The Alhambra is the palace city of the Nasrid sultans on the Sabika hill above Granada: a fortress (the Alcazaba), the carved and tiled Nasrid Palaces, the Renaissance Palace of Charles V and the Generalife gardens. The full day ticket, Alhambra General, costs €22.27 (as of October 2026). Tickets are named, checked against your passport or ID card, and give a fixed time for the Nasrid Palaces that you must keep. Book on the official website as early as you can, and allow about three hours.
Right now in Alhambra
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- Mon 12 Oct National Day of Spain (Fiesta Nacional de España)
Tickets and tours for Alhambra
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Why the Alhambra matters
In 1238 Muhammad I (al-Ahmar), founder of the Nasrid dynasty, chose the hill as the seat of his court and began rebuilding the old fortress. For two and a half centuries Granada was the last Muslim kingdom in Spain, and its sultans turned the hill into a walled city of palaces and gardens. The Alhambra reached its height under Yusuf I (1333–1354) and in the second reign of Muhammad V (1362–1391), when most of the rooms people come to see were built.
After Granada surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, the Alhambra became a royal residence. In 1526 Emperor Charles V decided to build the palace that carries his name right beside the Nasrid rooms. It suffered later, including demolitions by Napoleon’s troops in 1812, and became a national monument in 1870. With the Generalife, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, extended to the Albaicín in 1994.
What you’ll see
The visit has four main areas, all included in the Alhambra General ticket:
- Nasrid Palaces: the heart of the visit and the only part with a fixed time. You walk through the Mexuar, the Comares Palace with its long pool in the Court of the Myrtles and the Hall of the Ambassadors, then the Palace of the Lions with its fountain of twelve stone lions and rooms with honeycomb (muqarnas) domes.
- Alcazaba: the military fortress at the western tip of the hill. Climb the Torre de la Vela for one of the best views over the Albaicín and, on clear days, the Sierra Nevada.
- Generalife: the sultans’ summer estate on the next slope, with its long water channel, fountains, terraces and flower gardens.
- Partal and the gardens: a portico reflected in a pool, and walks along the walls and towers between the palaces and the Generalife.
The Palace of Charles V, a square Renaissance building with a round courtyard, and the Baño de la Mezquita are free to enter. The palace also houses the Alhambra Museum and the Fine Arts Museum.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and rules from the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, the official operator, as of October 2026:
- Alhambra General (day): €22.27. Nasrid Palaces at your time slot, plus the Alcazaba, the Generalife and the gardens.
- Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba: €12.73. Everything except the Nasrid Palaces.
- Night visits: Nasrid Palaces €12.73; Gardens and Generalife €8.48. Alhambra Experiences (Nasrid Palaces at night plus the Alcazaba and gardens by day): €22.27. Dobla de Oro (Alhambra General plus a set of Andalusian monuments in the Albaicín): €30.48.
- Reduced and free: reduced prices for EU citizens over 65, Carné Joven holders and people with a disability of 33% or more, with official documents shown on the day. Children under 12 go free but need a ticket bought in the same purchase as an adult.
- Day hours: 8:30–20:00 from 1 April to 14 October; 8:30–18:00 from 15 October to 31 March. Closed 25 December and 1 January.
- Night hours: Nasrid Palaces Tuesday to Saturday 22:00–23:30 from 1 April to 14 October; Friday and Saturday 20:00–21:30 from 15 October to 31 March.
- Where to buy: only on the official ticket website (tickets.alhambra-patronato.es), at the ticket office and machines in the Access Pavilion, or by phone. Online sale closes at 23:59 the day before. Each person can buy up to 10 tickets a month.
The rules that catch people out
- Your Nasrid Palaces time is fixed. If you are not at the palace entrance at the time on your ticket, you won’t be let in, though you can still see the rest. The palaces are a 10–15 minute walk from the main entrance, so be there at least 15 minutes early.
- Tickets are personal. Carry your ticket throughout and show it with the passport or national ID card you booked with. Names can be changed a limited number of times before the visit through the call centre.
- Bags: only bags smaller than 40×40 cm are allowed. Free lockers at the Access Pavilion and by the Puerta del Vino take larger items, subject to space. Pushchairs are not allowed inside the buildings, and animals are not allowed except assistance dogs.
How long to allow and when to go
The Patronato estimates about three hours. Choose an early Nasrid Palaces slot and see the Alcazaba and Generalife around it. In July and August afternoons pass 34 °C and the walls give little shade, so go early or book the night visit. Spring and autumn sell out first, sometimes weeks ahead.
Accessibility
The Patronato publishes an accessibility map with a route practicable for wheelchair users through the Nasrid Palaces, the Partal and the lower Generalife gardens, marking slopes of up to 9–12% and stretches of cobbles. The Alcazaba is not on that route. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the Access Pavilion, subject to availability, and there are adapted toilets on the route. Visitors with a disability of 33% or more pay the reduced price.
Getting there
From Plaza Nueva, walk up the Cuesta de Gomérez through the Puerta de las Granadas and the woods: 20–30 minutes, all uphill. The small Alhambra minibuses are easier: C30 from Plaza Isabel la Católica is the most direct, C32 links the Alhambra with the Albaicín, and C35 also serves the hill. A single ticket is €1.60 (as of October 2026). Drivers can use the 360-space, 24-hour car park by the Access Pavilion; don’t drive through the camera-controlled old town.
Combine it with
Watch the sunset over the Alhambra from the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín, the view that sells the postcards. For the cathedral, Sacromonte, the Sierra Nevada and where to stay, see our Granada travel guide. If you are touring Andalusia, the Mezquita of Córdoba and the Real Alcázar of Seville complete the story of Al-Andalus.
Alhambra FAQ
How far ahead should I book Alhambra tickets?
As early as you can, especially for spring, autumn and weekends, when day tickets can sell out weeks ahead. Buy only on the official website, at the ticket office or by phone; online sale closes at 23:59 the day before.
How much does the Alhambra cost?
As of October 2026, the Alhambra General day ticket is €22.27 and the Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba ticket €12.73. The night visit to the Nasrid Palaces is €12.73. Children under 12 go free but need a ticket in the same booking.
Do I need my passport to visit the Alhambra?
Yes, or a national ID card. Tickets are personal and non-transferable, and you must show your ticket with an identity document during the visit.
What happens if I miss my Nasrid Palaces time?
You won’t be let into the Nasrid Palaces, but you can still visit the Alcazaba, the Generalife and the gardens on the same ticket. Be at the palace entrance at least 15 minutes early.
What can I do if the Alhambra is sold out?
Try the night visit to the Nasrid Palaces, the Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba ticket, an official partner’s guided tour, or the Granada Card.
Is the Alhambra wheelchair accessible?
Partly. There is a marked route through the Nasrid Palaces, the Partal and the lower Generalife gardens, with some steep slopes and cobbles; the Alcazaba is not accessible. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the entrance, subject to availability.