Granada on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Granada is one of Spain's best budget cities, thanks to free tapas and a walkable centre. A realistic daily minimum is about €73 per person sharing a room, including the Alhambra on one day.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €40 | €80 | €200 |
| Food & drink | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €40 | €80 |
| Local transport | €3 | €6 | €20 |
| Per person, per day | €73 | €161 | €370 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Granada day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Sunset at the Mirador de San Nicolás over the Alhambra
- Walking the Albaicín's whitewashed lanes
- The Palace of Charles V inside the Alhambra complex
- Carrera del Darro and the Paseo de los Tristes
- The Mirador de San Cristóbal and the walk up to Sacromonte
- The cathedral area and the Alcaicería market streets
Cheap eats
- Free tapa with a caña or wine, about €2.50-3.50 a round
- Habas con jamón (broad beans with ham), roughly €8-12 a ración
- Tortilla del Sacromonte, roughly €8-12 a ración
- Piononos from a bakery, about €1.50-2.50
- Mint tea with Moroccan sweets in the Calderería, about €3-5 a pot
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in the centre around Gran Vía and the cathedral, where hostels and simple hotels cost about €70-120 for a double, and dorm beds less. Realejo is another good-value area.
Getting around cheaply
Walk everywhere in the centre and take minibuses C30-C34 uphill. The airport bus to the centre takes about 45 minutes and is much cheaper than a taxi. Buses link Granada to Málaga, Seville and Córdoba.
A sample budget day
- Morning: churros and coffee, then the Royal Chapel (about €7)
- Lunch: menú del día near the cathedral, about €12-15
- Afternoon: walk the Carrera del Darro and the Albaicín (free)
- Evening: sunset at San Nicolás, then a free-tapa crawl on Calle Navas, about €15
- Total: about €73 including a shared room
More ways to save
- Order drinks rather than plates in traditional bars: the free tapa often makes a meal.
- Check the Granada Card if you also want the Royal Chapel, cathedral and transport.
- Bring a water bottle; there are fountains around the Alhambra.
- Visit the Alhambra in the morning in summer to avoid the heat and avoid paying for extra drinks.
- Choose a cave flamenco venue recommended by locals rather than one sold by street touts.
- Take the bus from Málaga airport if flights to Granada are expensive.
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Common questions
Can you visit Granada on a budget?
Yes. With a central room, free tapas and walking, about €73 per person a day is enough.
What is free in Granada?
The Mirador de San Nicolás, the Albaicín lanes, the Palace of Charles V and the Carrera del Darro.
How do I get cheaply from the airport to Granada?
The airport bus reaches the centre in about 45 minutes for a few euros.