Hotel Alhambra Palace opened in 1910 and has been a Granada landmark ever since, its ochre walls and tiled domes visible from all over the city on the slopes of the Alhambra hill. The building is a full-blown neo-Nasrid fantasy, with horseshoe arches, stuccowork, Arabic calligraphy and tiled lounges that echo the palaces up the hill, and it has welcomed generations of travellers, writers and performers. There are 108 rooms and suites, all facing outward, with views over the city, the Alhambra woods or the Sierra Nevada, and bathrooms tiled in the colours of the Nasrid palaces. The panoramic terrace is the hotel’s great asset, open for drinks and meals with a view across the rooftops to the Albaicín, the Vega and the mountains, at its best at sunset. The restaurant focuses on local ingredients and traditional Spanish dishes, and breakfast is a buffet served in a grand tiled room under a chandelier. The Alhambra is about five minutes away on foot, and the city centre is roughly twenty minutes downhill through the Realejo.
Location and getting around: the hotel stands at Plaza Arquitecto García de Paredes on the Alhambra hill, above the Realejo, the old Jewish quarter. Walking up to the Alhambra entrance takes only a few minutes, which makes early palace slots easy. Going down to the centre, a path below the hotel leads through the Realejo in about twenty minutes, passing bars, murals and churches; coming back up, many guests take a taxi or the small Alhambra buses, since the climb is steep.
Rooms: rooms are spacious by Granada standards and fitted with air conditioning, flat-screen televisions and free Wi-Fi. City-view rooms look over the rooftops towards the Albaicín and the plain; others face the woods or the mountains. The décor is traditional rather than modern, so expect heavy fabrics and period furniture.
Who it suits: couples and first-timers who want a hotel that feels part of the Alhambra story, and anyone who will spend early mornings at the palaces. It suits walkers better than travellers with mobility problems, given the hill.
Good to know: even if you do not stay, the terrace is worth a sunset drink. Breakfast is generally an extra unless your rate includes it. Ask for a city-view room when booking, and check the parking arrangements in advance, as the hill streets are narrow.
Why stay here
- ✓Panoramic terrace bar over the city
- ✓Restaurant with traditional Spanish cooking
- ✓Buffet breakfast in a tiled dining room
- ✓Neo-Moorish lounges and interiors
- ✓Five-minute walk to the Alhambra
- ✓Rooms with city, woodland or mountain views
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
Good questions
How far is Hotel Alhambra Palace from the Alhambra?+
About a five-minute walk to the Alhambra entrance. It is one of the closest hotels outside the walls.
Can non-guests visit the terrace?+
The terrace bar is a popular spot for a sunset drink. Arrive early in good weather, as tables go fast.
Is Hotel Alhambra Palace a good base for the old town?+
The centre is about twenty minutes’ walk downhill through the Realejo. Most guests take a taxi or bus back up in the evening.
