7 Of The Best Hostels In Granada

Granada is easily my favorite city in Spain. I like it so much that I’ve even been back three times!

In experiencing Granada several times I noticed that where you stay has a huge effect on your experience. Let me share with you here some tips for the best hostels in Granada. (Psst, I also have some general Granada travel tips in another post.)

Yep, Granada has a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site (the Alhambra), but it’s the city itself that I actually love the most. If you’re backpacking and have a couple of days to spare, my advice is to put them in soulful Granada rather than a more commercial city like Malaga (though if you’re really craving a beach, Malaga is nice too).

With dozens of hostels in Granada to choose from, it can be hard to know where to stay. But book any of the following and you’ll be sure to have an amazing time.

Best hostels in Granada

El Granado Hostel

Located in a central but local area
Communal meals and daily events
Best for social atmosphere (great for solo travelers)

For a highly social backpacker atmosphere, don’t even think twice about it and just book El Granado.

From the moment you’re welcomed by the staff, it’s clear that the owners of this hostel genuinely care about creating a welcoming and highly positive experience. One of the best things about El Granado hostel is that you can add yourself to a private WhatsApp group on check-in where activities and events are posted around the clock.

The dorms and private rooms are all good, but it’s really the connections you can make at this hostel that make it special. The rooftop area is often home to family-style dinners, drinks, and other events.

I really liked that this hostel is in quite a ‘local’ area, just away from the tourist zone but close enough to walk anywhere. For some free tapas with your (cheap) drinks, check out Bar Clausura just two streets over.

There is a co-work office on the ground floor that’s nice and quiet. I probably wouldn’t choose El Granado if you just want to work, but the working space is nice.

Be sure to reserve your bed as El Granado is one of Granada’s top hostels. It’s comparable to other legendary hostels in Spain such as La Banda in Seville (in fact, they all form a little friend network of hostels), so on some days it’s fully booked out.

ECO Hostel

Laidback hostel for any type of traveler
Social events make it easy to mingle
Great for atmosphere 

This is a great all-rounder hostel for most types of travelers, from couples to backpackers. Thanks to a prime location, lots of activities, and an inviting atmosphere, this chilled-out hostel is one of the best in Granada and really ticks all the boxes. It was recommended to me by someone I met while hiking the Los Cahorros and when I visited I thought it was great.

Lively without being a party hostel, ECO Hostel is the perfect laid-back spot to mingle and meet other travelers. There are nightly events to mingle and meet new people: paella nights, gazpacho-making courses, happy hours, and city walking tours that take you around the city.

There’s a game room and a cinema room to hang out, but if you need to get work done there’s a large coworking space with lightning-fast Wi-Fi. For social travelers, there are dorms that sleep 4-6 people, or private rooms for up to 4 people if you want more privacy.

ECO Hostel is located in one of the most central districts in Granada, just below the Alhambra hilltop. It’s a hostel with a great atmosphere and I suggest booking ECO if El Granado is full.

TOC Hostel Granada

Comfortable working spaces great for working remotely
Hotel-like amenities and quality
Best for quiet comfort on a budget

There’s nothing better than value for money and that’s exactly what you’ll get at TOC Hostel. This is definitely considered a luxury hostel, as many of its features mimic a boutique hotel.

TOC is a small hostel chain in Spain and I stayed at their other locations in Seville and Madrid. The deal with TOC is basically this: they are not super social and they don’t organize any events, but their facilities are well above and beyond what you’d normally expect from a hostel.

The TOC in Granada is located inside a refurbished heritage building, with recently renovated interiors of sleek wood, warm lighting, and lots of greenery. It’s almost hard to believe it’s a hostel and not a hotel.

There are dorms (including female-only) for as little as €15, while private rooms for 2-4 people run more expensive. TOC is ideal for couples traveling on a budget or anyone who just wants a comfortable stay. It’s also perfect for digital nomads as all the TOC hostels have a cafe or co-work space near reception. Combined with the beautiful interiors and comfortable shared spaces, this is a hostel every kind of traveler can enjoy.

Hostel Nut

Includes female-only dorm; great for solo female travelers
A quiet hostel with high-quality facilities

For women traveling solo, the top priority is safety, especially when it comes to where you’ll be sleeping. Hostel Nut is pretty popular with female travelers and widely thought to be the top choice because of its privacy and laid-back vibe. Plus, it definitely feels luxurious for what you pay (dorms are around €21-30 per night).

There are both private rooms and dorms, including female-only. Every single room comes with a private bathroom, even the dorms—ideal when nature calls in the middle of the night.

There is a small common area, but overall this is a quiet hostel. You can spend your day wandering the winding streets, sampling the local cuisine, and maybe hitting up a nightclub or two, before heading back to this very chill hostel for the night.

Oripando Hostel

Dedicated workspace for digital nomads
A small pool lets you cool off in summer

This is the top recommended hostel for traveling couples. The vibe is quiet, intimate, and relaxed, which makes it perfect for couples looking for time to relax together. Oripando’s decor is Moorish-inspired, which gives an extra exotic feel to your stay. The hostel is tucked down a quiet alleyway, not far from restaurants, tapas bars, and shops.

There are multiple common areas to mingle with other travelers, like a rooftop garden area, a sun terrace, and a small sunken swimming pool. If you are traveling on a budget, there are 4 and 6-bed dorms. Otherwise, the deluxe queen suite or pool-view apartment are perfect for couples who want more privacy.

Aside from couples and older travelers, Oripando Hostel is good for digital nomads passing through Granada, since there’s a dedicated workspace area.

Oasis Backpackers Hostel

Social hostel with many activities
Located in the tourist area close to all the sights

Meet the perfect social hostel for backpackers! Oasis Backpackers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Granada to meet new people and immerse yourself in the city’s lively social scene. It’s located in a prime spot near the Moorish market, in an area that’s very central and walkable to all the main sights.

The rooms are humble and functional, and you’re likely to only sleep here and choose to hang out in the common areas or join one of the many organized activities offered at the hostel.

Hang out with a cocktail at one of their open mic nights featuring local musicians, or hang out on the rooftop terrace to watch the sunset over the city. Don’t miss their Big Eat Nights, potluck-style dinners where everyone comes together for paella, tapas, or BBQ.

When you want to get out and explore the city, you’ll have plenty of options for that too! Oasis organizes many group outings like bar crawls, flamenco shows, tapas tours, and hiking. And of course, if you need to hunker down and get a little work done, the hostel has dedicated workspaces for digital nomads.