Visiting the Alhambra, a gorgeous palace complex in Granada, is a highlight of any visit to Andalusia in southern Spain. This heritage attraction is super popular and there’s plenty to see. We share our tips for visiting the Alhambra; how to make the most of your visit, what to do when tickets sell out and all the things you’ll want to see and do while there.
This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
History of the Alhambra
A fortress on the hill overlooking Granada was built by the Muslim Nasrid dynasty in Andalusia and expanded into a palace complex during the 13th century, when the most beautiful parts of the site were constructed. During its heyday, the Alhambra, meaning ‘Red Castle’, was a self-contained royal city, with mosques, baths, gardens and everything needed to sustain the emir and his court.
In 1492 Granada was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, who took over the Alhambra and made the palaces their own. Their grandson Emperor Charles V commissioned a Renaissance style palace in 1526 within the grounds.
Gradually the Alhambra buildings fell into disrepair, but during the 18th and 19th century became better known as a romantic place to visit for European travellers. Now restored, the Alhambra is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, receiving over 2.5 million visitors each year.
1. Book tickets well in advance
Our number one tip for visiting the Alhambra, is to book tickets well in advance through the official website, since they sell out weeks or even months in advance. As soon as your transport and hotel is booked, be sure to book your Alhambra tickets immediately, even if it seems that you have plenty of time.
If you hesitate and go back to the website later as we did, you may be disappointed to find that all official tickets have sold out for the day you wanted to visit.
Different types of Alhambra tickets
When you go to the official Alhambra website, you’ll see that there are a number of different ticket options.
To decide which ticket to book, you need to understand that there are 4 main palace / garden areas within the whole Alhambra complex; Generalife palace and gardens, Alcazaba, Palace of King Carlos V and Nasrid Palaces.
A general ticket will allow you entry at any time of day to the first three areas, but there are limited tickets each day for the Nasrid Palaces (around 300 people each 30 minutes), so this part is by timed ticket only.
Best Alhambra ticket to buy
If you are a first time visitor, the ticket option we recommend is;
Alhambra General (Full tour) – access to all the palaces within the Alhambra Complex, including the Nasrid Palaces, where entry numbers each day are limited.
If this is not available, our next choice of ticket would be;
General Gold Doublo – access to all the areas within the Alhambra Complex, including the Nasrid Palaces, and additionally some other monuments around Granada. Even if you don’t visit any of the extra monuments, you’ve secured a ticket that includes the timed ticket for Nasrid Palaces.
Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba – access to all the areas within the Alhambra Complex, but NOT the Nasrid Palaces. It’s a shame to miss out on the Nasrid Palaces, which is one of the most beautiful palaces within the complex, but better to see the rest of the Alhambra complex rather than miss out altogether.
There are also other tickets available for night visits and special experiences, which you might consider if you have visited the Alhambra before, or if this is the only ticket available.
Options if the official Alhambra tickets are sold out
If you can’t find the tickets you want on your chosen day on the official Alhambra website, first consider whether you can be flexible in the date of your visit or the type of ticket you choose.
Otherwise there are some ways you may be able to get tickets without pre-booking through the official website. However be careful, as these are not always guaranteed and could be cancelled at the last minute.
- Keep checking the official website for tickets, especially in the week prior to arrival. Sometimes tickets that were reserved by groups or tour operators may be released back for re-sale.
- Theoretically any spare tickets on the day will be on sale at the official ticket offices outside the Alhambra entrance pavilion, although in practice tickets normally sell out in advance. However, you could try the ticket offices prior to the site’s opening time at 8.30am, or early in the day to see if there are likely to be any ticket sales that day.
- Unsold tickets from tour operators are released for resale through the official Alhambra website, at midnight exactly the day before, so it’s worth logging on just before midnight and then keep refreshing the site, to see if anything is available.
- You can book ‘Entry’ tickets through a third part operator via a reputable site like Get Your Guide or Viator. However, pay attention to scores and reviews to assess how reliable the operator is. Bear in mind that these third parties will take your booking but may be relying on last minute returns to supply the ticket. We booked this way and found that we did not get confirmation of the ticket and our timed entry to Nasrid Palaces until 24 hrs before the visit. Finally after chasing them we got the ticket but it was a bit nerve-wracking. If the third party operator is unable to supply your ticket they may cancel at short notice, leaving you without the chance to visit the Alhambra.
- You can book ‘Guided Tour’ tickets through a third part operator via a reputable site like Get Your Guide or Viator. This is probably a safer option than booking ‘Entry’ tickets, although you should still pay attention to scores and reviews. For guided tours, the operator will reserve a number of Alhambra tickets, which they will then sell packaged with a guided tour, releasing any that are unsold back to the Alhambra website. Having a guide is likely to enhance your experience, and afterwards you are free to wander around the gardens and general areas of the Alhambra Complex.
- On arrival in Grenada without a ticket, you could also try tour kiosks and shops around the centre of Alhambra who are selling tours of the Alhambra. They will operate as described above, reserving blocks of tickets which they then sell on as part of a tour. Again check any online reviews that you find, to ensure you are dealing with a reputable operator.
- Try the option of buying a Granada Card (Bono Turistico) which is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours and includes a general ticket for the Alhambra complex as well as other city monuments such as the Cathedral and City Hall. There also seems to be options for tickets to ‘Granada Card Gardens’, which is the Alhambra complex excluding Nasrid Palace visit. It’s possible that the Granada Card may have different ticket allocations to the official Alhambra ticket portal.
If all your efforts to secure a ticket fail, be aware that large parts of the Alhambra complex can be visited for free, without a ticket. There’s a good overview of these free areas within the Alhambra here.
Also know that there’s lots more to see in the centre of Granada, so it’s worth visiting the city even if you don’t get to see the Alhambra!
2. Don’t under-estimate the size of Alhambra
The Alhambra is a huge complex made up of four different palaces with garden areas. Most people spend 4 hours or half a day to see it all. If you add in the time to get to the Alhambra from your hotel and time to have a rest after all the walking round, it’s best to set aside a day for this unique visit and not plan too much else.
To help you understand what there is to see, here’s an overview of the four main palace areas;
Generalife
The summer palace of the sultans, surrounded by beautiful scented gardens. There are several pools and courtyards that make lovely photos, then you’ll walk through the semi-open palace areas.
Finally, continue through the informal upper gardens past the water staircase, with a channel of water running down it. The Generalife is the first area you pass when coming from the main entrance, so it makes sense to visit it first. Allow around 1 hour.
Nasrid Palaces (visit by timed entry only)
A large palace with succession of courtyards and rooms used for ceremonial and court purposes. All are magnificently decorated with coloured tiles, intricate plasterwork and carving, making this a central part of the Alhambra visit.
The court of the Myrtles features a long formal pool that you’ll want to photograph and other highlights include the lofty Hall of the Ambassadors and the Court of the Lions with its central fountain. You’ll exit the palace through the Partal gardens, where there are a lovely spot for photos in front of the pools.
Your visit will depend on the time on your ticket, but once you have entered it takes 1-1.5 hours to walk through the palace complex.
Alcazaba
This is the oldest part of the Alhambra and more of a military citadel than a palace, with towers and amazing views over the valley and town of Granada.
Originally, there were were buildings within the courtyards, but only the ruined walls remain, so there are no splendid palace interiors to visit. The highlight of the Alcazaba is the view from the Torre de la Vela watchtower. Allow 45 mins – 1 hour.
Palace of King Carlos V
Built in the 16th century by the Renaissance King Emperor Carlos V, following the Roman style of a circular colonade around a central courtyard. The palace rooms are used for two museums which you can visit.
On the Upper floor is the Museum of Fine Arts, which is included in your Alhambra ticket but otherwise costs €1.50, while on the ground floor is the Museo de la Alhambra which is free. Both museums can also be visited without an Alhambra ticket.
Allow 30 mins to look around the building and 1 hour if you want to visit the museums. Personally I’d leave visiting this to last in case you run out of time and energy.
3. Consider booking a guided tour of Alhambra
We love booking a guide (a real person!) when visiting significant historical attractions, since they are incredibly knowledgeable and add so much to the overall experience.
Although we didn’t take a guided tour of the Alhambra, here are a few types of guided experience to consider.
Audio-guide: Despite mentions of audioguides on the official Alhambra website, there is no physical audio-guide currently available at the Alhambra. However, if you search online, you may find audio-guides, free and paid that you can download or listen to on your phone.
Private Guide: When we arrived at the Alhambra main entrance, we were approached by a freelance guide wearing an official badge, asking if we were interested in having a private guide. The cost was (from memory) around €150, and we were quite tempted. Our friends had engaged a guide this way and had a great experience, so we think it would be worthwhile, especially if there is a group of you who can share the cost.
Group Guided Tour: On tour sites like Get Your Guide or Viator, you can find examples of guided tours that include the Alhambra tickets and this is likely to be your most economic option. Check the fine print to work out the size of the tour group, as smaller (6-8 people) is always better than the larger groups (up to 30 people). Group guided tours can also often be booked at tour agents in the town of Granada.
When not to book a tour
Booking a tour of the Alhambra may not be for you if;
- you are on a tight budget
- you prefer to take the visit at a very leisurely pace
- you want to avoid feeling pressured or crowded in a larger group tour
- You are interested in photography, and want to allow plenty of time to stop and photograph
Other than the timed ticket for the Nasrid Palace, most tours do allow the option to stay longer within the Alhambra complex and see more of the grounds, once the tour has finished.
4. Don’t forget your passport ( and other rules to know)
The day of your visit has arrived, and you’re about to head to the Alhambra, but WAIT – there are a few things you need to know.
- To clamp down on ticket fraud, each ticket is for a named person and you all need to take the original version of your passport or national ID card with you to Alhambra. Details of how to register each visitor will be provided in your ticket confirmation, so be sure to allow time for this before you arrive.
- You’ll need to have your ticket with you either in printed form or in digital format on your mobile. This includes children under 12 who have their own free ticket.
- Be sure to double check what time slot you have been allocated to visit the Nasrid Palaces, which will be a 30 minute window printed on your ticket. We recommend arriving at the Alhambra entrance 30 mins – 1 hour or more before the earliest time given. This will allow 30 minutes to walk through the large complex and find the Nasrid Palaces entrance, and time to start queuing 15 minutes before the start of your timeslot. If you arrive after the end of the 30 minute timeslot you may not be allowed to enter the Nasrid Palaces, although you can still see the rest of the Alhambra complex.
- You can bring food and drink into the Alhambra complex, but you can only consume it in certain places. Eating and drinking within the palace buildings is not allowed and may also be limited in certain courtyards, but there are benches in other parts of the gardens and grounds where you can stop for a picnic. We highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle and at least some snacks into the complex, since you are likely to be there for 3-4 hours and there are limited places to buy food and drink.
5. Plan how to get there
You need to be aware that the Alhambra complex is not located in the main town of Granada, but on a hill above it. If you are fit, it’s easy enough to walk, and indeed the walk is very scenic and part of the overall experience.
However, don’t under-estimate the time to arrive at the Alhambra entrance, and allow an hour before your timed Nasrid Palaces ticket to get there from Granada town.
Walking: There are a couple of routes, both of which take around 15 minutes and are uphill. You can start at Plaza Nueva and walk uphill on the pedestrianised Cuesta de Gomerez. Alternatively, walk alongside the Darro river on the Paseo de los Tristes, then turn uphill on the Cuesta del Rey Chico. Both of these routes bring you to the main Alhambra entrance.
Bus: Take the buses from Plaza Isabel la Catolica 4, which run around every 10 minutes. Bus C35 will take you to the Alhambra ticket office and entrance, while C30 and C32 will drop you inside the Alhambra complex, which is easier if you already have your online ticket.
Taxi: Official taxis and ride shares are inexpensive and can be picked up at Plaza Nueva and other places in Granada. The journey time is generally 5-10 minutes.
Drive: There is a car park close to the Alhambra entrance with space for 360 cars. However, this can fill up quickly, and you need to use the Granada ring road to reach it. Personally I think the shorter taxi or bus ride is better if you don’t want to walk.
6. Understand the timings for your visit
In order to make the most of your day at Alhambra, here are a few things to be aware of.
- While the ticket for the Nasrid Palace is for timed entry, you can access the wider Alhambra complex at any time during opening hours, on the day of your visit. So if you have an afternoon slot for Nasrid Palaces, you can arrive earlier (subject to opening hours) and look around the other areas.
- Opening hours for daytime visits are 8.30 – 6pm in winter and 8.30 – 8pm in summer. Evening visits and special visits have different hours. Check the opening times on the official website here, especially if visiting in March or October, when the closing times change. Don’t caught out as we did thinking we had until 8pm, only to find it was closing at 6pm!
- Your ticket is valid for a specific day, but within that day you can leave the Alhambra complex and then return again, for instance if you want to have lunch.
- If you want to see everything in the Alhambra, you should allow at least 4 hours. If you are limited in time, 3 hours will enable you to see the main palaces, but you may need to miss the museums inside the Palace of King Carlos V. In order to enjoy the long visit, I’d allocate the whole day and take things at a slow pace, with plenty of breaks to relax in garden areas.
- The best season to visit the Alhambra is Spring or Autumn, when the temperatures are sunny but not too hot for sightseeing. Summer, especially July and August can be very hot in Andalusia. Winter could also give you a good experience, since there are clear sunny days, but you are more likely to encounter rain showers.
- In the hotter months, try to start early when Alhambra opens and take a break in the hottest middle part of the day.
7. Build in some breaks
You’ll need to take some breaks during your 3-4 hour visit to the Alhambra, especially if the weather is hot. Here are some practical tips:
- You can bring food and water into the Alhambra complex for snacks or a picnic, although you’ll need to carry it with you. You can’t consume anything within the palace areas or formal courtyards, but there are plenty of benches in garden areas to rest for a snack.
- Bring a water bottle and fill up at public water fountains that are marked safe for drinking. These are normally near rest room areas or visitor facilities and are marked on the official Alhambra map. Don’t take any water from ornamental fountains or pools, which will not be suitable for drinking.
- Public restrooms are located in several spots around the Alhambra, but as the complex is quite large there may be long gaps between one and the next. You’ll find toilets at the Alhambra main entrance, Generalife gardens by the open air theatre and also at the Sultana’s Court, Wine Gate near the palace of King Carlos V. Note that there are no toilets in the Nasrid Palaces, so the nearest would be at the Wine Gate.
- Some drinks and snacks are available in small cafe areas or vending machines within the Alhambra complex, but they seemed quite limited in options. You’ll find them close to the main entrance, and by the Wine Gate restroom area.
- For a proper sit down meal, you could try the Parador historic hotel, which is within the Alhambra complex and has a garden terrace restaurant serving traditional Ansalusian cuisine. There are a few restaurants just outside the main Alhambra entrance, such as Restaurante Jardines Alberto and La Mimbre. Note that you can go out of the Alhambra complex for lunch and return during the same day.
8. Dress for comfort
The Alhambra complex is very large and you’ll probably be walking around it for 4 hours, and away from your hotel for most of the day. Comfort is key so here are a few tips;
- Choose flat, comfortable shoes or sandals with a supportive and non-slip sole, since you’ll be walking mostly over stone paving and cobbles all day long.
- The sun in Andalusia can be strong, even in winter, so consider sun protection such as sun screen and sun glasses.
- From spring through to autumn, a hat is good for sun protection.
- Bring a bag or backpack (no bigger then 40 x 40cm) to carry layers of clothing, so that you can have a light jumper, waterproof or coat available depending on the season.
- In winter, the air temperature can be cold, since Granada is at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, so pack warmer layers and an umbrella if rain is forecast.
9. Don’t miss the photo
The Alhambra is one of the most photographed and photogenic historic sites in Spain. Take advantage of early morning or late afternoon light, which will give you better photos than the middle of the day.
Here are some of the best photo spots in the Alhambra, to look out for, if you want to have some great photos to remember from your visit.
Albaicín – the old Moorish neighbourhood is set on the hillside opposite the Alhambra, giving great views of its buildings, especially in the late afternoon and at sunset. The most famous viewpoint is the Mirador San Nicolás, but the gardens of the Mosque next door give the same viewpoint with less crowds. We also got some lovely views from the Casa Museo de Max Moreau, which is nearby.
Generalife – there are plenty of lovely spots around the gardens, especially the Patio de la Acequia with its long pool enclosed by colonnades and plants.
Alcazaba – head to the different terraces of the watch tower Torre de la Vela, for sweeping views over the whole Alhambra complex and the city of Granada below.
Nasrid Palaces – there are a wealth of lovely photo spots, especially niches with colourful Moorish tiles, the Court of the Myrtles with its long pool and the Lion court, with its marble fountain. On exiting the palace buildings, the Partal Gardens have a beautiful reflection pool backed by ornate pavilions.
10. Know that there’s plenty more to see in Granada
While most people visit Granada with the aim of visiting the Alhambra, be aware that there’s lots more to see in the city. We were pleased that we had allocated two full days for sightseeing; one to see the Alhambra and one to visit other sites. We could easily have spent a third day soaking up the atmosphere, so I think a visit of 2-3 nights in Granada would be about right.
Top things to see (that aren’t the Alhambra) include;
Granada cathedral and Royal Chapel – The cathedral was completed in 1704 and is full of opulent baroque decoration in gold and silver. The adjoining Royal Chapel is the burial place of Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand.
Alcaicería – this old Moorish silk market, with arches and alleyways, is now filled with clothing and souvenir shops.
Albaicín – the old Moorish neighbourhood on the hillside opposite the Alhambra, with narrow streets and charming squares. Most people visit in the late afternoon and evening, for sunset views of Alhambra.
Carrera del Doro – this semi pedestrian street runs along the Darro river and leads to a pleasant square full of cafe terraces with views of the Alhambra on the hillside above.
Street art in the Realejo neighbourhood – we really enjoyed spotting the street art murals by local artist El Nino de las Pinturas. His murals are dotted around the Realejo neighbourhood with a gallery at Calle Molinos 22, where you can pick up a map showing mural locations.
Try the tapas – Granada is known for its tapas bars, and unlike other cities, these small snacks are often provided free when you buy a drink.
Read Next
Read about our trip from Madrid to Malaga by train – our 10 day Andalusia itinerary
Pin it
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com
