Staying in Granada
Many travelers make their way to Granada to see the Alhambra Palace, one of the most famous and popular historical sites in Spain. This ancient citadel from the Nasrid Dynasty dates back to the 13th-century, thanks to the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state of Al-Andalus (the Muslim name for what's now called the Iberian Peninsula). One of the best things to do in Granada is to visit the Alhambra and its elaborate gardens atop Sabika Hill.
If you plan to use the city as a hub for a few days, consider booking a hotel overlooking the Alhambra. Our top picks offer vistas from your own room and atop rooftop terraces or on outdoor patios. Luxury options put you literally on the grounds of the Alhambra (or at least next door), but other choices that fit into a wider range of budgets offer central locations with just as gorgeous views.
Parador de Granada
LUXURY
You can't get closer to the Alhambra than within its very walls. Spain's Paradores date back to the early 1900s, when the country established a system of state-run hotels to promote tourism and the Spanish image. Many are in former historical sites, but few are as glamorous as the Alhambra gardens. The Parador de Granada is set inside a 15th-century convent built originally by the Nasrid Dynasty, starting in the 13th century. Enjoy plenty of reminders of the building's history, including original archways, wood-beamed ceilings, tiled walls, and mosaic walkways.
Being right next to the Alhambra has its perks, including some of the best views of the palace and its gardens from the hotel's common spaces and rooms. Relax on the garden terrace with a sun deck, fountains, and views, and enjoy your meals at the property's popular upmarket restaurant with alfresco dining overlooking the Alhambra. As a trade-off, you'll be about a 25-minute walk from the city's historic center and other sites, such as the Catedral de Granada and the historic Albaicín neighborhood.
The rooms at Parador de Granada also channel the property's history offering standard rooms, superior rooms, and suites, all with comfortable seating areas and antique furnishings. As one of the best luxury boutique hotels in Granada, every unit has views of the Alhambra Palace, gardens, or the surrounding area, though suites take the vistas to the next level with a wall of windows overlooking the palace. Some have balconies, and all include spacious, modern bathrooms.
Hotel Alhambra Palace
Though not in the Alhambra itself, the Hotel Alhambra Palace is just a 10-minute walk through the monument's beautiful park. The property's designer used the Alhambra (Nasrid's grand building) as inspiration, opening this luxury accommodation in 1910. The interiors are truly stunning, and the entire hotel sits on a cliff with views of the city, Sierra Nevada mountain range, and surrounding valley. Enjoy the brick archways, white columns, tiled walls, wood ceilings, and all the other nods to the actual palace.
You'll also be about 10 minutes away from Granada's Old Town, so this is an excellent location for exploring all that the city has to offer. To get to sites like the Cathedral, Darro River, and Albaicín, you'll stroll down the hill through charming, twisting streets. The climb back up is more pleasant through the park, but you can always use a taxi, too.
You'll have your choice of classic and deluxe rooms, plus suites. All offer spacious quarters and modern bathrooms, as the hotel completed a renovation in 2017. If you'd like to enjoy vistas of the Alhambra gardens or the city, opt for rooms with views, such as the suites (especially those on the top floor) with separate seating areas or private terraces. Enjoy the views from the common areas, too, and grab breakfast at the hotel's buffet, an extravagant spread with anything you could want. And from the rooftop restaurant or other terraces, take in what the hotel calls "the best sunset in the world."
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Hotel Casa 1800 Granada
MID-RANGE
Hotel Casa 1800 Granada lets you sleep in the most historic part of the city (the Albaicín neighborhood) in a 16th-century Arabic house, once home to lords and counts—something kids will surely love! You'll find many hidden nooks on the property, where you can relax and enjoy the history, such as a Castilian doorway, a grand staircase, and Mudejar influences in the courtyard. Enjoy a breakfast buffet in a charming lounge and dining area, where you'll also find complimentary snacks and drinks in the afternoon, pleasing the entire family.
The historic Albaicín neighborhood, the old Moorish area of the city, has the bulk of city highlights. You'll be just across the narrow and trickling Darro River from Iglesia de San Gil y Santa Ana, putting you right along the scenic cobblestone river walk. Enjoy wandering through the neighborhood's twisting hillside streets and visiting sites like Casa Horno del Oro and numerous viewpoints. The Catedral de Granada is less than 10 minutes away by foot, and the Alhambra is about a 15-minute walk.
A small boutique hotel, Casa 1800 has just 25 rooms and suites, all featuring beautiful historic elements like wood-beamed ceilings, antique furnishings, and wainscoting along the walls. Many have iron Juliette balconies, seating areas, and private terraces, some with incredible views of the Alhambra, and as one of the best mid-range family-friendly hotels in Granada, you have your choice of bed configurations to accommodate the entire crew. Bathrooms are spacious and modern with Molton Brown luxury toiletries.
La Bella Granada
MID-RANGE
It doesn't get more central than La Bella Granada, which opens up to Plaza de Bib-Rambla, the city's buzzy square with 17th-century fountains. You'll be in the middle of it all, just steps from the Catedral de Granada within walking distance of nearby sites like the Dobla de Oro, La Alcaicería shopping street, the historic Albaicín neighborhood, and even the Alhambra (about 15 minutes).
Though central, the hotel offers a quiet reprieve and channels Art Deco and mid-century styles with warm, bright, and cozy decor. The lounge near the reception provides a 24/7 self-service bar, comfy sofas, vintage lighting, tiled floors, and balconies with views of the square. The breakfast area is also quite nice, with a buffet served in a historic room with a stained-glass ceiling. But the hotel's main highlight is certainly its terrace with views of the square, Cathedral, and the beautiful Alhambra.
Rooms are bright and colorful with vintage decor. All are surprisingly spacious for a small boutique hotel, and some include seating areas or balconies. Bathrooms are a little small but modern and clean.
Hotel Puerta De Las Granadas
STANDARD
This modern, bright, slightly chic hotel offers a unique location just two minutes from the historic 16th-century Puerta de las Granadas, a stone archway leading to the Alhambra. This site is where the property gets its name, Hotel Puerta De Las Granadas. It's also a good option for those who want to be in a quieter part of the city yet still close to all the popular sites and charming hidden corners. You can easily enjoy the buzz of the Albaicín and the city center, then head back to your reprieve on the hill.
You'll enjoy quite a few amenities for a standard hotel, including a large breakfast buffet, an onsite restaurant, and common spaces like a courtyard and library. You'll also find a gym on the lower floor and three terraces on the rooftop. Grab a drink from the bar and enjoy it on the rooftop at sunset.
Some rooms are a bit better than others, so we suggest bypassing the standard options and booking one with either a private patio, balcony, or Alhambra views. For more space, opt for a studio. These rooms have one double and two twin beds, which also work well for families. The bathrooms are clean but very small.
Hotel Casa Morisca
STANDARD
Hotel Casa Morisca is an award-winning historic hotel in Granada, honored for its impeccable restoration efforts. You'll stay in a beautiful 15th-century Moorish house and enjoy breakfast in its downstairs cistern, so you can really appreciate the city's unique past. Relax in the traditional inner courtyard and marvel at its preserved elements, including tiled flooring, wooden balconies, and stone columns.
The rooms match the property's history, offering beautiful quarters with antique furnishings, tiled floors, and wood-beamed ceilings. We recommend booking early to secure one of the top-floor rooms with vaulted ceilings and truly incredible Alhambra views (some with Juliette balconies). The standard rooms have windows opening up to the inner courtyard, so you won't get any views and this design can make the rooms noisy during the day. Bathrooms are small and a little outdated, but might charm you with the vintage tiling.
The location is ideal if you want to be in the Albaicín neighborhood yet close to the Darro River and views of the Alhambra. The hotel is steps away from the Paseo de los Tristes with river and Alhambra views, plus statues, a park, and several outdoor cafés. You'll also be within walking distance of many sites, including the Sacromonte neighborhood, Catedral de Granada, and all the best viewpoints. But if you want to further explore the region, Hotel Casa Morisca offers free parking right at its entrance, a rare find in the old Albaicín neighborhood.
Palacio de Santa Ines
STANDARD
Palacio de Santa Inés gives you a quiet option in the buzz of the Albaicín. The hotel used two 16th-century Mudejar buildings to create its space, and you'll notice several preserved elements, including wooden terraces in its traditional inner courtyard. As one of the best standard family-friendly hotels in Granada, both kids and adults love the top-floor lounge, as it features comfy sofas and a vaulted glass ceiling, so you get those perfect Alhambra views. There's also a simple breakfast buffet that transforms into a bar in the afternoons.
The hotel's architecture is stunning, but the rooms feel a little left behind, especially the standard category. We recommended booking early to secure an upgraded room or suite on the top floor with views of the Alhambra (some with private enclosed terraces). Bathrooms follow the simplicity but are bright and modern. You might like the family rooms with lofted sleeping areas if you're traveling with older kids.
The hotel feels tucked away with its own little square in the Albaicín, though just about one block from the busy Carrera del Darro. You can easily walk to all the city's main sites, including the Catedral de Granada and the Alhambra, plus enjoy all that there's to see in the Albaicín and Sacromonte neighborhoods.