Where is the best area to stay in Granada?
By Jane Chapman. September 28, 2022
Granada, the last Muslim city in the Iberian Peninsula, home to the Alhambra, has seen many settlers over its vast history. This city has a magic feel to it like no other. The mix of Muslim and Catholic architecture and culture, makes this destination special, as you feel like you’re in a fairy tale when walking around the mystical narrow, cobbled streets. Built in a narrow valley, the Alhambra juts out, protecting the city beneath, looking out over the old town and far out to the horizon. Granada offers a wide range of activities for everyone, hiking, gastronomic tapas tours, sightseeing, nightlife and much more.
Our favourite area to stay in is the “Centro”, the centre district, surrounding the cathedral. The city centre has some of the most stunning and perfectly conserved monuments, from the Alhambra to monasteries and churches, as well as many lively squares. The centre itself is small and manageable, everything is walking distance, and easily accessible, home to some of the best most traditional tapas bars of the city. From the airport, there is a shuttle bus that takes about 30 minutes that will stop just outside the Cathedral on Gran Vía. Another option is a 15-minute taxi, straight to your hotel.
Located up the hill from the centre, in front of the Alhambra, lies the Albaycín, the old town of Granada. Extremely narrow pebbled streets, small, whitewashed houses, flowers everywhere, street performers at every turn and stunning Carmens, the traditional mansions of the city. You feel like you’re walking through history in the Albaycín. This area is great for those who aren’t scared of a bit of exercise, as most streets aren’t car accessible and there are quite a few hills.
West of the Centro is the Ronda area, named after the main road, that connects the whole city Camino De Ronda. You really get to mingle with the locals and have an authentic experience here. An advantage of this neighbourhood is that it is easily accessible by car and close to the motorway exit. If you’re skiing in the Sierra Nevada or planning on using your car a lot to visit nearby cities during your trip, the location is extremely practical. As mentioned earlier, Granada is a small city, meaning that you’re only a 10/15-minute walk from the Cathedral and bus to the Alhambra.
Granada is built around the Genil river, this area is about a 10-minute walk south from the Centro and Cathedral, and very close to the Alhambra. The walk into town is lovely and cool, thanks to the many huge trees that line the walkways and the Roman bridge that goes over the river. You can enjoy a few hours in the park, watching the world go by, and discovering the large bourgeois houses, before walking up the Paseo Del Salon, a large esplanade where locals take their evenings walks and lots of open-air events take place.
North of the Centro is the Beiro district, about a 20-minute walk from the Cathedral and bus to the Alhambra, but well-connected with the city’s public transport. Beiro is a popular residential area for locals and students. This district is home to the Plaza de Toros, the city’s bull ring. Although most towns have banned bull fighting, you can still catch some shows during Holy Week. The ring is also used for live music and markets. This is a good area if you’re on a budget as accommodations tends to be cheaper.
If you want to stay in one of the most traditional and historical areas of Granada, Sacromonte is a good pick. From the Centro, you must cross the Albaycin to reach the Sacromonte. It’s a little further out and not car accessible in the most part. There’s a small minibus that will take you there from the Cathedral in about 15 minutes. The accommodation in this area is built in caves, dug into the mountain, overlooking the valley and the Alhambra.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO STAY?