Visiting the Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Last Updated on May 25, 2026

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When I decided to travel to Granada in Spain, I knew that visiting the Alhambra will be at the top of my Granada itinerary. The famous Moorish Palace complex is easily one of the most beautiful places in Spain. With the palace, courtyards, beautiful gardens and sweeping views of the city and Sierra Nevada mountains, the Alhambra in Granada is a must visit.

The Alhambra is one of the most popular places not only in Granada, but in all of Spain. Close to 2 million people visit each year, which means you really need to plan ahead, especially if you are visiting Granada in high season. Tickets sell out in advance, entry to Nasrid Palaces is timed with a limited number of people allowed in and last minute availability is very rare.

If you are planning a trip to Granada and want to see the Alhambra, in this guide I cover all you need to know to plan your visit. From best way to visit the Alhambra, ideal time to go, where to get the tickets to what to expect during your visit.

A little history before visiting the Alhambra

It all started back in the 9th century as a simple fortress. The majestic Alhambra as we know it now, took centuries to build. The name Alhambra comes from the word alhamra, which in Arabic means “the red one” or “the red castle”. It’s in the reference to the red brick used to build part of the palaces.

The Alhambra wasn’t a big deal and was pretty much ignored until Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar (Mohammed I) made it his residence. He left his place in Albaicin in 1300 and moved to the hill nearby. This was the beginning of the Alhambra being the Royal residence, and it remained that way for centuries. The emir’s successors continued the work for years to come, adding on to the existing Alcazaba fortress.

The centuries of Islamic ruling came to an end in 1492, when Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella took over. They continued using the Palaces, while demolishing some parts and building new ones, like the Palace of Carlos V. In the 18th century the Alhambra wasn’t used as much anymore, which led to serious neglect. Squatters occupied the abandoned building and lots of pieces went missing. Also, parts of the Alhambra got destroyed.

Luckily, Alhambra was rediscovered by European scholars in 1820, and restoration and repair work began. In 1985 Alhambra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Albaicin and Generalife gardens.

Visiting the Alhambra – what to expect

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is a giant complex, that consists of 3 parts: Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces and Generalife gardens. The order in which you visit is totally up to you, but will depend on the entrance time to Nasrid Palaces. This is the part of the Alhambra, that is strictly timed, so you will need to plan your entire visit around that. I personally would recommend arriving a bit before your entrance time, so you can visit Alcazaba first.

The fortress is close to the entrance of the Palaces, so you can see it first and be close enough to Nasrid Palaces and not worry you miss your timed entry.

If you plan on visiting the Alhambra on your own, without a guide, you can rent an interactive audio guide for about €6 (might be a bit more now). It comes in 5 languages (English, Spanish, German, Italian and French). If you’re not familiar with the history of Alhambra,, it might be a good idea to rent one, so you know what you’re actually looking at.

Alcazaba

I started my visit to the Alhambra with heading to Alcazaba first, because it’s close to the Nasrid Palaces entrance and I was there early. I would definitely recommend doing it, assuming you have some time. You don’t need much to walk through it.

Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra, dating back to the 9th century. It served as a military fortress, and it was also where the guards and their families lived. Thanks to many watch towers, this is where you will get some spectacular views of Granada.

Nasrid Palaces

Nasrid Palaces are in the heart of the complex and are often a highlight for many people visiting the Alhambra. As you stroll through the rooms, courtyards and halls, you are blown away by the beauty surrounding you. The rich details, basically everywhere you look, will leave you mesmerized.

There are two important courtyards in the Palaces. I’m sure you’ve come across images of them, as they appear in many brochures and on postcards. One of them is Court of the Myrtles. This was where all the political activity took place, and where all the visitors would wait to be seen by the Sultan. Court of the Myrtles got its name from the myrtle bushes surrounding the long pool running in the middle.

The other famous and most photographed courtyard is Court of the Lions. This part served as a private area for kings and their families. The courtyard is surrounded by 124 pillars with beautifully decorated arches. The rich details are mind blowing.

The most famous feature of the courtyard is the fountain in the middle. Around the central bowl, there are 12 marble lions with water spewing out of their mouths. The water goes right into the 4 water channels underneath the base. The lion fountain is how the patio got its name: Patio de los Leones. If you look closely, you will see how each lion has slightly different markings and expressions.

There are a couple of halls connected with the courtyard: Hall of Abencerrajes and Hall of two Sisters. Don’t forget to look up, the ceilings are stunning.

El Partal is one of the oldest parts of the Alhambra. It was built in early 14th century and is the only Palace, that has remained the same since the Nasrid period.

Generalife

Strolling through the gardens of Generalife are a great way to finish visiting the Alhambra. I found the walk towards and through the gardens to be very relaxing, which was much welcomed after the over stimulation experienced within the Nasrid Palaces. You’ll find many benches to rest or just admire the beauty around you.

This part of the Alhambra was designed as a summer retreat for Nasrid kings and a place to get away from the official activities of the Palaces. The buildings there are quite simple in design, which is a very different from the richness in detail you witness in the Palaces.

The gardens are perfectly manicured, full of beautiful flowers, shrubs and plants, all carefully picked. You will see quite a few fruit trees as well. As you walk through it, it’s impossible to miss the gorgeous backdrop of Sierra Nevada mountains. Even in July, with temperatures nearing 100F, the snow covered the mountain tops.

Visiting the Alhambra at night

You can also visit the Alhambra at night. Those visits happen when it’s completely dark outside, which means the entrance times differ depending on time of the year you visit. Between April 1st – October 14th Tuesday – Saturday 10 pm – 11.30 pm and from October 15th – March 31st on Fridays and Saturdays only 8 pm – 9.30 pm.

There are two tickets available: Night visit to Nasrid Palaces and Night Visit to Gardens and Generalife. The entrance to Nasrid Palaces does not give you access to the Gardens, and vice versa. If you’d like to see both, you need to purchase two separate tickets.

Is it worth visiting the Alhambra at night? While it’s definitely a unique experience, I would not choose it over visiting during the day and here’s why. The night time tickets don’t give you access to all the parts of Nasrid Palaces, that you get to see during a day time visit. You’ll also be missing out on seeing the incredible views of Granada from the Alcazaba.

I think, if you really want to see Alhambra at night and your schedule allows it, it’s definitely worth seeing. But I would not do it instead of visiting during the day. Also, doing both on the same day might be a bit of an Alhambra overkill, but if you are spending 2 or 3 days in Granada, you can do it over a couple of days.

How much does it cost to visit the Alhambra in 2026

Ticket prices for the Alhambra vary depending on how much of the complex you want to see.

• General Ticket (Alhambra General) – €22.27
• Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba –  €12.73 
• Night visit to Nasrid Palaces (Visita Nocturna a Palacios Nazaríes) –  €12.73
• Night visit to the Gardens and Generalife – €8.48

General ticket is the best one, as it gives you the full experience. It includes access to the Nasrid Palaces, as well as the Alcazaba and Generalife.

How to get Alhambra tickets

Book online

Alhambra tickets become available online 90 days before and I highly suggest reserving them as early as you can. Visiting the Alhambra is one of the top things to do in Granada (and Spain!) and tickets sell out quick. Tickets have a timed entry, but that is for Nasrid Palaces only. DO NOT MISTAKE IT for the general entry time.

You can enter the Alhambra complex anytime that day but will only be allowed inside of the Nasrid Palaces within 30 minutes of the time stated on your ticket. Once inside, there’s no time limit and you can stay as long as you wish, but make sure to show up at the entrance on time.

Many people get confused, assuming the time on the ticket is for the Alhambra in general and miss their chosen time slot. They are very strict with the timing, so make sure you are at the Nasrid Palaces on time, or you might be denied entry.

Your ticket will have your name on it, so don’t forget to bring your passport when you visit!

Book your Alhambra tickets here

Ask your hotel

If you miss out on booking your tickets online, you might get lucky and score them through your hotel. A certain number of tickets gets put aside and distributed among the hotels. If you see online that everything’s sold out, email your hotel ASAP and ask if they can help.

Main ticket office (in low season)

You can try going to the ticket office to see, if they have any leftover. Even though in high season the chances are pretty slim, but it’s definitely worth trying.

Book a Guided Tour

You can also join a small group guided tour, that lets you skip the line. The Alhambra is such an amazing place full of history, that having a knowledgeable guide walk you through the complex will definitely enhance your visit.

You can book the Alhambra guided tour here.

How much time do you need to visit the Alhambra

All the Palaces and gardens cover a pretty big area and you definitely don’t want to rush through it. Plan at least half a day to visit the Alhambra, if you want to see it all at a relaxed pace. I went at 9 am, and didn’t leave until after 2 pm.

If you’re in the city for a short time and have more things to do and see on your Granada itinerary, then you can probably see it in 3-4 hours. But that’s the minimum.

Things to know before you visit Alhambra

• You need a ticket with the QR code (either digital or printed) to enter the Alhambra.
• Bring an original ID card or passport. You will need to show it to access the complex. Copies are not accepted!
• Selfie sticks and tripods are NOT allowed

How to get to Alhambra

Alhambra sits up on a hill, not far from Granada’s center. It’s is a huge complex and there are two entrances, that you can use:

• Puerta de la Justicia – this entrance is about a 20 minute walk from Plaza Nueva. Cuesta de Gomérez is the street you want to take (right off the Plaza), which goes all the way up to the Alhambra. First, you’ll go through Puerta de las Granadas, then continue until you reach Puerta de la Justicia. It’s a hilly, but beautiful walk. If you already have your ticket, this is the entrance you want to use. It’s also close to Nasrid Palaces, so if you have one of the early entrance tickets or simply want to start there, Puerta de la Justicia is your best entrance.

• The Main entrance – this entrance is located closer to Generalife and is also where the main ticket office is located. This is where you need to go, if you are getting your Alhambra tickets on the day. If you pre-booked any of the Alhambra Guided Tours, this is where you pick up your tickets as well. Another reason, you might want to use the Main entrance is, if your Nasrid Palaces entry is later in the day. If that’s the case, it makes sense to start with exploring Generalife and make your way towards the other side of the complex, where Nasrid Palaces are.

Once you determined which Alhambra entrance is best for you, you have several options of getting there.

• Walking – getting to either entrances can easily be done on foot, but keep in mind it’s a bit of an uphill walk.

• Bus – there are 2 mini city buses, that connect Granada’s center with the Alhambra: C30 and C32. The bus C30 goes from Plaza Isabel La Católica to Alhambra – Generalife. It terminates at the Main Alhambra entrance but makes a stop at the Puerta de la Justicia as well. The bus C32 does the loop from Plaza Nueva and makes stops at both entrances as well. Both buses run frequently, every 10 minutes or so and one way ticket costs €1,60.

• Taxi – if you want to save your legs for walking around the Alhambra complex, you can just hop into a taxi and get there within minutes. From Granada’s center, it’s a short ride and should cost around €5-7.

Best views of the Alhambra

Since Alhambra sits up on a hill above Granada, it can be seen from many spots in the city. Below are some of the best places where you get get great Alhambra views.

Mirador de San Nicolas – this is the one of the most popular viewpoints in Granada, offering that postcard view of the Alhambra. Unless you go early in the morning, expect a lot of people. It’s the most popular viewpoint for sunset, so it gets packed each night.

Sacromonte – this area is very hilly, so just by walking around, you can get beautiful views of the Alhambra up on the hill in the distance.

Paseo de los Tristes – the street runs along the river and sits directly below the Alhambra, so it feels incredibly close. You can get a sense of just how massive is. Paseo de los Tristes is lined with many restaurants with outdoor seating facing the Alhambra so you can grab a drink or some tapas, and enjoy the view.

Where to stay near the Alhambra

• Alhambra Palace – this hotel mimics the Alhambra in Moorish appearance and is located just outside of the walls of the complex. As you can probably imagine, the views of the Alhambra are stunning.
• Puerta de las Granadas – this is where I stayed during my 3 days in Granada, Spain. The location was perfect, as it was not only a short walk up the street to the Alhambra, but also very central to the rest of Granada’s attractions. Some rooms have a view of the Palace up on the hill. On top of that it was a great value.

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