Granada Airport Mini Guide
What is There for me to See in Granada?
Granada is generally thought of as the best city destination in Spain for tourists. It gets this accolade because of the wealth of historical sights including the world famous Alhambra Palace but also for the proximity to the mountains of the Sierra Nevada for opportunities to ski in winter. The cathedral is also a must-see as it holds the tombs of two of Spain’s most famous monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella who, not only recaptured Granada from the Moors but also financed Columbus’ voyage.
How do I get to Granada?
There’s Granada Airport, properly called Federico Garcia Lorca about ten miles from the city. It’s smaller than you would think for this part of Spain and operates mainly domestic flights plus one seasonal flight from Paris. If you want to fly into Granada from the
UK you’ll have to catch a connecting flight to
Madrid Airport, Paris or
Barcelona. For direct flights you’d have to use
Malaga Airport and then put up with a 55 mile journey to the city.
What’s the Airport Like?
It’s quite big with a lot of parking outside including covered parking. The building has been designed in the Moorish style but still looks a little like a concrete box. Inside it’s light and modern with a good range of facilities. The journey into town from there takes around twenty minutes and costs around €30 by taxi and €3 on the bus which takes substantially longer as it makes twelve stops in the city. Interestingly, the airport includes Jaen in its name despite the city being 100kms away.
What Can I Expect When I Arrive?
There are no air bridges so you are taken to the terminal in buses or on foot depending on the stand of your aircraft. Once inside you’ll be amazed at the size and because of this it never seems crowded or chaotic. Passport control is usually reasonably quick and after baggage reclaim you’ll be in the main arrivals hall. If you need help around the airport then look out for the information desk on the side wall and indicated by an ’i’ on an yellow background. There they can give you directions or help with mobility issues. There’s a separate tourist information desk which helps with accommodation and recommendations of what to see in the region. You’ll find three banks or exchange offices in the airport with accompanying ATMs. The car hire desks are along the back wall of the terminal opposite the baggage reclaim and customs.
What About on the Day of my Departure?
Once you’ve checked in you’ll be looking for something to occupy you whilst waiting for your flight. Although there appears to be only one shop, it sells a huge variety of things including local products, newspapers, magazines and books, toiletries, sunglasses and more. Once you’ve shopped, try a meal at Abado, the airport restaurant. Again, there’s a big range of food there from full meals and desserts to snacks, pizza and sandwiched plus ice creams. After security there’s a small duty free outlet and a café/bar serving light bites. For those who need to get online, the airport has Wi-Fi facilities.