minamax10

Thank you all for advice regarding the night visit to the Alhambra. Most likely won't happen this time, but during my next trip (solo , I'd be very much interested in seeing it at night.

kja

I believe there is also an option for an evening visit to the Generalife. If that had been an option when I visited, I would have opted for that the evening before my day-time visit, with a visit to the Nasrid Palace on the evening of my day-time visit. Just something to keep in mind!

minamax10

Hi kja, I'll keep that in mind. I am thinking that on day 2 in Granada (Alhambra + Hammam spa) my ladies might call it an early night. So if there are any tickets left for that day (AND strength on my part , I might challenge that on my own. On day 1, we'll probably be having a slow long dinner at on of the Carmen restaurants with a view of Alhambra. So that would be way past the entrance times for the evening/night visits.

annhig

On day 1, we'll probably be having a slow long dinner at on of the Carmen restaurants with a view of Alhambra. So that would be way past the entrance times for the evening/night visits.>>

that depends of whether you adopt Spanish eating times, minimax. we did the evening visit and then had dinner in our hotel, which meant of course that we didn't have far to go.

minamax10

annhig, I personally would not mind eating at 10pm if that's what the norm is, but I think my ladies (who normally eat around 6pm ) might fall asleep at the table ). During our previous trip to Spain, our latest dinner reservation was around 20.30h I think.

janejohn

We really enjoyed one day in Toledo on our way back to Madrid from Andalusia. The city is truly charming and very historical and one day there is enough.

minamax10

so true, Janejohn! Toledo was a highlight of our 2014 trip to Madrid. Given time, I would love to revisit.

annhig

annhig, I personally would not mind eating at 10pm if that's what the norm is, but I think my ladies (who normally eat around 6pm ) might fall asleep at the table ).>>

minamax, we normally eat at between 7-8pm at home, but I find sitting down to eat after 9pm in Spain quite hard work, though by the end of a trip, I'm getting better at it.

Recently we have tended to sightsee in the mornings, then to sit down to a proper lunch [often using the Menu del dia deals] at about 2-2.30, and then sight-see/shop when places are re-opening at about 5pm, having a tapas bar/pub crawl in the evenings which means that we can try quite a few places.

I appreciate that this may not fit in with your ladies.

Robert2533

Again, lunch (1:30 to 4:00) in Spain is typically the main meal of the day, but you can find restaurants that serve dinner earlier then 10:00 pm. On Sundays families usually eat later in the afternoon, after 2:30. And you'd be surprised at how many bars and restaurants close up tight by midnight, even on the weekend, with the kitchens closing even earlier. But yes, there are places that stay open later.

When we do go our for dinner it's usually at 9:00 or 9:30, depending on the restaurant and what else we have planned for the evening.

minamax10

annhig, I would go with the flow and definitely try to fit the lifestyle of the place i visit if I were on my own. but you are right, it might not < not fit in with your ladies.> )

Robert, <going out to dinner around 9.30 depending on what else is planned for the evening. > For me, that would be most like going straight back home haha...

Just a thought, after I returned form Spain in 2014, I started to think of all those Spanish visitors to Japan. I bet a lot of them are left starving since most traditional restaurants in Japan have an 8.30~9.30h last order calls That probably is a shock for them just as much as for us to see a restaurant opening its doors at 9pm.

annhig

I started to think of all those Spanish visitors to Japan. I bet a lot of them are left starving since most traditional restaurants in Japan have an 8.30~9.30h last order calls That probably is a shock for them just as much as for us to see a restaurant opening its doors at 9pm.>>

minamax, having never been to Japan, I don't know if Japan is more like Spain, where you can normally find somewhere open and selling food at any time between 8am -10pm [and in Spain's case much later of course] or like France, where [apart from in big places like Paris and other large cities] unless you conform to their lunch and dinner hours, [typically 12-2, 7-9] you're likely to go hungry.

For me, one of the joys of going to Spain is that you can eat at more or less whatever time you like.

minamax10

annhig, I can only vouch for big cities like Tokyo. Depending on the area (the city is huge!) you could probably eat and drink yourself under the table 24/7 I do though think that the more traditional places close pretty early though. One thing that really surprised me when I visited Spain for the first time was that many restaurants are closed on Sun-Mon-Tue (at least one or two days a week). In Barcelona we were looking for a nice place to have our farewell dinner (our food splurge of the trip) and I was coming up empty. Some famous restaurants..even at the 5 star hotels!...we closed on Sun/Mon nights. One place asked me "Can you change your departure schedule" .... yes, of course, we'll change our flight arrangement just so that we can fit the restaurants opening hours. Lol. In Tokyo, most places are opened 365 days a year. Especially if they are a part of a hotel.