Andalucia - Granada

[scrumbrum12]

Long story but I have mucked up our trip for October on many levels. For this particular cock up, can anyone advise? Alhambra is completely booked out (I was looking at the wrong site keeping an eye on tickets) and so I don’t see the point in going to Granada, what can we do instead? We don’t have a big budget for excursions and trips so needs to be all independent/on the cheap. Thinking we may actually get bored!

Flying in Malaga, out Seville, travelling by bus

Original plan was
Malaga x3 nights
Granada x2
Seville x3

any ideas?

Granada still has the cathedral which is good and the royal gardens. Seville has the Alcazar as well and cathedral with the tower to climb. Malaga doesn't have as much. Cordoba has the amazing Mesquita and easily accessible by bus too.

Granada is so much more than the Alhambra, I've been a few times without going in and never felt it wasn't worth it.

You might be able to get in on the day or you can at least see a small bit without a ticket. I'd stick to your original plan.

Thanks, that’s reassuring. Is it worth buying the garden tickets at least? I think there were some of them the day we leave Granada

I agree with previous posters. Go and enjoy Granada, it's a beautiful place.
We messed up our visit to the Alhambra by going in the wrong entrance, getting lost and losing our time slot (which they are very strict about btw), and I still don't regret the 4 days we spent there.
And if you haven't already visited Seville, do, it's fantastic..

Oh definitely. Is it just the Nastrid palaces you can't get tickets for?

Yes, can get gardens, not on our full day but the day we then go on to Seville

Séville all the way.
And a trip to Cordoba.
I wasn't impressed at all with Granada itself, and its inhabitants are famously grumpy.

I really enjoyed going to Ronda, preferred it to Granada tbh.

I've been to the Alhambra, and remember only the gardens - they were awesome and well worth a visit. I don't remember even thinking about the "indoor" part.

I enjoyed Carmen de los Martires (down the road from the Alhambra) more than the Alhambra itself. Definitely worth a wander!

We also liked Sacromonte Abbey very much and the Caves Museum :)

Getting lost in an eeriely empty albacin was amazing - it was quite a few years ago now and there was lots of anti regeneration grafitti - no idea if it remains un-regenerated. There is/was an amazing open square with a breathtaking vista across to the Alhambra (I think!)

Yes, if you haven't been to Ronda, it's lovely. There's a great swimming hole just outside with a little waterfall - I think it's Cava de Gato? There are trains to Ronda from San Roque if you fancy the train up.

The Picasso museum in Malaga is worth a visit, as are some of the towns nearby. I love Castella, but the old town, and for a beach and some light shopping Tarifa. I used to live nearby and it's an amazing area.

Yes, near Plaza San Nicolas. Go up to the square in the evening for tapas and then go along to the viewpoint to see the Alhambra lit up at night.

I loved Cordoba. Definitely worth a day (at least).

You don't have to race around all the time to enjoy visiting places. Sit down, have a drink and a meal, soak up the atmosphere! (In response to your worry that you may get bored)

https://www.spain-holiday.com/Ronda/articles/cueva-del-gato-benaojan-ronda

That’s it, cueva del gato. Too cold for me though, only managed a paddle!

Go to the gardens, stroll around, take a few pics. Then before or after that go to the Balcon St. Nicolas for the most amazing views over to the Alhambra. Great atmosphere there with the gypsy guitarists busking and people dancing and singing. There are a couple of nice restaurants nearby too if hungry.

Then go to the Albaicin District which is the old Gypsy quarter. Lovely. Remember that it's a heck of a climb to the Alhambra and Balcon/Albaicin so be warned! We took the Granada little road train (well we were tourists lol) which cost around a tenner and took us all the way up and around, then back down with multi stops hop on/off. It was fab for getting up the killer hill to Alhambra and the other places I mentioned. We walked back down and it was just so atmospheric and gorgeous. The bus thing goes from Plaza Nueva.

You really should go to Cordoba. It was fabulous, even if you can only go for the day, it is not to be missed. The train goes from Granada, and then from Cordoba to Sevilla.

I envy you so much, it was my favourite trip in a long time.

Agree with others that Granada is worth visit anyway and you will love Seville.

Check the Fuengirola Feria- it's usually first or second week of October. Live flamenco and food and dancing all night, it's great fun, but doesn't get going till midnight.
Granada is great to wander around , you can find little bars with live music and lovely ( free) tapas. Nightlife is still happening at dawn.

Cordoba instead of granada, easy train up from Malaga

Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. If anything, cut a day from Malaga, but it depends when your flight arrives, if it's late you might only really have a couple of days there anyway.

If you're stuck for things to do and can stretch to the cost, I'd book onto an excursion to El Caminito del Rey.

We were in Alhambra last week, the gardens and surrounding areas are amazing

We went to Granada in 2019, and some tickets were saved on the official Alhambra website to sell on the day (including the palace). This is how we bought ours. It was end of November, but still busy.
If you haven't already, I recommend booking tickets for the alcazar in Seville. If possible, try and include the state apartments in your visit. They are worth seeing (extra few euros).
I agree with others - Cordoba is beautiful.

That is true @Pusspot you need to book tickets in advance for Seville too .

OK so it is a shame you can't do the Alhambra because we did actually find that was the highlight of our trip to Andalucia. However, Granada is still worth a visir. As PP have said, a walk around the Gypsy Quarter is well worth it.

The Mezquita in Cordoba is wonderful.

I also loved Seville.
We did it entirely by train if that helps.

Agree with PPs - you must visit Cordoba!

And make sure you see a flamenco show - Seville, Grenada and Malaga all have regular performances in small, intimate venues, the best way to experience flamenco.

We visited the Alhambra in June - I thought I had stuffed up too because it was all booked out, but extra tickets were often released online a couple of days beforehand and we managed to pick up some of these. I think I'm right in saying that they pop up on the website soon after midnight, so do keep an eye out.