Cheap Car Hire in Granada

About Granada

Granada is a city in the province of the same name, situated in Andalusia. It lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada at an altitude of 738 m, at the confluence of the Darro and Genil rivers. In terms of population, Granada ranks thirteenth among all Spanish cities. At the same time, it is considered one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The city's name derives either from the Spanish Granada ("pomegranate"), a fruit common in the area, or from its Moorish name Karnattah (Gharnāṭah), possibly meaning "hill of strangers."

One of the main attractions that everyone who comes to Granada simply must-see, and some come to Granada just to visit this powerful historical monument, is the famous Alhambra - a citadel and palace that is considered a cultural heritage of Muslim, Jewish and Christian cultures. . Of course, this bise of Andalusia has much more to offer than the Alhambra, and if you have decided to take a road trip through Andalusia, Granada is one of the cities you should not miss.

You can visit Granada all year round. In winter, you can ski in the nearby ski resorts of Sierra Nevada, and in the other seasons, you will be fascinated by the natural and cultural surroundings. At the same time, you can indulge in first-class cuisine and have fun until late at night in one of the clubs or discos, of which there is no shortage in the city.

The city has the inevitable Moorish stamp that can be seen at every turn, while subtly blending with other cultures that have emerged in this city over the centuries. Granada is considered to be the city that was last reconquered by the Catholic monarchs. So, if you have decided to go to Granada or rent a car in Granada and continue your journey through Spain from here, you have made the right decision. Take your time and get to know this stunning city as you walk through the walled streets with Renaissance, Gothic and Neoclassical buildings, stop at one of the bars without worrying and treat yourself to a beer and tapas, but of course, if you are really hungry you can indulge in the culinary delights of Granada's colours at one of the many top restaurants.

Basic info and car hire in Granada

• Location: Andalusia, Spain
• Population: 232,208
• Official language: Spanish
• Currency: Euro
• Weather:   Granada has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Granada are in good condition.
• Car hire in Granada:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Granada is Granada airport and Granada Downtown. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Granada!

 Driving in Granada

To drive a car in Granada you must be 18 years old, have a valid driver's license, and show valid proof of insurance for the vehicle you are driving. In Granada, vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road. The speed limit on the motorway is 120 km/h (75 mph). On normal roads the speed limit is 90 km/h (75 mph), on urban roads, it is 50 km/h (50 mph), and on all other through roads, there is a speed limit sign.

It's good to know that Spain has strict drink-driving laws, allowing only 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood - stricter than in the UK, where the limit is 0.8. Novice drivers are effectively banned from driving under the influence with a very low limit of 0.1 mg/l. Seatbelts front and rear are compulsory everywhere.

 One thing: for those not used to roundabouts: There are a lot of them in Spain! And the following rules apply: The driver who is already in the roundabout has the right of way unless there is a traffic light at the roundabout that regulates the flow of traffic. Before leaving the roundabout, you should put on your right turn signal to indicate that you are leaving the roundabout.

If you are caught speeding in Granada, the Spanish police act very quickly, and lack of Spanish is not considered an excuse. The police do not mind that you are a tourist on holiday, and fines are often issued immediately unless you can prove that you are a permanent resident in Spain. If you receive a fine, make sure the officer gives you an official receipt and if you pay immediately, the fine is usually reduced by 20%.

The Spanish law on the use of indicators on motorways is strictly enforced. You risk a fine if you fail to signal before overtaking and after overtaking if you move back into the adjacent lane. Traffic coming from the left always has the right of way. If you see a solid white line in the middle of the road, do not cross it. Continue until you either see a dotted white line or look for a sign that says "Cambio de Sentido" where you can safely and legally turn around.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Spain is 18 years. However, most car rental companies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car and at least 25 years to avoid paying an additional young driver fee. 
• International Driving Permit:  Yes, if you are a non-EU licence holder.  
• Additional papers:   Identification(passport), a valid driving license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to buy insurance at the car hire agency in case your policy doesn't cover you while driving in Spain)
• Additional requirements:  Glasses (in case you need glasses, you must always have a spare pair in the car), light bulbs (are usually already in the car and are provided by the car rental company), warning triangle (2 are required for all vehicles registered in Spain and 1 if coming from abroad), high visibility vest (recently made compulsory)- First aid kit (not compulsory, but we strongly recommend you have it with you, just in case).
• Children in the car:  If you are traveling with children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, you are required by law to have a child seat in your car. If you do not have your own, most car rental companies will provide one for a fee. However, it is advisable to request such a seat before collecting the vehicle, otherwise one may not always be available.
• Driving side of the road: Right
• Lights:  Check that all lights are working, clean, and correctly aimed.
• General speed limits:  The speed limit is 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on the motorway.
• Parking suggestions:  Parking is prohibited in Spain in all areas where the curbs are marked yellow. The parking spaces marked in blue usually have a parking meter and you must buy a parking ticket to park in these spaces. You will usually find a machine nearby where you can purchase your parking ticket. Most of these blue areas have a parking limit of 2 hours, but this is displayed on the machine.

What to see in Granada

The Alhambra

A beautiful complex consisting of many buildings connected by pathways surrounded by fascinating gardens, full of fountains and vegetation. One of the oldest bets within the Alhambra is the Alhambra Citadel. There are also many buildings in the area for the slaves or workers of the time. Worth mentioning is the tower La Vela, considered one of the most important buildings of the Alhambra, from which you have a breathtaking view of the entire complex, which at the time of its creation was considered the largest political and aristocratic center of the country and beyond.

Granada Cathedral

This stunning Renaissance church is a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic. However, inside this beautiful building, we can admire fascinating paintings, statues, stained glass windows, and altars. Inside the church, there is also a museum that displays a large number of items that represent real wealth. This church also includes many works of art by renowned Spanish artists who have gladly become part of this powerful and mythical cathedral. 

The Generalife

It is laid out like a royal orchard. Originally, it was a summer residence for the Sultan, which was also used to grow fruits and vegetables for the residents of the palace, as well as a recreation center for the rulers and their relatives. In addition to the orchard, there are also some ponds and canals through which water flows, which was diverted here with the help of artificial canals dug up to the Darro River. 

The monastery of La Cartuja

The monastery was built and decorated by different artists from different periods. The original design differs greatly from the final appearance of this architectural treat. It is considered the pinnacle of Spanish Baroque architecture and, as mentioned earlier, was decorated by various Spanish artists.

Museum in the Science Park of Granada

This magnificent park was built to introduce visitors to Andalusia and also to science in a broader sense, both in the fields of physics, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, and much more. Visitors can learn about the different branches of science and their achievements, while at the same time learning about and understanding the different natural phenomena and the different discoveries that scientists have come to. There is also a state-of-the-art observatory in the outdoor area as well as an auditorium, cinema halls, a library, a digital planetarium, an art gallery... The museum also offers various workshops and courses that you can attend to learn more about the topics that interest you.

Best restaurants in Granada:

El Trillo Restaurante

Apo Restaurante

aisushi restaurante Arabial

El Mercader

Artesana Pic Nic

Palacio Andaluz Almona