The Alhambra: tickets, guided tours and how to get there
The 15 ways to visit it that we sell, compared, with the official price, opening hours and what to do if tickets are sold out.
- Official ticket
- €22.27
- Winter hours
- 8:30am – 6pm
- Visit length
- About 4 hours
- Book
- Weeks ahead
- Getting there
- Bus C30 / C32
About the Alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace city built on the Sabika hill, facing the Albaicín with Sierra Nevada behind it. Its name comes from the Arabic al-Hamra, "the red one", after the colour of its walls. Muhammad I, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, began it in the 13th century, and his successors turned it during the 14th into the residence of the last sultans of al-Andalus.
The complex brings together four areas: the Alcazaba, the military quarter and the oldest part; the Nasrid Palaces, with the Mexuar, the Comares Palace and the Court of the Lions; the Generalife, the summer estate with its gardens and water channels; and the Renaissance Palace of Charles V, built after the Catholic Monarchs took Granada in 1492.
Carved plaster, tilework, muqarnas and the play of water make the Nasrid Palaces the high point of Andalusi art. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and is one of the most visited monuments in Spain, which is why tickets sell out weeks in advance.
Every way to visit the Alhambra
Tickets and tours with their own allocation: still available when the official site is sold out.
Which option suits you?
Our pick depending on what you're after.
| If you want… | We recommend | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| The most popular | Guided Tour of the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces | 4.7 (21,100) | €49 |
| The cheapest with a guide | Alhambra Entry and Guided Tour with Nasrid Palaces | 4.7 (3,516) | €50 |
| The best rated | Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces Guided Tour with Tickets | 4.9 (1,018) | €99 |
| Something different | Evening Tour of the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces | 4.9 (288) | €54 |
| Just your group | Private Tour of the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces | 4.9 (242) | €280 |
Practical info
Opening hours
Summer (1 April – 14 October): 8:30am–8pm, last Nasrid Palaces entry 7pm. Winter: 8:30am–6pm. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Official prices
General €22.27. Gardens and Generalife €12.73. Nasrid Palaces at night €12.73. Dobla de Oro €30.48.
Getting there
Minibus C30 or C32 from Plaza Isabel la Católica (€1.60, every 8 minutes). Taxi from the centre: €8–10.
When to book
Tickets go on sale up to three months ahead and morning slots sell out weeks in advance. You only get a 30-minute window for the Nasrid Palaces.
In-depth guides
Alhambra tickets: prices, ticket types and how to visit
Alhambra tickets cost €22.27 on the official site and sell out weeks ahead. Ticket types and prices, the Nasrid Palaces slot, tours with entry and how to visit.
GuideAlhambra tickets sold out: last-minute releases and other options
Alhambra tickets sold out? Check the evening before, 20:00-22:00, for releases, then try the Granada Card, the night visit or a guided tour with entry included.
GuideAlhambra at night: night visit tickets, times, prices and if sold out
Alhambra night visit: Nasrid Palaces €12.73, Generalife €8.48. Fridays and Saturdays in winter, Tuesday to Saturday in summer, and what to do if it is sold out.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Alhambra general ticket include?
What can I do if tickets are sold out?
Can you visit the Alhambra at night?
How do I get to the Alhambra from the centre?
More attractions in Granada
Generalife
The Nasrid sultans' summer gardens, a short walk from the Alhambra. Water courtyards, cypresses, roses and views over the Albaicín. Usually included in the same Alhambra ticket.
Albaicín
The medieval Muslim quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. White streets on a steep hill, garden cármenes and viewpoints. The best reflection of the Alhambra is from the Mirador de San Nicolás at sunset.
Sacromonte
Granada's historic Romani quarter, in caves dug into the hillside facing the Alhambra. Birthplace of the zambra flamenco and origin of the city's oldest tablaos. Visit at night for the real atmosphere.
Royal Chapel and Cathedral
The Catholic Monarchs' tombs rest in the Royal Chapel, next to the Renaissance Cathedral they commissioned. The complex tells the story of the end of the Reconquista and the start of the Spanish Golden Age.