Where to stay in Granada: Best areas and hotels for first-timers

Choosing where to stay in Granada can really change your trip, it’s something easily overlooked when looking at a map of hotels as the town looks very manageable.

Stay central and you’ll wander, eat, and get back without thinking about it. Base yourself in Albaicín and you get the old-quarter feel and stunning viewpoints, but you’ll do a lot more climbing and stairs.

My guide helps you make the decision right for you, by understanding the trade-offs and some of the best hotels in different price ranges.

If you are short on time, I recommend you use the table below to choose your area quickly, then jump straight to the hotels.

Disclaimer: This article may feature affiliate links. If you click these links, and choose to book with that hotel or company, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I appreciate the support that allows me to continue providing this information

Quick recommendation for areas in Granada

I did a lot of walking on my first trip to Granada, but if you pick the right area, it feels very easy. Pick the wrong one and you notice it every night, when you’re tired and just want to get home. The quickest way to decide is to be honest about three things: how you cope with hills, are you arriving by car or with lots of luggage, and how lively you want the neighbourhood to be.

My top Tip! It is easy to pick an area because it looks “close” on a map, then discovering the walk back is steep or the street is loud. My hand-picked hotels share what you need to know beyond just a pin on the map.

Quick pick:

• Centro. Best for an easy trip with walkable days and evenings.
• Albaicín. Best for old-quarter atmosphere and viewpoints.
• Realejo. Best for restaurants and nights out, still walkable.

Comparison table of the main places to stay 

My Top Tip! If you’re unsure, choose Centro. It’s my top recommendation to first-time visitors and you can still do Albaicín for viewpoints without living with the climbs.

Read this before you book Albaicín

Albaicín is the bit people picture when they imagine Granada, beautiful views of the Alhambra, cobbled picturesque streets and properties with character, but it can come at a price.

If you arrive late, have mobility issues, travel with a big, heavy suitcase, or like midday breaks back at your hotel, the hills can turn from “nice atmosphere” into “why did I do this”. 

It is very much still possible to choose a workable location, then do the viewpoints as short walks without all your belongings. Just make sure you pick wisely, this is where I will help you below!

My Top Tip! Scan recent reviews for repeated mentions of stairs, hills, and taxi drop-offs. Some lanes are awkward for cars, so “right outside the door” is not guaranteed

How to pick a workable Albaicín hotel

• Prioritise access over the dream view, because you’ll enjoy the stay more once you’re tired.
• Edge locations can be easier with bags and late check-ins, even if they’re slightly less “deep old town”.
• Pack for cobbles. Travel light if you can, backpacks are also a very practical option.

Map of the best areas in Granada

Hotels in Centro. Easy first-timer picks by budget

Centro is the easiest base for a first trip, mainly because you can walk home after tapas without planning anything. That’s why it’s usually worth paying for location here. You’ll feel the benefit every evening, especially if you’re only in Granada for a couple of nights. It is what I recommend to anyone going for a first time.

My Top Tip!  In my experience, hotels claiming “city centre” can be quite broad, which can mean you end up on the edge, which is annoying and incovenient. I recommend you keep the map pin in the historic core, close to the Cathedral and central squares, then pick the best option your budget allows.

The best Centro hotel picks. Budget, mid-range and special occasion

Hotel Anacapri (Budget)

You book this one for the location, then spend your time out in Granada. It suits you if you want to wander and eat without thinking about taxis, and you’re happy with “solid and simple” rather than lots of facilities. 

Cost typical €85–€120 (£74–£105)

Rating 8.7 

Room Mate Leo (Mid-range). 

This is where I stayed on my first trip to Granada, it is a smart, central base that feels a bit more fun than a standard city hotel. The rooftop is the reason people remember it. There’s a heated pool (year-round) plus an honesty bar, so it’s ideal after big walking days, or if you’re staying long enough to actually want downtime before dinner.

Cost typical €90–€160 (£79–£140)

Rating 8.8

NH Collection Granada Victoria (Mid-range)

This is a good middle option if you want a more polished stay while being right in the middle of things. It works well for people who care about comfort in the room, but still want everything walkable at night.

Cost typical €120–€180 (£105–£158)

Rating 9.2 

Hospes Palacio de los Patos (Special occasion)

A better pick when you really care about the hotel, not just the location. If your trip includes downtime between sightseeing and dinner, this kind of stay can make the whole day feel easier. 

Cost typical €230–€320 (£201–£280)

Rating 9.0

Hotels in Realejo. Best for food and evenings out

Realejo is ideal if dinner and drinks are a big part of your plan, because you can stay close to the action without committing to Albaicín’s climbs. The main thing to get right is your exact street. In practice, the wrong road either side on the map can be the difference between a relaxed night’s sleep and hearing people outside at 2am.

My Top Tip! To ensure you have picked the right road, this is another good time to search recent reviews for noise levels

Realejo hotel picks. Budget, mid-range, special

Hotel Boutique Párraga Siete (Budget)

A clean, no-fuss base that suits people who are out most of the day and just want an easy return at night. Another that fits the “smart and simple”  rather than “boutique”, it’s modern, clean and good value. 

Cost typical €60–€95 (£53–£83)

Rating 9.0 

Gar Anat Hotel Boutique (Mid-range)

A smaller boutique feel for travellers who prefer personality over a chain-hotel, without going too far from the centre. It’s a good option if you like places that feel a bit different, but you don’t need loads of facilities. 

Cost typical €110–€160 (£96–£140)

Rating 9.1

La Corrala del Realejo (Special, apartment-style)

Useful if you want space, or you like having a “proper base” rather than one room. It’s also handy if you want the option of a quieter morning without rushing straight out. The downside of this is less hotel-style service day to day.

Cost typical €240–€340 (£210–£298)

Rating 9.2 

Hotels in Albaicín. Best for views and character

Albaicín can be brilliant if you want to wake up in the old quarter and step straight into the lanes and viewpoints. It epitomises Granada and feels really special. As per my section above outlining the caution before booking, you must note the trade off; being further from dinner and sights and steep hills in places.

Albaicín hotel picks. Easier access and view-first

Palacio de Santa Inés (Best-value)

A traditional-feeling option when you want Albaicín atmosphere without paying purely for a headline terrace. It’s the kind of place that suits travellers who prefer character over modern and simplistic. 

Cost typical €85–€130 (£74–£114)

Rating 8.9

Casa Bombo (View-first)

This one is for terrace moments. If the idea of sitting with a view is what you’ll remember most, it is perfect. If you want a bigger, full-service hotel experience, it’s probably not the right match. 

Cost typical €85–€130 (£74–£114)

Rating 9.0 

Shine Albayzín (Mid range)

A sensible choice if you want to stay in the old quarter but still keep day-to-day movement manageable. Just note it still involves more walking than staying in Centro.

Cost typical €95–€140 (£83–£123)

Rating 9.2 

Hotel Casa 1800 Granada (Special)

More of a “make the hotel part of the trip” choice, still in Albaicín. It feels more intimate and curated than the standard city options, and works well if you want a stay that feels a bit more considered.

Cost typical €120–€190 (£105–£166)

Rating 9.1

A really special stay. Inside the Alhambra grounds

Staying by the Alhambra is a real treat, it’s exclusive and feels truly different because you’re close to Granada’s headline sight, especially early in the morning before the crowds.

The flip side is evenings tend to be less spontaneous and you have a walk to the main tapas bars and restaurants. If you picture long tapas crawls every night, you’ll probably be happier in Centro. If you want a story and an “I stayed there” moment, this is a good bet.

Alhambra-area hotel picks

Parador de Granada

The headline option if staying on the grounds is the main story of your trip. It suits travellers who value the setting over everything else, and don’t mind planning dinners a bit more. You pay more for the priveledge, but it’s a real destination hotel and feels like a once in a lifetime setting inside the walls.

Cost typical €260–€380 (£228–£333)

Rating 8.5 

Hotel América

A little bit of a legend in these parts, so much so that our Alhambra tour guide told us about it. It’s located right by the Parador, but it is more friendly on your wallet. Don’t let the 1 star rating fool you, they have chosen to keep the hotel this way as it benefits them. The one downside, these prices, inside the Alhambra walls, means it sells out a long while in advance, so book well ahead.

Cost typical €110–€170 (£96–£149)

Rating 8.7 

Alhambra Palace Hotel

A good fit if you want a “special stay” feel. It’s often the choice for people who care about the hotel experience and views as part of the trip. Slightly cheaper than Parador as it’s not technically inside the Alhambra walls, but the decor makes up for it. A little slice of what it might have been like to live in the Nasrid palaces.

Cost typical €220–€340 (£193–£298)

Rating 9.0

Some different hotel options in Granada: The wildcards

There are also some interesting options to consider when staying in Granda if you fancy something a little different. Here are my recommendations

Cuevas El Abanico (Sacromonte). Cave stay

This is one of those stays that feels like an experience, not just a hotel. You’re in a real cave home on the Sacromonte hillside, so it’s naturally cool and quiet-feeling, with that tucked-away Granada atmosphere you only get up there. It feels properly different to a standard city break stay. Do note, it is further away from sights and restaurants, so I recommend it as one to consider for a “different” night on a longer trip, rather than your exploring base.

Cost typical €75–€120 (£66–£105)

Rating 8.5

Carmen de la Alcubilla del Caracol. Classic “carmen” house near the Alhambra

A carmen is Granada’s signature house-and-garden setup, and this one really leans into that atmosphere. It’s small and peaceful, with terraces and greenery that make it feel more like staying in someone’s beautiful home than checking into a hotel. You’ll probably find yourself hanging around outside because it’s genuinely a lovely place to spend some time.

Cost typical €160–€230 (£140–£201)

Rating 9.3

Urban Cube Hostel Granada (Centro). Capsule-style pods

Even if you’re not a “hostel person”, this is worth a look because it’s built around sleep pods, not dorm beds. It feels modern and a bit futuristic, think Tokyo-esque and it’s a fun way to stay central without paying full hotel prices. It’s quirky because the pods make the stay feel like its own experience, not just somewhere to sleep.

Cost typical €25–€55 (£22–£48)

Rating 8.9

If you have a car. Where to stay without the stress

If you’re driving, the big win is not “the best area”. It’s avoiding arrival and parking admin that eats your first evening. I cannot state highly enough, you’ll have a better time if you park once, then treat Granada as a walking city.

My Top Tip! Do not arrive driving into the old town hoping it works out, it is more complicated than you might think. Choose a hotel with clear arrival and parking instructions, then park up and do Granada on foot.

The simple travelling with a car rules in Granada

1. Choose a base that works on foot, so you’re not constantly moving the car. Centro and Realejo are strong for walking. Downside. You may use a garage rather than street parking.
2. Only book places that explain parking clearly, because last-minute surprises are what ruin arrivals. 
3. Avoid the deep Albaicín neighbouhood, the roads are narrow and directions are not always obvious, even with sat nav or google. 

FAQs about staying in Granada