Alhambra
Granada, Spain
La Alhambra y el Generalife
The Nasrid sultans' hilltop palace-city, with the Generalife gardens above it.
Checked 6 October 2026
The Alhambra is the palace-fortress of the last Muslim kingdom in Spain: three palaces of carved plaster and tile, a fortress with views over Granada, and the Generalife's water gardens. Tickets are capped and personal, sold on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es up to three months ahead, and each one carries a fixed half-hour slot for the Nasrid Palaces: miss it and you don't get in.
About Alhambra
The Alhambra sits on the Sabika hill above Granada: a walled palace-city built mostly by the Nasrid dynasty, who ruled the last Muslim kingdom of al-Andalus from the 13th century until 1492. Inside the walls are the Alcazaba fortress, the Nasrid Palaces, the Partal gardens and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V. Across a small ravine, the Generalife was the sultans' summer estate of orchards, courtyards and running water.
What draws people is the Nasrid Palaces. Every wall is covered in carved plaster, tile mosaics and Arabic poetry, and the ceilings drop into honeycomb domes of muqarnas. Water ties it all together, from the long pool of the Court of the Myrtles to the twelve stone lions holding up the fountain in the Court of the Lions.
In January 1492 the last sultan handed the keys to Isabella and Ferdinand. The Catholic Monarchs kept the palaces, and their grandson Charles V built his own square palace with a round courtyard right next to them. After centuries of neglect, writers like Washington Irving made it famous again in the 19th century. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited monuments in Spain.
Allow most of a day. The site is big and hilly: about 15 minutes' walk separates the Nasrid Palaces from the Generalife. Your visit is planned around one fixed time, your half-hour Nasrid slot. Everything else you can see in whatever order you like, between opening and closing.
What to see
Nasrid Palaces
The Mexuar, the Comares Palace with the Court of the Myrtles and the Hall of the Ambassadors, and the Palace of the Lions. Entry only within the half-hour on your ticket, about 300 people per slot, and only once. In 2026 the Patio del Cuarto Dorado is screened for roof restoration, hiding the Comares façade.
Court of the Lions
The arcaded courtyard of slender marble columns around the lion fountain, with the muqarnas-domed Hall of the Abencerrajes and Hall of the Two Sisters off it. It gets the most crowded spot in the palaces, so linger at the start or end of your slot.
Alcazaba
The oldest part: a fortress with the Torre de la Vela, the best rooftop view over the Albaicín and Sacromonte. After a closure it reopened in late September 2026 on an adapted route that the Patronato says may change. Plan 30–45 minutes, and visit it just before your Nasrid slot, since the two are next to each other.
Generalife
The summer palace and gardens at the top of the hill: the Court of the Main Canal (Patio de la Acequia), the Sultana's Court and the Water Stairway. It's included in the General ticket, can be visited once, and is about 15 minutes' walk from the palaces.
Partal
A porticoed pavilion reflected in a large pool, with terraced gardens along the walls. After the Nasrid Palaces you exit straight into it, and many visitors don't notice they have moved on.
Palace of Charles V and Alhambra Museum
The Renaissance palace with its round courtyard, home to the Alhambra Museum of Nasrid art. Free, and you can go in more than once, so it's a handy buffer if you're early for your slot. A lift serves it.
Night visit to the Nasrid Palaces
The palaces lit up after dark on a separate €12.73 ticket: Tuesday–Saturday 22:00–23:30 from 1 April to 14 October, Friday and Saturday 20:00–21:30 from 15 October to 31 March. Fewer people, and some details are harder to see in the low light.
Alhambra tickets: which to buy and where
Most visitors should buy the Alhambra General (€22.27) on the official site as soon as their dates are fixed. It covers the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife. Two rules catch people out. The ticket carries your name and ID number, and you must show that original ID at the gates. And the Nasrid Palaces only let you in during the half-hour printed on the ticket.
The official ticket site
Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife
The only official online seller is the Patronato's shop on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es. Checkout runs on compratickets.alhambra-patronato.es, and the information site is alhambra-patronato.es. The official phone line is +34 858 889 002. A General ticket without a guide costs €22.27 there; anything far above that is a reseller.
Alhambra General
€22.27 adult; reduced rate for those who qualify (shown at booking); under 12 free (ticket still required)
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Nasrid Palaces in a fixed half-hour slot, Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife, each once, between 8:30 and closing; Palace of Charles V and museum free anyway
- Best for
- Almost everyone visiting by day
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba
€12.73 adult
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Generalife palace and gardens, Alcazaba, Partal and the gardens; no Nasrid Palaces
- Best for
- When Nasrid slots are gone and you'll add a night palace visit, or a second look at the gardens
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Night Visit to Nasrid Palaces
€12.73 adult
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Nasrid Palaces at night in a fixed slot, plus the Gate of Justice and Palace of Charles V; no gardens or Alcazaba
- Best for
- A second, atmospheric visit, or a way into the palaces when day slots are sold out
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Alhambra Experiences
€22.27 adult
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Night visit to the Nasrid Palaces, then the Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife by day the next day
- Best for
- Visitors with two consecutive days when General tickets are sold out
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Dobla de Oro General
€30.48 adult
Official ticketsSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- The full General day visit plus the Andalusian monuments in the city (Corral del Carbón, Bañuelo baths, Maristán and others), usable the day before, of or after. In October 2026 Casa Horno de Oro and Dar al-Horra are closed
- Best for
- Visitors who also want the Albaicín's Moorish monuments; worth checking when General is sold out
Official site · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Guided tour with Nasrid Palaces entry
from €49 per person
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Tickets for the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife, plus a 3-hour guided tour with headset; groups of about 10, 20 or up to 30
- Best for
- When official tickets are sold out for your dates
GetYourGuide (provider: Special Plans) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Go to tickets.alhambra-patronato.es (check the address bar) and choose Alhambra General, or one of the alternatives if your date is sold out.
- Pick the date and a Nasrid Palaces time. Plan the rest of the day around that slot, because it can't be changed after you pay.
- Enter each visitor's full name and passport or national ID number exactly as on the document, including children aged 3–11 (free, linked to an accompanying adult). Pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. There is a limit of 10 advance tickets per person and card per month.
- Save the PDF with the QR code on your phone or print it. You don't need to visit the ticket office. If you buy or collect tickets at the office, do it at least an hour before your Nasrid slot.
- On the day, bring the original passport or ID you booked with: staff scan it at the entrances. Arrive at the Nasrid Palaces entrance about 15 minutes before your slot starts.
Look-alike sites
Search for Alhambra tickets and the top results are often reseller sites with Alhambra in the domain, official-looking logos and words like official or tickets. They sell the same ticket at a mark-up, or a guided product you didn't want. Only the Patronato's own domain, alhambra-patronato.es, sells at face value: the shop is tickets.alhambra-patronato.es and checkout is compratickets.alhambra-patronato.es. The official site lists the General ticket at €22.27. A site with another domain, a much higher price, or a 'service fee' on top of an unguided ticket is not the Patronato. The Granada Card is sold by the city council's tourism site, turismo.granada.org, through entradas.granadatur.com.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Alhambra
The Patronato runs no guided tours, but it does offer a free audio guide (currently in a trial phase). Without any explanation the palaces can feel like a blur of beautiful rooms, so the audio guide or a good guidebook is enough for most people. A guided tour mainly earns its price when official tickets are sold out, because licensed agencies hold an allocation (39% of annual capacity goes to authorised agents). Check that the product explicitly includes the Nasrid Palaces, and know that agencies can move your start time at short notice.
Small-group guided tour
Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour with Tickets
Special Plans (via GetYourGuide)Includes Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife tickets plus a headset. Choose groups of about 10, about 20 or up to 30, in English, Spanish, French, Italian or German. Meets on Paseo del Generalife by the ticket office. 50% refund if you cancel 24 hours ahead. Recent reviewers mention start times moved a couple of days before.
from €49 per person
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Group guided tour
Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Tour
Local Granada operators such as Nhue Concierge and Granada A Pie (via Civitatis)English-speaking guide, headphones and a ticket covering the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Generalife, Partal and Palace of Charles V. Bookable up to the start time if places remain. Civitatis says the start time can change because of Alhambra conservation rules, so watch your email the day before.
€59 per person
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Private guided tour
Alhambra + Nasrid Palaces Private Tour
Granada Travel (via Civitatis)Your own guide with entry to the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Generalife and Partal. Bookable up to 24 hours ahead. Groups of more than 15 need two bookings. Good value per head for a family of four or more.
from €245 per group
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Group guided tour, no palaces
Alhambra Guided Tour (without Nasrid Palaces)
Andalucia Travel Experience and other local suppliers (via Civitatis)Covers the Generalife, Alcazaba and Palace of Charles V only: no Court of the Lions. Listed here because it's an easy product to buy by mistake. It only makes sense if you already hold a night Nasrid ticket. Groups up to 30; a €16 penalty applies if you cancel more than 3 days ahead.
€38 per person
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Audio guide
Official audio guide
Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife
The Patronato currently offers a free interactive audio guide in a trial phase. Bring headphones and a charged phone. Versions with audio description and sign language exist for visitors with sensory impairments.
Free (trial phase)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Alhambra deals and discounts
The official ticket is the best buy: €22.27 for the whole day, far below any reseller. The real savings are the free under-12 tickets, the reduced rate for those who qualify, and the free Palace of Charles V. The Granada Card only pays off if you also want the cathedral, the Royal Chapel and other city sights.
Children under 12 go free
Free, but each child needs a named ticket. Ages 3–11 must be booked in the same purchase as the adults, using the accompanying adult's ID details. Under-3s get a free ticket at the ticket office or entrance on the day.
Reduced tickets
The official categories are EU citizens over 65, holders of the European Youth Card (EYCA) and people with a disability of 33% or more. Bring the original proof: without it you pay full price at the gate. The official pages do not print the reduced price, and the booking system asks for an email address (it sends you a code) before it shows dates and categories.
Free: Palace of Charles V, Alhambra Museum and the Mosque Bath
No ticket is needed for the Palace of Charles V, the Alhambra Museum inside it, or the Baño de la Mezquita. With no ticket at all you can also walk up through the Alhambra woods and Gate of Justice to see them. The Silla del Moro and Torres Bermejas are free at weekends.
Granada Card (from €55 with daytime Alhambra)
The city's pass: 48h €55 or 72h €60 with the General Alhambra visit, 24h €50 with only the night Nasrid visit, or Jardines €50 without the palaces. All include the cathedral, Royal Chapel, Cartuja, Sacromonte Abbey and city buses; the Kids card is €13. You pick the Alhambra date and Nasrid time at purchase, with no changes or refunds. The city says it gives you a much better chance of an Alhambra slot in high season.
Open Doors Day, 16 November
On World Heritage Day the Patronato runs free activities at the Alhambra and the Andalusian monuments, with access by invitation. Watch the official site in the weeks before.
Cheaper night and gardens tickets
The night Nasrid visit (€12.73) plus a Gardens ticket (€12.73) covers everything the General does for slightly more, over two visits. The night Generalife gardens ticket is €8.48 (April–May and 1 September–14 November; Friday and Saturday only from 15 October).
Best time to visit Alhambra
Time of day: the first Nasrid slots after 8:30 and the last ones of the afternoon are the calmest, and in summer early morning avoids the heat. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot. A queue for each half-hour forms at the palace door about 15 minutes before it starts.
Season: spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the most pleasant and also when tickets go fastest. July and August are hot in the afternoon. Winter is quieter and often has blue skies, but the site closes at 18:00 and night visits run only on Friday and Saturday.
Avoid: Easter week (Semana Santa), long weekends and Spanish holidays, when tickets go first. The site is closed on 25 December and 1 January. Under conservation rules the Patronato can change slot times or close areas at short notice, as it did with the Alcazaba, which was closed until late September 2026.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Carry the original passport you booked with
Staff check the actual document, not a photo on your phone, at the first entrance and again at the Nasrid Palaces, and the name must match the ticket. If you'd rather not carry a passport, book with a national ID card that Spain recognises and bring that.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2023–2026; official FAQ
Do the Alcazaba right before your Nasrid slot
The Alcazaba and the Nasrid entrance are next to each other, while the Generalife is about 15 minutes away at the top of the hill. With an early slot, start at the Alcazaba (30–45 minutes) and leave the Generalife until after. With an afternoon slot, do the Generalife first and work downhill.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026; spain.info
Enter by the Gate of Justice if your slot is early
Walking up from Plaza Nueva via Cuesta de Gomérez brings you to the Puerta de la Justicia, much closer to the palaces and Alcazaba than the main entrance by the car parks. Taxis can drop you near it.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026
Use the Palace of Charles V as your buffer
It's free, right by the Nasrid entrance and you can go in more than once, so it's the place to wait if you're early. The Alcazaba and Generalife, by contrast, can each be entered only once.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026; Patronato FAQ
Skip the ticket office if you have the QR code
The 'collect at least one hour before' rule on the ticket only applies to buying or picking up tickets at the office. A PDF or printed ticket with a QR code takes you straight to the entrances.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026; official ticket site
Bring a small bag, no stroller, no tripod
Bags over 40 x 40 cm aren't allowed; free lockers at the entrance pavilion and Puerta del Vino depend on availability. Strollers stay in the cloakroom (baby carriers are lent there). Tripods, selfie sticks and flash are banned. Food and drink are only allowed in designated areas.
From Patronato de la Alhambra FAQ, 2026
Take the bus up, not your legs
The climb from the centre is steep, and some find the walk down just as hard on the knees. Buses C30 and C32 from Plaza Isabel la Católica save your energy for the 3–4 hours of walking inside.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026
If day slots are sold out, try the night palaces
Evening Nasrid tickets and the two-day Alhambra Experiences ticket are worth checking before you pay a reseller. Private companies have no access to the night visits, and from 15 October to 31 March they run on Fridays and Saturdays only.
From TripAdvisor Granada forum, 2026; official ticket site
Wear proper shoes and check the closures notice
Paths are cobbled, with uneven steps and dirt floors. Before you go, read the yellow 'updated visitor information' box on the official ticket site. In October 2026 it listed the Alcazaba's adapted route, the screened Patio del Cuarto Dorado and closed Albaicín monuments.
From Official ticket site notices, October 2026
How to get to Alhambra
- By bus: line C30 (Alhambra–Centro) and C35 run from Plaza Isabel la Católica, and C32 links the Alhambra with the Albaicín. The ride takes 15–20 minutes and a single trip is about €1.60. The main stop is at the ticket office and entrance pavilion, a 17-minute walk from the Nasrid Palaces; forum regulars say buses heading back down also stop near the Gate of Justice.
- On foot: about 20 minutes uphill. Cuesta de Gomérez from Plaza Nueva leads through the woods to the Gate of Justice. Cuesta del Rey Chico (Cuesta de los Chinos) climbs from Paseo de los Tristes to the main entrance, and Cuesta del Realejo comes up from Plaza del Realejo.
- By taxi or tourist train: taxis can drop you at the entrance pavilion or near the Gate of Justice. The Granada City Tour train also stops at the Alhambra.
- By car: you can't drive up from the city centre. Take the Ronda Sur ring road towards Sierra Nevada and follow the Alhambra signs to the monument's car park: 360 spaces, guarded 24 hours, with adapted spaces in area P-1.
Scams and problems to watch for
Look-alike ticket sites
Paid search results and domains containing 'alhambra' copy the Patronato's look but sell the General ticket at a mark-up, sometimes bundled with an audio guide you didn't ask for. The tell-tale sign is any domain other than alhambra-patronato.es, or a price well above €22.27 for an unguided ticket.
Alhambra 'tickets' or tours without the Nasrid Palaces
Many listings titled 'Alhambra ticket' or 'Alhambra guided tour' only cover the gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba (the Palace of Charles V is free anyway), so you never see the Court of the Lions. Before paying, check that the inclusions explicitly say Nasrid Palaces.
Second-hand or transferred tickets
Tickets are personal and the name must match the ID scanned at the gate. The official system only allows name changes up to the day before, and only on bookings of five tickets or more. A ticket bought from a stranger, a forum post or a social-media seller in someone else's name will be refused at the entrance.
Last-minute price spikes on guided products
When official tickets run out, some platforms raise guided-tour prices sharply: on 6 October 2026 one Nasrid tour on a major platform showed 'from €200'. Compare a few listings, check the Granada Card and the night tickets first, and read what is actually included.
Tour start times moved at short notice
Agencies receive their Nasrid slots from the Patronato and sometimes have to shift the start time, even two days before. Recent reviewers had a morning tour moved to midday. If an exact time matters to you, buy directly on the official site.
Accessibility
The Patronato publishes a wheelchair route covering much of the complex. Doorways on that route are wide enough and many level changes have ramps, but narrow rooms, steps, cobbles and slopes mean not everything is reachable, and some tour operators advise against their tours for people with reduced mobility. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free at the entrance pavilion, subject to availability (show ID and fill in a form). The Palace of Charles V has a lift. Adapted toilets are at the entrance pavilion and the services pavilion by the Puerta del Vino. Adapted parking is in car park area P-1. Strollers are not allowed in the buildings; baby carriers are lent at the cloakrooms. People with a disability of 33% or more pay the reduced rate (bring proof). Assistance and guide dogs are admitted. For visually impaired visitors there are touch points along the route and an audio guide with audio description; a sign-language audio guide is also available.
Combine it with
Albaicín and Mirador de San Nicolás
The old Moorish quarter across the Darro valley, with the classic view of the Alhambra against the Sierra Nevada from Mirador de San Nicolás. Go at sunset. Bus C32 links it directly with the Alhambra.
Andalusian monuments (Bañuelo, Corral del Carbón, Maristán)
The Patronato's Moorish sites in the lower city: one of the best-preserved Arab bathhouses in Spain, a merchants' inn and Muhammad V's 14th-century hospital. They are included in the Dobla de Oro, cost €8.48 on their own, and are free on Sundays.
Sacromonte
The hillside cave quarter beyond the Albaicín, known for flamenco in converted caves, with the Sacromonte Abbey at the top. The abbey is included in the Granada Card.
Granada Cathedral and Royal Chapel
Side by side in the centre: the Royal Chapel holds the tombs of Isabella and Ferdinand, who took the Alhambra in 1492. About €7 each, or included in the Granada Card. Easy to add on the way down.
Carmen de los Mártires
Free gardens on the Alhambra hill, usually quiet: a good place to spend an hour before an afternoon slot.
Questions people ask about visiting Alhambra
How do I buy official Alhambra tickets?
Buy on the Patronato's own site, tickets.alhambra-patronato.es, or by phone on +34 858 889 002. The Alhambra General cost €22.27 in October 2026. Each visitor's name and passport or ID number goes on the ticket, and you choose a fixed half-hour slot for the Nasrid Palaces.
How far in advance should I book Alhambra tickets?
Tickets go on sale up to three months ahead. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for April–June, September–October and Easter, when morning slots can disappear weeks ahead. The Patronato's pages disagree on the last moment to buy online: one says up to two hours before, another 23:59 the day before. The ticket office sells same-day tickets, but only if any are left.
What happens if I'm late for my Nasrid Palaces time?
You won't be let in. The palaces admit about 300 people per half-hour, only during the slot on your ticket, and there are no refunds or changes. The rest of the ticket (Alcazaba, Partal, Generalife) still works all day, but plan to be at the palace door 15 minutes early.
Do I need my passport to visit the Alhambra?
Yes. Tickets are personal, and you must show the original passport or national ID card you booked with: staff scan it at the entrances. Photos or photocopies aren't accepted. Children under 12 are listed under an accompanying adult's ID.
What can I do if Alhambra tickets are sold out?
Check the official site again for the night Nasrid visit, the two-day Alhambra Experiences ticket and the Dobla de Oro. Next, try the Granada Card (48h €55 or 72h €60 with daytime Alhambra entry). As a last resort, book a guided tour with Nasrid entry from a licensed agency, typically €49–60 per person in October 2026.
Is a guided tour of the Alhambra worth it?
It's worth it if official tickets are gone or you want the history explained. Group tours with Nasrid entry ran from about €49 per person in October 2026, against €22.27 for the ticket alone. Otherwise the Patronato's free audio guide (in trial phase) and the official ticket are the better value.
Can you visit the Alhambra for free?
Partly. The Palace of Charles V, the Alhambra Museum and the Mosque Bath are free, and you can walk up through the woods to the Gate of Justice without a ticket. The Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba and Generalife always need a ticket, but under-12s get theirs free.
More sights in Spain
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An 8th-century mosque with a Renaissance cathedral built into its forest of arches.
- From
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- 1½–2 hours; add 30 minutes for the bell tower and an hour for the night visit
Park Güell
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Gaudí's hillside garden city: the mosaic dragon, the serpentine bench and views to the sea.
- From
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Prado Museum
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Spain's royal picture collection: Velázquez, Goya, Bosch and Titian under one roof.
- From
- €15 adult; €7.50 reduced; free under 18 and for students aged 18–25
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- 2–3 hours for the highlights; a full day for the whole collection
Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.