Alhambra Tickets
Alhambra Palace, the crown of Granada, is famous for its Moorish palaces and fort from the last Islamic dynasty in Spain.
It is a 13th-century-old site named after the reddish walls and towers surrounding the castle, attracting 2.7 million tourists annually.
Built between 1238 and 1358, it stands on a plateau hill overlooking Granada’s Albaicin quarter, the Darro and Genil river valleys and the Sierra Nevada mountains.
In 1984, the Alhambra and two associated sites, the Albaicín (or Albayzín) and the Generalife Garden, received the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It has four distinct zones: Alcazaba (the military zone), Palacios Nazaries (Nasrid palace), Medina (the city) and Generalife.
Opening Hours: 8.30 am to 6 pm
Last Entry: One hour before the closing time.
Holidays: 25 December and 1 January
Visit Duration: 3to 4 hours
Best Time to Visit: When it opens at 8.30 am.
Entry Cost: €16
Address: C. Real de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain Get Directions
What to expect?
The Alhambra Palace is a stunning complex of Moorish architecture and the seat of the Nasrid Dynasty.
It is divided into three main sections: the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba, and the Generalife.
Nasrid Palaces: Witness the stunning architecture of the Alhambra, which was built by Muhammad II of the Nasrid Dynasty, with Moorish art, architecture, and cultural influences.
The Alcazaba: was the military barrack of the Nasrids and the national prison for the Catholic monarchs after the conquest of Granada. Its most notable features are Torre de la Vela, Torre de los Picos, Puerta del Vino and Patio de la Alberca.
Generalife: Lush gardens, orchards, trees and fountains surrounded the Sultans’ summer palace and retreat. It houses the open-air theater that hosts the Granada Music and Dance Festival in the present day.
Palace of Charles V and Museum of the Alhambra: The palace represents the Renaissance in Spain with its square structure and circular courtyard at the center. It houses the Alhambra Museum on the ground floor, and the Museum of Fine Arts on the top floor.
Buying Tickets
You can buy the tickets online or at the Palace ticket office.
However, purchasing them online has many benefits you won’t get at the counter:
- Online tickets are usually cheaper than those available at the venue.
- You save money and time with online bookings, as you don’t have to stand in long counter queues.
- Tickets are limited to 6,600 per day and often sell out fast. So advance booking will save you from last-minute disappointments, especially during peak season.
- You do not have to rely on the time slots and attractions available at the ticket counter to enjoy the palaces, gardens, fort, and museums.
- Online tickets also allow you to view all of the details and offerings in advance, improving the experience overall.
- You get discounts on online tickets and can reschedule or cancel if you are unable to visit on the booked day or time.
How Online Tickets Work
Choose your preferred date and time on the booking page and make the purchase.
After booking the tickets online, you get them delivered to your email.
On the day of your visit, show the email you received at the entrance and there is no need to take printouts.
Top 3 Most Popular Tickets of the Year
Top 3 Most Popular Tickets of the Year
Alhambra Admission Ticket
- Entry ticket
- Access to Alcazaba
- Generalife, Palace of Charles V
- Partal, and Alhambra Museum
Alhambra + Nasrid Palace
- Fast track entry
- Access to Alcazaba
- Nasrid Palaces
- Generalife, Palace of Charles V
- the Mosque Baths
- Space of the Month, and temporary exhibitions
Alhambra + Nasrid + Generalife
- Skip the line entry
- Guided tour
- Access to Generalife,
- Alcazaba and Nasrid Palaces
Ticket Prices
Admission to Alhambra costs €16 for all visitors above 16 years of age. Youths between 12 and 15 years old pay a discounted fee of €9.
Children up to 11 don’t require a ticket.
| Ticket Types | Prices |
|---|---|
| Standard Entry Tickets | €16 |
| Skip the Line Alhambra + Nasrid Palace | €25 |
| Guided Tour of Alhambra + Nasrid Palace | €46 |
| Self-guided Tour | €50 |
| Night Tour | €42 |
| City Pass | €90 |
| Private Tour | €200 |
Types of Tickets
Standard Entry: You can access all parts of Alhambra, like Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, Generalife, Partal, and Alhambra Museum, with this cheapest standard ticket.
Skip the Line Alhambra + Nasrid Palace: Get fast-track and skip-the-line admission to Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Palace of Charles V, the Mosque Baths, Space of the Month, and temporary exhibitions.
Guided Tour of Alhambra + Nasrid Palace: With this guided tour of Alhambra, you get skip-the-line access to all attraction areas with an experienced guide and in multiple languages.
Self-guided Tour: Walk through the enchanting complex at your own pace, with priority access to all parts of Alhambra, including the Nasrid Palace, with a multilingual audio guide.
Night Tour: This ticket will provide a guided walking tour of the Alhambra at night, with night lights, stars, and the moon.
City Pass: If you are on a city tour and want to visit more than one attraction in a limited time and on a limited budget, the Alhambra City Pass is the best one.
Private Tour: Get a personalized tour in 12+ languages with a professional guide with fast access and specialized attention to your group.
How long does it take to tour?
Typically, it takes around three to five hours to tour the whole Alhambra complex, including Generalife, Alcazaba, the Charles V Palace and the Nasrid Palace.
Remember that the whole complex will take around 3.5 km (2.1 miles).
Find out the time allocation for your visit to the Alhambra:
| Attraction | Time Taken |
|---|---|
| Alcazaba | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Nasrid Palace | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Generalife | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Charles V Palace | 15 to 30 minutes |
| Museums (2) | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Walking | 60 to 90 minutes |
Weekends and holidays invite more visitors, making it very crowded, which can further extend the time needed to explore the attractions.
If you book tickets for the Alhambra in advance, you save yourself from waiting in long lines at the ticket counter for 30 to 60 minutes.
Best Time to Visit
When the Alhambra opens at 8.30 am, it is the best time to visit because, by 10 am, it gets crowded.
We recommend you plan your visit around weekdays; weekends attract more visitors and can get crowded.
Another best time to visit is at 3 pm when most visitors leave, and you can witness the breathtaking sunset views from the towers.
Summer and spring are the best time of the year as you see many vibrant flowers blooming in the gardens.
FAQs
How do you buy the tickets to Alhambra?
Get your tickets online with discounts, saving time and energy waiting in long lines. Once booked, you get them delivered to your email.
Why is Alhambra Palace famous?
Alhambra is famous for its universal beauty and exceptional expression of Moorish and Andalusian culture. It conveys the history of changes the region got through its marvelous architecture and decorative campaigns.
Can I visit the Alhambra without a guided tour?
You can explore the Alhambra independently by purchasing general entrance tickets or self-guided tours with multilingual audio guides at your own pace.
What are the different parts of the Alhambra to visit?
The Alhambra is a vast complex with several parts and areas to explore, some of which are:
• The Nasrid Palaces
• The Palace of Carlos V
• The Alcazaba
• Gardens and Palace of the Generalife
• Rauda – Royal Cemetery
• The Medina
Can you take pictures in Alhambra?
No, you can’t take photos in the palace without permission from the authorities.
How far in advance should I book the tickets to visit Alhambra?
We recommend booking one month in advance because of its popularity, as most of the tickets get sold out quite early. However, you also have the option to buy last-minute Alhambra tickets.
Is it possible to visit Granada City in combination with Alhambra?
Yes, there are city passes or day trips that take you around the city of Granada after or before the Alhambra visit.
How many participants are allowed on private tours?
Private tours are generally conducted in small groups, with the number of participants ranging from 8 to 15.
Featured Image: Spain.info