Granada is the most affordable of Andalusia's major cultural cities — partly thanks to the free tapas tradition, which significantly reduces food spending.
The working budget of €65 per person per day covers a comfortable double room, meals (tapas included) and the main cultural entry fees. In low season (November-March), €50/day is sufficient for a careful traveller.
Accommodation offers excellent value. A hostel dorm bed in the historic centre costs €15-25. A double room in a two- to three-star hotel or characterful guesthouse runs €50-90. The cármenes (traditional Andalusian houses with patio and garden) converted into guesthouses or boutique hotels are Granada's speciality: budget €90-150 for a room with an Alhambra view.
Food spending is remarkably low thanks to free tapas. A glass of beer (caña) or a soft drink with a tapa runs €1.50-2.50. Visiting three to four bars in an evening, you can eat dinner for under €10 with progressively more generous tapas. Gastronomic restaurants start at €25-35 per person.
The Alhambra entry fee is €14 (Nasrid Palaces + Alcazaba + Generalife). The evening visit to the Nasrid Palaces (9:30-11:30 pm) costs €8. Cathedral + Royal Chapel: €5 each. El Bañuelo Arab Baths: free. Alhambra Museum: free.
Read also
- Andalusia — Seville, Córdoba, Málaga, Ronda and the Pueblos Blancos — all of southern Spain.
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- Spain — Complete guide: entry requirements, budget, regions and the best time to visit.
- Marrakech — Medina, souks and palaces in the ochre city — the other great Moorish city of the Mediterranean.
