Alhambra tickets Generalife
Generalife Granada was designed as a summer palace for the Nasrid rulers to offer them a calm and peaceful atmosphere from their busy schedules.
Visitors visiting the Generalife Alhambra also get the same experience during their tour.
This medieval garden, made for the sultan’s retreat, is the most beautiful part of Alhambra Castle.
Here’s a list of must-see attractions at Alhambra’s Generalife –
Palace of Generalife
The Palace of Generalife Granada got built in the 13th century.
The Generalife currently comprises two buildings connected by the Irrigation Ditch Patio (Patio de la Acequia).
Entering the Generalife Palace is possible through a tiny door, partially hidden in the undergrowth.
After that, a narrow stairway will take you to the residences and rooms.
The New Gardens
The New Gardens provides a passageway to link Generalife to the rest of Alhambra.
The linking area also comprises landscaped gardens connecting the Palace of Alhambra and Generalife.
The Generalife gardens are also called Jardines Nuevos or Low Gardens.
Court of Access
Earlier, Generalife used to have three entrances;
- One from the Alhambra, which the sultan and his entourage used.
- The second was nearby the Pavilion Entrance.
- Third through Psotigo de the Rams.
Visitors enter the Court of Access through the so-called New Gardens, also referred to as Patio de Acceso.
Patio of the Irrigation Ditch
One of the exhibits at Generalife Granada is also known as the court of the Water Channel (or Patio de la Acequia).
It was supposed to be an interior garden except for the small lookout point on the west.
The most exciting part of Generalife Gardens is its irrigation ditch, which is 48.70 meters (160 feet) long and 12.80 meters (42 feet) wide.
The ditch has a channel that carries the water from the irrigation ditch while dividing the Patio lengthways.
Court of Sultana
This place is also known as Patio del Cipres de la Sultana, which comprises the court of the Sultana’s Cypress tree.
This arcaded structure dates back to 1584 and has ancient cypress trees and a stone fountain with jets beside it.
As the legend goes, Boabdil’s wife met a knight of the Abencerrajes family under the cypress tree.
When the king learned about this, he ordered to kill off the Knight’s whole tribe.
Water Stairway
The Water Stairway is said to be one of the oldest staircases in Generalife gardens because it stood during the Muslim period.
The handrails of the staircase consist of three flights, each with a fountain and water channels for railings.
In its original and beautiful form, the stairway is flanked by laurel trees, forming a vaulted canopy that makes for a surreal visual.
The stairway leads to the highest part of the Generalife.
Upper Gardens
A stone step takes the visitors to Generalife’s Upper Gardens, which were olive groves around the place.
Today, a big esplanade and modern gardens with rose bushes and jasmines spreading their fragrance all around are present in the Upper spaces of the gardens.
Oleander Walk
On the upper section of the wall dividing the gardens, the Walk of the Oleanders is a long path fully covered by an arch of Oleanders.
In the mid-19th century, romantic access to the Generalife Palace got erected.
Patio for Dismounting
Earlier, this area got used for mounting and dismounting horses.
It is also known as Patio del Descabalgamiento.
The spot was a simple walled enclosure with arched niches where guards could have stood to dismount the sultans from their horses.
You will find a small central fountain basin in the middle of the enclosure.
Generalife Theatre
The Festival of Music and Dance of Granada, which happened in 1952, led to the theatre’s building.
Around the same time, the gardens extended southward to build the symmetrically horseshoe-shaped outdoor theatre.
The theater was constructed in a western mannerist and baroque style. After the Generalife theater’s restoration, its installations and acoustics improved.
Best tickets for Generalife
There are so many tickets to get into Generalife.
You will also be able to find various combination tours, day trips and guided and private tours to enjoy the gardens.
Entry ticket
Visitors who are in a hurry can breeze past the ticket lines to see one of Granada’s most-visited landmarks with fast-track entry.
All entry tickets have an additional advantage in that when you buy them, they will provide you with skip-the-line access.
| Ticket | Tour Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Granada: Alhambra & Generalife Fast-Track Entry | Valid for 1 day (Check starting times) | €12 |
| Granada: Alhambra & Generalife Ticket with Audio Guide | Valid for 1 day (Check starting times) | €27 |
| Alhambra: Nasrid Palaces & Generalife Ticket with Audioguide | 3 to 3.5 hours | €32 |
Guided tours
These tickets allow visitors to roam around the palace with an expert guide.
It enhances your experiences by listening to the stories that the Alhambra Castle walls secretly hold.
As given in the entry ticket, these guided tour tickets will provide you with skip-the-line access.
| Ticket | Tour Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Granada: Alhambra & Generalife Guided Tour with Ticket | 2 to 2.5 hours | €26 |
| Granada: Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces, and Generalife Tour | 3 hours | €47 |
| Granada: Fast-Track Alhambra, Generalife Small-Group Tour | 3 hours | €49 |
| Alhambra, Nasrid Palaces, and Generalife 3-Hour Guided Tour | 3 hours | €52 |
Private tour tickets
Buying this ticket will allow you to avoid the long lines to enter Alhambra Palace.
Going on a private guided tour to one of the world’s most famous palaces allows you to customize your tour while discovering the capital of Nasrid’s dynasty.
You will explore the city’s various stunning views and one of Europe’s finest examples of Islamic architecture.
| Ticket | Tour Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alhambra and Generalife: Fast-Track Private Tour | 3 hours | €125 |
| Granada: Alhambra, Alcazaba, and Generalife Private Tour | 3 to 3.5 hours | €250 |
| Granada: Alhambra, Generalife & Albaicin Private Tour | 5.5 hours | €420 |
Day trip
With this ticket, you can go on a full-day tour of Granada while exploring the main sites of this historic city.
There will be more attractions than one to cover in a day trip. However, you will find the architectural grandeur of Alhambra worth watching.
Day trip tickets are generally costly but worthy of the touring experience you will get.
Best Time to Visit
During spring and summer, March to June looks like the best months to visit.
The Generalife garden blooms during this time.
Different varieties of flowers, fruits and vegetation adorn the gardens.
We recommend that you start the outdoor tours early to beat the heat.
Once it gets hot, visit Alhambra indoors.
During winter, as the sun comes up and it gets warmer, move outdoors to the gardens Generalife and Alcazaba.
Generalife hour of visit
Alhambra Generalife tickets include both day and night visits.
You can visit the gardens of Generalife and Alcazaba from 8.30 am to 8 pm from 1 April to 14 October.
From 15 October to 31 March, visit the gardens Generalife and Alcazaba from 8.30 am to 6 pm.
Visit Generalife at night along with the gardens and palaces to witness its beauty during the setting sun.
The Generalife remains closed from 15 November to 31 March.
Check the Generalife hours before visiting at night:
| Visit | Days | Visiting Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 01 April to 31 May | Tuesday to Saturday | 10 pm to 11.30 pm |
| 01 September to 14 October | Tuesday to Saturday | 10 pm to 11.30 pm |
| 15 October to 14 November | Friday and Saturday | 8 pm to 9.30 pm |
Generalife FAQs
When was the palace of the Generalife built?
Generalife history goes back to the 12th and 14th centuries when the construction started.
Built around the 13th century and redecorated by king Abu I-Walid Isma’il as explained in an inscription dated 1319.
Therefore, Alhambra Generalife dates back to being older than Comares Palace of the Nasrids.
What is Generalife Granada Spain?
The Generalife gardens Granada belonged to the Nasrid royals as their summer palace.
They retreated into this rustic abode away from the official affairs of the state for relaxation and peace.
This area includes gardens, orchards, agricultural farms, and ponds that symbolize life and rejuvenation.
Where are the Generalife gardens located?
Independent from the main complex, Generalife Alhambra gardens hold immense historical importance.
Located on the Northeastern corner of the Alhambra complex, it occupies the slopes of the Hill of the Sun.
Such a location of the palace of the Generalife oversees the beautiful Darro and Genil river valleys and Granada city.
How is the Nasrid summer palace decorated?
Alhambra Generalife consists of limited decorations, unlike the other structures of Alhambra.
Built with tasteful simplicity and rusticity, all the buildings of the Generalife Granada look.
This indicates an intimate and peaceful atmosphere that the kings looked to rest and rejuvenate in the gardens.
Is there wheelchair-accessible entry to the Generalife gardens Granada?
Wheelchair-accessible paths lead inside the Alhambra and Generalife gardens Granada.
The authorities facilitate entry to the Generalife gardens for people with mobility issues.
The hill slope with narrow entrances, elevations and staircases slightly hampers wheelchair movement.
Yet, the Generalife map shows the pathways made for a good Alhambra and Generalife guided tour.
What to see inside the Generalife Alhambra gardens?
When you visit the Generalife gardens, make sure to visit the following areas:
Patio of the Irrigation Ditch
Lower and Higher Gardens
Generalife Theater
Romantic Observation Point
Water Stairway
Court of the Sultana’s Cypress Tree
Walkways of the Oleanders and Cypresses
Pools
Royal Chambers of the Palace
Patio for Dismounting
The hill slope with narrow entrances, elevations and staircases slightly hampers wheelchair movement.
Yet, the Generalife map shows the pathways made for a good Alhambra and Generalife guided tour.
When do the Alhambra Generalife gardens open?
The Generalife hours of the day to visit from Monday-Sunday
01 April to 14 October – 8.30 am to 8 pm
15 October to 31 March – 8.30 am to 6 pm
Avail scheduled slots to visit Generalife at night.
From 15 November to 31 March, the visit closes to Generalife at night.
Featured Image: Alhambra-Patronato.es