3 Best Arab Baths In Granada (Personally Tested)

Soaking in the warm waters of an Arab bath in Granada is the best way to relax after a day exploring this beautiful city. But with so many options to choose from, it can be tough to decide which Hammam experience will leave you feeling the most relaxed.

I’ve personally tested three of Granada’s most popular Arab baths, all conveniently located in the city center and easily accessible on foot. My top pick? Hammam Al Ándalus (and no, this isn’t sponsored, I paid my own entrance and truly loved it).

In this post, I’ll break down the unique features of each bath, helping you decide which one is the perfect fit for your visit to Granada.

1. Hammam Al Ándalus

Layout of the Bath

The waiting area looks nice and welcoming. Upon arrival, you sit on a sofa while they bring a bowl of warm water for you to wash your hands. You also receive shoe covers to keep the changing room floor clean. Afterwards someone shows you around.

The changing room is very spacious with a few showers and toilets. They provide everything you might need, like hairdryers, hair straighteners, body lotion, face lotion and so on.

Inside the bath, you’ll find two hot water pools, one warm water pool, a small cold water pool, and a steam room. There’s also a cozy tea area with free tea in metal cups. The decor is stunning, featuring candles throughout, even in the steam room.

Massage

Depending on availability, you’ll either start with the massage or the bath. We began with the massage and chose our oil scent from four options. You can select between a relaxing or firm massage and request areas for the masseuse to focus on.

We had our massages in a quiet room on the first floor, and the massage was very professional. However, my masseuse skipped my feet, which would have been great after a day of walking, so make sure to communicate your preferences clearly.

🤩 Book your visit to Hammam Al Ándalus

2. Al-Haram Hammam

The outside of Al-Haram Hammam looks very exclusive, there’s a milk-glass door and you have to ring a doorbell to be let in.

They have the option to book tickets online, but it might be a bit flawed. We tried our luck at the door after it said online that there was no availability for the next few days. At the hammam, we immediately got an appointment for the following day.

When we arrived, there was an issue with our booking, and the staff provided little explanation, leaving us waiting without a seat or clear communication. We eventually entered the bath, but the booking error and miscommunication left a poor impression.

Layout of the Bath

At Al-Haram Hammam you can choose between a public and a private circuit. We went for the private “Ritual Granada”.

Both the public and private circuits grant access to the public area, which has three small pools: cold, hot, and warm. To be honest, I was quite surprised at how small the public area is.

In our private room, there was a small, medium-temperature pool and a steam room, which the public area lacks. The pool was nice for cooling down after the steam room, though not quite warm enough for soaking.

During the visit, we were offered fruit skewers, dates, and sweet treats, along with a choice of three tea flavors. I chose black tea with cinnamon, which was delicious. While towels are provided, flip-flops are not, making trips to the toilet feel a bit unhygienic.

Massage

We chose the biggest treatment package, which began with an exfoliation by ourselves inside the steam room, followed by tea.

Next, two masseuses applied warm clay to our bodies, which was very relaxing. After washing off the clay, we remained on the massage beds, but unfortunately, the towels were soaked, which I found uncomfortable.

The massage itself was short and only focused on the front of the body, my back wasn’t massaged at all, which was disappointing.

3. Elvira Traditional Baths

Elvira was the first Arab bath we visited in Granada. From the outside, it didn’t look like what I expected. It’s inside a hotel and you wouldn’t know it’s a bath at all weren’t it for the poster outside. The inside waiting area also just looks like a hotel.

I went there at the end of October and managed to book an appointment for the same evening. The guy at the reception was very friendly and helpful and explained all the options.

We went for the “relax circuit”, which includes the entrance to the bath for 75 minutes and a 30-minute massage. You have to pay in cash at the time of your appointment.

Layout of the Bath

The changing room reminded me a bit of gym class in school, meaning small and basic, nothing special. Once changed, a friendly staff member gave us a tour of the bath.

Inside the bath there’s a warm water pool, a small cold pool, a steam room, and a cosy seating area for tea. It’s an intimate setup, with just four tables, each labeled with name tags and hooks for towels.

You can have as much tea as you like (though served in plastic cups), and each couple receives a bowl of fruit and (non-vegan) chocolates.

The warm pool was pleasant at first, but after a while, it started to feel chilly. The cold pool is definitely for hardcore cold-water fans. I only managed a few seconds! My favorite part was the steam room, which had a refreshing eucalyptus scent and a perfect temperature.

Massage

The massage tables are in the main bath area. Since we had the last appointment of the day, the bath was already empty, making it quiet and peaceful. We enjoyed soft music and the sound of trickling water, which was very relaxing. I can imagine it might get a bit loud when the bath is full though.

After some time in the bath, we were called for our massages. So, you wear your wet bathing suit for the massage, which was slightly uncomfortable for me.

The massage itself was very soft, to me, it sometimes felt like the masseuse was just stroking me, to Jack, it sometimes felt like his masseuse was tickling him. To be fair, we didn’t ask for a firmer massage, we weren’t asked either though.

What Is an Arab Bath

During Muslim rule, Granada had many Arab baths known as Hammams, which were vital to the culture. People gathered there to socialize and clean their bodies. When the Christians conquered Andalusia, they destroyed many of these baths and closed the rest.

The modern Hammams or Arab baths are purely for relaxation, they consist of pools with different temperatures and steam rooms. There’s quiet instrumental music in the background and the lights are kept in a low orange-red glow.

Most Hammams offer massages or other treatments, like exfoliation. So you can completely escape the outside world. It’s one of the best ways to relax after exploring the amazing attractions in Granada.

What to Bring?

When you visit a Hammam in Granada, you only need to bring a bathing suit and maybe flip flops, depending on which bath you choose. You’ll be provided with a towel there.

FAQ about Granada Baths

Final Thoughts: Hammam Baths Granada

I enjoyed our evenings in all the Arab baths in Granada. It’s a perfect way to relax after a day spent exploring Alhambra or the city of Granada. But the best Hammam Granada has to offer is Hammam Al Ándalus. The whole experience there was wonderful.

I loved the atmosphere with candles everywhere, the hot water pool was really nice and warm and the steaming room with candles inside was amazing. Even the changing room was so elegant and welcoming.

It was expensive but it was worth it. And even though the massage was very good, I would recommend going there just for the bath if you’re short on cash.

🤩 Book your visit to Hammam Al Ándalus before tickets sell out

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