How to visit the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces

When we talk about a full visit to the Alhambra with a general ticket we mean a route through the main areas open to the public. The usual thing is to see, in this order or very similar, the following parts:

Generalife
The former summer palace, closely linked to nature and rest. Here you walk through the historic orchards and the gardens, which change with the time of year, together with spaces such as the Patio de la Acequia or the Water Staircase. It is where the relationship of the Alhambra with water and landscape is best appreciated.

The Secano or medina
The old area where ordinary people lived inside the Alhambra. Archaeological remains of the city are preserved, together with the current Parador de San Francisco, a former Muslim palace that Isabella the Catholic turned into a convent. It usually works as a passage towards the rest of the complex.

Palace of Charles V
The most transformed part of the monument, a 16th-century Renaissance palace built as an imperial residence. Today it houses the Alhambra Museum and the Fine Arts Museum. The visit usually goes round the building and its great central courtyard.

Alcazaba
The military fortress and the oldest part of the complex. Here you see the military quarter, former residence of the elite army, and climb the watchtowers, such as the Torre de la Vela, which offer sweeping views of Granada and the Albaicín.

Nasrid Palaces
The best-preserved part and the true heart of the Alhambra. You visit the various Nasrid palaces, with their courtyards, reception halls, plasterwork, tilework and poems on the walls. Entry to this area must always be at the exact time shown on the ticket; if it is not respected, access is lost.

The route may vary slightly depending on the Nasrid Palaces time or conservation work, but with a full general ticket these are the parts you visit in practice.

If it is your first time at the Alhambra and you want to see the Nasrid Palaces, Alcazaba, Partal and Generalife in a single visit, the ticket you want is the daytime general ticket. It is the Patronato's full option and the one we also use on the most common guided visits.

With this ticket you will have access to the monumental complex and to the Nasrid Palaces at the exact time shown on the ticket, which it is important to respect so as not to lose access. Other options, such as garden-only tickets or night visits, usually make more sense for those who have been before or want to repeat just one part.

In the dedicated guide to tickets for the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces we explain in detail all the ticket types, prices and how to buy them step by step.

To organise your visit to the Alhambra of Granada properly you need to be clear about two things: the general opening hours of the monument and the entry time to the Nasrid Palaces shown on your ticket.

For the daytime visit, the monumental complex opens from 8:30 to 18:00 approximately in winter and from 8:30 to 20:00 in summer. The monument only closes to the public on 1 January and 25 December.

There are also night visits with specific times for both the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife Gardens, always shown when you buy the night ticket.

The most important thing is that the time on your ticket for the Nasrid Palaces is compulsory. You can enter the enclosure earlier and start with other areas, but at that exact time you must be at the door of the Palaces. If you arrive late, the slot is lost and access is not allowed even if you have paid for the ticket.

Alhambra ticket prices are set by the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife by official order, and they have been updated recently. That is why it is important to take these figures as a reference and always check the exact rate at the time of purchase.

For a standard visit, the daytime general ticket is the one that interests most people, because it includes the Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Partal and Generalife. Alongside it there are partial tickets (gardens only, night only, etc.) that are usually cheaper but leave out an important area.

The general ticket, which lets you see the whole Alhambra during the day, has an official base price of around €20–21 per adult.

Gardens and Alcazaba tickets and night tickets are somewhat cheaper, designed for more specific visits or for repeating the experience.

In our dedicated guide on tickets for the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces we detail the rates updated under the order of 17 July 2025, the discounts available and the steps to buy them without mistakes.

Buying tickets for the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces on your own is not impossible, but it is not as simple as it seems either. Daily capacity is limited, tickets sell out very quickly on many dates and the Nasrid Palaces time slot has to fit properly with the rest of the visit.

Go to the Patronato's official ticket sales website.

Choose the daytime general ticket if you want to see the Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Partal and Generalife.

Select the date and note the Nasrid Palaces time the system assigns you.

Fill in the details of each person, since tickets are named.

Complete payment by card and keep the ticket with its QR code.

The problem is that, on high-demand dates, many people find that there are no tickets with the Nasrid Palaces left for the day they wanted.

That is why many people prefer to book a guided visit to the Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces with tickets included, where the operator itself takes care of arranging the full general ticket, adjusting the times and organising the route to make good use of the time. In our case, on each tour page we clearly state which type of ticket is included and which areas are visited, so you know from the start what you are booking.

The order of the visit always depends on the Nasrid Palaces entry time shown on your ticket. From there, a comfortable route is usually this:

Enter through the access pavilion and start with the Generalife, walking through its gardens and the summer palace. Then cross the Secano or medina area, where the houses stood and where the current Parador de San Francisco is.

Be at the door of the Nasrid Palaces and do the full route through the various palaces, courtyards and halls, including the Court of the Myrtles, the Comares Palace and the Court of the Lions.

Continue through the Partal area and its gardens and finish at the Alcazaba, climbing the watchtowers, such as the Torre de la Vela, to see Granada and the Albaicín from above.

The Alhambra of Granada stands on the Sabika hill, so there is always some climbing, whatever means you choose. These are the most practical options:

If you are staying in the centre or the Albaicín, it is a good idea to walk up. The three most common climbs are:

From Plaza Nueva, via the Cuesta de Gomérez and the Puerta de las Granadas.

From the Realejo quarter, via the Cuesta del Realejo.

From the Paseo de los Tristes, via the Cuesta del Rey Chico (also known as the Cuesta de los Chinos).

Minibuses leave from the centre of Granada and go up to the Alhambra. The most used lines are those connecting Plaza Isabel la Católica with the Alhambra and the Albaicín. They are the most comfortable option if you do not want to walk up the hill.

Private cars cannot get there from the historic centre. You have to arrive via the Ronda Sur, following the Alhambra / Sierra Nevada signs to the monument's official car park, next to the access pavilion.

To visit the Alhambra and the Nasrid Palaces there are some basic rules worth knowing before you reach the access pavilion.

The first is ID. Tickets are named, personal and non-transferable. Each visitor must carry their original document (national ID card, passport or driving licence). At the various entrances you may be asked for the document, which is scanned together with the ticket. If the original document is not shown, even if the ticket has been paid for, staff may refuse entry.

As for luggage, suitcases or large backpacks are not allowed in. The enclosure has lockers in the access area where you can safely leave items larger than the permitted size. For the visit, the most practical thing is a small backpack with water, something warm if needed and the essentials.

Inside the monument you must always follow the marked routes, not touch the decoration and avoid using flash indoors.

After seeing how the independent visit works, many people end up choosing a full guided visit so they do not have to worry about tickets, times and routes inside the enclosure. On a guided visit with an official guide, someone takes care of arranging the general ticket, fitting in the Nasrid Palaces time and leading the group along the route most recommended by experts, explaining the history of the monument.

Tickets for the Alhambra: how to get them and what to do if they are sold out

Tips for visiting the Alhambra: best time, what to bring and accessibility

Which guided visit to choose at the Alhambra: audio guide, group or private tour