Visiting the Alhambra in 2023
Are you thinking about visiting the Alhambra this year?
If you’ve already planned a trip to the capital of Granada, don’t think twice and plan your visit to the Alhambra in 2023 now. We offer you the best options to discover why everyone who visits it comes back raving about it. When you’re walking through its gardens, you’ll find yourself in front of a living capsule of history that dates back to the times when the city’s government was held by sultans and the decoration symbolized their untouchable power.
The Alhambra is a palace that sits atop the Sabica hill and is sheltered in the background by the Sierra Nevada, just like the entire city of Granada. It was not only a palace, it also served as a fortress and a palatine city.
In an unbeatable setting you will be able to discover all the stories contained within its walls full of inscriptions in Arabic and muqarnas, in its dozens of rooms and in its idyllic gardens that will captivate you. Plan your visit to the Alhambra in 2023 with one of our tours and don’t miss out on any of its essence that lasts to this day.
Before you start imagining yourself getting lost in its palaces or gardens, we recommend that you stop for a moment to plan your visit to the monument. To do so, tell us everything about your visit and we will make it unforgettable for you, your partner or the group of people who accompany you. Let yourself be amazed by the charm of this palatine complex that was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 by UNESCO.
Guided tour of the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces. Small Group
Previous recommendations for visiting the Alhambra in 2023
We know that you have an immeasurable desire to come to the city of the Alhambra, but we would like to give you some advice that may be useful when preparing your reservations in the capital of Granada.
The first piece of advice would be that before booking the hotel, especially if it is a short-notice getaway (less than two weeks), you consider checking the availability of tickets to the Alhambra first.
Nobody likes to have everything booked thinking there are plenty of tickets. Remember that the Alhambra is the monument that receives the most visitors each year and, although it usually has plenty of availability, it is possible that group reservations or agency reservations may occur that make you miss the opportunity to visit the palatine city.
In short, we recommend that you look at Alhambra tickets at least a month or even two in advance to avoid problems.
The second piece of advice is to pay close attention when writing your names and identification numbers on the tickets you buy, since if you make a mistake you will not be able to enter. Don’t forget to carry your ID or passport at all times because they will ask for it at the entrance.
When entering the Nasrid palaces, if that is the ticket option you have purchased, you must be very punctual or you will not be allowed in. The Nasrid palaces are one of the most exclusive and beautiful areas of the Alhambra and the visit is done in groups. As the time of visit on your ticket approaches, it is recommended that you move towards the entrance queue.
Finally, as for tips before visiting the Alhambra in 2023, we would like to remind you that flash photos are prohibited (you cannot use a tripod or selfie stick either) and although you are allowed to enter with a bag or backpack, you cannot bring food or drink. This way you will have no problem and you will be able to enjoy the entire palatine city (don’t forget comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot; a guided tour is also worthwhile if it is your first time visiting).
Time to visit | Plan your trip to the Alhambra 2023
Visit during high/low season
In general, it could be said that any time is good to visit the Alhambra, because you can always have the option of skipping the lines with one of our private visits or tours. However, if you want to enjoy the gardens in bloom and temperatures that are not too extreme (summer in Granada can be stifling, especially in July and August), you can visit it in May/June or September/October. And winter is not particularly mild either, although if you like the cold, you can still enjoy it during the months of January and February.
>Visit during the week/weekend
When planning your visit to the Alhambra 2023, keep in mind that it is the most visited monument in Spain each year. So it is common to find quite a few crowds of tourists on weekends. However, the monument is open all year round from morning to night and with night visits even until 11:30pm. Then we will talk about the schedule. Choose the day you like best and visit the Alhambra without any inconvenience.
Normally when choosing the entrance, unless you choose only the visit to the gardens, you will be assigned a time for the visit to the Nasrid Palaces. You can choose to enter between 9 and 10am or from 3pm onwards to avoid large crowds.
Alhambra opening hours
The platinum city is open all year round except New Year’s and Christmas. You can visit it in winter and summer hours.
- Winter hours (15/10 to 31/03): 8:30 – 18:00 // 20:00 – 21:30 (night)
- Summer hours (1/04 to 14/10): 8:30 – 20:00 // 22:00 – 23:30 (night)
What can I expect from a visit to the Alhambra in 2023?
Visiting the Alhambra at any time of the year is a good idea, but if it is your first time and you want to see it in all its splendor, there are some tips that you cannot miss. As you know, the Alhambra is a monument famous for its Andalusian-style palaces, however, it is immersed in large gardens of a beauty that has captivated writers and poets for hundreds of years.
Can you imagine visiting the gardens of the Alhambra when spring begins? And from March onwards, the Alhambra takes on a special character: little by little the cold goes away, the days are longer and buying a ticket with an early visit to the Nasrid palaces can be a unique experience.
If you arrive when the monument opens and take the first visit to the Nasrid palaces, you will find the Alhambra practically to yourselves. By getting up a little early in the months of May and June you can also avoid the hottest hours.
Parts of the Alhambra that you cannot miss on your visit in 2023
Nasrid Palaces
The Nasrid palaces are undoubtedly the most emblematic part of the palatine city that crowns Granada. It is a group of palaces that have changed over the years (some were built depending on the successive sultans, others were demolished), however their essence and high historical value have been preserved. We can feel ourselves in one of the receptions of Yusuf I in the Hall of the Ambassadors of the Comares Palace, discover the mystery that surrounds the Sala de la Barca or admire the aesthetic beauty of the Patio de los Arrayanes.
Although the three palaces (Mexuar, Comares Palace and Palace of the Lions) plus the emperor’s rooms are exquisite, the one you will have seen and recognized the most is the magnificent Fountain of the Lions. Let yourself be amazed by the explosion of sensations that you will have inside these rooms and you will discover why visitors to the Alhambra 2023 will be impressed like hundreds of people in the last 800 years.
Alcazaba
The Alcazaba of the Alhambra was the military and defence area of the palatine city. It is the oldest part of the Alhambra and the most emblematic area is the Torre de la Vela.
Generalife
The Generalife is another area that you will love because it is a palace with courtyards that served as a summer residence for the sultans and their family. It is located very close to the Alhambra and is set in gardens, orchards and fountains of exquisite beauty. The views of the entire city and the Alhambra will leave you speechless.
Where to stay to visit the Alhambra in 2023
The Alhambra is located on a hill that is very accessible from the Albaicín neighborhood. Regarding the accommodation options that there would be to visit the Alhambra in 2023, you can find several depending on what you want. Here we recommend from the most economical to the most exclusive hotels with views of the Alhambra that are a 10-minute walk from its entrance.
First of all, you can stay comfortably in any of the hotels, apartments or flats that are located in the aforementioned Albaicín neighborhood, so you will have a great way to see first-hand the daily life of the people of Granada in their most emblematic neighborhood. Staying in places that are more than 10 or 15 minutes from the Alhambra has advantages in price. So if you have planned a low-cost trip, this can be a fantastic option.
If, on the other hand, you do not want to skimp on expenses because it is your first visit to the Alhambra in 2023 and what you would like most is to enjoy a room with views of this palace-city complex, there are three options that you will love:
Hotel Alhambra Palace: This is a unique accommodation for several reasons. The first is that it has spectacular views of the city of Granada. The second is that it is located in a bucolic setting full of cobbled streets and with direct access on foot to the entrance area of the Alhambra (there is also a bus connection) and the third reason is its Moorish-style decoration that makes it look like a recreation of the Nasrid palaces found in the Alhambra itself.
Parador de Granada: This is an exclusive luxury accommodation. It is a 15th century convent located in the gardens of the Alhambra. The rooms have all the comforts and the restaurant of the parador is very famous. It offers typical Andalusian specialties among many other dishes that you will love. From the gardens of the parador you can see the Alhambra. If you want to feel like you’re in a fairy tale, this place is perfect for you to visit the Alhambra in 2023.
The best tours to plan your trip to the Alhambra in 2023
If you don’t want to miss a single detail, you can plan your visit to the Alhambra with us. Not only do we have the private tour of the Alhambra with a local guide, you can also find many other options among which the Dobla de Oro tour stands out, which also includes a visit to the most important monuments of the Albaicín.
Dobla de Oro: Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces and Monuments of the Albaicín. Small Group
And if you want to surprise an even smaller group of people, go as a couple or even individually, you can choose the option of taking a private tour with an official Granada guide.
Regardless of the option you prefer, we are here to make your plan to visit the Alhambra in 2023 unforgettable. If you need visits to all the most notable places in the city, you can also count on two- and three-day tours or tours that focus on visiting such emblematic places as the Sacromonte and Albaicín neighborhoods. Don’t miss out on your tour this 2023 and book with us as soon as possible.
The city of the Alhambra awaits you. Are you willing to lose yourself among its centuries-old secrets and its heritage that shows its splendor to this day?