23406SPA
A walking sightseeing visit with a local guide of La Alhambra complex.
Sightseeing should include:
Alhambra Palace inside visit
Generalife Gardens stroll through
Summer Palace inside visit
· Call or text your local guide at least 48 hrs in advance to reconfirm the time of your visit. Entrances are purchased months in advance and are timed. It is impossible to make a change. **Please keep an eye on timing during the day to ensure you are punctual**
· Groups are allotted time slots. Do not arrive late for your tour.
If you are unavoidably detained, contact the area office immediately. IF YOU ARE LATE, YOU MISS YOUR TOUR.
· Passports are now needed for all entrances – please ensure that your group are carrying their passports as they cannot enter without them. They should hold onto them for the duration of the tour as there are further controls within the complex.
· The fixed timed entry ticket is for the visit to the Palace complex buildings. The Generalife gardens can be visited either before or after the Palace – discuss with your guide in which order you want to visit the gardens – you may need to adjust your timings for the day if you do the Gardens first. If you intend to walk down into town after your visit (instead of using the bus) then visiting the gardens first saves you doubling back on yourself and avoids a lot of extra walking. However check with your guide as this is may not be possible depending on the time of your entrance slot.
· Maximum group size is now 30 pax. If your group is larger, then they will be split up equally in two halves and will have two guides. Make sure your group is aware of which group they will be in prior to arrival.
· Please make sure everyone in your group has their headsets before heading out on sightseeing ( and that you have the microphone/s for the local guide)
· The guide will have the tickets for the group. As these are personalized and include their name and passport details they will be distributed before passing ticket control. This will be done between you and the guide but it might be helpful to enlist the teachers as they know the students better.
· Once inside the Alhambra the group must stay together throughout the visit as there are now guards on every door, scanning tickets.
· Guide is paid with voucher – please check the final numbers and sign.
On arrival the driver will leave you at the bottom of the turn-around in the parking. Arrange a meeting time with your driver (about 2.5 hrs later) and get their mobile number in case you need it. Your local guide will be in that area waiting for you. Please keep your ACIS folder out so you are easily visible.
If your guide has not arrived yet walk your group down towards the ticket office building. Give them time to use the bathrooms which are downstairs, just to the left of the ticket office. If your guide has already arrived, there are bathrooms just inside the Alhambra complex. The bathrooms in the ticket office building get very congested and it can take ages for the whole group to go. The alternative is to use the bathrooms inside the complex.
If you are having lunch in the area, there are a few restaurants – GLs might like “La Mimbre”. There is also a nice picnic spot in the area
Inside the ticket office, there is also an Andalucía tourist office. This is a great
place for maps and other information.
As buses are not allowed to wait in the pick-up/drop-off area, a good rule of thumb is to call your driver when the group has finished their tour. It generally takes drivers 10 to 15 minutes from the time you call them until they arrive.
After the visit, drive back into Granada drop your group by Paseo de la Bomba – it is a ten minute walk from here to the centre.
Walk the group over to the Cathedral (point out the entrance to the Royal Chapel, accessible from the side street by the Cathedral – note opening times and prices for those who would like to go back in their free time), back through the medina and into Plaza Bib Rambla. There are lots of choices for lunch on the plaza. Give your group free time and arrange a regrouping time.
Tourist Office Calle Carcel Baja, 3 or Calle Santa Ana, 4
Post
Office At the Puerta Real
Church
Services At the Cathedral / Services at 10.00, 12.00, 13.00. Always check mass times in advance.
LOCAL PUBLICATIONS
Check Guía del Ocio and Ideal for local events and entertainment listings.
THINGS TO DO
Bullfights In the season – check with reception at the hotel
Cathedrals
and Royal
Chapels The latter houses the tombs of Ferdinand and Isabella, their daughter Juana la Loca and her Husband Felipe el Hermoso. Please note: there are separate entrances for these two buildings, the royal chapel is the more interesting of the two. Check Yellow Pages for opening times.
Monasterio
de la
Cartuja Lavishly decorated monastery / Beautiful cupola by Antonio Palomino
Chocolate y
churros In the square at calle Campillo Bajo or Plaza Bib Rambla
Restaurants On the Plaza Bib Rambla behind the cathedral and all around the Plaza Nueva area. Also Calle Navas.
Hammam Well worth a visit should group want pampering. It is also an Arab tea shop on the top floor with great views of the Calle Santa Ana 16. A reservation may be necessary.
Moorish
Tearooms Please note that this isn’t suitable for all groups as some teachers might take offence. Please read your group properly before taking them up to the Albaicin.
Shopping In the narrow streets of the Arab Bazaar, the Alcaicería (between the cathedral and the Calle Reyes Católicos / Also the Corte Ingles, Carrera de Genil. Open 10am-8pm, Mon-Sat
Evening suggestions
Terraces
opposite
the
Alhambra Take group along Carrera del Darro to terraces opposite Alhambra – especially good in the summer
Mirador San
Nicolas Walk group up to Mirador San Nicolas for fantastic view of illuminated Alhambra
Flamenco/Gypsy Caves
Family living in the Albaicín picks up you and group from hotel in their own buses, drives you to the Albaicín, gives you brief walking tour, showing you the illuminated Alhambra, then take you back to their “cave” for a show of flamenco dancing (usually one drink/soda included). See yellow pages for contact numbers.