Visit the Alhambra in Granada 2024

Visiting the Alhambra is one of those things that you have to do at least once in your life. The magnificent palatine city was very close to being included in the list of wonders of the modern world and we have no doubt that it will eventually do so. Given the abundance of information available about visiting the Alhambra, we are going to give you the precise keys so that you can enjoy this Granada monument without missing anything. You will learn how to visit the Alhambra, how to buy tickets, recommendations, visiting hours, ticket prices, whether it is better to hire a guide or not and much more. Does that sound good to you?

The Alhambra is unquestionably the most visited monument in Spain each year, even more so than the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The first thing you will need then are tickets to enter, something that was very difficult to get before the pandemic; in fact, sometimes you had to book months in advance. At the moment it is easier to get tickets (not counting the advantages for people from Granada or residents of Granada).

Guide to visiting the Alhambra in Granada

We will begin to tell you in detail each of the most frequently asked questions you ask us about visiting the Alhambra.

• The best excursions to visit the Alhambra in Granada.
• We share with you the best tours to visit the Alhambra.
• 4 essential tours to do in the Alhambra.
• Guided tour of the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces.
• Offer: Alhambra + Albaicín and Sacromonte.
• Skip-the-line entrance to the Alhambra in Granada.
• Night tour of the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces

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Alhambra visiting hours ⏰

The opening hours for visiting the Alhambra vary depending on the date on which you visit, except on December 25 and January 1 when the monument remains closed.

• Daytime visits: from October 15 to March 31, Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ticket office from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and from April 14 to October 14, Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (ticket office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Night visits: from October 15 to March 31, Friday to Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (ticket office from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.) and from April 14 to October 14, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (ticket office from 9:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.)
• Exclusive visits: from October 15 to March 31, Monday to Sunday from 6 to 8 pm and from April 14 to October 14, Monday to Sunday from 10 pm.
• These schedules are subject to change, we recommend that you confirm them.

How much time is needed to visit the Alhambra?

The 3 most important visits to the Alhambra are the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba and the Generalife with its gardens.

If you decide to take a tour to visit the monument, we inform you that they last on average 3 hours. If you decide to visit on your own, it may last a little less, however you can spend as much time walking as you like through the garden areas.

In what order should you visit the Alhambra?

The order of the visit to the Alhambra is more a personal matter or one that the group must decide, there is no strict order to follow. What we do, for example, is to take advantage of the early hours of the morning to visit the Nasrid Palaces as that is when there are fewer people and you can take photos; secondly we go to the Alcazaba and, finally, we go to the Generalife and its gardens.

Where to park your car to visit the Alhambra?

The Alhambra car park can be a good option as it is located close by (about 500 m from the entrance) and has a capacity of 600 cars. We recommend that you arrive as early as possible as it is very easy for the spaces mentioned to fill up. After parking your car, go down the stairs to the pavilion where the ticket office is.

Here is the address: Camino Viejo del Cementerio, entrance via the new access to the Alhambra (Ronda Sur). Open and guarded 24 hours a day.

You can also check the location in the Map section for visiting Granada.

What is the best way to visit the Alhambra? Guided tour or on your own?

Depending on your tastes, it is something you can decide among yourselves. We will tell you here the different ways to visit the Alhambra.

Visit the Alhambra with a guide

In our opinion, the guided tour of the Alhambra is the best option. It could make the difference in truly learning the history of each palace in the Alhambra. The best thing about the Alhambra is the history that its walls, fountains and gardens still tell. From the Patio de los Leones to the Generalife, passing through the Torre de la Vela or the Palace of Charles V.

➡ We have the perfect guided tour for you to visit the Alhambra without missing anything. You will have access to the entire monument by booking this 3-hour tour.

✅ The following is included in this guided tour of the Alhambra: :

• Official tour guide passionate about Granada.
• Full entrance including Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife.
• Skip-the-line entrance.
• 3h duration.

You can check the itinerary and more information about the tour here: Guided tour of the Alhambra small groups (20 people max.)

Visiting the Alhambra without a guide or on your own

This option is for people who already know the history of the Alhambra for various reasons. The price will be lower and you can stop at each part of the tour for as long as you like.

Visit the Alhambra on your own without queues.

This option is perfect for making the most of your time. If you want, you will be able to skip the queues and visit the Alhambra on your own.
As an anecdote, we can tell you that we were lucky enough to almost have the complex to ourselves, in July 2020, in the middle of Covid-19 and when everything was slowly beginning to reopen. It was a great contrast to see the most visited monument in Spain so empty.

➡ Click here to buy tickets for the skip-the-line visit to the Alhambra

Visiting the Alhambra at night

Until now we had never included a night visit to the Alhambra and we wondered if it would be more beautiful during the day or at night.

➡ It lasts 1.5 hours. By clicking on this link you can find the ticket for the night tour of the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces: Visit the Alhambra at night

✅ The price of admission to visit the Alhambra at night includes:

• Official Spanish-speaking guide.
• Evening entrance to the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces.
• Duration: 1.5 hours.
• Skip the line.

Visit the Alhambra privately with a guide

This option is for people who are not satisfied with anything. If you choose it, you will be able to enjoy the Alhambra without crowds and only with your partner or family.

➡ Here you can book tickets for a private visit : Private visit to the Alhambra

➡You also have the option for small groups of up to 9 people : Private visit to the Alhambra for small groups

✅ Visiting the Alhambra in this modality includes:

• Spanish-speaking guide, expert in the history of Granada.
• Full entrance to the Alhambra (Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Generalife, Partal).
• Privacy and exclusivity, except for your family members, friends or partner, there will be no one else in the group.
• If you are wondering about the option to see the Alhambra for free, it is only available for those born or resident in Granada.
• The duration of the tour is 3 to 5.5 hours.

Entrance to the Palace of Charles V, the Alhambra Museum and the Mosque Baths is free for the general public.

Map to visit the Alhambra

In this section you can find a map with the location of the Alhambra. It includes the parking lot, in case you arrive by car, the entrance pavilion (where the ticket offices are) and the Puerta de los Carros to make your visit to the Alhambra easier.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that the pavilion or entrance where we told you the ticket offices are is not the access point to the monumental complex. From there you need to walk a few minutes to the areas of the Alhambra you wish to visit. Even so, you can consult the information depending on the area you wish to access:

• From the entrance pavilion to the Alcazaba it takes 20 minutes.
• From the entrance pavilion to the Nasrid Palaces it takes 17 minutes. (Take into account the special influx of people on weekends and holidays so that you can be in the queue at the time indicated on your ticket and thus be able to enter without problems)
• From the entrance pavilion to the Generalife it takes 15 minutes.

Alhambra visit map What to see in the Alhambra?

In this section you will find out how our visit to the Alhambra was, along with its areas and spaces. We will also tell you some history so that you get an idea (we would have loved to know it beforehand) and be able to make the most of the option of visiting the Alhambra on your own.

We spent a long time thinking about whether it would be worth getting up early to see the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra and it was a great success because we had them almost exclusively to ourselves.

It is a magnificent Arab Palace-Fortress that was built to show off the power that the Nasrid dynasty accumulated at that time. When the Jews were expelled, it acquired a new residential character because it was the place where the Catholic Monarchs lived.

➡ If you don’t want to miss anything on the guided tour, we recommend booking this way of visiting the Alhambra.

It is located in a privileged location as it can be seen from almost every point in the city. We remind you that of the various areas of the Alhambra to visit (Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife), whose order of visit you can choose among yourselves, you only have to be carefully punctual when visiting the Nasrid Palaces, since if you arrive later than the time indicated on your ticket you will not be allowed to enter.

The first stop is the Nasrid Palaces. However, before accessing these palaces we find that of Charles V. This king of Spain was heir to the Catholic Monarchs and ordered the construction of the Palace in 1527. The works were financed by taxes from the Moors who lived in the city, although these were stopped when the wars of the Alpujarras began. It was not until the 20th century that its construction was resumed. Inside the Palace of Charles V we can find the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of the Alhambra.

1. Nasrid Palaces

Over the course of 800 years, the different styles and cultures that are currently superimposed on the Alhambra were formed. You will be able to appreciate the differences between the different architectures throughout your visit to the complex. However, the area with the greatest monumental and architectural interest in the Alhambra is the Nasrid Palaces. These began to be built from 1238 until the Catholic Monarchs expelled the Muslims in 1492.
First there is the oldest palace, that is, the Mexuar Palace. Its construction was ordered by King Ismail I and its function was to hold meetings that had to do with politics.
Then there is the Comares Palace, which was built around the Patio de los Arrayanes because of the large pool of water it houses inside. The side rooms were pavilions where the Sultan’s four wives resided at that time.

Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra

Let’s go on to a more detailed description of the palaces. Luxuriously decorated in oriental style is the Ambassadors’ Hall, also called the throne room, where Yusuf I used to receive foreign ambassadors. It is said that in this same place Columbus was received by Isabella the Catholic to discuss the financing of her trip.
However, if there is an emblematic place in the Alhambra it is undoubtedly the well-known Patio de los Leones (Courtyard of the Lions) that you will have seen in numerous photos. With the Courtyard as its centre, the rooms of the Palace of the Lions are located around it. It was Sultan Mohamed V who ordered its construction in 1362. This was the place where he lived with his family and harem.
The visit continues and after the Patio de los Leones there are only a few more rooms and an area with spectacular views of the Albayzín neighbourhood from one of the high places where they can be seen.
At the end of the tour of the Nasrid Palaces, you will reach the El Partal Palace. This building was the first royal residence of the Nasrid kings who arrived in Granada in the 13th century.

2. The Alcazaba

The oldest building is located on the highest part of the hill where the Alhambra is located: the Alcazaba. This is defined as a walled fortress that is flanked by four key towers in the Alhambra. The views of Granada from each of these towers are spectacular. They were part of the surveillance system that could prevent enemy invasions or attacks. You will also find the Plaza de Armas and some dungeons.

3. The Generalife

Before you reach the Generalife, you will love the feeling of walking in the middle of nature surrounded by plants, flowers and trees. Walking through the Upper Gardens of the Generalife is an experience for the senses for 20 minutes, as there is also a constant flow of water that serves to cool you off on hot days. Once you begin the descent towards the lower gardens (an orchard in the Nasrid era), take all the photos you want because it is one of the most idyllic areas of the Alhambra due to the number of fountains, vegetation and details that will never cease to surprise you in this summer residence of the sultan and his family. Don’t miss seeing the Patio de la Acequia.
When you leave the palace, there is the famous Water Staircase where, according to legend, Sultana Morayma met with her lovers. Legend also says that, upon finding out, Boabdil killed her. Historians, however, say that she died of natural causes. Which version do you prefer?

Tips and recommendations for visiting the Alhambra

Before you even start planning your trip, it is a good idea to find out if there are tickets available for the dates you are planning to come to Granada. When booking tickets, it is advisable to do so two months in advance.

• If you do not like visiting the monumental complex with a large influx of visitors, it is advisable to avoid high season dates, weekends, long weekends or holidays.
• Before entering, the number entered when purchasing the ticket will be checked to ensure it matches the number on your identity document. Always have your DNI, NIE or passport with you or you will not be able to enter. For security reasons, the staff may ask you for your ticket at any time during the visit.
• If you want to learn about the history of the Alhambra, which is extremely interesting, we recommend hiring a local guide who will explain it to you with passion.
• Punctuality when entering the Nasrid Palaces is a must. Delays mean not visiting that part of the monument. To avoid surprises: pay attention to the time of your ticket and try to be in the queue a little earlier to enter.
• It is forbidden to enter with food or drink, bags or backpacks larger than 40 x 40 cm.
• Flash is strictly prohibited when taking photos, as are selfie sticks and tripods. The risk of damage to this centuries-old wonder must be reduced to a minimum.
• Wear comfortable shoes because you’re going to walk a lot. Don’t forget sun protection if you go in summer, as well as a hat and sunglasses.

From Nhue we hope you enjoy this wonder as much, or more, as we do. Our priority is your comfort and peace of mind when visiting this historic monument in Granada. If we can help you with any need or question you may have, you can contact us through the website CONTACT.