The Best Hotels in Granada (Spain).
It’s where we live now and one of the most visited cities in Spain.
But where to stay when visiting Granada?
In this post I cover the “Best” Hotels; everything from 5-stars to budget accommodation. For me “Best” means “good value”, and by that I mean getting your money’s worth no matter how much you pay.
I give you some options below in different price categories (High-end, Mid-range, Budget). I even include family-friendly apartments and hostels for young travellers.
At the bottom of this post I also give you some special tips on what to see in Granada and how to see them for free.
High-end
There are some great hotels in Granada if you want to splurge.
Palacio Gran Vía, a Royal Hideaway Hotel
This is the most expensive hotel in Granada with prices ranging from 300 Euros/night to 1,700 Euros/night depending on the room. Despite the high prices, it is very popular and has one of the highest rankings on Booking.com (rated a 9.6 by customers).
The Palacio Gran Via is a gorgeous hotel on the Gran Via within steps of Granada cathedral. It has 38 rooms and suites, a hammam (a Turkish bath) with indoor pool and massage service, and a fully-equipped gym. It also has a rooftop bar with some of the best views overlooking the city.
It’s a deluxe hotel with an unbeatable location and high-end amenities including an excellent restaurant.
Click here to book the Palacio Gran Vía
La Casa Juan Ranas
A luxury boutique hotel that gets a perfect 10 on Booking.com. Located close to the San Nicolas viewpoint with views over the city and across at the Alhambra. Romantic atmosphere with mudejar influences in the beautiful rooms and common space and terraces. People rave about the buffet breakfast and the restaurant.
It´s very expensive, rivalling the prices at the Palacio Gran Via. Yet it it always seems to be booked up and you should book early.
Click here to book the Casa Juan Ranas
Parador de Granada
The state-run hotel on the grounds on the Alhambra. That’s what makes this one of the most desirable stays in Granada.
The building itself is a former Nasrid palace that was converted into a Franciscan convent after the conquest of Granada by the Christians. The building is in classic Mudejar style, merging Arabic and Christian elements. There are 40 rooms which are all different. The restaurant serves local specialties such as Andalusian gazpacho, “Tortilla de Sacromonte” (a local omelette), and “Pollo a la alpujarrena” which is a chicken dish with lots of garlic.
Paradors are always expensive, but this Parador is one of the most expensive just because of its unbeatable location on the grounds of the Alhambra.
Click here to book the Parador de Granada
Alhambra Palace Hotel
The huge Mudejar-inspired building (built in 1910) looks out over Granada from its spot just below the Alhambra. Beautiful common space, you’d think yourself in the Alhambra itself.
Large and comfortable rooms, great views and the restaurant gets good reviews. You’re very close to the Alhambra and the Carmen de los Martires gardens. It’s an easy walk to the center of Granada (there’s also a bus stop in front of the hotel).
A luxurious and comfortable 5 star hotel that´s close to everything (and better value than the Parador).
Click here to book the Alhambra Palace Hotel
Áurea Washington Irving
I`ve listed the Parador de Granada and the Alhambra Palace Hotel – the Áurea Washington Irving is a 5 star in the same area. Surrounded by greenery (the gardens of Carmen de los Mártires is just next door) it is in a very relaxing spot where you feel far from the city.
It gets great reviews and prices are lower than both hotels I’ve mentioned.
Very good value for a 5 star hotel and the lowest price you’ll find among the hotels listed in this high-end category.
Click here to book the Áurea Washington Irving
Mid-range
Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol
This is (somehow) only a 3-star hotel. Close to the Alhambra Palace Hotel (you see it in the background in the photo below) it is a small hotel that gets fantastic reviews. People love its charm, personalized service, fantastic views and its location close to the center.
You could stay at one of the 5-stars that I’ve listed above. But this little hotel (which is the most expensive of the Mid-range category) has charm and personalized service that the bigger hotels listed above (excluding La Casa Juan Ranas) don’t have.
Click here to book the Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol
Boutique Hotel Luna Granada Centro
Unlike most of the hotels I’ve listed above (except the Palacio Gran Vía), this hotel is located in downtown Granada close to all the city-center attractions.
This is a modern 4-star hotel with all the amenities including a pool, restaurant, a 24 hour front desk. Prices are very seasonal and you should compare this to the Barceló Carmen Granada which is almost right next door (and which I cover next below).
A very good hotel that’s very centrally located.
Click here to book the Boutique Hotel Luna Granada Centro
Barceló Carmen Granada
Right next the the hotel I mention above, this is another very nice modern 4-star hotel in Granada`s city center. The Barceló Carmen Granada is known for having one of the nicest rooftop bars in Granada (as I found out, it’s best to reserve ahead). People like the location, the restaurant and the modern rooms.
Click here to book the Barceló Carmen Granada
Sueño de Elvira
This is something different – not technically a hotel, these are apartments furnished with small kitchens and separate bedrooms (one even has 2 bedrooms). And the prices are cheaper than the hotels listed above, making this an excellent and good-value stay for a family.
The location is good too, about 10 minutes down the Gran Via from the cathedral and close to other sites of interest.
You´ll see it gets great reviews. Book early because the building only has 3 apartments.
Click here to book Sueño de Elvira
Mirador del Jazmín
This is a romantic, rustic-type place that is everything Granada used to be. It’s a 3-star and gets a 9.3 rating with guests who love the 16th century building and the views looking out at the Alhambra. It’s also has a great location in the old town close to Plaza Nueva.
Click here to book Mirador del Jazmín
Hotel Casa Morisca
Another hotel set in a historic building. A 3-star with an 8.9 rating, it is located at the bottom of the Albaicin and close to everything: the city center, the Alhambra, the Albaicin and Sacromonte.
The Albaicin is the old Moorish quarter and a Unesco World Heritage site. This hotel perfectly exemplifies that.
Click here to book Hotel Casa Morisca
Budget
Toc Hostel Granada
They have Toc Hostels in many cities throughout Spain and they all get great reviews. The one in Granada is no exception: clean, modern with a restaurant, billiard room and a rooftop with great views. Very stylish. On top of that it has a great location near the cathedral.
Accommodation varies from Dorm beds (at around 30 Euros/night) to large family rooms (with private bathroom) that can accommodate 6 people.
An excellent budget option that gets a 9.1 rating from customers.
Click here to book Toc Hostel Granada
Hostel Nüt
Another very good hostel that’s modern, clean and well situated in the center. There´s a co-working space, a shared kitchen, a terrace. There’s wifi throughout the building. The rooms are big and comfortable.
Dorm beds start around 26 Euros and there are also family rooms. Hostel Nüt gets a 9.0 rating on booking.com.
Click here to book Hostel Nüt
What to see in Granada (and how to see them for free)
My highlights in Granada:
- The Alhambra.
- Malaga Cathedral.
- The Royal Chapel.
- The Aibaicin (The Unesco Moorish Quarter).
- Basilica of San Juan de Dios.
- The Monastery of San Jeronimo.
- The Cave Museum of Sacromonte and the Vereda de Enmedio.
- The Cartuja Monastery.
- The gardens of Carmen de los Mártires.
There’s much more but the above will keep you busy for a few days.
Tip: You can visit some of Granada’s top highlights for free if you plan in advance. Go to this link. Try to book at least 3 weeks in advance of your visit. There are 6 great highlights there you can see for free (the Malaga Cathedral, The Royal Chapel, The Monastery of San Jeronimo, The Cartuja Monastery, the Abbey of Sacromonte and the San Nicolas Church). Usual prices are about 6 Euros/person so you can save a lot of money if you plan ahead.
Related: 48 Hours in Granada
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