From my reading, Granada is a large city with the Alhambra and wandering around the Albaycin as the main attractions. We will be visiting in early March at which time the weather will probably still be quite cool. So, I imagine the Alhambra gardens won't be particularly interesting. I've read that the Alhambra is beautiful when illuminated at night, but I don't know how enjoyable it will be to walk around when the temperature is about 40 degrees farenheit which is what I anticipate it will probably be. I don't need to worry about nightlife because that is not my main concern. That said, would I be a fool to stay somewhere outside the city and just make a day trip? Or do I really need more than one day to do the city justice? Thanks.

Yes, I believe a well planned day trip to Granada can indeed be a very enjoyable day. I would visit the Alhambra early in the morning, including a walk in the Gardens. By noon time you could head out to the center of town for lunch and allow some time to wander around town. Do visit the cathedral (Santa Maria de la Encarnacion), where the remains of Isabella, Ferdinand, and their daughter (Juana the Mad) are kept. An adjacent small museum has quite a collection of personal items from Isabella and Ferdinand. A visit to the old Moorish quarter, the Albaicin, will most likely be an interesting experience, it will remind you of Toledo with the maze-like streets and hidden corners (moorish unique streets layout was designed to enhance cool air flow; dont miss noticing where the doors, windows and roof drains are in relation with the sun at different times of the day). <BR><BR>Have a great time Julies, your trip sounds wonderful!

I was disappointed in Granada and had 2 nights there. In my opinion the only thing worth seeing is the Alhambra. It is magnificent and the roses in the gardens will be in bloom. The Albaycin is a market and not particularly interesting. Cordoba and Sevilla were much more to my liking. If you make reservations to visit the Alhambra in advance a day trip is sufficient. Without reservations you may not be able to get in since they have a limit on the number of visitors permitted daily.

julies,<BR>If you're venturing to Granada from the Lecr&iacute;n valley or the Alpujarras, a relatively short distance, then yes, you could do it justice in 1 full day. But I highly recommend that you get an early start and purchase your timed, 1/2 hr. slot tickets for the visit to the Palacios Nazar&iacute;es for as early as you can manage, given your distance away.<BR>(www.alhambratickets.com)<BR><BR>Between 8:30 to almost 10 you can view the Royal Chambers in &quot;relative&quot; peace before the tour bus hordes arrive. Then when the crowds begin to thicken, you can move on to the other sections, to the Alcazaba fortress, the palace of Charles V, the museums, the Generalife summer palace &amp; gardens. I've been to the Generalife in mid-March, but the highly manicured greenery, the gurgling fountains, the staircase of water, the delicate architecture, the fragrances of orange blossom, the views of the Alhambra complex below, the tranquility of it all, I'm sure you'll find enchanting in early March as well.<BR><BR>I'll let others tell you about the night tour and evening temperatures in early March, as we've never gotten around to that because of long, leisurely dinners on the terrace of the Parador, serenaded by classical guitar.<BR><BR>What I do highly recommend is that from your lodging outside of Granada, you not venture into the downtown maze with your car but instead take the ring road, a circuitous route, called the &quot;ronda&quot; or &quot;carretera de circunvalaci&oacute;n (follow the Alhambra signs) that circumvents the city entirely, looping around and taking you straight up to the Alhambra hill and the parking lot. You take a ticket at the car park then pay at the automated machine before leaving (requires lots of change, but there's a kiosk there that can help you figure this out).<BR> <BR>Leave your car there all day, and to explore downtown and visit the Cathedral and Royal Chapel (where you'll want to see the elaborately carved tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, Joan the Mad and Phillip the Fair), you can take the little jitney, the minibus bus #30 that departs every 10-15 min. from below the ticket counters and deposits you in the Plaza Nueva area. It's a very short walk from there. Then take the bus back up. <BR><BR>Also the minibus #32 from the Alhambra goes to the Alba&iacute;cin quarter for those gorgeous sunset views of the Alhambra complex and Sierra Nevada in the background that you can enjoy at the Mirador de San Nicol&aacute;s.

julies,<BR>The Albaic&iacute;n, as you know, is the ancient Arab quarter with those nooks and crannies, tiny, steep and narrow streets and whitewashed homes surrounded by walls, the c&aacute;rmenes-the lower part near the Plaza Nueva has become a little Morocco with tea salons (teter&iacute;as) on the Calder&iacute;a Vieja, a new mosque, a new hamaan (arab baths) and the Paseo de los Tristes, which is a tree lined street of bars and restaurants. <BR>The Alcaicer&iacute;a on the site of the former Medina is the souk-like market arcade with souvenir shops directly south the Cathedral.

Barbarita, you mentioned the Albaycin (sic) is just a market??? Is that all you saw there? The Albaicin in Granada (at least the one we visited) was the Old Moorish quarters, under consideration by UNESCO to be designated as Patrimony to Humanity. Maribel's description of Albaicin is lovely and I hope you considered a visit to this colorful and interesting place.

I don't think you can do it justice in a day trip. The Alhambra and Albaicin, with a little rest time, can take up all of a day trip. The Catedral, Capilla Real, and the experience of wandering through this wonderful city justify at least an overnight stay and another day.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful replies. I knew I could get some help on this.