Alhambra (Alhambra de Granada) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Alhambra. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Alhambra: Small Group Tour with Local Guide and Admission

• Alhambra and Generalife Skip the Line Premium Tour including Nasrid Palaces

• Alhambra with Nazaries Palaces Private Tour

• Private Alhambra Highlights Tour Including the Nasrid Palaces

• Granada: Alhambra Guided Tour including Nasrid Palaces

Standard Alhambra tickets start at about €21 and grant access to the entire site, including Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Gardens, Partal, and Alcazaba. If you don’t want to see the whole site, you can buy separate tickets to Nasrid Palaces or to everything else (Generalife, Gardens, Partal, and Alcazaba) for €12.

Yes, the Alhambra is one of the most popular attractions in Granada, renowned for its dazzling architecture, historical significance, and UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Take photos under the scalloped arches in the Nasrid Palaces, explore its lush gardens, and soak up the beautiful views from the hilltop location.

Per one customer who booked the Alhambra and Generalife Skip the Line Small Group, Including Nasrid Palaces, "This was a wonderful tour of the Alhambra. Cristina guided us through each and every facet of the building and its gardens. We wore earpieces throughout the tour and could clearly hear the history the guide shared."

Yes, you should buy tickets for the Alhambra in advance—it’s Granada’s top attraction and tickets sell out fast. You can buy same-day tickets at the entrance, but they’re first come first served. You also have to buy tickets at least two hours before your allocated entry time to the Nasrid Palace.

As the most comprehensive pass, the General admission ticket includes access to all areas of the Alhambra: the Nasrid Palace, the one-time sultans’ residence and most impressive part of the complex; the Alcazaba fortress; the Generalife, with its summer palace and idyllic gardens; and the Renaissance-era Charles V Palace.

To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for a morning slot as near to the Alhambra’s early morning opening as possible. Most visitors arrive mid-morning, so coming earlier will mean shorter ticket collection lines and fewer crowds. Alternatively, the crowds thin a little after lunchtime.

Yes, you can take backpacks into the Alhambra, provided they don’t exceed 15.74 inches (40 centimeters) by 15.74 inches (40 centimeters). If your backpack is larger, or you have luggage or a baby stroller, you’ll need to leave them in the ticket office cloakroom or the services pavilion.

No, there’s no official dress code for the Alhambra. That said, it’s best to dress respectfully and perhaps avoid sleeveless tops and shorts, or any garment that could be considered offensive, as some parts of the complex are religious. Comfortable shoes are a must, though—exploring involves lots of walking.

If your ticket includes entry to the Nasrid Palace, get to the Alhambra at least 1.5 hours before the Nasrid time slot on your ticket—missing it means no entry. You’ll need 20 minutes to reach the palace after entering, and it makes sense to visit the Alcazaba and Charles V Palace en route to it.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Alhambra. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Granada:

• Sacromonte

• Royal Chapel of Granada

• Mirador de San Nicolás

• Albaicín

• Paseo de los Tristes

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Granada.