Translated from Spanish by Melissa Lyras

The basic information everyone needs to know about the best neighbourhoods in Granada to rent a flat, room or apartment.

When looking to rent out an apartment or room we tend to focus (besides the price, of course) on topics such as the number of rooms, the space, lighting, whether or not it’s furnished, other features such as elevator, garage etc. and sometimes even on the neighbours… just as important as the flat itself is the surrounding area and specifically the neighbourhood where it’s located.

In this quick guide of Granada neighbourhoods (one of the best cities to live in Spain :p) we present you a brief overview of the various areas of the city and what you can expect in each of those: its location, characteristics, ambience, what it’s know for etc. to make your move to the city more straightforward and to help you find the perfect new home for your needs.

The Albaicín is for sure the most well-known neighbourhood in Granada. Located on the foothills of the Alhambra (between Elvira, Darro, Chapiz and Alhacaba streets), it is a precious, vibrant and physically steep traditional neighbourhood with a definitive Arabic feel that has transformed into a major tourist haunt. You’ll recognise this in the prices - passing tourists are prepared to pay more than traditional residents and students of the area. Regardless, it’s still one of the best neighbourhoods to rent in Granada.

An aesthetically-speaking less attractive but extremely well located neighbourhood is the Realejo. In the shadow of the Alhambra and to the east of Reyes Católicos Avenue, it is the preferred location for many students, young professionals and families with all the services being much more accessible than in the Albaicín. For those that like the graffiti of the Niño de las Pinturas, la Meca. Because of the high demand, there are limited flats and the pricing isn’t necessarily cheap.

The Centre (el Centro) is in one sense strictly the area between Elvira Street and Camino de Ronda (with a much more bourgeois air from Puentezuelas up). There is an abundance of older apartments, some of them veritable renovated jewels and others less so, but without a doubt in the very heart of the city; and the greatest benefit of that is the fact that the major part of the neighbourhood is comprised of pedestrian zones.

In Granada you’ll hear El Triunfo and the Plaza de Toros spoken about often. The area located between the two, near Constitución and Pulianas Avenues, is known as Beiro. It’s a neighbourhood made up of large blocks of housing, highly valued for its relatively central location (not quite in the outskirts nor quite in the centre), spacious homes and excellent services.

The North, La Chana and Zaidín, the “royal” Granada

Maracena, Encina, Angustias… these small, middle and working-class neighbourhoods that emerged in the 50s and 60s to the west of the city (near Andalucía Avenue) are known collectively as La Chana. A charming little neighbourhood without aesthetic pretensions and close by to many faculties of the University of Granada with excellent transport links and all the necessary facilities for a comfortable and easy life without the need to move outside the area - and with good rental prices to boot.

South of Genil, Zaidín is one of the best neighbourhoods to rent in Granada. Away from the centre and oblivious to the gentrification suffered by the more central districts, it is the preferred area for a large part of the middle class that work in the city, as well as for many students for its affordable prices and excellent facilities (parks, schools, supermarkets etc).

The newly developed neighbourhoods located in the north of the city are known as... well, as the Norte. Campo Verde, Cartuja, Nueva Granada, La Paz… they’re small neighbourhoods, each with its own ambience and temperament but in general we can refer to them as “normal” or, in other words, they won’t meet the desires of someone looking to immerse themselves in the culture and traditions of Granada, although they are ideal for those that want to live stress-free and pay low rent.

Haza Grande is one of the lesser-known areas of the city, full of attractive spots. A neighbourhood with a less-than-perfect reputation, located next to the Murcia highway (next to the Albaicín), it has all the right ingredients to transform into one of the best neighbourhoods to rent in Granada in the near future: close to the centre without being too much so, good value rental prices and well away from the tourist masses that invade the city.

Granada offers its inhabitants all the right elements for a good life: an accessible size, great climate, an active social life, beautiful architecture and rich history, and a culture of eating well (the tapas!) that are not to be missed. All that’s left to do is discover which neighbourhood best fits your needs. Never fear, it’s closer than you think!