Benaldamena - Alhambra transfers/tours/tips
 

For the final 3 days of our whirlwind Spanish adventure, my friend and I are basing ourselves in Benaldamena, with plans to visit s few coastal towns, Malaga, and of course, the Alhambra in Granada. We've looked into buses, shuttles, renting a car - we're not sure we're the types to follow around a guided tour, especially when I've read in a few forums that the audio does the tour justice. Any suggestions as to how we should get to and from Benaldamena to Granada so we can not only see the Alhambra, but other areas of Granada as well? Any straight shuttle services that don't require a tour or any tours anyone highly recommends?

Also - if anyone has suggestions on food, drink, things to do in Benaldamena, we're staying at the Vincci Seleccion - the more suggestions the merrier!

Thanks!

Benalmadena to Granada.
Take the train, at present every thirty minutes, thirtyone minutes journey time to Malaga main station Maria Zambrano - http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cer...aga/index.html
Exit train station to bus station, perhaps five minutes walk. Take bus to Granada with this company - http://www.alsa.es/portal/site/Alsa journey time not less than one hour thirty minutes.
At Granada bus station take bus 3 to Catedral, or taxi, if going to Alhambra first and want to save time. (Nearby to Catedral at Plaza Nueva take one of two buses, up to the Ahambra or walk.)

Sounds like a big day and is, if wanting more than just the Alhambra, but can be done. Ensure purchase of Alhambra tickets on line, long before, to avoid possible disappointment.

The distance by hire car is 93 miles and takes around an hour and three quarters. It gives you a lot more flexibility in travelling around the area and you don't have to wait for buses and trains.

I've driven the road many times and it's a good one.

<i>'I've driven the road many times and it's a good one.'</i>

Until you get to the outskirts of Granada, and it's mayhem! It's a very difficult place to drive into and through, roads are very narrow, one-way system confusing and very heavy traffic to boot. So you will be MUCH better off leaving it in one of the large parking lots on the outskirts and use public transport or taxis (plentiful). Or just follow the signs of Alhambra, which will guide you along outer bypass to the Alhambra parking lot. Leave it there to visit the palace and use buses, taxis and walk to explore the rest of the city.

There is a parking lot at the very Alhambra; and it is easy to drive here, just take the Granada roundabout direction ALHAMBRA, and avoid driving into town.
However, you can rent a taxi that'll take you and wait for you, you can request prices online at www.taximalaga.com

Benalmádena would be very much about nightlife, restaurants and people from all over the world. You should also visit Benalmádena Pueblo (The old village) for a slower pace: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...Andalusia.html

And I strongly recommend to have a night out in Málaga. Start with a couple of typical Málaga wines from the barrel at Antigua Casa de Guardia from 1840, right in the heart of town, in Alameda Pricipal. http://www.antiguacasadeguardia.net/home.html

Plenty of excellent tapas bars/cafés in and around Calle Granada just off central Plaza de la Constitución. When it starts to get late, go to Bodega El Pimpi, an institustion in town and great atmosphere. The myriad of wine barrels are signed with greetings from Spanish celebrities from the past decades, the flamenco world being especially well represented. http://www.bodegabarelpimpi.com/launch_eng.html

The night goes on in the area north of Plaza de la Constitución towards Plaza la Merced some two-three hundred meters further north.

If you wake up in Málaga, go and have some chocolate con churros in legendary Casa Aranda, one of the best cafés I've ever been to. Just off Marqués de Larios street in the midst of the shopping district: http://www.casa-aranda.net/