Where to stay · Granada · Spain
Where to stay in Granada
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Centro. Cathedral, shopping streets and squares around Plaza Bib-Rambla. Best alternatives — budget: Realejo; nightlife: Sacromonte.
Key facts
- First visit
- Centro
- Families
- Centro
- Budget
- Realejo
- Nightlife
- Sacromonte
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Centro | Cathedral, shopping streets and squares around Plaza Bib-Rambla |
| Families | Centro | Cathedral, shopping streets and squares around Plaza Bib-Rambla |
| Couples | Albaicín | Moorish hillside quarter of whitewashed lanes, walled gardens and Alhambra views |
| Budget | Realejo | Former Jewish quarter of tapas bars and murals below the Alhambra hill |
| Luxury | Alhambra hill | Quiet hotels among the woods and gardens next to the Alhambra |
| Nightlife | Sacromonte | Cave houses, flamenco venues and the Roma quarter above the Darro |
| Food lovers | Realejo | Former Jewish quarter of tapas bars and murals below the Alhambra hill |
| Solo travellers | Realejo | Former Jewish quarter of tapas bars and murals below the Alhambra hill |
| Shopping | Centro | Cathedral, shopping streets and squares around Plaza Bib-Rambla |
| Quiet stays | Albaicín | Moorish hillside quarter of whitewashed lanes, walled gardens and Alhambra views |
Granada neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for couples, culture and quiet stays
Albaicín
The Albaicín faces the Alhambra across the Darro valley, a maze of steep cobbled lanes, small squares and cármenes, walled houses with gardens. Boutique hotels in old houses give terraces with Alhambra views, Calle Calderería Nueva has Moroccan-style tea rooms, and the Mirador de San Nicolás is at the top. Minibuses climb from Plaza Nueva.
- Good
- Most atmospheric place to stay; Alhambra views from many terraces; Walk to Plaza Nueva and the centre
- Watch out
- Steep, cobbled streets are hard with luggage; Taxis cannot reach many lanes
- Nearby
- Mirador de San Nicolás, Carrera del Darro, Calle Calderería Nueva, Plaza Larga
$$ · Best for culture, couples and nightlife
Sacromonte
Beyond the Albaicín, Sacromonte's hillside is dotted with whitewashed cave dwellings dug into the rock, some still lived in and others turned into flamenco venues and holiday rentals. The Sacromonte Caves museum explains the traditional way of life, and the Abbey of Sacromonte sits higher up the valley. It is quiet by day and comes alive for evening flamenco.
- Good
- Unique cave accommodation; Flamenco on the doorstep; Views of the Alhambra's north walls
- Watch out
- Far from shops and the centre; Steep paths and limited transport at night
- Nearby
- Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, Abadía del Sacromonte, Paseo de los Tristes
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
Realejo
Realejo spreads south of Plaza Nueva below the Alhambra, with the leafy Campo del Príncipe square, traditional tapas bars and large murals by the local street artist known as El Niño de las Pinturas. It is less touristy than the Albaicín, flatter at its lower end and a steep walk up to the Alhambra.
- Good
- Good tapas bars with locals; Walking distance to the Alhambra and centre; Good-value apartments
- Watch out
- Hilly upper streets; Fewer hotels than the centre
- Nearby
- Campo del Príncipe, Carmen de los Mártires, Alhambra, Plaza Nueva
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and shopping
Centro
The flat city centre around the cathedral, the Royal Chapel, Plaza Bib-Rambla and Calle Reyes Católicos is the most convenient base, with the widest choice of hotels, shops and restaurants. Plaza Nueva, where the Albaicín and Alhambra minibuses start, is at its north-eastern corner, and the Gran Vía and Calle Recogidas are the main shopping streets.
- Good
- Flat and central; Easy access to buses and taxis; Widest hotel choice
- Watch out
- Less atmospheric than the hillside quarters; Busy and noisy on main streets
- Nearby
- Granada Cathedral, Royal Chapel, Alcaicería, Plaza Bib-Rambla
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Alhambra hill
A few hotels stand on the wooded Sabika hill itself, including a parador inside the Alhambra grounds and grand hotels on the Antequeruela slope with views over the city. It is the quietest, most romantic base for early palace visits, but restaurants are limited and the walk down to the centre is steep.
- Good
- Walk straight into the Alhambra; Peaceful at night; Garden settings and views
- Watch out
- Expensive; Steep walk or minibus ride to the city
- Nearby
- Alhambra, Generalife, Carmen de los Mártires
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón
The streets around Calle Pedro Antonio de Alarcón and Calle Martínez de la Rosa, south-west of the centre near the university, are packed with inexpensive bars aimed at students, where large free tapas come with every drink. It is a modern district with low-cost hotels and apartments and a short walk or metro ride to the centre.
- Good
- Cheap food and drink; Lively every night; Metro access
- Watch out
- No historic charm; Noisy late at night
- Nearby
- Calle Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, Camino de Ronda, Granada metro line
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Albaicín | $$$ | Mirador de San Nicolás, Carrera del Darro, Calle Calderería Nueva, Plaza Larga |
| Sacromonte | $$ | Museo Cuevas del Sacromonte, Abadía del Sacromonte, Paseo de los Tristes |
| Realejo | $$ | Campo del Príncipe, Carmen de los Mártires, Alhambra, Plaza Nueva |
| Centro | $$$ | Granada Cathedral, Royal Chapel, Alcaicería, Plaza Bib-Rambla |
| Alhambra hill | $$$$ | Alhambra, Generalife, Carmen de los Mártires |
| Pedro Antonio de Alarcón | $ | Calle Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, Camino de Ronda, Granada metro line |
Getting to your hotel
Federico García Lorca Granada Airport is about 17 km west of the city; buses timed with flights reach the centre in about 40–45 minutes, and a taxi takes about 20–25 minutes. Many international travellers fly into Málaga, about 130 km away, and take a direct bus of about two hours.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Granada for first-time visitors?
Centro. The flat city centre around the cathedral, the Royal Chapel, Plaza Bib-Rambla and Calle Reyes Católicos is the most convenient base, with the widest choice of hotels, shops and restaurants.
+Where should families stay in Granada?
Centro: Flat and central.
+Which area of Granada is best for a budget stay?
Realejo ($$): Former Jewish quarter of tapas bars and murals below the Alhambra hill.