ALHAMBRA Tickets & Practical Info

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.
We highly recommend to book your ticket well in advance by choosing one of the following options:
If you haven’t booked either a tour or a ticket in advance, you have several options:
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:
From April 1st to October 14th:
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 15th to March 31st: 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 25th and January 1st
Exterior lighting schedule: - From November 1st to February 28th: from dusk until 2am - From March 1st to October 31st: from dusk until 4am - During Easter week, Corpus Christi and Christmas (December 24th to January 5th): from dusk until 6am
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€).
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.
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.
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.
Whether you are coming from the city center or out of town, see our How to get to the Alhambra page for detailed info.