Overview
The Alpujarras, south of Granada, is a beautiful mountain range with a beautiful collection of villages and some of the most beautiful countryside in all of Spain. An essential day trip from Granada, you could easily spend a week here, especially if you enjoy hiking, as it has some of the best trails in the country.
Those who are knowledgeable on alternative medicine will notice a number of beneficial herbs and grasses growing by the side of the road. The prickly pears and blackberries are edible, though if you aren't entirely confident of what it is, best wait until you arrive in one of the villages and buy some there. It's safer that way, too - the prickly pears will leave their thorns behind in your fingers and the blackberries will stain your fingers and clothes no matter how careful you are!
Two famous books were written on this region - Chris Stewart's Driving Over Lemons and Gerald Brennan's South from Granada - read more on Books Set in Spain.
Guided Tours of the Alpujarras
The Alpujarras region is a fragmented area of tiny villages and public transport is limited. Without a private car, you'd struggle to see more than two villages in a day. But if you take a tour, you'll visit some of the best spots in the area without the hassle of driving (and map-reading!) yourself.Book a Guided Tour of the Alpujarras (Buy Direct)
Best Time to Visit
There is a vast number of festivals in the Alpujarras region, the most interesting being the Fiesta de Agua, which is a giant water fight held each June 24 in Lanjarón (much like the Tomatina Tomato Fight, only cleaner!) and the New Year's Eve in August in Bérchules. In early October the citizens of Cádiar replace water in the fountains with wine and don't get themselves arrested.
Three Things to Do
- Go hiking. There are some excellent hiking trails in the region (see below).
- Sample the natural spring water - at its purest in Lanjarón and its most medicinal at the Fuente Agria near Portugos.
- Taste some of the finest jamón (Spanish ham) in the country.
How to Get to the Alpujarras from Granada
- By Car: With so many small villages to explore, a car is your only real option if you plan on seeing a lot of the Alpujarras in one day. You need to drive around the mountains along the A44 until Lanjarón is signposted. However, to explore the region, you'll need to buy a map.
- By Bus: Taking a bus is very impractical in this region; you'll only get to see two towns at the most in a day if you rely on public transport. However, if you intend on basing yourself in one town for a few days, taking the bus is certainly possible. Experiment for yourself on Movelia and see if there are buses to where you want them, when you want them.
Where to Next?
You're more than half way to the beach, so if you have a car the coast is an obvious next stop, though public transport is going to be difficult if not impossible, so you'll need to return to Granada if you are relying on buses.
