School trips to Granada

Why visit Granada?

Discover the unique history of Andalusia

Granada is a must-see for anyone interested in Spain’s Islamic past. The city is home to the Alhambra, a spectacular ‘palace city’ that’s arguably the most important example of Andalusian Islamic architecture in Spain. In fact, Granada offers an exciting insight into the entire history and culture of Andalusia.

Granada became a major city of Al-Andalus in the 11th century and by the 13th century was the capital of the Emirate of Granada. It was captured by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 who then took up residence in the Alhambra.

You can’t visit Granada without a visit to the spectacular Alhambra and the Generalife – the palace pleasure gardens. And make sure you take a trip around the Albaicin neighbourhood too, for a real flavour of Granada during the time of Al-Andalus.

Experience flamenco

On your trip to Granada, as well as visiting monuments from the period of Islamic rule, you should also take a wander up to Sacromonte, one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in the city, where you’ll hear the delightful sound of flamenco cantes, if you’re lucky!

You could also see a performance of Zambra, a style of flamenco dance that is unique to this area and is said to combine flamenco with earlier Morisco dance styles. The style was a popular wedding dance and is now a real draw for visitors to Granada who want to experience the city’s rich culture.

Seeing a flamenco show is a must-do as it is an unforgettable cultural experience for your students that will help them to better understand the history and diversity of Spain and will leave them with a passion for all things Spanish!

Enjoy snowy mountains and sunny beaches

Despite sitting much further south than the likes of Barcelona and Madrid, Granada is actually one of Spain's premier skiing spots. The city lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which offers several popular resorts and is an excellent choice for school ski groups. The city is also just one hour’s drive from the Mediterranean coast, so there's always the option to hit the beach - either for fun or to tie in with your curriculum.