4 Best places to stay in Granada

A few steps from the Alhambra’s Puerta de la Justicia, this 1820’s hotel was rebuilt in sleek, five-star style in 2016. Quotes on the walls recall American writer Washington Irving, whose charming Tales of the Alhambra, was written after a stay at the palace in 1828 (you can examine a first edition in the hotel library).

Rooms are plush and very peaceful – quite a few overlook the Alhambra walls and gardens – and a dip in the rooftop pool and drink in the summer bar are very welcome after you’ve spent a hard day sightseeing.

Breakfasts are good, and there’s an extremely helpful concierge. Best of all, it’s easy to be at the gate when the Alhambra opens in the morning, before the crowds ascend.

If you’re after poetic atmosphere, bags of character and enchanting views of the Alhambra, stay in this evocative hotel in a late 15th-century mansion in a peaceful corner of the Albayzin district, just up from the Darro river.

The house is named after its builders and decorators, the Moriscos (Muslims who remained in Spain after the Reconquista) whose beautiful wood, plasterwork and arches were lovingly restored by one of Granada’s top architects: the patio courtyard is exquisite.

The 14 rooms (the upper ones have the best views) have Moorish style furnishings, antiques, and comfy beds;  staff are wonderful and if you let them know in advance, they will save you a parking place by the hotel.

There are some lovely tapas bars nearby, too, all perfect for couples who want to enjoy Granada’s unique romantic atmosphere to the hilt.

If you’d love to combine the enchantment of Granada with hikes in the Sierra Nevada, this rustic-chic hotel, (‘Almunia’ is Arabic for country estate) immersed in gorgeous mountain scenery, has it all.

Located a 10-minute drive from Granada and 20 minutes from the ski resort, it combines comfy designer furnishings, contemporary art, and stone and slate throughout. There’s a beautiful outdoor pool, and after a day’s exploring, you can sink into a sofa in the big common room by the fireplace, and peruse the hotel’s library of travel books over a cocktail.

An exceptional buffet breakfast starts the day, and guests can book delicious dinners made with local produce, served on the panoramic terrace.

Hosts Patricia and Manuel are delightful and know all the local trails; the one through Los Cahorros Gorge, one of the great beauty spots of the sierra, is only 2km away.

There are 93 paradors in Spain, but this is the most requested of them all. Located on the grounds of the Alhambra, it occupies a late 15th-century monastery built by Granada’s conquerors, Ferdinand and Isabella, built over a Nasrid palace.

The parador is chock-full of original features: the cloister-patio, pebble courtyards, arches, dark wood and iron work, beams and rose-tinted bricks, and there’s even one room from the lost palace.

Guests are free to wander the grounds of the Alhambra after dark, especially romantic on a moonlit or starry night.

The friendly professional staff, great breakfast and wonderful views all contribute to a pricy but unforgettable way to experience Granada and its ineffably beautiful star attraction.