Granada Base Camp

Sightseeing trips might start in gorgeous Granada (half an hour’s drive), where you’ll need to book ahead to explore the vast and stunning complex of the Alhambra, with its gardens, fortress and palaces. The city’s district of Sacromonte is also worth visiting for its troglodyte cave dwellings, flamenco clubs and views back to the hilltop landmarks of the Alhambra. Turning south, you can be on the Med coast in about 40 minutes by car. Costa Tropical beaches include grey-pebble Playa de Granada on the Motril coastal strip, which is backed by an elegant promenade and seafood restaurants. The kids will enjoy foraging for shells on grey-sand Playa de las Azucenas, while a little further east is Playa Torrenueva, where you can hire boats and try your hand at various watersports. If you’re up for exploring this scenic corner of Andalusia on foot or by bike, head for the networks of craggy mountain trails in the Falla de Nigüelas nature reserve (10 minutes). Further afield, you have more testing hikes and mountain bike tracks in the Alpujarras foothills (an hour), and if you are staying at Granada Base Camp in winter, there's skiing in the Sierra Nevada National Park (an hour and 10 minutes).