Granada

Granada is perhaps Spain's most dramatic city — a place where the Moorish civilization of al-Andalus reached its most refined and beautiful expression in the Alhambra palace complex, and where that extraordinary legacy coexists with a vibrant student city, excellent free tapas culture and a backdrop of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains. The Alhambra is the essential experience — a 14th-century Nasrid palace complex of Generalife gardens, royal apartments, military towers and fountains that represents the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in the western world. The intricate stucco work, geometric tiling and muqarnas vaulting of the Nasrid Palaces are overwhelming in their intricacy and beauty. Book tickets months in advance; entry is strictly limited. The panoramic views from the Alhambra down over the Albaicín (old Moorish quarter) are wonderful. The Albaicín itself — a Unesco-listed Moorish hillside neighbourhood of narrow lanes, whitewashed houses, carmens (walled gardens) and small squares — is best explored on foot. The view from the San Nicolás viewpoint (Mirador de San Nicolás) at sunset, looking across the Darro gorge to the Alhambra and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada behind, is one of Spain's most spectacular sights. Granada's tapas culture is unique in Spain — every drink comes with a free tapa, which means you can eat remarkably well very cheaply. The free tapas tradition makes Granada one of Spain's most affordable dining destinations.