How To Visit The Alhambra In Granada in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More

You are heading to Andalusia, and Granada’s Alhambra is a visit you cannot miss. But with such a massive, complex (and crowded) building, you need to figure out where to start. So here is your step-by-step guide to help you visit the Alhambra without missing a bit.

---

Pro Tip: This guide is a helpful tool for planning your trip, and it will give you a glimpse of what to expect from visiting the Alhambra. However, it cannot replace a guided tour. In such a complex monument as the Alhambra, we recommend booking a guided tour of the Alhambra, Generalife, and Nasrid Palaces. You will be dazzled by the beauty and fascinating history of the place.

Visiting Spain’s Famous Alhambra: What We’ll Cover

The Alhambra, which means “the red one” in Arabic, is one of the top things you must include in your trip to the south of Spain. The intricate citadel and complex of buildings from the Moorish kingdom is an extraordinary monument and among the most relevant historical places in the country.

So here are our recommendations for how to visit the Alhambra and get the best experience out of your trip. We’ll cover tickets, hours, and guided tours. And we also have some tips about eating nearby and where to find the best panoramic view of the monument while listening to flamenco guitar music. Sounds like the perfect day at Alhambra!

Visiting the Alhambra: Hours, Info, And Tickets

The Alhambra is a complex of palaces and gardens from different stages of history as far back as 1238. The ticket prices listed on the official Alhambra website vary depending on the area to visit, so be sure to check carefully. Or you can always book a guided tour to remove the guesswork of visiting Alhambra.

Alhambra Opening Hours:

Alhambra Closed:

The Alhambra is closed on the following dates: December 25th and January 1st

Alhambra Tickets:

Things To Know:

You can visit each area of the site only once, but you are free to exit the building complex if you need to, and return to complete your visit later that day. For example, if you want to have lunch outside, you’ll still be able to go back in and explore some more.

The site has an accessible route for visitors with reduced mobility who can either access with a wheelchair or hire one (under availability) at the access pavilion. 

For security reasons, you cannot access the route with baby strollers. However, you can trade the stroller at the entrance with a baby backpack that you will return at the end of your visit.

Touring Alhambra can be overwhelming. Although the Council of Alhambra and Generalife don’t organize guided tours—they only provide audio guides—they strongly recommend contracting a licensed guide to visit the Alhambra and get the best out of your visit.

How Much Time To Budget

There’s a lot to see at the Alhambra, so don’t hesitate to budget some extra time here. Plan on approximately 3 hours, but the site is massive, so you must focus on its most valuable points. A licensed guide will ensure you visit all the attractions in the palaces and gardens and save time at the entrance by skipping the line.

How To Get To The Alhambra

The Alhambra sits in Granada’s city center. However, its elevated position on top of Sabika hill can make access difficult. You’ll definitely need to plan ahead to get to the Alhambra based on your level of activity or public transportation that you’re comfortable with.

On Foot

Before going to the Alhambra on foot, please consider that all three routes are uphill, so it could take longer and be a bit strenuous if you’re unused to walking hills. However, it’s a beautiful way to see the city as you ascend higher to this amazing citadel. We’ve mapped out a few walking routes from some key areas within the city so you can decide if you want to trek your way up.

Depart from Cuesta Gomérez

Take the Cuesta de Gomérez from Plaza Nueva square, and you will access the Alhambra complex through the Puerta de las Granadas’ gate. This one may be the best route if you are in the city center and want to enjoy nature, as it goes through the Alhambra wood. It takes around 20-minutes.

See the route

Depart from Cuesta del Realejo 

From Plaza del Realejo square, you can get to the entrance pavilion by walking the Cuesta del Realejo. This route is a good option if you are in that area of the city. It takes around 10 minutes to get to the Alhambra entry from Plaza del Realejo.  

See the route

Access from Cuesta del Rey Chico (Cuesta de los Chinos)

If you are in the North of the city, close to Paseo de Los Tristes, the most convenient access is through Cuesta del Rey Chico. It is a 13-minute walk to get to the main entrance.

See the route

Car

Private cars cannot get to the Alhambra from the city center. Instead, drive the Granada beltway (N-323 / A-44) to the Ronda Sur (A-395). Then follow the signs to Alhambra, which ends at the public parking area. 

The guarded parking has different areas for cars, buses, and caravans. It is open 24 hours. From here you’ll need to walk the rest of the way to the fortress.

Bus

There are three main bus lines connected to Alhambra:

C30 – From Alhambra to the city center, stopping at Isabel La Católica square.

C32: From the Alhambra to the Albaicín neighborhood.

C35: Stops at Cementerio, Barranco del Abogado, Isabel la Católica square.

What To See at the Alhambra

The complex history of the monument resulted in a network of palaces, gardens, and defensive buildings. Unfortunately, the area suffered several damages over the centuries, so only two of the six castles still stand. But there is much more to see and an unbelievable amount to learn about.

Here is what we love the most, but you can dive deeper into the top things to see in this Alhambra article, written by one of our resident historians.

• Generalife
• Patio de la Acequia (terraced pools at Generalife)
• Palace of the Lions
• Palace of The Comares
• Hall Of The Abencerrajes
• Muslim Caligraphy inscriptions (walls)
• Alcazaba
• la Torre del Homenaje viewpoint

Pro Tip: After visiting the Alhambra, head to the picturesque Albaicín neighborhood to enjoy the best postcard view of the monument. The hill is opposite Sabika hill, where the Alhambra stands. From the San Nicolás viewpoint, you will have a magical view of the Alhambra, especially at night, when the monument lights up and street artists head to the area to perform flamenco music.

Guided Tours of the Alhambra

With a history dating back to the 12th century, this remarkable fortress-turned-monument has so much to explore. You really could spend half a day here if you were a history buff. Even if you aren’t, there are numerous areas to visit and it’s spread over a large space.

Most major attractions provide guided tours, however, the Alhambra only offers audio guides. While audio guides can be helpful and budget-friendly, the Alhambra really comes to life with the help of a licensed guide who is authorized to lead tours at this historic monument.

You can make the most out of your visit to the Alhambra by booking a skip-the-line tour with a passionate local guide. You’ll bypass the long lines and learn so many fun facts, tragic stories, and amazing details about the Alhambra, Generalife, and more.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Granada Guide for more resources.

Facts And History About The Alhambra

The history of this masterpiece is quite complex because it starts way before the pinnacle of its glory days and final surrender. To deeply understand the importance of the Alhambra, the best-preserved monument of the Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula, we must navigate the convoluted history of the Moorish era and the Spanish Reconquista.

Here are a few cool facts and historical picks, but more than a short chronology is needed to get the whole scenario. To know more, read the brief history of Alhambra, written by Dale Pappas, Ph.D. 

• The stalactite dome in the Hall of the Abencerrajes is said to be made of more than 5,000 time honeycombed cells, according to Britannica.
• The theater inside Generalife is often used today for international performances of dance and music.
• Many of the inscriptions on the walls look decorative, but they’re also scripted excerpts from the Qur’an.
• The pool in the Court of Myrtles in the Palace of the Comares used to help cool the apartments nearby.
• The Muslim army invaded the South of Spain from the North of Africa in 711 AD.
• Muslim rulers’ fortifications from 800 AD stood over the Roman fortification on the Sabika hill, where the Alhambra sits nowadays.
• Berber Zirid dynasty renewed the fortification’s walls in the 11th century, according to historian John D. Hoag.
• Nasrid sultan Muhammad I started the renovation of the Alhambra in the 13th century.
• Nasrid dynasty kept working at the Alhambra construction and decorations over the decades till 1491.
• At the peak of the Spanish Reconquista, Granada surrendered to Christian rulers Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon on January 2nd, 1492. 
• UNESCO included the Alhambra in the World Heritage List in 1984.

Where To Eat Nearby

Everyone in Spain will tell you the same: tapeo (eating tapas) in Granada is on a different level. You can stop for a beer or a glass of wine anywhere in Spain and expect to be served a courtesy bite, like olives or chips. However, in Granada, don’t get surprised if you get a free burger with your drink (yes, a proper burger).

Of course, there are also sophisticated restaurants. You can learn more about the best places in our list of the top ten restaurants in Granada near the Alhambra.

Parador de Granada | €€ | Formal dining and local tapas in a 15th-century convent built over a Nasrid palace. The food is fantastic, and the garden will leave you speechless.

La Trastienda | €€ | Finest hams, cold cuts, and cheeses to enjoy the real spirit of Granada

Ruta del Azafrán | €€ | Local and North African-inspired dishes to celebrate the Moorish past of the city

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Granada Guide for more resources.

.