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Top Attractions in Spain
IMPORTANT
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The first thing you need to know when booking your Alhambra ticket is what kind of admission you should buy. Officially, there are many different tickets sold that give you access to certain parts of the palace complex and others not. Some tickets don’t even include the highlight of the Alhambra, the Nasrid Palaces.
We think that if you are visiting the Alhambra, you should see the whole thing, and most importantly, you should see the best parts! For this reason we highly recommend buying the complete admission ticket that gives you full access to the Alhambra, including the Nasrid palaces and the Generalife gardens. And furthermore, you will have an even better overall experience if you take part in a tour with an official guide.
If you find general admission tickets are sold out on the day you want to visit, don’t stress. There are several options available to secure entry to the Alhambra:
November 16th is the only time when the entire Alhambra complex is free to enter due to International World Heritage Day. The capacity is limited and it’s still necessary to request tickets through the official website of the Alhambra.
Yes, much of the Alhambra can be seen for free. The exceptions are for the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba fortress, and the Generalife gardens. That means that the Palace of Charles V, the Alhambra Museum, the Mosque baths and other sites can all be visited for free all year round.
Children under 12 years enter the Alhambra for free. However, tickets must be generated at the same time as the others are purchased, because all visitors must carry a ticket when entering the complex.
If you ask us, YES! Taking part in a guided tour of the Alhambra is the number one recommendation we have for anyone visiting it for the first time.
Not only does the Alhambra have a lot to see, but there’s so much interesting history surrounding it that it definitely makes sense to be accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide. It is one thing to look at a palace room with incredibly detailed decorations and it is another to have it brought to life and made into a story by someone that knows the place and its history inside and out.
Almost 3 million people visit the Alhambra Palace every year and since the number of admissions per day is limited, you are better off booking your ticket well in advance – we are talking about several weeks or even months earlier in high season.
Do not show up to the ticket counter in person and expect to get a ticket. And even if you are lucky enough to get a ticket in person, you will for sure be unlucky when it comes to waiting in line.
But there is no need to worry if the tickets are sold out for your traveling dates, since there is another way to secure access. If you can’t get your hands on a normal admission ticket, it’s usually possible to get into the Alhambra with a guided tour. This is actually a win-win in our opinion, since getting a proper tour of the Alhambra from a knowledgable guide is the best way to experience it.
So you’ve decided to purchase an Alhambra ticket with full access that includes the immaculate Nasrid Palaces - perfect. Just make sure you take note of the time slot that is assigned to you on your ticket! You don’t want to show up at the doors of the Nasrid Palaces and be turned away because you missed your time slot. It’s sad but it does happen. Don’t let it happen to you.
Often times upon entering, Alhambra staff will check that your ID matches the name on your ticket. If that happens and you don’t have identification, you will not be allowed to enter. Again, this is a horrible situation, but it does unfortunately happen. You should bring an ID even if you are taking part in a guided tour.
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