Is Granada the Best Place to Live in Spain?
Last Updated on May 13, 2024
It has been 7 years since we moved to Spain — first it was Madrid for a year, then just a couple of months in Seville and eventually Granada. We’ve also explored a lot of Spain, from the northwestern corner of Galicia to the eastern edge of Costa Brava, the southern shores of Cadiz to the outlying Balearic and Canary islands. But where do I think is the best place to live in Spain?
For some reason, we still live in Granada today even though we’ve been to many places that we like more than here. Perhaps it’s because of the nature surrounding Granada, maybe it’s the great quality of life, or the slow and laidback attitudes that people have here. Regardless, there must be something about Granada that has captured us for so long.
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Could Granada be the best place to live in Spain?
I’ve asked myself that question many times. We have lived in many places around the world, from London to Singapore, Miami and Tanzania; but of all of them, Granada has been the best place for us so far. Granada is a place that’s comfortable and cheap to live, a place that is bursting with nature and history, and a place that we can truly call home. Of course it isn’t perfect, just as it is everywhere else.
Here I share the things we like and dislike about living in Granada — for you to decide.
What We Love about Living in Granada
Granada Has Both Mountains and Beaches
For one, the city of Granada may be small, but Granada province has it all in terms of mountains, valleys and the sea. For outdoor lovers like us, we love how diverse the surrounding landscapes are, so much so that it’s possible to ski in the mountains and go diving in the sea in one day. In just one hour, you can easily drive from the Sierra Nevada Ski Station to the Mediterranean Sea.
Skiing in Sierra Nevada is cheaper than in other parts of Europe — day passes are as low as €35 — and it also has uncharacteristically long season running from late November to early May. Best of all, it’s a 45-minute drive from Granada, that means we can easily go for a day of skiing and come back home without spending on expensive ski lodges.
As for the coast, the pebbled beaches near Granada are usually packed in summer but are great to visit all year round because of the subtropical climate on Costa Tropical (thus the name). They’re not as beautiful as beaches on Mallorca for example, but still great for summer relaxation.
Plenty of Nature Around Granada
I’ll be the first to admit there isn’t a lot to do in Granada city itself — it’s a small city with a beautiful, charming old town, but it’s also more of a place to wander, get lost and soak up its atmosphere. But because of its location at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it’s literally surrounded by nature.
There are so many outdoor activities to do just a hop away from the city: from easy hiking through waterfalls at Los Cahorros, to canyoning in the Rio Verde system, climbing the highest mountain in continental Spain and exploring sandstone caves in Guadix. For instance, my favorite hiking trail is an easy 8km walk near the Trevenque mountain peak, just a 20-minute drive from where we live.
Life is Lived Outside
Even though Granada experiences all four seasons, you can count on the sun to always be there, even when it’s zero degrees Celsius. It’s always sunny in Granada, making it possible to sit under the sun and enjoy a meal regardless of the season. In summer, it can get ridiculously hot (temperatures of above 40 degrees Celsius), that’s when most people take the whole month off work to spend all their time on the beach, just a 40-minute drive away from the city.
We try to spend as much of our time outside than at work. I set my own working hours and Alberto finishes work by 5pm everyday, so we usually have quite a lot of time to hang out with Kaleya, go to the park or meet friends in the evenings. In summer particularly, the sun doesn’t set till 10pm, so it feels as though we have extra hours in the day to have fun.
Strong Sense of Family
One of the reasons that have kept us in Granada for so long is that Alberto’s family is all here. The Granadinos are very family-oriented people in general, and family is the most important thing to them.
I learned that on my first trip to Granada almost 13 years ago — Alberto and I were having a long-distance relationship then and we hadn’t seen each other in months, but our whole time in Granada was spent meeting his grandma, aunties, cousins and everyone else in the family. I felt overwhelmed and puzzled at first, but eventually I learned that family is an important part of his and everyone’s life.
Now I absolutely love having family around, especially since we have a two-year-old daughter and it’s great for her to have a strong bond with her grandparents.
Stress-Free, Relaxed Vibes
Granada has a small town feel and it has bohemian, hippie vibes that lots of travellers (including us) love. It’s a gorgeous place and definitely an essential stop on any Spain itinerary. It’s very chilled and laid-back; Nobody is in a rush to go anywhere and everyone’s just enjoying life really. Siestas are common here, unlike in the bigger Spanish cities such as Barcelona or Madrid.
Most people have two-hour lunch breaks, although they also finish work later. A lot of people actually work from 8am to 3pm (with a late lunch), and that means they have the rest of the day free. The pace of life here is slow and comfortable, a big contrast to life back in Singapore where I grew up — and I really do like this stress-free life for our daughter.
Cheap Prices and Affordable Housing
Granada is very cheap to live in comparison to other parts of Europe and even Spain. I honestly haven’t found any other city in Spain that’s cheaper than Granada. An Airbnb or hotel in Granada costs around 30 to 50 euros per room per night. Renting an apartment in Granada for long term usually costs anything between 300 to 600 euros per month in the city centre.
Food wise, you can get some of the best traditional Spanish food in Granada at low prices. In fact, Spanish tapas in Granada are usually free! Almost every restaurant and tapas bar serves a free plate of food, such as patatas bravas or carne con salsa, with a drink (beer and wine costs only 2 to 3 euros).
Great Quality of Life
We prefer to spend more time with family than at work, and so do most people here. The low cost of living here allows us to enjoy a high quality of life without working too much. We’ve lived in big cities like London and Singapore, where our income was a lot higher, but long working hours and crappy welfare made us miserable.
Here, there’s a strong emphasis on social life, family time and hobbies — rather than work. Most people in Granada (including Alberto) have 22 to 30 vacation days a year, that’s why we’re able to travel so much with Kaleya. You’ll find that many Granadinos have beach apartments/holiday home on the coast (even though it’s so near!) so there’s where they usually spend their summer.
Safety and Comfort
Compared to big cities, Granada is a very safe place to live. I’ve never heard of any major crime in the city at all. Granadinos are intimidated by the gypsies but they seem pretty decent to me. Going out at night is not a problem at all — in fact Granada has a vibrant night life thanks to the big student population. In general, we feel very comfortable in Granada, with no worries for financial or safety.
What We Dislike About Granada
But just like everywhere else, Granada isn’t perfect. In reality, living in Granada is not quite the same as traveling here. Read more about what it’s really like to live in Spain.
Things Can Move Too Slowly Here
While I do love the slow pace of life in Granada, at times it can be frustrating. It’s true that the Spanish have the “mañana mañana” attitude, meaning that anything can wait till tomorrow. Let’s take the metro system for example: they’ve been building it for over 10 years now and it’s still not completed!
We also live right across the road from a mall that took the same amount of time to complete. Prior to its opening last year, we had to face this big, ugly construction site that blew dust to our house every day.
The Notorious Red Tape
Spanish bureaucracy is notorious, so if you’re applying for Spanish residency or buying a house, be prepared for a crazy amount of paper work and ridiculous obstacles that make any official procedure a pain in the ass. Funcionarios (civil servants) seem to take advantage of it, working at the speed of sloths and acting like they own you.
Expect to wait in line for hours if you’re applying for your NIE (ID for foreigners) or anything related to the government. Face that the fact that however many documents and photocopies you take along there will always be one missing. Bring Be patient and flexible — that’s the only way you can get through it!
Limited Public WiFi
Internet speeds in Granada are pretty good, the highest download speed being 100Mb/s. Fibre optic broadband has become widely available in Granada too, with speeds up to 300Mb/s. That said, WiFi is surprisingly not that easily available in public spaces, restaurants or cafes. A lot of these establishments don’t seem to understand the importance of having WiFi for clients. As compared to Southeast Asia or the rest of Europe, Granada is really backwards in terms of internet availability.
No Work-in-Cafe Culture
As a travel blogger and writer, I like working outside, in cozy coffee shops that are quiet and comfy. Sadly, places like that are very rare in Granada. Most cafes here don’t have internet and they are usually crowded and noisy, with people chatting loudly or the TV blasting at maximum volume. When I take out my laptop and work, people stare at me like I’m an oddball. There’s just no work-in-cafe culture in Granada; the city has more of a tapas culture than anything else.
Lack of Global Mindsets
Granada is a great place and I know why Granadinos are so damn proud of their city. But a lot of them are so rooted that they don’t ever leave their hometown. A few of our friends who grew up here don’t have passports and have only left Spain once or twice. It’s really shocking considering how easy and accessible travel is these days, especially so in Europe.
Most Granadinos don’t speak any other language besides Spanish, and they’re afraid to travel because of the language barrier. Because they don’t travel much, they tend to lack international perspectives, if you know what I mean. They may know a thing or two about the world, as most Europeans do, but they see things from very narrow perspectives that can really limit their potential.
Are You Planning to Move to Granada?
In all those years of living in Spain, I’ve gotten to know Granada inside out. I hope my article hasn’t scared you off from moving to Granada. I’m just being honest and want to show what it’s like to live in Granada.
Here are more of my articles on Spain to help you:
- My Detailed Guide to Spanish Cuisine
- 2-Week Spain Itinerary
- Where to Find the Best Tapas in Barcelona
- Weekend in Madrid
- Weekend in Malaga
- Best Things to Do in Granada
- Things to Do in Mallorca Beyond the Resorts
- My Guide to Hiking the Camino de Santiago
Did we miss out anything on this 2-week Spain itinerary? Let us know in the comments field below if you have any questions and we’ll be happy to help you out!
Disclaimer: This post was brought to you as a result of the #SpainOnMyMind campaign, created and managed by iambassador in partnership with the Spain Tourist Office. As always, I maintain full editorial control of the content published on this site.
The Comments
Robert Bartholomew
Thank you so much for the great info!
Eirian
Thanks so much, currently contemplating a move down to Granada from Barcelona and reading as much as poss so came across your blog… any advice on getting children into schools this late in the year? I also work from home, is there atleast a good library you can go and work from?
pamela
Hi!+
Great article! I´m live in Granada sice 2008 and a I Love this city!
I have a coworking with nursery, a shared space for families.
I would love for you to visit the Cofamily Coworking and you could do a review for us.
I’m sure it can be very useful for foreign families who come to live in Granada looking for a better quality of life.
Nellie Huang
pamelaHi Pamela, oh yes I’ve been to your coworking space and really like the concept of it! It’s a brilliant solution for people who work from home like me!
Jaques
I’d love to live in granada, not in town but a smaller town with mountain views but not too far from. The coast… Any suggestions please?
Nellie Huang
JaquesI would suggest Mijas, which is a cute and picturesque town in the Malaga province. It’s a small town with mountain views and close to the sea. It is quite touristy though, but definitely a beautiful spot to live in.
Suzi
Hi Nellie,
I came across your blog while searching to live in Granada.It’s very helpful indeed. We are also family-oriented people and i am planning to relocate from Istanbul with my husband and 6 year old daughter.
I have seen that Zaidin is a good place to rent a house. Do you have any other suggestion? My daughter has started to primary school this year. By the way we have Spanish citizenship. She speaks English as well but no Spanish yet. I checked the schools around Zaidin. I have found out Sierra nevada Public School bilingual education. What is the procedure to apply? I will be happy to get your reply.have a nice day.
Nellie Huang
Suzihi Suzi, thanks for the comment! Great to hear that you found my article useful. Zaidin is a good area for sure – that’s where my husband grew up. His parents still live in the neighborhood now. It’s a short walk from the city centre but still feels residential and pleasant. We used to live in Armilla, which is another nice area and just a 15-minute bus ride to the centre. Another good area is Realejo which is in the city centre but still away from the touristy bits that can get noisy and crowded.
You do need to speak some Spanish to get by in Granada, but I’m sure your daughter will pick it up once she starts school. I’m afraid I can’t help with the application procedure as our daughter was only in nursery in Granada (we’ve now moved to Amsterdam!) and I never had to deal with registering for schools. I would suggest emailing the school directly to find out. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Suzi
Hi Nellie, thanks for your message. If primary schools do not take her in the middle of school year, i may let her go to nursery school for one year, maybe she can adapt more easily.
Do you have any suggestions for nursery school? What was the name of nursery school you have sent your daughter?
Thanks a lot!
Suzi
Nellie Huang
Suzihi Suzi, that’s a good idea. I think nursery schools take kids up to 4. Kaleya used to go to a bilingual nursery called Patosuca (they have English teachers only for students of certain ages) in Armilla. Google them and you’ll find their website. Their principle is awesome and teachers there are superb. Definitely highly recommend them! Good luck!
Gabriel
Would you recommend retiring in Granada?
Thanks,
Gabriel.
Nellie Huang
GabrielYes! But that always depends on many factors. Do you speak Spanish? That’s important as most people don’t speak other languages in Granada. You’ll need to know the language to fit in or immerse. Do you have a trusty retirement fund? It’s not expensive to live here but you need to have a retirement fund if you don’t want to work anymore. Plus it’s hard to find work in Granada. Do you like a slow pace of life? It’s wonderful if you’re looking for a quiet and calm life.
Shelby Bolliger
Hi Nellie!
Thank you so much for all the information that’s you’ve posted – most helpful!! The only thing on my bucket list is to live one year in Europe. In doing some research, I have noticed to get more bang for my money, Spain is the place to live. I have no idea where to even start! I will be retiring at the end of 2022 and hopefully I can make this a reality sometime in 2023.
I’ve been looking at Granada or maybe Valencia. I don’t want to live in a touristy city, I prefer more of a village feel. A BIG ISSUE – I don’t speak Spanish. I am planning on going to Spain next year to scope places out. Is there somewhere I can go or a department I might contact that can direct me in to what steps/documents I will need to do this? Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED! (I will be a single woman doing this so safety is HUGE!)
How lucky for you that you’ve had the opportunity to travel, I’m jealous!
Nellie Huang
Shelby Bolligerhi Shelby, thanks for dropping by! Good to hear that you’re looking to live in Spain. Yes you’re right that it’s a good place to get more bang for your money and it’s an excellent place to retire for sure. If you’re looking for a village feel, Granada and Valencia are both cities with quite a lot of tourists so that might not suit you. There are however LOTS of quiet little villages all over the country — I’m sure you’ll find somewhere that fits you. Ronda is a cute town perched on top of cliffs overlooking a valley, but again it’s a tourist town. Mijas in Malaga province is another place I love and check out the Alpujarras, it’s a region with white-washed villages on the Sierra Nevada mountains. I wrote a piece for BBC here, check it out here. Also I wrote a piece on living in Spain (more of a reality check than guide, but am hoping to improve it with more practical info).
Mel
Hi Nellie,
I loved reading your blog and will be staying in Armilla area for almost 2 months because of my husband’s job. I don’t speak Spanish but trying to learn some survival phrases. I wondered if you would recommend any mommy and baby(less than 1 year old) friendly activities/groups in the area.
Nellie Huang
Melhey Mel, good to hear from you! Wow interesting that you’re moving to Armilla, that’s our neighborhood. We actually left Granada after seven years there and now live in Amsterdam. But we still have a house in Armilla. Unfortunately very little English or any other language is spoken in Armilla or Granada, so you do need to learn some Spanish to get by. There is a mummy group in Granada on Facebook, so be sure to check that out and you’ll get to meet other international families in Granada. Honestly there isn’t a lot of kid-friendly places to go or activities to do in Granada, but the Science Park is quite a good spot to go. Caja Granada building has a dance class for toddlers that’s fun for parents too.
Yvonne Martinez
I am a single, soon to be retired woman. Your blog is amazing and helpful. I spent a couple of weeks in Malaga in March exploring. I’m heading to Granada at the 1st of the new year. It will be my “home base” as I continue to explore for permanent living. Thank You very much! Yvonne
Nellie Huang
Yvonne Martinezhi Yvonne, thanks for the very encouraging words! Great to hear you’re heading to Granada and living for a while. That’s brilliant. Sadly I don’t live there anymore, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time there. Que lo pases bien!
Naz Koya
I was in Granada in 2016 to visit the Alhambra! In two days i was in LOVE! I have made a promise to my that I will go back and live there for at-leas six months with frequent visits! Your experience has been so helpful! Thank you??
JC Marlboro
Thank you for publishing this article! My wife and I are seriously considering a move to Spain early next summer. We have been to Barcelona, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Hondarribia, Madrid, Toledo, Seville, the Costa del Sol, the Alpujaras, and Granada. We really love Spain and think that living in a small-ish city could be the perfect balance for us. Anyway, it sounds like you have traveled far and wide in Spain. Which do you think would be a better place to live: Granada or Girona? My impression is that Granada would be more culturally interesting and architecturally beautiful than Girona, but Girona might be healthier in terms of air quality and active lifestyles. (Both are close to the ocean and mountains though, so they seem about even as far as outdoor living goes.) Thanks!
Nellie Huang
JC Marlborohi JC, thanks for dropping by! Good to hear you’re thinking of moving to Spain. It’s really hard to tell you which is a better place to live, since I don’t know what kinda of lifestyle you lead, plus I’ve only lived in Granada and not Girona. I have visited Girona before and I think it’s a pretty town for sure. Granada is cheaper and the Andalusian identity is probably stronger here (i.e. the way of life is slower and more laidback, many people take siesta and social life is centered around meeting friends for drinks and tapas). Girona is a wealthier part of Spain for sure, so it might be easier to get things done (in terms of paperwork, logistics, buying property etc). Granada is surrounded by mountains and there is so much to do in terms of outdoor activities (from canyoning to hiking, paragliding and mountain biking). I’ve also written a post about the reality of living in Spain, it might be useful to you. Hope all these helped!
Gordan Hancock
Hey Nellie Huang,
You mentioned the slow process of so called ownership tones Obtaining your NIE; would you inlighten me of your perspective of a Business Visa bureaucracy?
Nellie Huang
Gordan Hancockhi Gordan, thanks for your comment. I have owned a business in Singapore and the Netherlands, but never in Spain. So I’m afraid I don’t have any personal experience in obtaining a business visa in Spain. That said, I registered as a freelancer in Spain and hired a tax adviser to help me with my taxes. It was a nightmare even with his help – he had NO idea how new-generation business owners who work online should be handling taxes. I would recommend researching for advisers who are experienced in working with expats and who’s familiar with your field of work. It will definitely be easier if you’re planning to move to a bigger city like Madrid or Barcelona. Hope this helped!
Expatriator
Gordan HancockHi Gordan, my friends run Strong Abogados and have a microsite to promote their services for businesses spainoffice.com. They’re partly American and British, so they have a stronger (ahem) perspective on setting up businesses for foreigners in Spain.
Expatriator
Are you still living in Granada then? I don’t see a date on this article.
Nellie Huang
Expatriatorhi there, no we moved to Amsterdam in November 2018. We go back to Granada often though, the last time was just this summer. :)
cherrelle
Heyy, Awesome blog on Granada. Do you recommend anywhere to find rentals? we are looking to stay in Granada for 3 months over the winter. Amsterdam looks like a cool place to live, hope you and your family are enjoying life there :)
Nellie Huang
cherrellehi Cherrelle, thanks for dropping by! Yes, check out Idealista, Fotocasa and Milanuncios. Google ‘pisos de alquiler granada’ and you should be able to find lots of apartments for rent. One note: apartments in Granada can be pretty chilly on the inside during winter (due to poor insulation). Try to get an apartment that is slightly newer rather than the white houses in Albayzin, which are beautiful but have very poor insulation. Hope this helps! :)
Shadi
Hi Nellie,
Thanks for the efforts that you put to here to informe people about the life style in Granada. I am planing to move from Canada to Granada and would like to ask you if you know any info about the international schools or any type of schools that teach in English. My kids know English and French. Your help would be highly appreciated.
Shadi
Nellie Huang
Shadihi Shadi, thanks for dropping by! As far as I know, there are no officially-accredited international schools in Granada, only bilingual schools. Bilingual schools use both English and Spanish as their teaching mediums, but honestly your kid still needs to know Spanish to be there. How old are your kids? If they’re still below 6, it wouldn’t be an issue putting them in a bilingual or Spanish school. It would be more difficult if they were bigger. Perhaps you can consider moving to Almunecar, Marbella or Seville. There are proper international schools there.
Geovane
Hi, great article!
How would you compare the cost of living for a couple with a baby between Granada and Amsterdam? I am searching for job opportunities in both places.
And do you know if it is common to live by the sea and work in Granada or the traffic would be a problem?
Regards,
Geovane
Nellie Huang
Geovanehi Geovane, we actually lived in Granada for 7 years before moving to Amsterdam 3 years ago (we’re still here). So I think you’ve asked the right person! :) Which field of work are you in? Amsterdam definitely has a lot more work opportunities, especially for IT/computer engineers. Granada is a small city and has limited jobs, salary is also much lower.
But in comparison, Granada is definitely a lot cheaper to live in than Amsterdam. For example, a 2-bedroom apartment in Granada can cost between 500-900 euros but the same would cost 1200-2000 euros in Amsterdam. Food is also a lot cheaper in Granada, you can easily eat tapas or a restaurant meal for 10 euros per person or even less. In Amsterdam, a restaurant meal starts from 20-30 euros per person.
Weather is of course MUCH better than in Granada, with 300 days of sunshine a year! It still gets cold in winter though, as Sierra Nevada is just nearby (where you can go skiing). All in all, Granada seems to be a better place to live, but we like the international community here. It’s great being with other international families who like to travel and who believe in equality of races, sexes, and everything else. That is a bit harder to find in Granada (where there’s a lack of international schools too).
As for living on the coast in Granada, yes it’s possible and my sister-in-law does that. She lives in Salobrena and travels to Granada, Jaen and several other parts of Andalusia for work. Traffic isn’t so much of a problem, you just need to be used to driving. Distances aren’t even that long as it takes just 40 minutes to drive from the coast to Granada.
I hope I’ve helped in some ways! Feel free to ask me any questions you like!
Vicky Furnival
Hi, great help were considering moving to
Granada. For a quiter chilled out life. We do have teenagers just wondering what employment ect like for them to earn a little when there ?
Nellie Huang
Vicky Furnivalhi Vicky, are you referring to future employment (as in when your kids grow up) or temporary employment (part-time jobs as teenagers now)? Honestly, unemployment rate is relatively high in southern Spain and it can be difficult to get work especially in the professional field. And in case you’re referring to temporary work, language skills are definitely important in Spain, they need to be able to speak Spanish fluently to be employed. Otherwise, they might be able to find seasonal work like in summer camps or at cafes/restaurants. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Harry
Hi, fantastic article and thanks for posting! What would be you recommendations for barrios to live in 2022? Myself my partner and 2 year old daughter are seriously considering a move to Granada we all speak Spanish. We would prefer an international/private school but can you recommend the better schools in Granada private or otherwise?
Nellie Huang
Harryhi Harry, thanks for dropping by! We lived in Granada for 8 years (now we’re based in Mexico), but we left around 5 years ago, so my on-the-ground knowledge might not be up-to-date. My daughter was 2 years old right before we left, and she used to go to Patosuca Escuela Infantil (in Armilla). She loved it, and we were pretty happy with how well organized the school was and how much attention they paid to each kid. It’s supposedly a bilingual school, but the level of English among the teachers is low. Sadly, that is the norm in Granada, most bilingual schools aren’t really bilingual at all. Based on my research, Colegio Internacional de Granada is currently one of the best international/private schools in Granada. I’m afraid I don’t have any personal experience there thou.
As for the barrio to live in, most expats live in Albayzin, the old town area with white-washed houses and cobbled stones. I can understand why, cos it’s absolutely gorgeous! But prices are higher there and it can be a pain if you have a car (narrow streets); and if you don’t, expect to be walking steep slopes everyday. Realejos is another great barrio to live as it’s in the city center and walking distance from everywhere, but it can be noisy at night. My husband grew up in El Zaidin, which is still near the city center but quieter and more residential. We used to live in Armilla, a neighborhood/pueblo just a 10-minute drive to the center. It’s quiet, and very local. Hope this helps!
Denise
Fantastic article and thank you! I will be traveling in Spain for 3months this spring. I have planned two weeks in Granada but have a week or so before heading north to Madrid and Asturias. Any suggestions of places that would be lovely to stay for a week.. or alternatively I could extend the stay in Granada(this is in the beginning -middle of May)
Nellie Huang
Denisehi Denise, sorry for the late reply! There are plenty of beautiful places around Granada to explore, it depends on what your interest is. If you like the countryside, I suggest checking out the Alpujarras in the foothills of Sierra Nevada – there are beautiful whitewashed villages and cottages where you can stay in the mountains where you can go on hikes. I also recommend staying at this beautiful cortijo outside of Granada surrounded by olive groves. Another place I suggest checking out is Ronda in Malaga, it’s a beautiful town set on a clifftop surrounded by a valley.