My name is Hugo and I am a modern foreign languages and business management student and I just concluded my year abroad in Granada, Spain, where I spent the academic year studying in the university of Granada.
My time in Granada was a thrilling and life changing experience and I would recommend it to anyone. In this blog I will talk about the rich culture, the beautiful nature and the vast amount of activities there are to do in Granada.
About Granada: Granada is a city located in the province of Andalusia which is located in the south of Spain and has a population of roughly 230,000. It is a city with a lot of character due to the natural beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and impressive architecture such as churches, cathedrals and most famously the Alhambra.
On the picture on the left you can see the stunning Arabic palace and fortress made in 1238 during the extensive years in which Spain was under Islamic rule. The Alhambra is breath-taking and people from all over the world come to visit it. I highly recommend visiting the palace and getting a tour, as it is filled with Islamic architecture such as intricate tile work, impressive gardens, open courtyards and amazing fountains and canals. I would also highly recommend visiting miradores (viewpoints) such as the mirador de San Nicholas and San Miguel. They are located in Albacin and allow for a full view of the Alhambra and the city of Granada where there is a vibrant atmosphere with people playing music as well as plenty of Arabic restaurants and bars. Visiting the area of Albaicin gives you an insight into the most historic part of Granada that is rich in culture both of Islamic and catholic influence including small windy roads, traditional houses known as carmenes and local culture.
The people of Granada are also what makes Granada such a vibrant and welcoming city. The people in the South of Spain are extremely friendly and sociable. There is always an atmosphere in every plaza where people eat at bars and restaurants in large groups and socialise for hours. This welcoming nature makes it very easy to immerse yourself in the culture and make good friends. There is never nothing to do in Granada and you will never get bored (at least I didn’t).
Another important part of Granada that has to be mentioned is its tapas culture, which is essentially getting a small plate of food for free with every drink you buy. The concept of tapas portrays the generous and welcoming nature of granada. It is a way for people to socialise and get out of the house for fairly cheap whilst also eating authentic spanish food. Some places I would recommend include La buena vida, los diamantes and Vinilo’s. Tapas was a staple part of my time in Granada and I believe it is what makes the city stand out.
My experience
My time in Granada is one I will never forget. It was by far the most unique experience I have had in my life so far. To start with the culture is something that takes some time to get used to. Life is very relaxed and people are not so work oriented. People prioritise their social life and community, which generally differs to the UK. This approach for me personally makes the quality of life better and makes Granada a very liveable city.
There are so many activities that I did including hiking across the Sierra Nevada. As well as eating out at restaurants and going to bars on a weekly basis. I also made the most out of the bustling nightlife. I would recommend ‘calle pedro antonio de alcaron’ because of its cheap deals and the amount of university students. You can even go skiing in Granada on the Sierra Nevada mountain range which I did and thoroughly enjoyed. All of these activities are very affordable which makes budgeting easier and also makes it easier to socialise on a daily basis. Granada is known as one of the most student friendly cities, with loads of free activities, cheap public transport and a big community of students, especially international students. I was lucky enough to make friends with people from all over the world which made my experience even more interesting.
Ski lift on sierra nevada
During my time in Granada I was amazed by the amount of festive and religious activities. It feels like every week they are celebrating something. These celebrations are characterised with parades through the streets with loud music as well as a lot of days off university. I found these celebrations very enjoyable even though I am not religious. It is a time for people to have a good time with family and friends and it also brings an electric atmosphere to the city. My favourite celebration was the feria which was towards the end of my stay in Granada. It is a week where people dress up in traditional clothing and go to a fair where you can do anything from fun fair rides, games, go to dance tents and many more. It is a time that brings the city together to celebrate the culture and enjoy each other’s company which I really appreciated.
Conclusion:
In concussion granada is a city that has something for everyone including sight seeing, beautiful nature, a bustling nightlife, great food and many more. I gladly got to experience all of it. Granada for me was a very easy place to live due to the friendliness of its people and affordability.
I would recommend it to anyone.
Thanks for reading!