Granada City Train Hop-On Hop-Off Tour with Audio Guide

The Alhambra and Generalife stop

The Alhambra is the reason most visitors come to Granada. This palace-fortress on the Sabika hill was built mostly in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by the Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim rulers of Spain, and it is one of the most visited monuments in Europe. Its Nasrid palaces, courtyards, water channels and gardens, together with the Generalife summer palace, are listed by UNESCO.

The train stops near the Alhambra ticket office and again at the Puerta de la Justicia, so you can reach the monument without climbing the hill on foot. Note that the train ticket does not include admission to the Alhambra, and entrance tickets are limited, so book them separately as early as you can. If you want to know how to get to the Alhambra from the centre, this train is the easiest way.

Plaza Nueva and the Alhóndiga

Plaza Nueva is the oldest square in Granada despite its name, and the natural place to start the day. From here the Darro valley leads up towards the Albaicín, and the square is lined with cafés, making it a good place to sit before you continue the loop.

Near the Alhóndiga stop you find the old Nasrid Corral del Carbón, a fourteenth-century merchants' inn and the only building of its type that survives in Spain. It shows how trade in silk and other goods was organised in Muslim Granada. The audio guide on the train explains what you are passing.

The Cathedral and the Royal Chapel

Granada Cathedral was begun in 1523 in Gothic style and continued by the architect Diego de Siloé in the Renaissance style, giving it a very tall, light interior. Next to it stands the Royal Chapel, where the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, are buried.

The Cathedral and Royal Chapel stop is central and handy for visitors who want to see both. Opening hours change by day and season, so check the timetable before you plan your visit. Combining the train with a walk in this part of the city is an easy way to fit a lot of history into a short stay.

The San Cristóbal viewpoint and the Albaicín views

The Mirador de San Cristóbal is one of the best places in Granada to photograph the Alhambra with the snow-capped Sierra Nevada behind it. It sits on the edge of the Albaicín, the old Moorish quarter, and the train brings you close to it without the long uphill walk.

If you are asking about the best time to see the Alhambra from a viewpoint, late afternoon gives a golden light on the red walls, and clear winter days show the mountains white. Take your time here, because this is the panoramic highlight of the route.

Hospital Real, Campo del Príncipe and Carmen de los Mártires

Further along the route the train reaches the Arco de Elvira and Hospital Real, a sixteenth-century hospital founded by the Catholic Monarchs that today houses university offices, and the lively Campo del Príncipe square with its restaurants.

The last stop is Carmen de los Mártires, a large hillside garden below the Alhambra with fountains, ponds and views over the city. It is a peaceful place to rest, and one of the least crowded spots on the route. The route makes a complete loop, so you can start at any stop.