Alhambra – How & where to get tickets 2021

Buy Alhambra Tickets in Advance?

Almost 3 million people visit the Alhambra Palace every year and since the number of admissions per day is limited, you are better off planning your trip and booking your ticket well in advance – we are talking about several weeks or even months earlier in high season.

But there is no need to worry if the tickets are sold out for your traveling dates, since the best way to visit the Alhambra is by taking part in a guided tour. Not only does the Alhambra complex have a lot to see, but there’s so much interesting history that it definitely makes sense to be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. Tours are usually available with much shorter notice and there are options for all budgets. If you are interested in a complete tour of the Alhambra in a group, this is our recommendation. If you prefer a private tour, check this one out. There are also daily tours from Seville, Malaga and other surrounding towns.

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Where to Buy Tickets for the Alhambra

We highly recommend to book your ticket well in advance by choosing one of the following options:

Book a tour that includes the entrance ticket – The Alhambra is massive and it is just not the same to use an audio guide compared to having a real person with you, giving you important information about what you are seeing and answering your questions.
- In our opinion, unless you really want VIP treatment, then a group tour will give you the most bang for your buck:
  3-Hour Skip-the-Line Group Tour
- If you want VIP treatment, then go with a private tour guide:
  3-Hour Skip-the-Line Private Tour
- Are you travelling from out of Granada for a day tour?
  Day trip to Granada from Sevilla, including a visit of both the Alhambra Palace and the Albaicín neighborhood
  Day trip to Granada from Malaga, including a visit of both the Alhambra Palace and the area around the cathedral
Buy your entrance ticket online here – Or per phone (+34 858 953 616). There are two ways to get the tickets:
- “Print at home” – you can print your own tickets at home – but be aware of the rules described on the web (must be quality print, using A4 paper, both front and back side, QR code and basic info must be legible).
- Pick them up in the ticket offices (presenting the credit card and/or passport of the person that made the reservation) or automatic machines (presenting the credit card used to pay for the tickets) located in the Access Pavilion in the Alhambra.

If you haven’t booked either a tour or a ticket in advance, you have several options:

Arrive at the Alhambra Ticket Office early in the morning. These tickets are limited and queues form way before the office opens at 8am. Also, keep in mind that you can only buy tickets for that same day.
If “general daytime tickets” are sold out, you can almost always buy a ticket to visit the Nasrid Palaces at night.
Purchase a Granada Card for 40€, which almost always has available slots for visiting the Alhambra. The card includes the ticket for the Alhambra (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces and Generalife), other main touristic attractions as well as 9 trips in the local bus system.

Types of Alhambra Tickets

Due to huge demand, tickets are only valid for the day and time indicated on them. There are several different types of tickets for visiting the Alhambra:

General daytime ticket. It includes access to everything (Alcazaba, Charles V Palace, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife and gardens). When booking the ticket, you will need to choose a time for accessing the Nasrid Palaces. It is very important that you are at the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces at that time or you will not be allowed to enter.
Garden ticket. It includes access to the entire monument with exception to the Nasrid Palaces.
Night-time ticket. Visitors can choose between two types of night visits: visit around the palaces (only includes the Nasrid Palaces) or visit around the gardens (only includes the Generalife’s garden). These two visits are independent and can’t be done together because they take place at the same time:
- From October 15^th to March 31^st: Friday & Saturday from 8pm to 9:30pm
- From April 1^st to October 14^th: from Tuesday to Saturday from 10pm to 11:30pm

Opening Times & Prices

OPENING TIMES

From April 1st to October 14^th:

Day visits: Monday to Sunday:
- Visit hours: 8:30am to 8pm
- Ticket office hours: 8am to 8pm

Night visits: Tuesday to Saturday:
- Visit hours: 10pm to 11:30pm
- Ticket office hours: 9pm to 10:45pm

From October 15^th to March 31^st:
Day visits: Monday to Sunday:
- Visit hours: 8:30am to 6pm
- Ticket office hours: 8am to 6pm

Night visits: Tuesday to Saturday:
- Visit hours: 8pm to 9:30pm
- Ticket office hours: 7pm to 8:45pm

The Alhambra is closed on December 25^th and January 1^st

Exterior lighting schedule:
- From November 1^st to February 28^th: from dusk until 2am
- From March 1^st to October 31^st: from dusk until 4am
- During Easter week, Corpus Christi and Christmas (December 24^th to January 5^th): from dusk until 6am

ADMISSION

Alhambra Tours:
Skip-the-line Group Tour: from 40€
Skip-the-line Private Tour: from 140€

General daytime ticket:
Adults: 14€
Senior citizens, EU citizens with Youth card: 9€
Disabled and children (12 to 15): 8€
Children under 12: free

Garden ticket:
Adults: 7€
EU citizens with Youth card: 6€
Children under 12: free

Night-time ticket Generalife gardens:
Adults: 5€
EU citizens with Youth card: 4€
Children under 12: free

Night-time ticket Nasrid palaces:
Adults: 8€
EU citizens with Youth card: 6€
Children under 12: free

Audioguide / App:
There is no explanatory signage in the Alhambra complex, but several audioguide options are available (4 to 7€).

Alhambra Practical Info

HOW LONG DO I NEED FOR MY ALHAMBRA VISIT?

Plan on at least a minimum of 3.5 hours for seeing everything. But realistically plan on a little longer. You will want to take your time and have several breaks. Guided tours last around 3 hours and usually end at the Generalife which is still a decent walk to the exit. After the tour ends, you can still stay longer and check out the Charles V Palace which has an Alhambra museum inside.

IN WHICH ORDER SHOULD I VISIT EACH AREA WITHIN THE ALHAMBRA?

Check out this map of the Alhambra. It shows a circular path which is recommended so that you do not have to do any backtracking. Normally, we suggest to start off with the Charles V Palace and the Alcazaba to then enter the Nasrid Palaces during your time slot. From there, head to the Generalife. If you are pressed for time at the beginning, you can always see the Charles V Palace at the end since you can leave and re-enter at your own leisure.

WHERE CAN YOU EAT IN THE ALHAMBRA?

For lunch or snacks there are a few possibilities. A kiosk located next to the Alcazaba sells drinks, sandwiches and other simple food. If you prefer a nice sit-down meal, the only other option within the Alhambra complex is the restaurant of the Parador Hotel. It has a terrace with fantastic views to the Generalife and its gardens.

HOW DO I GET TO THE ALHAMBRA?

Whether you are coming from the city center or out of town, see our How to get to the Alhambra page for detailed info.

OTHER INFORMATION

Tickets that include access to the Nasrid Palaces have an allocated entry time stamped on them (* you will not be allowed to access these palaces outside of that time slot).
Tickets have the date/time and full name of the holder on them (like plane tickets). They are non transferable. It is not possible to change either the date/time or name or get a refund.
Each person must have an ID with them the day of the visit.
Even though children under 12 years enter for free, tickets must be generated at the same time as the others are purchased, because all visitors must carry a ticket when entering the complex.
The maximum number of tickets that can be purchased by one person per day is 10.
People purchasing discounted tickets must certify their eligibility.