The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important historical and architectural landmarks in Spain. It was originally built as a fortress in the 9th century, in the 13th century it was transformed into the magnificent palace complex that we see today, complete with incredible palaces, stunning courtyards and serene gardens.
- Is the Alhambra in Granada worth visiting?
- How To Visit The Alhambra Granada: tickets
- How to Get Tickets When They've Sold Out
- Alhambra Granada Map
- When was the Alhambra Built?
- Sites to see at the Alhambra
- Facilities at the Alhambra Granada
- How To Get to the Alhambra
- Best place to view the Alhambra
- Best Books About the Alhambra Granada Spain
Is the Alhambra in Granada worth visiting?
Absolutely! The scale, scenery and sheer wonder of this UNESCO World Heritage site is one you should not miss! The complex of the Alhambra includes a fortress, multiple palaces and gardens.
The name the ‘Alhambra’ loosely incorporates the main sites of:
- La Alcazaba – Defensive fort built 1237.
- Generalife – Summer palace and country estate begun by Mohammed III in 1302.
- The Nasrid Palaces – Palaces built by Yusuf I between 1333-54.
- Palacio Carlos V – The Renaissance Palace of Charles V. Completed in 1527.
How To Visit The Alhambra Granada: tickets
- Firstly, book your tickets ahead from the official Alhambra online ticket office.
- Forget to book your tickets ahead? Don’t panic! Every day the Alhambra ticket office releases €10 tickets. Make sure you get to the ticket office for when it opens at 8am. Even if the tickets seem to have completely sold out online, they reserve tickets for visitors on the day.
- The ticket office can be found at: P.º de la Sabica, 1f, Centro, 18009 Granada, Spain. Location.
TOP TIP: Book your tickets ahead.
Alhambra Granada Ticket Prices
| Ticket Name | Sites Ticket Includes | Price |
|---|---|---|
| General Alhambra | – Nasrid Palaces – Gardens – Alcazaba – Generalife (Complete visit to all areas) | €19.09 |
| Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba | – Gardens – Alcazaba – Generalife | €10.61 |
| Night Visit to Nasrid Palaces | – Nasrid Palaces – Palace of Charles V – Gate of Justice | €10.61 |
| Night Visit to Gardens and Generalife | – Gardens – Generalife | €7.42 |
How to Get Tickets When They’ve Sold Out
I made the same error on a trip to the Alhambra in September 2018. During the peak summer season tickets can sell out three months in advance! I couldn’t believe it. Tickets don’t sell out that far in advance for Versailles, The Tower of London or the Colosseum in Rome! I learnt this after arriving in Granada but all hope was not lost.
Having arrived at the ticket gates for 8am the €7 tickets were available. These tickets are released daily. Panic over. If you book ahead of time you can see the Nasrid Palace too. I was disappointed not to see the Nasrid Palaces but after I discovered the Alhambra I soon realised there was no need to be disappointed! Seeing the Ahambra Granada sites took over three hours. I visited the Alhambra with a €7 ticket and this is everything I saw.
Best time to visit
The Alhambra can get crowded during peak tourist seasons. To make the most of your visit:
- Visit during the shoulder seasons of spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) when the weather is mild and there are less crowds.
- If you’re visiting during the summer months, try to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to beat the heat and avoid the busiest times of the day.
- Take advantage of the Alhambra’s evening visits, where you can explore the site after sunset.
- Consider visiting during weekdays rather than weekends when the crowds are generally smaller.
- Keep in mind that the Alhambra is located at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, so the weather can be cooler in the mornings and evenings even during the summer months.
Alhambra Granada Map
Explore this interactive map of the Alhambra. It’s the best map for acquainting yourself with the area and the different routes.
When was the Alhambra Built?
Featuring some of the finest Islamic buildings in Europe, the origins of the Alhambra are shrouded in mystery. The Alhambra’s current form dates to the 13th and 14th centuries when Granada’s Astrid rulers transformed it into a fortified palace complex.
After the 1492 Reconquista (Christian reconquest), the mosque was replaced by a church and the Habsburg emperor Charles V had a wing of palaces demolished to make space for the huge renaissance building that is named after him. In the early 19th century French Napoleonic forces destroyed sections of the palace and attempted to blow the whole thing up! In the mid-1800’s restoration work was carried out which continues to this day.
Sites to see at the Alhambra
Gardens and Generalife
After arriving at the Alhambra early in the morning the gardens sprang to life as the sun started to rise over Granada. These gardens are absolutely vast and stunning to walk around. Considering the Alhambra is the only preserved city of the Islamic period in Spain, it is amazing to see how rulers of this period designed these gardens. The use of water is clever and you can imagine it looked pretty similar today to what it did back in the 13th century.
Located within the gardens is a palace called the Generalife. This residence belonged to the emir rulers who built it during the 13th and 14th centuries. I wasn’t expecting there to be much to see for €7. How wrong I was! This palace is included with the €7 ticket.
The Mosque Baths of the Alhambra
Charles V Palace
We came across the Charles V Palace after already exploring all the gardens and couldn’t believe there was even more to see! It’s a breathtaking piece of renaissance architecture. The Emperor Charles V moved his court to the Alhambra where he spent the summer of 1526. He decided that the Moorish Alhambra wasn’t a suitable royal residence and built this palace. Today it holds a museum.
Emperor Charles V moved his court to the Alhambra where he spent the summer of 1526. He decided that the Moorish Alhambra wasn’t a suitable royal residence and built this palace. Today it holds a museum.
Castle
After already seeing two palaces in the morning, it was incredible to see there was also a castle to explore! I can’t believe how many cool buildings this place has. You can climb the towers and see brilliant views of the city below.
Facilities at the Alhambra Granada
Food & Drink: There is also a little bar selling ice creams, coffee snacks and sangria too!
Shop: There is a souvenir shop selling drinks as you walk from the gardens towards the Charles V Palace.
Historical Information: They do have audio guides for you to hire at the Alhambra. There isn’t much information on boards if you don’t have an audio guide. The Alhambra is quite vast so I was happy to walk around and take in the sites without it. You can also hire a private guide or join a group tour.
Lockers: There are lockers available at the main entrance and near the information centre.
TOP TIP: Don’t forget your phone charger. There are gazillions of photo opportunities in Granada so don’t run out of phone battery before your visit!
How To Get to the Alhambra
By plane: I recommend flying to Malaga airport.
By train: You can get a train from Málaga María Zambrano railway station to Antequera-Santa Ana station to change and get the connecting train to Granada train station. You could also visit the UNESCO World Heritage site Antequera Dolemens whilst passing through!
By car: The drive from Malaga to the Alhambra in Granada takes approximately 1 hour and 45minutes.
How to get the Alhambra entrance from the centre of Granada: You can get the C32 bus from the centre of Granada. It’s also a walk of about 25 minutes. I took a taxi from the hotel to the ticket office as it was an early start.
From Cordoba: Read the guide on how to travel from Cordoba to Granada.
Best place to view the Alhambra
Mirador San Nicolás
Walk up (literally keep going up) through the windy picturesque streets of the Albaicín area of the city until you eventually reach a store called Helados San Nicolas. This place sells ice cream, beers, wine and even mini bottles of cava! Grab your refreshments and head up the stairs opposite the shop and you will be greeted by a magnificent sweeping views of the Alhambra. For some stunning selfies it’s best to visit at sunset. There is usually a busker playing traditional Spanish guitar music too.
Best Books About the Alhambra Granada Spain
The Alhambra by Robert Irwin
They sell this book in the Alhambra gift shop, so it comes recommended! It has been given a five star review by the Guardian newspaper. It is a detailed guide into the history of the Alhambra but it is written in a very accessible way. View the book on Amazon.
Granada Revealed: Alhambra Guide
This guide focuses purely on the Alhambra. It’s a great accompaniment to visiting the Alhambra. If you are wanting a more comprehensive city guide for Granada then you will probably need an additional guide. View on Amazon.
Granada & Sierra Nevada (Footprint Handbook)
The footprint series of guides is intended for people who love walking. I am not an avid walker but these guides are very detailed and normally very accurate! I confess I didn’t use this one for my trip but I do recommend the Footprint series.
