The hostel that earns its rooftop
Most budget beds in Granada come with a ceiling and not much else. Oasis Backpackers' Hostel on Placeta Correo Viejo comes with a rooftop sun terrace looking straight at the Alhambra — the kind of view that costs 300€ a night at the boutique hotels 200 metres away.
The hostel sits on a pedestrian-only backstreet at the base of the Albaicín, Granada's old Moorish quarter. You're about a five-minute walk from Granada Cathedral, three minutes from the Moroccan market stalls on Calle Calderería Nueva, and immediately below the tangle of whitewashed lanes that make this neighbourhood a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Location for a backpacker budget is hard to beat.
The space and who it's for
The interior has a tropical feel — plants, wooden furniture, warm colours — that holds up better in photos than in late-season use, when maintenance gaps become more visible. Reviews are consistent on the high points: the common areas work, the rooftop terrace genuinely delivers the Alhambra view, and the 24-hour reception desk means you can arrive on the late bus from Madrid without panicking.
The shared kitchen is well-equipped for self-catering, which matters at this price point. Dorms start from around 25€; private rooms (double and twin) go up to about 60€, which makes Oasis competitive even against local guesthouses for budget private accommodation. A €5 damage deposit is collected at check-in and returned on departure.
This is a social hostel — the kind where you meet people at breakfast, end up at the flamenco cave bars in Sacromonte together that evening, and share tips about getting Alhambra tickets. If you want quiet and privacy, one of the Albaicín's independent guesthouses would suit better. If you want to meet other travellers without paying city-centre hotel prices, Oasis does what it promises.
Getting around from here
The Alhambra is uphill — either a 30-minute walk via Cuesta de Gomérez or the C3 minibus from Calle de los Reyes Católicos. The walk through the Albaicín's narrow streets to reach Mirador de San Nicolás — the viewpoint that puts the whole Alhambra skyline in front of you — takes about 20 minutes and costs nothing.
For evening tapas, Calle Navas and the area around Plaza Nueva are a short walk downhill. Granada's free tapas culture — every drink comes with food — works strongly in favour of hostel budgets.
Booking notes
Oasis ranks #10 in Granada's specialty lodging on TripAdvisor with 1,241 reviews at a 4.0 average. That volume is significant for a small property; the scores have held up over several years. Book direct at oasisgranada.com or via major OTAs; availability gets tight during Semana Santa, the International Jazz Festival in November, and the summer peak weeks. The hostel operates year-round — the rooftop terrace is usable from March through October comfortably, cooler but still open in winter.
