diptiraman

Hi friends

I have a trip planned to Spain in January - landing at Madrid on the 5th late evening and leaving on the 14th evening.

I had planned to spend the first few days at Madrid and then a few days at Granada. Tentative plan is to move to Granada on the 10th and return on the 14th in time for my flight out at 9 pm

Questions -

1. What is the best way of getting from Madrid to Granada on the 10th and back on the 14th? I dont plan to drive myself on this trip. There does not seem to be a direct train available - is that true?

2. Given the time I have in Granada, can you suggest the best things to do. I am a history buff, love palaces, churches, architecture and also love walking, trekking

3. In Madrid - apart from the obvious ones - palace, plaza Mayor, Prado,Reina Sofia - what would you suggest? Am not a shopper and am a vegetarian, so a lot of the food places are out.

4. Would appreciate suggestions for some walking routes in both cities - i love exploring new cities on foot

Many thanks in advance for your help

michelhuebeli

Granada is not on a AVE high-speed train line, being stuck up in the mountains a bit, so it takes a bit longer. Trains leave from Madrid Atocha stations and -= on the line to Malaga - you get off at Antequera-Santa Ana and switch to a bus.
For example, you leave on the 07:20 train, arrive at A-S.A. at 09:37, the bus leaves at 09:55 and at 11:15 you're in Granada. I see fares for around 30 Euros.

You can fly, too, (Vueling - I see fares of 109.98 Euros, and Iberia - I see fares of 194 Euros and up, possibly others) but with the time it takes to go to the airport and check in and do security and the rest, I doubt that you'd gain much time if any.

michelhuebeli

About the Alhambra, Granada's major claim to fame: Book early, online, and realize that the time slot that comes up (to which you'll have to adhere) is only for entry to the palace inside the entire compound. Aside from that time slot you can walk around as much as you like (or as the temperature allows - it gets chilly in January and snow is not impossible!).

Get a good guidebook of Granada, there are too many nooks and crannies to list here.

About the region: While many badmouth Malaga for being overrun and what not, in January it will be all yours if you bother to make the trip (probably best for an overnight). There is a lot to see, from the hilltop fortification Alcazaba to a Picasso museum to other art exhibitions and much more.

Robert2016

The new high speed rail, which was supposed to have opened this past Feb., is still in limbo. You're best bet, based on on how much time you have, would be to fly, as already noted.

You can check on tickets to the Alhambra. There may be some available during your dates.

You might take a look at Maribel's Guides to Madrid and Granada to help plan your time.

diptiraman

Thank you very much, both of you

I looked up flights - but for the amount of time that takes, may as well go by rail / road

So do you recommend train to Antequera-Santa Ana and then a bus - or is a bus directly from madrid to Granada preferred?

Also, if you are recommending Malaga - should i be doing that on the way to or back from Granada?

Will the weather in Granada in Jan permit walking around?

Will book my Alhambra tickets as soon as my rail / bus tickets are booked.

Also, any recommendations of hotels in Granada / Malaga? Or of convenient areas in which to look for hotels?

kja

If you can, consider putting all of your time in Madrid at the end of your trip so you are there with plenty of time before your flight and still keep your number of hotel changes to a minimum.

Personally, I thought public transportation from Madrid to Granada perfectly adequate.

For the Alhambra, consider a day-time visit, starting as early as you find reasonable. During the day, you can visit the entire Alhambra, but you will do so with MANY others, so be prepared for crowds. In the evening, you can visit the magnificent Nasrid Palace (only) with just a few other visitors. I found it absolutely magical! As already noted, advance reservations for the Alhambra are critical.

Any good guidebook should give you a lot of information about what to see and do, good areas for walking around, climate statistics, etc. For these parts of Spain, I particularly recommend the <i>Rough Guide</i> and <i>Michelin Green Guide</i>. The cost will be nominal in comparison to the cost of your trip, and you might learn things you would never think to ask. Or you can consult them at a library.

For the time you have, you might want to limit yourself to Madrid, Granada, Toledo (many people visit it as a day trip from Madrid, but I thought it worth 2 full days), and maybe Segovia (perhaps as a day trip from Madrid). I, personally, wouldn't try to include Malaga in this trip, but its your trip, your call!

diptiraman

Thank you

Need to be in Madrid from 5th to 9th anyway - dont have a choice there - which is why i have planned this trip in Jan, instead of in better weather. Which leaves me with 10th-13th in Granada

Malaga - only because public transpo to Granada from madrid and back seem to be taking me close to malaga anyway. otherwise had not planned on it

Will take all suggestions on this for guidebooks to figure what to see and do

Only question is - train + bus to Granada or madrid-granada bus

Thanks for all the help and suggestions

sundriedtopepo

Hi diptiraman are you familiar with www.rome2rio.com for transportation options?

diptiraman

no i wasnt familiar. Just saw it

Alec

Direct bus is by Alsa: https://www.alsa.es/en
It takes about 5 hours and one-way fare is around 18 euro.

kimhe

<I am a history buff, love palaces, churches, architecture>

Then a stop in 3000 year old Málaga city (only Cádiz (Gadir/Gades) is older in Europe) on your way to Granada could be an idea. Right in the city center you'll find the Roman theater, the 8-11th century Moorish Alcazaba palace fortress, the huge 16th century "one-armed" cathedral etc. etc.

And next week the largest museum in Andalucía opens in the old customs (aduana) building next door to the Alcazaba. Archeological museum from Paleolitic times and on through Phoenician and later times in one floor, and 19th century fine arts plus Picasso, Velazques, Freud, Bacon etc etc. on the other. http://www.surinenglish.com/20161122...611222021.html

Here's the first century Roman theater (built under Caesar Augustus) in front of the Moorish Alcazaba palace, right in the heart of the city: http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...tro-romano/413

I now use to stay in great value Don Curro, five minutes walking from all the places mentioned above. http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/hote...rro.en-gb.html

Málaga is 2h 30 mins from Madrid with the very comfortable high speed AVE train, and the bus (ALSA bus) to Granada leaves all the time and takes 90 minutes. https://www.alsa.es/en

sundriedtopepo

You will have short days as well so perhaps you would have time for a day trip to Malaga but I doubt you'll be bored in Granada with shorter hours to see everything.

Granada is in the mountains of course and will be colder so bring something warm to wear.

michelhuebeli

As to your question about train+bus or bus all the way - totally up to your preference. Time-wise and money-wise there is not much of a difference. You can't get up and walk around on a bus like you can on a train, but maybe you never feel like doing that anyway? Close your eyes, imagine yourself sitting on a bus, or on a high-speed train, and let your body tell you which it wants...

I only mentioned the Malaga side trip since you asked for such suggestions. With hourly departures, mostly 90-minute rides, and one-way fare of as little as 5.25 Euros, it's a feasible day trip with an early start in the dark (sun comes up at 8:30AM) and a late return in the dark (sun goes down just after 6PM).

Winterize your wardrobe!

annhig

Granada is in the mountains of course and will be colder so bring something warm to wear.>>

When we spent a few days in Granada a few Novembers ago, we were amused to see that while we were happy walking around in t-shirts during the day, the shops were full of winter clothes including furs.

I haven't spent much time in Malaga sadly, but it would seem to be a more efficient use of your time to go straight to Malaga from Madrid, then "drop in" to Granada on the way back.

diptiraman

Thank you very much for all your suggestions. They are very helpful

bilboburgler

Madrid will be cold as well

northie

I have been in Granada in January - the nights were cold - the fountains all froze but the days were cold but sunny.

MaineGG

A good vegetarian choice in Madrid is Artemisa. Our party of four had dinner there three times. The first time was to accommodate our only vegetarian. The other two times were because everyone really enjoyed the interesting offerings on the daily menu.

http://restaurantesvegetarianosartemisa.com/

Good reviews on Trip Advisor.

diptiraman

Thanks - especially for the reco of veg restaurant - really useful

One further question - on the way back from Granada to Madrid, was considering stopping for a day (overnight) at either Malaga or Cordoba - i.e. leave Granada on the 13th morning for either Malaga or Cordoba and then proceed to Madrid on 14th in time to catch me 9:30 pm flight back.

Which would you recommend - Malaga or Cordoba - both from the logistics perspective and from the perspective of which is a better place to visit if I have to make a choice

diptiraman

Also - would Seville be a better (and feasible) option rather than Malaga or Cordoba? Given I have only 1 day in hand