This grand and historic luxury hotel is palatial in scope, with impressive Andalusian architecture -- complete with minarets and arched windows -- opulent interiors, and gorgeous grounds of palms, orange trees, and manicured greenery. The property was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Expo under King Alfonso XIII's rule, and in the decades since, it has hosted royals, celebrities, and various VIPs. Decadence abounds: the elegant interiors are festooned with beautiful Andalusian tile work as well as marble floors, columns, Moorish lanterns, carved wooden ceilings, and ornate ironwork. Features include a lovely outdoor pool with a poolside bar, two beautiful restaurants (including one in and overlooking an attractive courtyard), an atmospheric bar with chic Art Deco decor, a gourmet foodie shop, and a fitness room. Though some of the 151 guest rooms are small and lack tea/coffee facilities, they feature stylish contemporary decor, and attractive bathrooms with arabesque tiling. 

Luxurious inside and out, Villa Padierna Palace Hotel is undeniably opulent. The lush cypress-laden hotel has striking grounds filled with man-made ponds, regal statues, fountains, and even a Roman amphitheater. The 130 guest rooms come in three types -- Rooms, Suites, and Villas -- and all are as luxurious as one would expect for a five-pearl property, with elegant detail like gilded mirrors, chandeliers, and blue-and-white porcelain lamps. In-room amenities include free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and spacious, sumptuous bathrooms adorned in marble and equipped with separate bathtubs and showers. The hotel's vast facilities include three golf courses, an expansive spa, outdoor pool, multiple restaurants and bars, and two tennis courts.

Hotel Palacio de Villapanes occupies a gorgeous early-18th-century palace with tons of historic details. The 50 rooms offer an appealing mix of old and new, with stylish decor and beautiful historic details. Dark walls with white moldings, black and white furniture, and wooden floors make for elegant, contemporary spaces, while wooden windows, intricate coffered ceilings, and rich fabrics are a nod to the hotel’s aristocratic past. Dark marble bathrooms are a highlight here, with double sinks, rain showerheads, and in most rooms, deep soaking tubs. Flat-screen TVs, Tivoli radios, Malin & Goetz toiletries, free minibar items, and free Wi-Fi are all standard amenities. Hotel features including a small spa with a sauna, Turkish bath, and fitness center (guests get free access) and a restaurant with tapas. For stunning panoramic views and sunsets, visit the rooftop terrace, which has loungers and a plunge pool. 

Hospes Palacio de los Patos is a spectacular juxtaposition of a beautifully restored 19th-century mansion and bold 21st-century architecture. Once the home of the Dutch consul, the main building has been immaculately restored to reflect the elegant grandeur of the original, with its grand, polished marble central staircase leading to a serene and lofty atrium with painted ceilings and cornices. The hotel's 40 spacious rooms are roughly split between Deluxe, in the mansion building, and Dreamers, in the New Wing annex. Deluxe rooms blend contemporary interior design with original features, such as mosaic floors, tall wooden shutters, and ornate cornices, while Dreamers are out-and-out 21st-century chic. The subterranean Bodyna Spa provides facial and massage treatments, as well as a sauna, steam bath, and small thermal pool (its roof is the glass bottom of a garden fountain -- nice touch). Los Patos Restaurant provides indoor and alfresco dining in the hotel's lush terraced gardens.

The ancient era and modern style blend seamlessly at the 53-room Hospes Palacio del Bailio. The luxury boutique hotel is set in a 16th-century palace, which in turn was built over the ruins of a first-century Roman house. The rooms are as unique and luxurious as the hotel; all have wine-filled minibars, soaking tubs, and Old World touches, like hardwood floors, arched wooden windows, and, in some, original stone walls. Arbequina restaurant serves gourmet Spanish and Moorish cuisine (and tapas) under a beautiful beamed ceiling -- and above a glass floor revealing an original Roman mosaic. Some evenings feature a famed flamenco guitarist and special tasting menu. The courtyard pool has a pool bar and tables tucked away on lovely garden pathways. The Bodyna Spa offers a full menu of treatments, as well as a health club and a romantic, candlelit Roman bath area. 

With its gorgeous Belle Epoque exterior, Melia Colon is a city landmark, and much effort has been made throughout the hotel to honor the city's cultural heritage. Room doors are painted to look like framed masterworks by some of the city's great artists, including Velazquez, El Greco, and Goya. Decor is elegant and modern, with white furniture and gold-leaf headboards. Rooms have flat-screen TVs, stocked minibars, and black-marble bathrooms. Some rooms have terraces, some have hot tubs, and some have terraces with hot tubs. The hotel's three restaurants share a bullfighting theme, but offer variations on Andalusian cuisine. One serves tapas and wine; another offers cocktails, snacks, and pastries; and the third is an international buffet. All three are popular city meeting points. Melia's wellness center has a pretty sun terrace with panoramic views, lounge chairs, and an outdoor whirlpool. 

With stunning grounds that include a 16th-century convent and 12th-century Moorish building, the AC Palacio de Santa Paula, Autograph Collection offers a unique luxury experience in Granada's historic center. This 75-room luxury property has a well-regarded and romantic restaurant serving modern Andalusian cuisine, a chic bar with seating around a stone courtyard, and a small gym with a Turkish bath and sauna. Moody, low-lit rooms combine contemporary style with antique ambiance, and have minibars, electric kettles, and beautifully tiled bathrooms. While best-suited to tourists and couples, the hotel offers business travelers four event spaces, including a ballroom in a restored 16th-century chapel, along with free Wi-Fi throughout the property. 

Built as a mansion in 1864, the meticulously restored Hotel Casa 1800 Sevilla is bursting with character and romance. Old maps, busts, and candelabras are scattered throughout, and original brick walls and Spanish/Moorish tile work ensure that guests never feel like they’re in a McHotel. Rooms are duly furnished with antiques and gold-leafed furniture, but also flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Casa 1800's location (near Seville Cathedral and its historic bell tower) and intimate atmosphere make up for its lack of hotel features. There are two solariums on-site and a rooftop terrace with wrought-iron tables and chairs, chaise loungers, and a plunge pool. Every afternoon, the hotel serves free tea and cakes.