The 4 Best Luxury Boutique Hotels in Granada

Parador de Granada

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. 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. Learn more

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.

As one of the best boutique hotels in Granada, 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.

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, 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." Learn more

Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula

You'll get both history and modernity with Hotel Palacio de Santa Paula. Its facade, reception, and rooms all feel new, modern, and sleek, yet you can still enjoy the building's unique past as a 16th-century Santa Paula convent and 12th-century house. The large inner courtyard terrace is a beautiful setting to enjoy a meal, as the on-site restaurant offers alfresco dining or to sit with a drink and a book. You'll also find frescoes, archways, a chapel, and smaller courtyards throughout the grounds.

Set on Calle Gran Vía de Colón—the city's main artery lined with 18th- and 19th-century architecture—the hotel is in the heart of it all, within walking distance to the train station, plus significant sites like the Catedral de Granada and the Albaicín. You'll be just one block from Calle Elvira, an excellent stretch for tapas bars and craft shops. 

Rooms feature wood-beamed ceilings, warm colors, modern furnishings, and spacious bathrooms. But if you want to truly experience the hotel's historical charms, opt for a suite with preserved wood paneling and windows, antique furniture, and four-poster beds. Some rooms have more privacy, too, with entrances in separate courtyards. Learn more

Hospes Palacio de los Patos

Set in a 19th-century palace, you'll enter Hospes Palacio de los Patos through tall iron gates and a grand staircase leading to the hotel's lobby. Set back from the street, the property definitely feels like an exclusive mansion, though you'll still be in the center of the city's buzz. A 10-minute walk will take you to the city's historic core and the Cathedral de Granada. A few minutes later and you'll reach the Darro River, the Albaicín, or the Alhambra.

But the highlight of the hotel is certainly its gardens, which feel like an oasis and nearly surround the hotel. Everyone can enjoy these perks, making this property one of the best luxury, family-friendly hotels in Granada. Kids and adults alike can eat outside on the restaurant's patio, connected to the hotel's garden, or relax at the spa, which offers a water circuit. If you need a little pampering, book treatments like facials and massages. 

The rooms offer quite a bit of variety, from standard units with modern furnishings to grand suites with historic decor. Some feature floor-to-ceiling windows, antique furniture, and preserved elements, such as tile mosaics and ceiling frescoes. Though all are comfy, some seem to lack that luxury factor that you might expect when booking a five-star hotel, so choose your room based on your preference. Learn more