a selfie, and a cheerful local photobombed us with a peace sign — a small but heartwarming moment.
Back to the Hotel
We returned to the hotel by bus around 10 p.m. The night in Granada was still bright and alive.
