After the cave house exploration at Guadix, Granada in Spain, and within a few hour's drive from downtown Valencia, head to Mirador San Nicolás for the best vantage point of Granada's sunset. 

From Where?

 Mirador San Nicolás is the place to be. This lively plaza is lined with many dining restaurants facing with a splendour view to boot. It's no surprise why this spot is not a secret. 
Mirador San Nicolás is the highest point of Albaicin, the Moorish city of Granada. It takes about an hour's drive to reach from Guadix to Mirador San Nicolás.
More detailed transportation directions at bottom of the post. Scroll.

Spot the majestic Alhambra Palace and Sierra Nevada Mountains lined at the background. Best timing? Sunset of course. Timing changes according to the seasons. Use weather.com/ to check on your day of the visit. 
 Lots of tourists flock over to this spot to capture that iconic #instasunset.

There is a small plaza at the vantage point, where you will spot vendors peddling their wares and if you are in lucky, maybe even a street dance performance.
Look out for the cobbled hilly streets.

The crowds will be in by sunset. We were there in May/June.

Here's the view.

Alfresco dining with the Albraham Palace right in front. 

We had our dinner at Estrellas de San Nicolas. Just like many other restaurants, it offers a pretty view of the Alhambra Place on the facing end. Dining in this area is more on the expensive side. If you are on a budget, skip it and head back to the nearest downtown at Plaza Nueva for dinner. 

 

Here's what we had:

1300-2400hrs  

http://www.estrellasdesannicolas.es

Mirador San Nicolás is a short drive's distance from the city centre of Granda— Plaza Nueva. It is possible to walk up the winding cobbled pathway from Plaza Nueva and it is not a secluded pathway. Google map shows 10 minutes walk up.  In fact, the pathways are on either side of a small narrow road with buses and vehicles travelling right in the middle. Shops lined the pathway as you walk up or down. For ladies, it's pretty safe and should not be too hard to walk on since it's well paved. But as we were with a tour, we took the mini-bus instead.

You can get a public bus too, Here's the bus route for 'C1' which picks up from Plaza Nueva. Drop off at "Aljibe de las Tomasas 23'. 

(Download and enlarge)

Head up the slope to the peak look out point. 

Before heading downhill, you may also want to end the night off with some Flamenco Gypsy dance. We did just that and witnessed the Zambra dances by Sacromonte's famous gypsies.It was a fiery, entertaining one-hour performance before we ended with a glass of Sangria ( Spanish alcohol). 

There are many other such performance houses along the street in the area. 

 

The performance venue after the show ended without all the lights.

Even the patio looked so charming.

Cueva da la Rocio

20Euros for show + drink

http://www.flamencotickets.com/cueva-de-la-rocio-granada

After an evening of fun and excitement, head back down

Stay overnight at downtown Plaza Nueva

(check pricing)

Hotel Carmen Granada

Hotel Plaza Nueva

Hotel Macia Plaza

https://www.alhambradegranada.org/en/

PIN FOR LATER!