Museum of the Alhambra and Museum of Fine Arts, in the Palace of Charles V
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Written by official guides
The Palace of Charles V houses two museums within a single sixteenth-century Renaissance building: the Museum of the Alhambra on the ground floor and the Museum of Fine Arts on the second floor. This unfinished palace, which Emperor Charles V ordered built as a residence after his honeymoon journey, has become Granada's most important art gallery, with more than 2,000 works.
Admission is free for European citizens and costs €1.50 for visitors from other countries. Opening hours change with the season, and the palace is closed on Mondays. Its open circular courtyard, a result of the building never being finished, hosts concerts and theatrical performances throughout the year.
Set within the Alhambra, it lets you combine a visit to both museums with the Nasrid monumental complex in a single day. Access is included with the general Alhambra ticket or with a specific ticket for the museums.
What to see in the museums at the Palace of Charles V
Museum of the Alhambra (Ground Floor)
The Museum of the Alhambra, on the ground floor, formerly known as the National Museum of Hispano-Muslim Art, holds the largest collection of Andalusi Islamic art, spanning from the eighth century to the end of the Nasrid era. Its seven exhibition rooms showcase, above all, the art of the Alhambra itself, with original pieces from the monument.
The permanent collection includes ceramics, textiles, carved wood, plasterwork and everyday objects that offer insight into life and art in Al-Andalus. Especially notable are the pieces recovered from excavations at the Alhambra itself and at Medina Azahara.
Main rooms:
Caliphal and Taifa art (8th-11th centuries)
Almoravid and Almohad period (11th-13th centuries)
Nasrid art of the Alhambra (13th-15th centuries)
Andalusi ceramics and tilework
Textiles and household objects
Museum of Fine Arts (Second Floor)
The Museum of Fine Arts is Spain's oldest provincial art gallery, founded in 1839 following the Mendizábal Confiscation. Officially moved to the Palace of Charles V in 1941 and opened to the public in 1958, it displays art from the fifteenth to the twentieth century, with particular emphasis on local Granada-born artists.
The collection centres on religious subjects, since many of the works came from convents and monasteries seized during the confiscations. Highlights include paintings and sculptures by Alonso Cano, Pedro Machuca, José de Mora and Juan Ramírez, among other masters of the Spanish Golden Age.
Layout by room:
Room I: Flemish-influenced art (15th century)
Room II: Alonso Cano and the Granada school
Room III: Followers of Alonso Cano
Room IV: Landscapes and portraits (non-religious subjects)
Room V: Nineteenth-century Granada art
Room VI: Views of Granada by various artists
Opening hours and admission prices, Palace of Charles V Museums, Granada 2025
High season (16 June - 15 September): Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Low season (16 September - 15 June): Tuesday to Saturday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday and public holidays: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Closed: Mondays year-round
Admission:
EU citizens: Free admission
Other countries: €1.50
Included with the general Alhambra ticket
How to get to the Palace of Charles V, Alhambra, Granada
Buses: Lines 30 and 32 to the Alhambra Location: Inside the Alhambra monumental complex Access: On foot from the Alhambra ticket office (10-minute walk)
The palace sits at the heart of the Alhambra grounds, between the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife. It's an essential stop on any visit to the monumental complex.
Practical information for visiting the Palace of Charles V museums
Recommended duration: 1-2 hours for both museums Accessibility: Adapted for visitors with reduced mobility Photography: Allowed without flash in both museums
The palace's circular courtyard hosts cultural events throughout the year. Check the programme of concerts and performances that make the most of the Renaissance space's exceptional acoustics.
It can be combined with a full visit to the Alhambra or enjoyed as a stand-alone visit to discover Islamic art and Granada painting without touring the entire monumental complex.
Granada Free Tour
Granada Night Free Tour
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