There are cities to visit and cities to live in, even if only for a few days. Granada belongs to the second category. I knew it the first time I parked the motorhome on the outskirts, walked down to the Albaicín at sunset and saw how the Sierra Nevada was tinged with pink behind the Alhambra. You don’t just look at it: you breathe it.
And the best thing is that Granada is not just the city. It is a province with a diversity that defies logic: you can have breakfast with views of snow-capped peaks, eat fresh fish on the Costa Tropical and dine in a lost farmhouse in the Alpujarras, all in the same day and without leaving its borders. For those of us who travel on wheels, that is a treasure.
That is why I am especially happy to tell you that our network of Motorhome Areas in Andalusia already has three points in the province of Granada, each one designed for a different type of trip. Let me introduce them to you.
Bellavista Camper Area: the gateway to the capital city of Granada
The latest addition to our network is the Bellavista Camper Area, and its location is, quite simply, strategic. It is in Maracena, fifteen minutes from the center of Granada by public transport -the streetcar stop is five hundred meters away and the bus stop is two hundred meters away-, but when you open the door of your camper in the morning, what you see is the Sierra Nevada silhouetted against the sky. That balance between countryside and city is hard to find.
The facilities are up to standard: electricity, WiFi, showers, grey and black water emptying, water filling, sinks, washing facilities, video surveillance and rest area. They accept vehicles of more than nine meters -something that those of us who travel in large motorhomes greatly appreciate- and they have toilets adapted for people with reduced mobility. Pets are allowed and you can pay by credit card.
Bellavista is, in my opinion, the best option if you want to explore the city of Granada with the comfort of having your house parked in a safe and well connected place. You arrive by streetcar to the center, stroll through the Albaicin, visit the Alhambra and the Generalife, get lost in the alleys of Sacromonte and return to dinner in your motorhome without traffic and parking hassles.
Alclub Motorhome Area: the Costa Tropical at your feet
If Granada capital is culture and heritage, Almuñecar is sun and sea. The Alclub Motorhome Area is located just four hundred meters from Velilla Beach, in one of the most pleasant towns of the Tropical Coast of Granada, with more than three hundred and twenty days of sunshine a year.
The standard rate is fifteen euros per night for up to four people, with electricity available for an additional five euros. It is open all year round, allows pets and has everything: hot showers, washer and dryer, Wi-Fi, 24-hour video surveillance, picnic area and children’s area. A detail that is appreciated: next to the entrance there is an area for walking dogs.
From Alclub you can explore a spectacular coastline. La Herradura beach, San Cristobal beach, San Miguel Castle, El Majuelo Botanical Park or the Almuñecar Aquarium are just a short walk away. And if you like sports, snorkeling, paddle surfing, kayaking and diving have unbeatable conditions here.
If Granada capital is culture and heritage, Almuñecar is sun and sea. The Alclub Motorhome Area is located just four hundred meters from Velilla Beach, in one of the most pleasant towns of the Tropical Coast of Granada, with more than three hundred and twenty days of sunshine a year.
The standard rate is fifteen euros per night for up to four people, with electricity available for an additional five euros. It is open all year round, allows pets and has everything: hot showers, washer and dryer, Wi-Fi, 24-hour video surveillance, picnic area and children’s area. A detail that is appreciated: next to the entrance there is an area for walking dogs.
From Alclub you can explore a spectacular coastline. La Herradura beach, San Cristobal beach, San Miguel Castle, El Majuelo Botanical Park or the Almuñecar Aquarium are just a short walk away. And if you like sports, snorkeling, paddle surfing, kayaking and diving have unbeatable conditions here.
What to see and do in Granada: a province for weeks on end
The city of Granada
I could write a whole book about the city of Granada -in fact, many people have done it-, but I will stick to the essentials for those arriving by motorhome.
The Alhambra is, of course, a must-see. One piece of advice I never tire of repeating: buy tickets weeks in advance, especially in high season. They sell out. It’s not an exaggeration, it’s a fact.
But Granada is much more than the Alhambra. The Albaicín neighborhood, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, hidden gardens and breathtaking viewpoints. Sacromonte, with its caves and flamenco, has an authenticity that is increasingly difficult to find in Andalusia. The Royal Chapel, where the Catholic Monarchs rest, is a late Gothic jewel that many visitors overlook. And the walk to the Alhambra through the historic Puerta de las Granadas, under the shade of the centuries-old elm trees of the Alhambra Forest, is an experience in itself.
Don’t forget the gastronomy: Granada is the capital of free tapas. You ask for a beer and they serve you a dish. It is a tradition that is kept alive and turns any afternoon in the bars in the center into an improvised feast.
The Tropical Coast
The coastal strip of Granada, between Almuñécar, Salobreña and Motril, is what they call the Costa Tropical, and the name is no coincidence. Thanks to the protection offered by the mountains, the climate here allows the cultivation of avocados, mangoes, custard apples and sugar cane. The beach of Cantarriján, at the foot of the cliffs of Cerro Gordo, is one of the most beautiful coves in the entire Andalusian Mediterranean.
From our areas of Alclub and La Herradura you have direct access to all this. A perfect plan: morning at the beach, afternoon hiking along the cliffs of Maro-Cerro Gordo and dinner of fresh fish in any of the beach bars of Almuñécar.
The Alpujarras: the other world of Granada
If the coast is sun and sea, the Alpujarras are silence, mountains and white villages hanging from impossible slopes. Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, the three villages of the Barranco de Poqueira, are probably the best known, but the whole region deserves days of unhurried exploration.
It is a perfect area to travel by motorhome if you respect the limitations of some mountain roads. The contrast with the city is brutal: from the Nasrid palaces to the tinaos alpujarreños, from the multitude of the Alhambra to the sound of water in the irrigation ditches of Trevelez. Granada offers this gift.
Castles and fortresses: a historical route through the province
For history lovers, the province of Granada hides a network of castles and fortresses that goes far beyond the Alhambra. The platform Ruta de los Castillos y Fortalezas de Granada allows you to design tailor-made historical itineraries through the province, from the coast to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada. It is a great resource to plan stages in motorhome with a cultural thread.
Practical tips for traveling by motorhome through Granada
After many trips to this province, I have been accumulating lessons that I want to share:
Book the Alhambra as soon as possible. In high season, tickets sell out months in advance. Do not leave this to the last minute. You can buy them on the official website of the Patronato de la Alhambra.
Plan your nights. Granada is a province in great demand by motorhomers from all over Europe. Reserving a place in our areas, especially in summer and Easter, is a good idea.
Combines coast and inland. One of the great pleasures of traveling by motorhome in Granada is the variety. You can spend a few days on the Costa Tropical, go up to explore the Alpujarras and finish with a cultural visit to the capital. Everything is relatively close.
Always consult the current regulations. Motorhome regulations vary from municipality to municipality. For up-to-date information on overnight stays and parking in Andalusia, the official Andalusian tourism website and the regulations published by the Junta de Andalucía are the most reliable sources.
Events and festivals. Granada has a rich cultural calendar. The Corpus Christi Fair in June is one of the big events, with stalls, music and cultural activities throughout the city. Throughout the year there are flamenco, music and gastronomy festivals that are worth checking out on the Granada City Hall website before planning your trip.
Don’t have a motorhome? You can also rent one in Granada
If you are thinking of doing this route but still don’t have your own vehicle, in Granada there are several motorhome and campervan rental companies that make things much easier. Companies such as Carovaning, Rumboa or Teranga Camper offer a variety of options, from compact camper vans to complete motorhomes, many of them with 24 hour service and advice on routes in the area.
It’s a good way to try out the experience before taking the leap to buying your own vehicle. And if you’re already a camper, it’s always good to know that there are rental options if you’re traveling with friends or family who want to join the adventure.
Three areas, one province, infinite possibilities
Granada is one of those provinces that asks you to come back. There is always something that remains unseen, a town you didn’t get to, a cove that was recommended to you at the last minute, a viewpoint that you discover by chance.
With our three areas in the province -Bellavista for the capital, Alclub for Almuñécar and La Herradura for the most protected bay of the Costa Tropical- you have a perfect triangle to explore all that this land has to offer. With full services, security and the peace of mind of knowing that your home on wheels is in good hands.
See you on the road.
Jorge
