Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Granada/Ronda question

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Granada/Ronda question

If you were travelling the Andalucia by car and were to arrive in Granada before noon on day 1. What would be the best option: a) spend 2 nights in Granada, leave in the morning of day 3 and visit Ronda on route to Sevilla (planning to arrive in the late afternoon), or b) spend 1 night in Granada, leave on day 2 around 5pm, spend a night in Ronda and go on to Sevilla on day 3, mid afternoon. TIA Paulo

Paulo, What time of the year are you going? The Alhambra was VERY busy when I was there last April and some people couldn't get tickets for the one day they had allotted for Granada. Also, I loved the Alhambra and visited it twice in the three days ( too long) I was in Granada.If you are going off season, you might not have a ticket problem and could spend more time in Ronda, which I hear is quite lovely.

We should travel July next year. Even though we spent a full day visiting the Topkapi palace last year we intend to visit the Alhambra and would try to secure reservations before getting to Granada (somebody said it was possible to reserve by phone and get the ticket in any Bilbao-Vizcaya Bank branch in Spain). Paulo PS. as set, our plans call for alternative a) ... but I've noticed that a few fodorites in a similar situation have elected alternative b) and I wonder if we're missing something ...

Paulo, The ticket situation will dictate your choice----it is very diificult to get tickets the same day you arrive and you will be there high season. We were in line at 0730 for ours in April, and the nite tour is not the same. I would opt for plan A unless you have advance tickets. Allow about 4 hours for Ronda. By the way, I always love your insightful answers on this forum.

Paulo, If you are travelling in July, I would most definitely choose option A, the reason being that the Alhambra, as Michelle has stated, is extremely crowded during the summer months. In fact, the daily allotment of 8,500 tickets is often sold out by 10 a.m.! Your best bet regarding tickets would be to fax the ticket office in advance, at least a week ahead (958 21058), and then make sure on day 2 that you are in line before the 9 a.m. opening to pick up your reserved tickets. Your alternative would be to purchase them when you arrive on day 1 at the BBV bank or the Caja General de Ahorros at the Plaza Isabel la Catolica in the center of town, provided you arrive in the city before the banks close at 2 p.m. Mon-Fri (I believe they charge a slight commission). Tickets are issued with a half hour time slot when you are allowed into the Royal Palaces. The grounds and Generalife can be visited at any time until closing at 8. Because of the enormous crowds that almost overwhelm the Alhambra from June to August (I was there mid-June this year and one could barely move around, I think you would enjoy having two days in Granada to be able to see the Alhambra/Generalife and the Royal Chapel/Cathedral at a leisurely pace. It also gives you time for a sunset stroll through the Albaicin up to the beautiful Mirador de San Nicolas with extraordinary views of the Alhambra hill. Not to be missed! I personally don't feel that you need to spend the night in Ronda, although it is magical at night, but save that for another visit. Hope this helps you to decide.

I'd stay two nights in Granada. Rhonda is lovely, but probably won't hold your interest more than three hours. Granada, on the other hand, offers endless delights. The Alhambra gets very crowded, so figure on two visits (on two separate days) to get the most of it. Have Fun, Bobby

Ronda is interesting but not worth putting yourself out for.It fills with tourists (day trips from the coast)during the day & empties in the evening.I stayed one night, it was very quiet.My partner's father stayed for a night & got mugged aroung sunset - they tore the moneybelt from him.Seville is amazing, make it your priority. Don't park a car with non-Spanish plates in Seville centre, it will be broken into.Don't miss the Alcazar.Don't plan sightseeing during the afternoon in July, the heat is ludicrous.

We have reservations for two nights in Ronda and one night in Arcos at the beginning of October. Is that too much time? We were planning on seeing the cave outside of Ronda. Any comments on that? Thanks.

Well ... thanks folks. I guess the issue is settled. We'll stick to our original "feel" on plan a). Most probably we'll try to visit the Catedral/Capilla Real, the Madraza, Corral del Carbon, etc. when we get there on day one and try to go on to the Albaicin later in the day (after the siesta) when the heat hopefully has subsided a bit. We would reserve the full 2nd day to the Alhambra and visit Ronda for 3 hours or so on our way to Sevilla. Is the Cartuja Monastery worth the time (we would possibly visit it just before hitting the road to Ronda)? Paulo

Hi Paulo They ticket procedure has changed recently, YOU CAN BUY TICkets for the Alhambra ahead of time at any branch of the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya. It is wonderful they get on line and print your ticket right there. We bought them in another city in Spain before arriving to Granada ( Last April), but I understand you can buy tckets in any branch worldwide. Once there get an audio guide, they are excelllet. Buena suerte, graziella

Thanks Graziella. As a matter of fact there's a branch of the Bank right here in town. Most probably they won't know nothing about it because for sure they've never done it. But I'll ask them to get informed and to be readdy when time's up for me :-) Paulo