Oasis Backpackers' Hostel Granada
Rooftop Alhambra glimpses, in-house bar, nightly tapas crawls — the classic Oasis-chain backpacker hostel
7.9-rated classic backpacker hostel in a traditional Andalusian building at the gate of the Albaicín. 1,100+ reviews. Rooftop sun terrace with Alhambra glimpses, proper in-house bar with happy hour, nightly tapas crawls and weekly paella nights. Part of the Oasis chain (Lisbon, Seville, Málaga). The party-backpacker pick when you want scruffy charm over designer polish.
Oasis Backpackers' sits in a traditional Andalusian building on Placeta Correo Viejo, a small plaza at the bottom edge of the Albaicín — two minutes from the Carrera del Darro walkway and three from Plaza Nueva. It's the Oasis chain's Granada outpost (the other locations are in Lisbon, Seville, Málaga, Toledo and the Canaries), which tells you what to expect: party-backpacker standard, house bar, rooftop, activities from the door.
The building is older than most hostels in the city and feels it — exposed stone walls in some dorms, a small interior patio with orange trees, and tiled staircases that creak a bit. Not polished. Dorms top out at 16 beds in the big ones (rare for the Granada market), plus a few 6 and 8-bed options and two private doubles. Beds are metal bunks with curtains and reading lamps; bathrooms are floor-shared and functional without being fancy.
The selling point is the rooftop. It's one of two hostels in Granada with a genuine Alhambra-view terrace (Oripando is the other), and it doubles as the hostel bar — happy hour 20:00 to 21:30, sangria at €3 a glass, local wines for €4. The rooftop closes at 23:00 but the ground-floor bar stays open to 01:00 on weekends. Nightly tapas crawl (€8, 4 bars, one free drink per bar) leaves at 21:00 and hits Calle Elvira and Calle Calderería. Friday is paella night — €10 for a full plate with sangria, caps at 20 guests, book at reception.
Where Oasis rates 7.9 rather than the 8.8–9.3 of some Granada competitors: the beds and bathrooms are older, the cleaning standard is solid but not hospital-grade, and the party energy is not for everyone. Reviewers who come in wanting a boutique-quiet stay sometimes complain. Reviewers who come in wanting a classic backpacker experience rate it 9+. The self-selection is real, and you should know which traveler you are before booking.
- 01Rooftop terrace with Alhambra glimpses and €3 sangria happy hour at 20:00
- 02Nightly tapas crawl at 21:00 (€8, 4 bars, one drink at each) — the easiest way to do Calle Elvira
- 03Friday paella night: €10 for a full plate with sangria, caps at 20 guests
- 04Gate-of-the-Albaicín location: 3 min to Plaza Nueva, 2 to the Carrera del Darro
- 05Part of the Oasis chain — staff know the chain-wide backpacker circuit across Spain and Portugal
- Placeta Correo Viejo address: 3 min to Plaza Nueva, 2 min to the Carrera del Darro
- Rooftop sun terrace with Alhambra glimpses — closes at 23:00, happy hour at 20:00
- In-house ground-floor bar open until 01:00 weekends
- Nightly tapas crawl (€8) and Friday paella night (€10) from reception
“I loved the location, it's a quiet street but just 2 minutes walking from the nice and busy main street of Albaicín.”
“Spacious kitchen, basic amenities for all to use, excellent location, pretty architecture and comfortable rooms, the rooftop is amazing for a quiet night, to just sit and look at the stars.”
“The staff is very warm friendly helpful and the hostel is clean and has a cool vibe and perfect location. There's an effort to make rooms liveable. Love the terrace.”
- Plaza Nueva and the Carrera del Darro3 min on foot
- Calle Elvira free-tapas strip (with the hostel tapas-crawl guide)5 min on foot
- Mirador San Nicolás (uphill walk or bus C31)10 min uphill on foot
- Alhambra entrance via Cuesta de Gomérez22 min on foot uphill
- Sacromonte caves and Zambra flamenco12 min on foot east
- Calle Calderería teterías (post-Alhambra mint tea)6 min on foot
