Visiting the Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Last Updated on May 31, 2023

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When I decided to travel to Granada in Spain, I knew that visiting the Alhambra will be on top of my Granada itinerary. The famous Moorish Palace complex is the most popular attraction in Spain. It’s been estimated, that each year close to 2 million people visit the Alhambra. For many, it’s the reason why they travel to Granada.

Even though there is so much more to see in the city, everyone will tell you that the Alhambra is one of the most impressive places you’ll ever see in your life. And they won’t be exaggerating. You simply cannot go to Granada without visiting the Alhambra. So do yourself a favor and book your tickets ASAP and get ready to be blown away.

A little history before visiting the Alhambra

It all started back in the 9th century as a simple fortress. The majestic Alhambra as we know it now, took centuries to build. The name Alhambra comes from the word alhamra, which in Arabic means “the red one” or “the red castle”. It’s in the reference to the red brick used to build part of the palaces.

The Alhambra wasn’t a big deal and was pretty much ignored until Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar ( Mohammed I ) made it his residence. He left his place in Albaicin in 1300, and moved to the hill nearby. This was the beginning of the Alhambra being the Royal residence, and it remained that way for centuries. The emir’s successors continued the work for years to come, adding on to the existing Alcazaba fortress.

The centuries of Islamic ruling came to an end in 1492, when Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella took over. They continued using the Palaces, while demolishing some parts and building new ones, like the Palace of Carlos V. In the 18th century the Alhambra wasn’t used as much anymore, which led to serious neglect. Squatters occupied the abandoned building and lots of pieces went missing. Also, parts of the Alhambra got destroyed.

Luckily, Alhambra was rediscovered by European scholars in 1820, and restoration and repair work began. In 1985 Alhambra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Albaicin and Generalife gardens.

Visiting the Alhambra – what to expect

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is a giant complex, that consists of 3 parts: Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces and Generalife gardens. The order in which you visit is totally up to you, but will depend on the entrance time to Nasrid Palaces. This is the part of the Alhambra, that is strictly timed, so you will need to plan your entire visit around that. I personally would recommend arriving a bit before your entrance time, so you can visit Alcazaba first. The fortress is close to the entrance of the Palaces, and visiting doesn’t take up much time.

If you plan on visiting the Alhambra on your own, without a guide, you can rent an interactive audio guide for €6 ( it’s not included in the ticket price ). It comes in 5 languages ( English, Spanish, German, Italian and French ). It’s a great way to learn about the history of the place and get more information about what you’re actually looking at.

Alcazaba

I started my visit to the Alhambra with heading to Alcazaba first, because it’s close to the Nasrid Palaces entrance and I was there early. I would definitely recommend doing it, assuming you have some time. You don’t need much to walk through it.

Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra, dating back to the 9th century. It served as a military fortress, and it was also where the guards and their families lived. Thanks to many watch towers, this is where you will get some spectacular views of Granada.

Nasrid Palaces

Nasrid Palaces are in the heart of the complex and are often a highlight for many people visiting the Alhambra. As you stroll through the rooms, courtyards and halls, you are blown away by the beauty surrounding you. The rich details, basically everywhere you look, will leave you mesmerized.

There are two important courtyards in the Palaces. I’m sure you’ve come across images of them, as they appear in many brochures and on postcards. One of them is Court of the Myrtles. This was where all the political activity took place, and where all the visitors would wait to be seen by the Sultan. Court of the Myrtles got its name from the myrtle bushes surrounding the long pool running in the middle.

The other famous and most photographed courtyard is Court of the Lions. This part served as a private area for kings and their families. The courtyard is surrounded by 124 pillars with beautifully decorated arches. The rich details are mind blowing.

The most famous feature of the courtyard is the fountain in the middle. Around the central bowl, there are 12 marble lions with water spewing out of their mouths. The water goes right into the 4 water channels underneath the base. The lion fountain is how the patio got its name: Patio de los Leones. If you look closely, you will see how each lion has slightly different markings and expressions.

There are a couple of halls connected with the courtyard: Hall of Abencerrajes and Hall of two Sisters. Don’t forget to look up, the ceilings are stunning.

El Partal is one of the oldest parts of the Alhambra. It was built in early 14th century and is the only Palace, that has remained the same since the Nasrid period.

Generalife

Strolling through the gardens of Generalife are a great way to finish visiting the Alhambra. I found the walk towards and through the gardens to be very relaxing, which was much welcomed after the over stimulation experienced within the Nasrid Palaces. You’ll find many benches to rest or just admire the beauty around you.

This part of the Alhambra was designed as a summer retreat for Nasrid kings and a place to get away from the official activities of the Palaces. The buildings there are quite simple in design, which is a very different from the richness in detail you witness in the Palaces.

The gardens are perfectly manicured, full of beautiful flowers, shrubs and plants, all carefully picked. You will see quite a few fruit trees as well. As you walk through it, it’s impossible to miss the gorgeous backdrop of Sierra Nevada mountains. Even in July, with temperatures nearing 100F, the snow covered the mountain tops.

Visiting the Alhambra at night

You can also visit the Alhambra at night. Those visits happens when it’s completely dark outside, which means the entrance times differ depending on time of the year you visit. Between April 1st – October 14th Tuesday – Saturday 10 pm – 11.30 pm and from October 15th – March 31st on Fridays and Saturdays only 8 pm – 9.30 pm. You can choose from two tickets: Night visit to Nasrid Palaces and Night Visit to Gardens and Generalife. The entrance to Nasrid Palaces does not give you access to the Gardens, and vice versa. If you’d like to see both, you need to purchase two separate tickets.

So is it worth visiting the Alhambra at night? While it’s definitely a unique experience, I would not choose it over visiting during the day and here’s why. The night time tickets don’t give you access to all the parts of Nasrid Palaces, that you are able to see when you visit during the day. You’ll also be missing out on seeing the incredible views of Granada from the Alcazaba.

I think, if you want to come back for the night time visit, you’ll sure enjoy seeing the Alhambra after dark, but I wouldn’t do it instead of the day time visit. Also, doing both on the same day might be a bit of an Alhambra overkill, but if you are visiting Granada for 2-3 days, you can plan it for one of the other nights.

How to get Alhambra tickets

Book online

Alhambra tickets become available online 90 days before and I highly suggest reserving them as early as you can. This is the biggest attraction in Granada and tickets sell out quick. When you go online to book them, you’ll be picking not just the day of your visit, but also time. Each ticket has a timed entrance, but that is for Nasrid Palaces only. DO NOT MISTAKE IT for the general entry time. You can enter the Alhambra complex at anytime that day, but will only be allowed inside of the Nasrid Palaces within 30 minutes of the time stated on your ticket. Once inside, there’s no time limit and you can stay as long as you wish, but make sure to show up at the entrance on time.

Many people get confused, assuming the time on the ticket is for the Alhambra in general and miss their chosen time slot. They are very strict with the timing, so make sure you are at the Nasrid Palaces on time, or you might be denied entry.

Book your Alhambra tickets here

Ask your hotel

If you miss out on booking your tickets online, you might get lucky and score them through your hotel. A certain number of tickets gets put aside and distributed among the hotels. If you see online that everything’s sold out, email your hotel ASAP and ask if they can help.

Main ticket office ( in low season )

You can try going to the ticket office to see, if they have any leftover. Even though in high season the chances are pretty slim, but it’s definitely worth trying.

Book a Guided Tour

You can also join a small group guided tour, that lets you skip the line. The Alhambra is such an amazing place full of history, that having a knowledgeable guide walk you through the complex will definitely enhance your visit.

You can book the Alhambra guided tour here.

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How much time to visit the Alhambra

All the Palaces and gardens cover a pretty big area, and you will need ample time to see it all. You definitely don’t want to rush through it. Plan at least half a day to visit the Alhambra, so you can see it at a nice pace. I went at 9 am, and didn’t leave until after 2 pm.

Visiting the Alhambra – things to know

• You need a ticket with the QR code ( either digital or printed ) to enter the Alhambra.
• Bring an original ID card or passport. You will need to show it to access the complex.
• Selfie sticks and tripods are NOT allowed

How to get to Alhambra

Alhambra is sitting up on a hill, not far from Granada’s center. If you don’t mind a bit of an up hill walk, you can easily get there on foot. If you’re not up for it, have mobility issues or simply want to save yourself for all the walking you’ll need to do while there, there are other options.

First, you need to know, that there are 2 entrances, through which you can enter the Alhambra complex.

• Puerta de la Justicia – this entrance is about a 20 minute walk from Plaza Nueva. Cuesta de Gomérez is the street you want to take ( right off the Plaza ), which goes all the way up to the Alhambra. First, you’ll go through Puerta de las Granadas, then continue until you reach Puerta de la Justicia. It’s a hilly, but beautiful walk. If you already have your ticket, this is the entrance you want to use. It’s also close to Nasrid Palaces, so if you have one of the early entrance tickets or simply want to start there, Puerta de la Justicia is your best entrance.

• The Main entrance – this entrance is located closer to Generalife and is also where the main ticket office is located. This is where you need to go, if you are getting your Alhambra tickets on the day. If you pre-booked any of the Alhambra Guided Tours, this is where you pick up your tickets as well. Another reason, you might want to use the Main entrance is, if your Nasrid Palaces entry is later in the day. If that’s the case, it makes sense to start with exploring Generalife and make your way towards the other side of the complex.

Once you determined which entrance is best for you, you have several options of getting there.

• Walking – getting to either entrances can easily be done on foot, but keep in mind the walk is pretty hilly.

• Bus – there are 2 mini city buses, that connect Granada’s center with the Alhambra: C30 and C32. The bus C30 goes from Plaza Isabel La Católica to Alhambra – Generalife. It terminates at the Main Alhambra entrance, but makes a stop at the Puerta de la Justicia as well. The bus C32 does the loop from Plaza Nueva and makes stops at both entrances as well. Both buses run frequently, every 10 minutes or so and one way ticket costs €1,40.

• Taxi – if you want to save your legs for walking around the Alhambra complex, you can just hop into a taxi and get there within minutes. From Granada’s center, it’s a short ride and should cost around €5-7.

Best views of the Alhambra

Mirador de San Nicolas – this is the most popular and most crowded spot to get great views of Alhambra. Since most guides recommend this viewpoint, expect a lot of people there at certain times of day. As it’s always the case, it’s best to show up early in the morning. I arrived around 9 am and there were only a couple of people there.

Sacromonte – this area is very hilly, so just by walking around, you can get beautiful views of the Alhambra up on the hill in the distance.

Where to stay near the Alhambra

• Alhambra Palace – this hotel mimics the Alhambra in Moorish appearance and is located just outside of the walls of the complex. As you can probably imagine, the views of the Alhambra are stunning.
• Puerta de las Granadas – this hotel was my choice for my 3 days in Granada, Spain. The location was perfect, as it was not only a short walk up the street to the Alhambra, but also very central to the rest of Granada’s attractions. Some rooms have a view of the Palace up on the hill. On top of that it was a great value.

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READ MORE:

• 2 days in Granada, Spain – things you can’t miss
• 3 days in Seville – the most beautiful city in Spain
• Things to do in Cadiz, Spain – Seville to Cadiz day trip

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