Granada in April; add Malaga?

Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:21 AM
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Granada in April; add Malaga?

We don't have long; only four full days flying out of London and back, second week of April. EasyJet flights are available now, so I thought I'd book them soon. We have five nights in an Albaicin apartment with primo Alhambra view. I'm mostly interested in hanging out with my London-based daughter. She's mostly interested in sunshine and warmth. We both love live music, funky out-of-the-way tapas joints and coffeehouses, walking. Normally I like to stay in one place for several days.

Posts from several years ago suggest that Granada's not all that interesting for more than a couple of days. I've read online that suggest it's nicer now than formerly.

So, my questions;
If we spend all five nights there, would there be reasonable chance for amusement the non-Alhambra evenings, flamenco, Spanish guitar?

Would you rent a car and head for the coast, spend a couple of nights, return out of Malaga?
stokebailey is offline  
Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:32 AM
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We only had 3 nights and had convenient flights into Malaga so after a night and early morning there, we drove hire car, via an industrial estate round the back of the airport 'cos we couldn't find the road to Granada, to Granada, where we had late lunch [when in Rome] and spend the rest of the day exploring the centre of Granada. That evening we went on spec to the Alhambra ticket office and bought tickets for the night visit, after which we had a late dinner in our hotel [the Guadalupe right opposite the Alhambra] and went to bed.

The next morning we had reserved tickets for a mid morning visit to the Nasrid Palaces so we got there at about 9, explored other areas till we got to the palaces, saw them again [very different from the night before as apart from anything else, they don't limit the numbers in the way they do at night], went through to the Generalife gardens, and exited at about 3pm. We then got a bus up to the Albercin, walked back down into the town, and spent the rest of the day around the centre of Granada, including the tapas bars, and nice restaurants.

The next day we had to be at Malaga airport by about 4pm so we drove south through the mountains to Malaga, had lunch at a bar on the beach [this was November] and got there nicely in time.

That for us was enough time for Granada, so I think that there may be something in the idea of starting in Granada and ending in Malaga where we definitely could have done with another 2 days or so.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:36 AM
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Ah, thanks, Ann. Sounds like another primo annhig trip.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:51 AM
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I could do 4 days in either Granada or Malaga! Have been to both frequently, last time in March, like your daughter, to get out of the UK cold.
Malaga is warm, walkable, has lots of outside eateries even in mid-March. Flamemco in at 3 different places, super museums, the Alcazaba, walks along the coast, botanical gardens. Almost too much to do. But the warmth and sunshine is the best when you think it will never arrive after a North-of-England winter.
Granada has all the historical stuff in the centre, and of course you will have to organise your Alhambra visits... we didn't this time and didn't get tickets for the Nasrid Palaces, first time I haven't just turned up and got one! Great flamenco doesn't have to be in Sacramonte. Lots of bars to hang out in. Walking all over the Albaicin. Trip out to Lorca's place, Salobreno on the coast is about an hour and a half by car, or head up into the Alpujarras. Probably not as much to do as Malaga and it is a lot colder. We got rained on and needed our warm clothes for the only time on the trip.
Lucky you!
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 12:19 PM
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A couple of days in Granada was enough for us.
Malaga is very nice ( probably sunnier ) ...two days there sound good.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 01:17 PM
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Ah, thanks, Ann. Sounds like another primo annhig trip.>>

Don't know about that, Stoke. What I didn't say was that we were so entirely unable to extract ourselves from the industrial estate that in desperation, we drove up to some locals that we had spotted and asked, in our appalling Spanish, where was the road to Granada? [or an approximation thereof] and were answered in english with strong Irish accents.

We never did find out what these Irish chaps were doing in an industrial estate in the vicinity of Malaga airport.

IMO it is the things that you don't plan that are often the most memorable.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 05:24 PM
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I thought 2.5 days in Granada perfect for MY interests, but of course, your interests could differ.

Another option would be to travel into Las Alpujarras, which you can do by bus.

Enjoy!
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 09:40 PM
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Granada is much cooler than Malaga, and the waterfront area of Malaga has been tidied up very nicely. We enjoyed Malaga a lot. The drive down is nice too.

Kimhe has posted lots of great suggestions for Malaga. You might try a search for some ideas.
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:48 PM
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We visited Malaga in March of 2016 and had a wonderful time. As the weather in Granada was cold and rainy we decided to skip our (second) visit to Granada. Instead we rented a car and drove out to a region called Axarquia. We were not disappointed. Small white villages among almond trees and rosemary bushes in full bloom. We definitely want to go back one day and explore more!
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Old Sep 20th, 2017, 11:49 PM
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P.S. see my trip report on March 16, 2016
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Old Sep 21st, 2017, 04:55 PM
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That's good to read, gertie. I'll have to consider the difference in altitude and April weather.

Ann, one of my two possible lifetime angel sightings: anxiously lost in a grimy industrial area of Massachusetts. No houses, gas stations or cafés, just warehouses and factories. I could see the freeway above me but had no idea how to get back on it. Improbably I came upon a man dressed from cap to cuffs in country tweeds, fatherly corduroy. There may even have been a twinkle in his eye; he exuded kind approachability. In HIS Irish accent he pointed me the few blocks up to an onramp. Maybe mine was one of your angels?

kja, the Alpujarras sound wonderful. I'd never heard of them before; somewhere I'd love to go with my birder husband.

sundried, good tips. Thanks.

Axarquia sounds lovely that time of year, Elisabeth. I'll check your report.

I'll send my daughter this thread and we'll decide whether to stick with Granada apartment with a day or overnight trip to the coast, or split the days with Malaga. Thanks so much, all.
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Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 06:42 AM
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Excellent flamenco in Granada, especially in Casa del Arte Flamenco in Cuesta de Gomérez, on the way up from Plaza Nueva to Alhambra: https://www.casadelarteflamenco.com/es/

But Málaga is something special, and I could very much recommend a couple of days here. Great flamenco in Peña Juan Breva, one of the oldest flamenco clubs in the country, excellent and free real deal concerts down in the basement every Friday at 10:30 pm, song and guitar. A great flamenco vibe bar/restaurant on the ground floor and a fine flamenco museum in the floors above. http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...breva-group/79

Many live music bars/clubs in the old town between central Plaza de la Constitución and Plaza de Uncibay/Plaza de la Merced. And here are also some other ideas for great live music in Málaga. https://www.malaga.com/v/live-music/

And Bodega El Pimpi is an institution in town. Live Music, and anything can happen up in the top floor in the weekends late at night. Also a great terrace with the best views of the Moorish 8-11 century Alcazaba up in the hill just across the street. Spectacular at night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ60p6dyFEs

And tons of hole in the wall tapas bars. Wendy Gamba was a favourite from our last visit here last fall with the gourmet bulltail burger with au jus mayo and havarti cheese (and lots of other goodies) plus vermouth on tap. http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/wendy-gamba/

And nothing beats Saturday lunch in the Atarazanas food market, the best atmosphere, the best food and lots of GTs around. My favourite food market in all of Spain, long history, relatively small, top quality produce and lots of locals go here all the time: https://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/...ry-perception/
http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/...do-atarazanas/

Some general info about Málaga city: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/an...oduction¨
http://www.malagaturismo.com/en
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Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 12:24 PM
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In HIS Irish accent he pointed me the few blocks up to an onramp. Maybe mine was one of your angels? >>

quite possibly, Stoke - i wonder why they are always Irish???
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Old Sep 22nd, 2017, 01:38 PM
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Ah, thank you kimhe. Great information. That tips the scales for me.

Ann, hmmm. I suppose it could be mere coincidence. Or maybe mine had a MA accent that my memory transposes to Irish
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Old Oct 1st, 2017, 08:03 AM
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Thank you, everyone.

My daughter sent me a travel link that says Málaga is Spain's most underrated city. So, Vamos. Unfortunately couldn't swing a Friday evening there for Peña Juan Breva.
Will be on the lookout for classical guitar also. Malagueña.

We cut Granada to four nights, took another vacation day from her job. Will take a bus to Málaga and have two nights there. Looking forward to it.
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Old Oct 1st, 2017, 08:11 AM
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sounds like a great decision, Stoke.

Have a wonderful trip.
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Old Oct 2nd, 2017, 07:05 PM
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We were in Malaga last week for 2 nights and loved it! You have made a great decision.
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