Alhambra Tickets: How to Book and Plan Your Nasrid Palaces Time Slot

Book Alhambra tickets on the official Alhambra website as early as you can, ideally several weeks ahead for spring, summer and holiday weekends. The standard daytime ticket covers the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba, the Generalife and the gardens, but the Nasrid Palaces have a fixed half-hour entry slot that you cannot miss or change on the day. Plan the rest of your Granada day around that slot; our Granada itineraries show how to fit the Alhambra into a two or three-day stay.

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Which Alhambra ticket do you need?

The Alhambra is run by the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife, and the official ticket shop lists several ticket types. The names change from time to time, so read the description of what is included before paying. The main options:

• Alhambra General (daytime). The full visit: Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Generalife and gardens. This is the one most first-time visitors want. Standard adult prices have been roughly EUR 19–21 in recent seasons.
• Gardens ticket. Alcazaba, Generalife and gardens, without the Nasrid Palaces. Useful if the General ticket is sold out, but you miss the most famous rooms.
• Night visits. Separate tickets for the Nasrid Palaces or the Generalife after dark, on selected days. A good second visit, not a replacement for the daytime one.
• Guided tours and the Granada city card. Licensed guides and the city card include Alhambra entry. These can still be available when individual tickets are sold out, at a higher price.

Tickets are personal. You enter a name and ID number when booking, and staff can check your passport or ID card at the entrances. Bring the same document you used to book.

How the Nasrid Palaces time slot works

Your ticket shows a morning or afternoon session for the general site and a specific entry time for the Nasrid Palaces. You must be at the palace entrance at that time. If you are late, you will usually not be let in, and the ticket will not be refunded.

The Nasrid Palaces entrance is inside the complex, a fair walk from the main ticket pavilion near the Generalife. From the main entrance, allow 15–25 minutes on foot, more in summer heat or if you stop for photos. A safe plan is to arrive at the complex at least 45–60 minutes before your palace slot.

Which slot to choose:

• Early morning slot. Cooler, softer light and fewer people in the first rooms. Good from June to September, when afternoons can reach 35–40 °C.
• Mid-day slot. Easy to combine with a morning in the Alcazaba and Generalife first, then the palaces.
• Late afternoon slot. Lovely light in spring and autumn, but check that you have enough time for the rest of the complex before it closes.

Getting up the hill

From Plaza Nueva you can walk up the Cuesta de Gomérez, through the Puerta de las Granadas and the woods to the complex. Allow 20–35 minutes uphill. The small red Alhambra minibuses run from the centre (Plaza Isabel la Católica and Plaza Nueva area) to the Alhambra; check the current line numbers and fares on the city bus operator's website. A taxi is a fair choice if you have mobility problems or a tight palace slot.

Wear shoes with grip. Paths are gravel, cobbles and steps, and the full visit means 3–4 hours on your feet.

A half-day plan around your slot

• 60 minutes before your slot: arrive at the main entrance, use the toilets, fill water bottles.
• Before the palaces: visit the Alcazaba, the fortress at the western end, with views over the Albaicín and the city.
• Your slot: the Nasrid Palaces, including the Mexuar, the Comares Palace and the Court of the Lions. Plan about 60–75 minutes inside.
• After: the Palace of Charles V (its courtyard is free to enter), then walk east to the Partal gardens and the Generalife.
• Back down: walk down to the Paseo de los Tristes through the Cuesta de los Chinos, or take the minibus.

Bring water and a snack. There are cafés on the site, but queues can be long in high season.

Plan B when tickets are sold out

• Check the official shop again over the following days. Extra tickets are sometimes released, and cancellations reappear.
• Look at a licensed guided tour or the city card, both of which include entry.
• Book a night visit to the Nasrid Palaces, then add a gardens ticket for the daytime.
• Visit the free areas: the Palace of Charles V courtyard and the Alhambra Museum inside it, which usually do not need a timed ticket (check current rules).
• See the Alhambra from outside: the Mirador de San Nicolás and the Mirador de San Cristóbal in the Albaicín give the classic view.

Avoid resellers who are not listed on the official site. Some charge much more for the same ticket, and a name mismatch can cause problems at the entrance.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance should I book Alhambra tickets?

For March to October, plan on several weeks ahead, longer for Easter, long weekends and summer. In winter you can sometimes book a few days ahead. Check availability on the official site as soon as your dates are fixed.

What happens if I miss my Nasrid Palaces time?

You will usually not be admitted to the palaces, and the ticket is not refunded. You can still see the other areas covered by your ticket within your session.

How long does a visit to the Alhambra take?

Plan 3–4 hours for the full daytime visit, plus 20–35 minutes to walk up from the centre.

Plan your Alhambra day

The Granada itineraries build the Alhambra into multi-day plans with the Albaicín and Sacromonte, and the Granada master guide covers the city, food and day trips. Everything for the city is in our Granada Travel Guides collection.

Times and prices are planning estimates, not timetables or guaranteed prices. Check the official Alhambra website and other official sources before you go.