Granada might not be one of the most generally recognizable cities in Spain among tourists, but the city has a special landmark that puts it on the map: the Alhambra. This phenomenal attraction is an important part of any Granada itinerary, so making the most of your time at the Alhambra will do a lot to enjoy your time in the city. Planning your visit is essential to get the most out of the experience, and much of that is making sure you get the Alhambra tickets that work best for you.
- The best ways to get tickets for the Alhambra
- 1. Queuing at the ticket office (not recommended)
- 2. Book online (recommended)
- 3. Book a guided tour
- 4. Buy a Granada Card
- Useful information for visiting the Alhambra
- Alhambra opening hours
- What is the best time to visit the Alhambra?
- How to get to the Alhambra
- How do Alhambra tickets work?
- How much do Alhambra tickets cost?
- Hotels Near the Alhambra of Granada
- Security at the Alhambra
- Visiting the Alhambra with a disability
- Curiosities about the Alhambra
- What is the Alhambra?
- When was the Alhambra built?
- How old is the Alhambra?
- Who built the Alhambra?
- Why was the Alhambra built?
- Where is the Alhambra located?
To help you plan, we have created this guide on how to buy tickets for the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
For those in a hurry – How to buy tickets for the Alhambra: unless you like spending your vacation waiting in long lines, we strongly recommend that you book your skip-the-line tickets for the Alhambra in advance here or book a guided tour of the Alhambra. Of these two, the guided tour is the better option as you can learn the history of this beautiful palace from an expert guide.
The best ways to get tickets for the Alhambra
As it is the most popular and iconic attraction in Granada, there are several ways to buy tickets for the Alhambra. Some people don’t realize all the options available to get Alhambra tickets, so we have listed them below to help you find the right one for you.
As with any famous tourist attraction, the worst way to buy tickets for the Alhambra is to wait to arrive on the same day and queue at the ticket office. Not only will you have to wait in line to buy your Alhambra tickets, but you risk missing out if all the time slots for the Nasrid Palaces are already sold out. Ticket lines can easily take more than an hour, so even if tickets aren’t sold out, you’re losing valuable vacation time just waiting in line.
A much smarter option to get tickets for the Alhambra Palace is to go online and book the Alhambra tickets in advance. Skip-the-line tickets for the Alhambra can be purchased online up to the day before the visit and will give you a much better chance of not missing the opportunity. Not only do they save you time in line, but they also help you plan your day better as you’ll already know the time slot for your visit to the Nasrid Palaces.
Tickets can be purchased through the official Alhambra website; however, these tickets are personal, non-transferable, and non-refundable. That’s why we recommend booking your tickets through this link, which will allow you to cancel up to 24 hours in advance and receive a full refund. It should be said that these tickets are a bit more expensive, but they give you the peace of mind of being able to get your money back if your plans change.
No matter which way you go, make sure to book your tickets as far ahead as possible to ensure you get exactly the ticket you want.
To truly understand and appreciate the meaning and history of the Alhambra, we recommend considering taking a guided tour for your visit. Unfortunately, guided tours of the Alhambra are not offered through the official website, so the only way to arrange one is to book through a link like this.
This type of tour comes with an expert guide who will show you around and includes skip-the-line tickets for the Alhambra to really help you get the most out of the experience. With a tour, you can choose to join a small group tour or take a private tour just for you.
The Alhambra is not the only must-see attraction in Granada, so you’re likely to do quite a bit of sightseeing during your visit. In that case, you’ll definitely want to look into the Granada Card and see if it’s right for you.
This special city pass includes access to a number of major Granada attractions including the Granada Cathedral, the Royal Chapel, and the Casa De Zafra, as well as travel on the city’s public transport. There are also versions of the Granada Card, namely the 48 and 72-hour versions, which include full tickets for the Alhambra without a guide.
Whether the Granada Card is right for you depends on how much sightseeing you have planned. If you are going to do a lot, you could end up saving quite a bit of money on entrance tickets and transport costs.
Useful information for visiting the Alhambra
Alhambra opening hours
The Alhambra is open every day of the week during the day but is open at night only on certain days of the week. The site is closed on December 25 and January 1.
Opening hours differ for high and low seasons, with the high season from April 1 to October 14 and the low season from October 15 to March 31. During the high season, daytime opening hours are from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, while in the low season they are from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.
Night tours of the Alhambra take place from Tuesday to Saturday in high season and only on Friday and Saturday in low season. Opening hours during the high season are from 10:00 pm to 11:30 pm and during the low season from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The ticket office closes 45 minutes before the attraction closes.
What is the best time to visit the Alhambra?
Not only are some tickets better to get than others, but there are also better times to visit the Alhambra than others. Knowing the best times to visit can help you plan your visit, but ultimately, the best time to visit is when you are able to get tickets.
Granada is best visited during spring and autumn, when there is a balance between good weather and fewer tourists. The same applies to the Alhambra, with visiting periods from April to June and from October to November. However, if you are looking for the quietest time of the year, consider coming in winter.
The Alhambra is generally the quietest first thing in the morning when the site opens, because it is before tourist groups arrive. Another good time is mid-afternoon, during the local lunch hour. Although the Alhambra night tours are generally quieter than the daytime ones, some visitors find that the night visit experience suffers a bit due to the way things are illuminated.
How to get to the Alhambra
Visitors wishing to reach the Alhambra once in Granada will find they have a couple of options to get to the tourist attraction from the city center.
For those who don’t mind stretching their legs, the easiest way to the Alhambra is on foot. From a central point like Plaza Nueva, simply ascend Cuesta de Gomérez up to the Puerta de las Granadas and then follow the signs along the pedestrian path. The walk should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
If you don’t feel like walking uphill to the site, the other option is to take a bus. There are three local buses that travel near the Alhambra, two of which stop at the Puerta de la Justicia right at the entrance. These are the C30 which runs from Plaza Isabel la Católica in the city center and the C32 which runs from the Albaicín neighborhood.
The last bus option is the C35, which also runs from Plaza Isabel la Católica but instead stops at the official car park for the Alhambra, just a short walk from the ticket office. Single-ride bus tickets in Granada start at €1.40.
How do Alhambra tickets work?
To get the most out of your visit to the Alhambra, it is important that you understand how tickets for the Alhambra palace work. The types of tickets available include access to various combinations of attractions at different times of the day, so we recommend buying Alhambra tickets that suit how you want to visit.
There are four main sections of the Alhambra that require tickets to see: the Alcazaba, the Generalife, the Gardens, and the Nasrid Palaces. TheGeneral Alhambra ticket covers access to all four of these attractions, while the Gardens, Generalife, and Alcazaba ticket excludes access to the Nasrid Palaces.
Visits to the Nasrid Palaces include a specific half-hour time slot during which entry and the visit are allowed. If you miss this time slot, you will not be allowed to enter.
A special aspect of the Alhambra is that it is possible to visit some attractions at night. There are night tours of the Nasrid Palaces that you can combine with the Gardens, Generalife, and Alcazaba ticket if there are no time slots available during the day. It is also possible to visit the Gardens and Generalife at night.
Tickets booked online come with a QR code that must be shown in paper or digital form on your smartphone; this includes free tickets for children under 12 years old.
How much do Alhambra tickets cost?
The cost of tickets for the Alhambra Palace through the official website depends on the parts of the complex you choose to visit. There are several types of tickets, but we will cover the prices of the most common tickets for the Alhambra Palace and its attractions. The prices listed do not include the small commission and tax added to the ticket price.
Theall-inclusive Alhambra General ticket for a daytime visit costs €14 for adults, while the Gardens, Generalife, and Alcazaba ticket costs €7 for a daytime visit. Tickets for a night visit to the Nasrid Palaces cost €8 for adults, while a night visit to the Gardens and Generalife costs €5. The Palace of Charles V, the Alhambra Museum, and the Mosque Baths all have free public entrance.
EU citizens over 65 years old, EU citizens with youth cards, visitors with certified disabilities, and children aged 12 to 15 can obtain various ticket discounts. Children under 12 enter for free.
Hotels Near the Alhambra of Granada
If visiting the Alhambra is one of the main reasons you go to Granada, then you might want to stay nearby. Granada has plenty of places to choose from, and many of them are conveniently close to the city’s most famous landmark. However, here are some suggestions to help you get started.
For a special stay of luxury and refinement, choose theHotel Alhambra Palace This five-star hotel is located right below the Alhambra and boasts beautiful rooms and attentive service.
An excellent hotel that puts you close to the Alhambra without a huge price is the Hotel Alixares. This four-star hotel boasts an outdoor pool and a breathtaking view that won’t break your budget, and it’s only a short walk to the Alhambra ticket office.
Granada hosts a wide range of budget options, with Hostal la Ninfa one of the closest to the Alhambra. This charming hostel is located at the foot of the hill and is only a 10-minute walk from the entrance.
Security at the Alhambra
Even if you arrange tickets for the Alhambra Palace that allow you to skip the line at the ticket office, you will still have to deal with the queue at security checks. To make this process go as smoothly as possible, it’s helpful to know what you can and cannot bring inside the Alhambra complex.
Backpacks and bags are carefully inspected at security checks. Bags larger than 40 cm by 40 cm are not allowed and must instead be deposited at the free lockers at the access pavilion and the Puerta del Vino. Small backpacks allowed must be worn on the front to avoid any accidental contact with the walls.
Strollers are not allowed inside the Alhambra. Instead, visitors can store the stroller and use a rented child carrier backpack to carry the child around during the visit.
Visiting the Alhambra with a disability
Several measures have been implemented around the Alhambra to assist visitors with disabilities.
These measures include contact points that communicate details about the complex for people with visual disabilities, audio guides with audio descriptions, and a sign language audio guide service for people with hearing disabilities. Accredited assistance dogs and therapy and social support dogs are allowed in the Monumental Complex.
Wheelchairs are available for loan at the entrance pavilion. Since it is not yet possible for those visiting the Alhambra in a wheelchair to access all areas without inconvenience or obstacles, a dedicated itinerary is provided.
Curiosities about the Alhambra
What is the Alhambra?
The Alhambra is a historic fortified complex that houses palaces and gardens.
When was the Alhambra built?
Although the entire complex was built in multiple stages, the most important construction period was from 1238 to 1358.
How old is the Alhambra?
The oldest parts of the Alhambra are nearly 800 years old.
Who built the Alhambra?
The Alhambra was built under Ibn al-Aḥmar, the first ruler of the Emirate of Granada who founded the Nasrid dynasty.
Why was the Alhambra built?
Ibn al-Aḥmar ordered the construction of the Alhambra as a residence and citadel from which he could govern the Emirate of Granada.
Where is the Alhambra located?
The Alhambra is located on La Sabika, a hill east of downtown Granada, atop the foundations of an ancient fortress.
Now that you have all this information at your disposal, planning your trip to Granada and the Alhambra shouldn’t be difficult. We know you will definitely have a much better experience if you take the time to plan ahead and save time and effort.
