Ironically enough Cortijos Rey Fini are only 25 km away from Sierra Nevada and Granada, but this short route has been closed recently and to get to Granada now you must first drive to Lanjaron and then join the N-23 to Granada. It takes just over an hour to the Alhambra and an hour and half to the city of Granada.
Granada is a very beautiful city and well worth a visit and apart from the Alhambra and the old part called the Albaycin and Santa Ana there is much of interest to see. The best way is to just wander around the city exploring, you can discover so much like this and it’s a lot of fun too.
If you are only for the day in Granada to see the Alhambra then make sure you leave yourself enough time to see a bit of the old part of Granada too. You can visit the Alhambra early in the morning – depending on how much you want to see you should leave at least 3 hours for this. Then you can leave your car in the Alhambra car park and either catch the local minibus down to the historic part of the town, or, alternatively you can walk. It takes about 15 minutes downhill through beautiful shaded gardens with water fountains.
You can either go straight downhill until you reach the Plaza Nueva and then behind the plaza you are in the old part called the Albaycin which is full of shops and restaurants and lovely to walk around. Don’t miss the many good tapas bars found down any of the narrow streets of Granada. Just behind here inCalle Almireceros there are several restaurants and tapas bars. The best one is called Bodegas Castaneda serving a variety of tapas, wine and beer. It is well worth a visit. The best and cheapest way is to just ask for a beer or glass of wine and then you get a free tapas.
An alternative way to get down to the city is when you get out of the Alhambra just about 20 meters after the exit gate of the garden, walk downhill and take the first right (the restaurant on the corner). This path will take you round the back of the Alhambra and if you keep walking downhill, it will eventually take you to the Paseo Los Tristes where you will find dozens of good and relatively cheap restaurants serving paella and other food outside (You can get to here also if you walk along the river from Plaza Nueva). After lunch if you still have any energy then walk up Cuesta del Chapiz and take the second or third right hand road towards Plaza San Nicolas which gives you a great view of the Alhambra. Along the numerous alleyways you will find many cafes and restaurants often with beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of the Alhambra.
One of the most famous restaurants is called Mirador de Morayma, then further up there is Las Tomas, Carmen Mirador de Aixa and many more just below Plaza San Nicolas. They do not look great from the road but all have beautiful views. Just walk in, look at their menu and prices and if you like it then stay otherwise keep looking until you find the best one.
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