Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Granada and Córdoba

Before you go

What happens when you get there

The Alhambra

No dogs anywhere in the monument, the Generalife gardens included. Only guide and assistance dogs go in, and therapy dogs need accreditation arranged in advance. The walk up the Cuesta de Gomérez through the Alhambra woods is the dog-friendly way up the hill, so plan the visit itself as a dog-free slot.

The Mezquita

The Mezquita-Catedral admits only guide dogs, and the bell tower visit is a no too. Whether you can simply walk through the Patio de los Naranjos with a dog isn't spelled out, so ask the staff at the gate.

Leaving the dog in the room

Soho Boutique Capuchinos in Córdoba allows a quiet dog to stay alone in the room if you tell reception, leave a phone number and hang the sign on the door. The Hospes palaces say no. Nowhere else on our list publishes a rule, so ask before you book if you need a few hours at the Alhambra or the Mezquita.

Heat

Córdoba is one of the hottest cities in Europe and the Guadalquivir valley regularly passes 40°C in July and August. The old-town stone gets too hot for paws by mid-morning, so walk at dawn and after dark. Granada is hot too but cooler at night, with shade on the Alhambra hill and along the Genil.

Granada Metro

Dogs of any size ride Line 1, muzzled, on a non-extending lead under 50 cm, one per passenger, off the seats and off the escalators. On weekdays they can't travel 7:30 to 9:30, 14:00 to 16:00 or 18:00 to 20:00, with no time limits at weekends, on public holidays or in July and August. Dogs up to 10 kg can go in a carrier instead. Carry the pet passport, since the rules also mention microchip and registration.

Buses

Córdoba's city buses take animals only in a closed carrier, so in practice small dogs only, but the old town is compact enough to walk. In Granada the dog rules for the city buses and the Alhambra minibuses aren't published, so check before planning around them.

Eating out

Hotels here mostly keep dogs out of indoor restaurants and bars and welcome them on terraces, and the Hospes palaces put that in writing. Plan on outdoor terraces rather than dining rooms.

Getting there

Málaga is the main gateway from the UK and Ireland, about 1 hour 30 minutes' drive to Granada and 2 hours to Córdoba. Granada's own airport has mostly domestic flights, and Seville suits Córdoba too. With a bigger dog, driving from the Channel ports through France and Spain is the realistic option. Córdoba is on the high-speed lines from Madrid, so check Renfe's current pet rules before booking.

Best walks

In Granada, the Paseo del Salón and Paseo de la Bomba along the Genil and on into the Parque del Genil path, the Carrera del Darro and Paseo de los Tristes under the Alhambra walls, the shaded Cuesta de Gomérez through the Alhambra woods, and the Albaicín lanes up to the Mirador de San Nicolás. The Jardines del Triunfo by the Hospital Real and Plaza de la Trinidad are handy for a quick one in the centre. In Córdoba, the Paseo de la Ribera and the Roman bridge on the Guadalquivir, the long shaded Jardines de la Victoria, and the Plaza de Colón gardens.

When to go

Spring, March to May, and autumn, late September to November, are the dog seasons. July and August are hard work, especially in Córdoba, where the valley regularly passes 40°C and walks are for dawn and after dark only. Granada is cooler at night. The Fiesta de los Patios in Córdoba runs in the first half of May, with long queues and small courtyards packed with pots, so check the festival's own rules before counting on it with a dog. Sierra Nevada is a winter ski resort, and we have no dog-friendly hotel there.