Alhambra Palace Spain Alhambra Palace Spain Location: Alhambra Palace overlooks the city of Granada in Spain. Best Time to Visit: Spring and Autumn. Preferred Timing: 08.30 a.m. to 06.00 p.m. Time Required to Visit: Around 3 hours. Entry Fee: Euro 13 (Though rate may change from time to time) Getting there: By Foot: If you are physically fit, this is best way to approach the palace, as it gives you the best opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty surrounding region. There are two popular paths to reach Alhambra Palace Spain from Granada city center. The most beautiful is the one that takes from Plaza Nueva into the street Cuesta de Gomíérez. You can also reach there via the street Cuesta del Rey Chico. By Public Transport: There are two buses that will take you to Alhambra Places from Granada. Route 30 and 32 start from Plaza Nueva and drive up the Cuesta de Gomíérez. You can also hire taxis in order to reach there.

By Car: If you are going there by car, you need to take the ring road of the city, called Ronda Sur, and then follow the direction of Sierra Nevada . You can park your car at any one of the two car parking areas in Generalife. Nearest airport: Granada Airport (GRX) Nearest rail station: Avenida de Andaluces "How many legends and traditions, true and fabulous; how many songs and ballads, Arabian and Spanish of love and war and chivalry, are associated with this oriental pile!" wrote Washington Irving about the Alhambra Palace way back 1861. Even now, the palace continues to enchant, intrigue and bewilder visitors with its singular magnificence and enduring charm. It is not difficult to understand why this palace in Spain, overlooking the ancient city of Granada, fired the imagination of poets, artists, thinkers and travelers with a taste of history and the mystique, for so many centuries. Alhambra Palace Spain, also known as the 'Red Fortress', is a famous palace and fortress located on the hilly terrace on the southeastern edge of the city of Granada in Spain.

One of the most famous examples of Moorish architecture, Alhambra Palace was primarily the home of Nasrid Sultans and their court. It is the same place where artists and intellectuals took shelter when Christian Spain won over Al Andalus. Currently Alhambra Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain which attracts a huge number of tourists from all the parts of the world. The construction of Alhambra Palace in Spain started in the mid-1300s and was completed by Yusuf I and Muhammed V, Sultan of Granada towards the end of Muslim rule in the country. It is located on a terrace measuring about 740 m in length and 205 m in width, covering an area of about 142,000 square meters. The palace can not be described as a single construction; rather it is a combination of evolution, successive reforms and extensions. Inside the Alhambra Palace Alhambra Palace in Granada can be divided into four groups, viz. Alcazaba (the Fortress), Palacios Nazaries (Nasrid Palaces), Generalife Gardens, and Medina (Town).

Alcazaba: Alcazaba, the fortress and the military headquarters for the Nasrid dynasty, was built on the highest point of the hill. Hence, it got the positional advantage to defend the royal family. Though originally, the construction had 24 towers, but currently only a few remain. Palacios Nazarí­es: Time spent at the Palacios Nazarí­es or the Nasrid Palaces will be some of the memorable moments of your visit to Alhambra Palace. Exquisitely decorated function rooms and courtyards that were used by the Muslim rulers for different purposes are the highlights of Palacios Nazarí­es. The palaces can be divided into three distinct parts, namely the Mexuar, the Serallo and the Harem. Mexuar is the place where the Sultan used to meet his ministers. Next to it, there is the Cuarto Dorado or the Golden Room where Sultan took his most important decisions as military commander-in-chief. The entrance of Serallo is just opposite of Cuarto Dorado. Serallo was the official residence of the Sultan.

The famous Patio de los Leones lies at the center of Harem, which was built for Sultan Muhammad V in 1378. Also visit Sala de los Abencerrajes, located at the south of it. On the north of Patio is the brilliant Sala de dos Hermanas. Sala de los Ajimeces, the dressing room of the favored lady, lies at the far end of Patio. Whereas, on the east end of Patio, lies the Sala de los Reyes or the Hall of the Kings. Generalife Gardens: As the name suggests, this area consists of beautiful gardens and fountains. Medina: Medina, occupies the largest area, was built to house craftsmen. Alhambra Palace Spain Tickets For a visit to Alhambra Palace, there can be several types of tickets for the tourists, namely Morning Tickets, Afternoon Tickets, and Evening Tickets. The price of each ticket is Euro 13, though it may change from time to time. Morning Tickets: Alhambra Palace History, Location - Granada, Photo by: clspeace , Creative Commons The Alhambra is a palace and fortress located in Granada, Spain. The entire fortress is made up of red clay.

The fort is very complex in its architecture. It was built by Moorish who was a ruler in Southern Spain. The Fortress was made on a hilly terrain on the southeast side of the city. Today, the Alhambra is one of the main tourist attractions of Spain. Many years ago it was known to be a residential place of the Muslim rulers. It has some very intrinsic and beautiful Islamic architecture. The total length of the Alhambra is 740 meters. The strongest walls are at the citadel. Other than the west side of the Alhambra, all the other walls are weak. In total, there are thirteen towers. A river divides the Granada Valley and the Alhambra Park runs parallel to the Monte Mauror. The Alhambra is a true reflection of the ruler Nasrid Emirate of Granada. A lot of people have used this place as a refuge. This site has a very complex mix of both the natural and manmade features that are worth visiting for. The structure itself reflects the craftsmanship of Muslims.

10 Most Beautiful Palaces in the World – Touropia Travel Experts 10 Most Beautiful Palaces in the World Last updated on November 10, 2016 in Culture 9 Comments Once the homes of kings and emperors, now popular tourist attractions. A list of some of the most beautiful palaces in the world. 10Pena National Palace Built in 1842 by King Ferdinand II, the Pena National Palace in Portugal is the oldest European castle in the Romanticism style. The palace was constructed on the ruins of a monastery severely damaged in the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. Today, with it original colors of red and yellow restored, the Pena National Palace is one of Portugal’s most visited monuments. 9Mysore Palace Commonly described as the City of Palaces, Mysore in India has a number of historic palaces of which Mysore Palace is the most famous one. The palace was commissioned in 1897 after the old palace was destroyed in a fire during a wedding, and its construction was completed in 1912.

During the Dasara festival in the months of September and October the palace is illuminated with more than 10,000 bulbs, offering a magnificent sight. 8Schonbrunn Palace The 1,441 room Schönbrunn Palace, comparable in grandeur to Versailles, is one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna . The palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at the request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa. The Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the Privy Garden, the oldest zoo in the world, a maze and labyrinth, and the Gloriette (a marble summerhouse) situated on top of a 60 meter high hill. 7Summer Palace The Summer Palace is located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from central Beijing and is mainly dominated by the Longevity Hill and the Kunming Lake. As its name implies, the Summer Palace was used as a summer residence by China’s imperial rulers – as a retreat from the ‘Forbidden City’. The gardens were substantially extended in 1750, reproducing the styles of various palaces and gardens from around China.

Kunming Lake was extended to imitate the West Lake in HangZhou. 6Topkapi Palace When Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror took Constantinople in 1453, he first ordered the construction of a new residence. This was to become the palace later known as Topkapi. The palace would remain the imperial enclave of the Ottoman sultans for 4 centuries, from 1465 to 1853. Over the years the palace complex underwent constant modifications. Today the complex is made up of four main courtyards of increasing grandeur and many smaller buildings. 5Chateau de Chambord This second most visited château in France (after Versailles), is a masterpiece of the French Renaissance. Chateau de Chambord features 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and 84 staircases. Construction of the chateau started in 1519 by King François I so he could hunt in the nearby forests. The cold and massive rooms of the Château made it unpopular as an actual residence and François I himself stayed here for less than 40 days in total.

4Palace of Versailles Versailles was originally a hunting lodge, built in 1624 by Louis XIII. His successor, Louis XIV, expanded the site into one of the largest palaces in the world, and from 1682, used it to control France by absolute rule. The Palace of Versailles remained the official residence of the Kings of France until October 1789 when the royal family was forced to return to Paris during the French Revolution. 3Alhambra Part fortress, part palace and part garden the Alhambra is situated on a plateau overlooking the city of Granada in southern Spain. The palace was constructed during the mid 14th century by the Nasrid sultans and is a testament to the skill of Muslim craftsmen of that time. The Alhambra is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and many visitors come to Granada just to see the Alhambra. 2Potala Palace Situated on Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet.

Although a palace was already built here in the 7th century the construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694. The Potala Palace remained the residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India, after the Chinese invasion in 1959. 1Forbidden City flickr/ Bridget Coila Located in the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City is the world’s largest palace complex covering 72 hectares. Built from 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 rooms surrounded by a six meter deep moat and a ten meter high wall . The distance between the Tiananmen Gate and the Gate of Divine Might is 960 meters. Twenty-four emperors reigned over the country for almost 5 centuries from the Forbidden City until the abdication of Puyi, the last Emperor of China.

Related Travel Lists Alhambra Palace - The History | Andalucia Travelguide.com Alhambra Palace – The History The Alhambra Palace, in Granada, has long been considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world and, if you’ve seen it, you’ll know why. However, voting is currently underway to decide on the definitive list, which you can see on . To support the Alhambra’s candidature a human chain will surround and embrace the complex on April 29th, which really should be something to see. For those of you who haven’t yet visited the Alhambra my previous article tells you how to go about it. In this article, I’d like to give you a little background to, and history of, the Alhambra. The original military fort, or Alcazaba, dates from the 9th century, and the first documents in which it is mentioned refer to it as a refuge from the Civil Wars of the Caliphate of Cordoba. It enjoys a strategic position overlooking the city of Granada and the fertile plain that surrounds it.

Granada became an independent kingdom in 1013 and the Ziri ruling dynasty lived on the hill facing the Alhambra, the Albaicin, still the Moorish heart of the city. The Alhambra Palace, or at least its most glorious aspect, was built mainly in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Nasrid dynasty whose first ruler was Mohammed I. Firstly, the Alcazaba was renovated and the 2 towers of the Keep and Watch were built. It was also at this time that water from the River Darro was canalised, later allowing all the wonderful gardens, pools and fountains to be built. The idea of all the wonderful decoration was to recreate an oasis, to remind the Moors of their homeland. Undoubtedly the most famous image of the Alhambra is that of the Courtyard of the Lions, which was added during the reigns of Yusuf I and Mohammed V during the mid to late 14th century. The picture above shows detail from a wall niche which contains the typical decorative elements of mosaic tile and stucco work that are found throughout the palaces.

These niches are found in every entrance and were used to store perfumes and scented water. During this period the Alhambra really came into its own, and we’ll really never know how splendid it was, as so much that was built has been destroyed over the years. The Nasrid dynasty came to an end in 1492, but the story of the Alhambra doesn’t end with them. After the Nasrid dynasty left their palaces King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who had defeated them, took over. They received Christopher Colombus in the Ambassadors Hall where they gave him jewels and coin to finance his expedition to discover The New World. Their grandson Charles V, King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor also heavily influenced the Alhambra. He spent his honeymoon there, after his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, and we can see the Rennaisance style of the chambers that were converted for their use. Instead of the stucco work and mosaic of the Moors we find heavy wooden panelling engraved with their initials. During his honeymoon Charles ordered the building of a Rennaisance Palace, now known as the Charles V Palace which is remarkable for its square exterior and round inner courtyard.

It’s said that he was planning to move the capital of Spain to Granada, the reason for the Palace, but, in fact, he never returned here after his honeymoon. The Alhambra fell into disuse after Charles V’s Palace was completed and became home to gypsies and vagrants. Much of it was also unfortunately destroyed during the occupation of Granada by Napoleon’s troops in 1812. During the 19th century it was briefly home to the American author Washington Irving who whilst living here wrote his famous book “Tales of the Alhambra”, which contains many wonderful, romantic stories about the famous Palaces. Do please read this book, if you haven’t done so already, it evokes beautifully the mystery and wonder of The Alhambra. From the 19th century until the present day the Alhambra’s history is one of renovation, which is still going on. As I write the famous statues of the lions, from the Courtyard of the Lions, are undergoing restoration work and are no longer on display. It is the most visited cultural monument in Spain, I think because of the insight it gives us into Spain’s immensely varied past.

Leave a Reply Alhambra, Granada, Spain World Heritage Site Roland Geider [an error occurred while processing this directive] The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex in Granada , Spain . The name Alhambra means "The Red" in Arabic. It is regarded as the most beautiful representation of Moorish architecture in the world. Alhambra is located on Sabika, the hilly terraces overlooking Granada. At the time that it was built, the Alhambra was known as Al-Andalus. Although it used to be the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V also built a palace in the Renaissance style and placed it within the Alhambra complex. Alhambra, as seen from the gardens of the Generalife Requera World Heritage Site Inscription Details The Alhambra, along with Generalife and the Medieval Moorish enclave of Albayzín, was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the X session of the World Heritage Committee Location: Granada, Province of Granada, Autonomous Community of Andalusia.

Inscription Year: 1984 Inscription Criteria : I, III, IV To understand and appreciate the Alhambra, we need to look at the history of the Moors in Spain. It started around 711 AD when a Muslim army crossed the Straits of Gibraltar. Within a short period of time, much of Spain was under Moorish rule. The founding of the Alhambra can be traced to the late 9th century, when The history of the Alhambra can be traced back to an earlier edifice, a red castle called Qal'at al Hamra. It was built in Elvira, which is in present-day Granada, by Arabs retreating from a bloody warfare with the Muladies. The castle was very much in a state of ruin when Ibn Nasr, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, built the Alhambra that we know of today, in 1238. Exquisite interior of the Alhambra Nikater Ibn Nasr was fleeing religious persecution from King Ferdinand, who was determined to rid Spain of Moorish control. Ibn Nasr retreated to Granada, and there, he planned out his palace complex.

It was to have six palaces - five of which grouped together in a royal living area, two circuit towers, numerous bathhouses. Rather than depending on rainwater as the old castle did, the new Alhambra was irrigated by a canal system that totals 8km in length, allowing for a profusion of fountains and cascades within the complex. The entire design transformed the austere fortress into a sumptuous palace. At the Alhambra we see the last great burst of Andalusian creativity in art and architecture, standing as a small Moorish enclave within Spain. Detached from mainstream Muslim influences, the artists and artisans of Alhambra perfected their style. Creating works of incredible beauty, from graceful calligraphy to elegant arabesque, they adorned the walls, columns and ceilings of Alhambra. The Christian conquest of Granade by Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1492 brought an end to Moorish diminion of Alhabra. From then onwards, subsequent wave of non-Muslim rulers injected his own style in altering the palace complex. Charles V (1516-1556) rebuilt portions of it in the Renaissance style.

Courtyard of Charles V in the Alhambra Nikater Philip V (1700-1746) italianised some rooms, and put up his palace in the middle of the comples, blocking up sections in the process. In 1812 Count Sebastiani blew up some of the towers. The entire complex barely escaped being totally demolished by Napoleon - a soldier who wanted to save the palace defused the explosives. Neglect, defacement and vandalism added to the sorrows of Alhambra. The earliest recorded restoration of Alhambra began in 1828, by architect José Contreras, and after his death, continued by his son Rafael. Layout of Alhambra The Alhambra consists of three different sections which you would explore separately: Nasrid Palaces 1000+ images about Alhambra palace on Pinterest | Cordoba, Architecture and Wooden doors Forward A large keyhole window in the palace of the Alhambra in Granada. The attention to detail in the architecture here was amazing. The Alhambra is a mighty fortress with breathtaking views of the surrounding city and landscape and contains amazing gardens and a magnificent palace.

- Spain Honeymoon 2007 08bcf3a09f795b9094dcdeddd1bfb2bd Granada | Alhambra Palace | Sacromonte | Spanish-Living.com Alhambra Palace Granada 'There is nothing in life so cruel as being blind in Granada '. Francisco de Icaza Although civilizations have flourished on this land since antiquity, the Golden Age of southern Spain came about only after the arrival of the armies of Islam, who had swept out from Mecca in the 7th century across the vast deserts of North Africa and crossed the straits of Gibraltar in the 8th century. This newly-conquered land, at the very edge of Islam, would now be known as al-Andalous (Andalusia). Medieval Andalucia - a light in the Dark Ages of Europe The Moors created a stunning civilization that outshone its neighbors in Christendom and in the rest of the Islamic world. Medieval Andalucia was a light in the Dark Ages of Europe: a land where Muslim, Christian and Jew created an intellectual, advanced and tolerant society.

Muslim poets sang of their beloved land as a terrestrial paradise. Jewish poets called al Andalous their second Jerusalem. No place can serve as greater testament to the glories of Andalucia than the hills of Granada - especially that legendary hill known as the Alhambra. Granada was, for centuries, the last stronghold of the Moors before their final defeat in 1492 to the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. The fort, palace and gardens of Alhambra, whose beauty were legendary even in their own days, were the heart and soul of the Moors. The beauty of the Alhambra palace and the Generalife gardens, is not only that the Moors were brilliant architects of bricks and mortar, of precious marble and delicately carved wood, but also of trees and flowers, of cascading fountains and tranquil pools. You can stay in the shadows of the Alhambra either in the 1908 Alhambra Palace - a gracious, old-world hotel with spectacular views or in the small parador of the 15th century convent of San Francisco. Granada is one of the pearls of Spain and the most visited by tourists from all over the world.

The long-time capital of Moorish Andalucia has to offer the most important reminds of this epoch in Spanish history, with the world-famous 'Alhambra' at the top of the list. Walk through beautiful gardens, charming narrow streets filled with flowers, sit down in one of those typical taverns to have some of that famous 'Trevelez' ham and local wine , and breath the centuries of history around you anywhere. There are gypsies singing 'Flamenco', and don't forget to visit the famous 'Cuevas' - caves - in the mountain of the monastery of Sacromonte where people still live now creating magnificent artisany. The city is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada , Spain's highest mountain range with outstanding facilities for winter-sports. The highest peak, 'Mulhacen' stands at 3,478 meters. And on the other hand it is not so far from the Mediterranean sea making Granada a great place to visit in any season. Places of interest in Granada Cathedral of Granada This cathedral with its five naves is considered to be the most important Renaissance building of Spain.

Built in the transitional period of Gothic to Renaissance, especially remarkable is the main chapel, Capilla Mayor, the lateral chapels and of course the façade with its sculptures. Capilla Real - The Riyal Chapel The Royal Chapel was built between 1505 and 1521 under Spain's catholic kings. The northern front was later integrated into the Cathedral. Also worth a visit is the Kings' tombs made of marble from Carrara. The museum displays paintings from the collection of Queen Isabel, among them works of Van der Weyden, Botticelli, Bouts and Berruguete, the Queen's crown and sceptre and sword of King Fernando. La Lonja A market building from the 6th century with façade in plateresque style, built close to the Cathedral and Capilla Real. La Alcaiceria The old Arabian silk-market, which has lost little of its lively ambience through the centuries. (Though today you are more likely to find gifts and souvenirs there) El Albacin This part of the town, located on a hill facing the Alhambra, was the King's residence during the 11th century.

From this time still exist remains of the walls of the Alcazaba, the arcs of Puerta Monaita, Puerta Elvira and Arco de las Pesas, Arabian baths and the Palace of Dar Al-Horra, which belonged to the mother of King Boabdil. Several churches were built over Arabian mosques, the remains of which still can be seen in the interiors. In Iglesia del Salvador the remains of Granada's Great Mosque, in the Iglesia (Church) de San Juan de los Reyes of the mosque of the Alcazaba, while Santa Isabela la Real bears the remains of a Moorish palace. The church of San Juan de los Reyes shows two marvelous minarets, and under the Convent of Santa Catalina you will find the remains of an Arabian house from the 11th century. Granada's Archaeological Museum shows highly interesting objects of prehistorical, phoenician and visigothic origins. Also worth a mention is the Church of San Nicolas, from which you have fantastic views over the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada , and also the Royal Chancellery and Real Cancilleria, a renaissance building with baroque elements.

Caves of Sacromonte For centuries gypsies lived in the mountain caves of Sacromonte lived. Now, many have been coverted into tourist spots, decorated with ceramics and traditional copper-works. They are also the scene for a number of Flamenco performances, something you shouldn't miss if you visit Granada. Monastery of Sacromonte The monastery was built at a place where, in 1594 treasure seekers found the famous lead plates with epigraphs of Saints persecuted by the Roman emperor Nero. El Corral del Carbon One of the most important Arabian buildings of its kind - a hotel from the 14th century. In the year 1500 it was changed to serve as a theater. Palace of the Madraza In the Arabian epoch this building was a university. Later it was changed totally and the façade today is Baroque. Only the remarkable chapel has been conserved in the original style it was intended.

La Cartuja The Alhambra: Tips for Visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain - Wandertooth The Alhambra: Tips for Visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain by Katie Matthews | Mar 20, 2014 | Blog , Destination Guide , Europe , Spain | 100 comments Tips for visiting the Alhambra Palace in Granada Spain in one day. Includes a free, printable map and Alhambra guide, our personal tips to visit Alhambra, current information to help you visit the Alhambra, and Frequently Asked Questions about visiting the Alhambra. The FAQs are pulled from the comments and reader emails and are updated regularly. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. By using affiliate links, we earn a small commission when you click through / book a room or tour / buy a product, etc. You don’t pay any extra. It’s one of the ways we make some cash from running this website, and keep the proverbial lights on, and you can support this website (with no extra cost) simply by using the links!

Tips for Visiting The Alhambra Granada: Table of Contents for this Blog For a national treasure and UNESCO World Heritage site, visiting the Alhambra is actually insanely confusing. At times, it feels near impossible to find the information you need. And while we certainly don’t have all the answers, we have some of them! This blog post contains everything we know about visiting the Alhambra – hopefully, it helps you with your visit. Alhambra Basics : A quick intro to the different components that make up the Alhambra complex, and the 3 different ticket check-points you’ll have to go through during your visit. Plan Ahead : Advice about when to start planning your visit, and limits on the number of visitors allowed each day. Plan Your Visit : Our recommended route for visiting the Alhambra. Buy Your Tickets : How to buy tickets using the Ticket Master Spain website. Collect Your Tickets : How and where to pick-up your tickets when you arrive in Andalucia. Tips for the Day of Your Visit: A few tips based on our own experience, which we hope will make your Alhambra visit better!

What to Do if Tickets are Sold Out and Tours : Tour options and troubleshooting if you can’t get tickets. Video and Map : A video Geoff made about the Alhambra, and our own personal Alhambra map that you can download for free. Wondering Where to Stay in Granada? Check Out Our Guide of the Best Areas to Stay in Granada, Complete with Hotel Recommendations! Alhambra. Granada. Andalusia. There are place names in the world that evoke a feeling of magic and adventure, and the Alhambra is one such place. The Alhambra Palace is the most visited tourist attraction in all of Spain, attracting millions of visitors per year. Despite the sheer numbers of people flocking to this beautiful palace, it is a remarkably confusing affair: from buying tickets to planning your visit, the Alhambra can be slightly befuddling. To make it easier for you, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to visiting the Alhambra Palace. We really hope it’s helpful!!! A visit to the Alhambra can be confusing, but it is well worth it Alhambra Basics The Alhambra is not a singular building.

Rather, it is a complex of buildings that you wander around over the course of three or four hours. There are several segments to the complex, and you’ll need to show your ticket three times throughout the visit as you move between different sections of the complex. The three main sections, and the ticket check points, are the Nasrid Palaces, which in our opinion were the best part of a visit to the Alhambra; the Alcazaba, which offers spectacular views of Granada and Andalucia; and the Generalife, which includes nice gardens and a smaller palace. You may want to print off this official English map of the Alhambra to get an idea of the layout (We also have our own map below, which plots out our tips!). The Nasrid Palaces are perhaps the most famous part of the Alhambra Plan Ahead Granada limits the number of visitors who can visit the Alhambra to 6,600 per day. While this may sound like a lot, Alhambra tickets sell out early – like really, really early.

If you intend to visit the Alhambra in peak season (summer!), it’s not uncommon to have to book up to 90 days in advance. Unfortunately, the Alhambra is one of those places where last minute travellers can get caught with their proverbial pants down, although it’s much easier to get last minute tickets in the winter. (Don’t worry if you can’t get tickets for your dates…keep reading for our “work around” tip) Plan Your Visit You can enter the Alhambra complex at either the main entrance or through the Gate of Justice. If you choose to enter through the main entrance, it makes sense to visit the Generalife first, and then the Nasrid Palaces and Alcazaba. If you enter through the Gate of Justice, then the opposite routing makes the most sense. Many websites recommend visiting the Generalife first and the Nasrid Palaces last.

However, we did the opposite, and we think it is the better way to go for a few reasons: If you follow our advice and pick up your tickets prior to arriving at the Alhambra, you can walk from Plaza Nueva (in town) to the Alhambra entrance at the Gate of Justice, which puts you right near the queue for the Nasrid Palaces. This means you can skip the gong show and hoards of people at the main entrance pavilion. The entrance to the Nasrid Palaces is highly restricted (more on that below). If you visit it last, you’ll have to plan out your entire visit so as to be at the Nasrid Palaces at the correct time, lest you miss your reservation. To me, that sounds stressful. If you visit the Nasrid Palaces first, you won’t have to adhere to a tight schedule, meaning you can take your time, take a break when needed, and relax while enjoying the remainder of the complex. The views of Granada from the Nasrid Palaces entrance lineup are spectacular in the early morning.

We would recommend entering the Nasrid Palaces during the first reservation of the day (8:30am), so you can enjoy gorgeous light over Andalucia while you wait in line. Plus, the line up for the Nasrid Palaces can be long, and the temperature will be more comfortable first thing than in the middle of the day. If you do follow our advice and you’d like a free audio guide to use during your visit, you can pick one up in the gift shop in the Palacio Carlos V, near the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces. (UPDATE September 2016 – Apparently, they no longer offer Audio Guides at the Alhambra as of September, 2016. Thanks to a reader tip for that!) Buy Your Tickets This is probably the most confusing part of visiting the Alhambra. Ideally, you’ll want to buy your tickets online up to 90 days before your visit, and then pick up the physical tickets once you arrive in Granada. Here’s how: 1. Go to the Alhambra page on the Ticket Master Website . 2.

Choose which type of visit you want: you’ll probably choose either Alhambra General, which gives you access to the main highlights, or Alhambra at Night – Palaces, which allows you to visit the Palaces, but not the gardens, at night. Once you’ve decided on your ticket, click Buy Tickets. The process below is for an Alhambra General Ticket, which is the most popular ticket. 3. Select the day you want to visit, and then click Continue through to the next screen. You can purchase tickets up to 90 days in advance. 4. Here is where things get slightly confusing. After selecting the number of tickets you want, you’ll need to choose times to visit. First, you need to choose the general window of time during which you’ll visit: morning or afternoon. Next, you’ll need to reserve a time slot specifically to enter the Nasrid Palaces. That’s right, you need to make two separate reservations when you buy your ticket: a general reservation to visit the Alhambra complex during either the morning or afternoon, and a specific reservation within that general time slot to enter the Nasrid Palaces.

For your general time slot (morning or afternoon), you can enter the grounds any time within your slot. However, you must pass through the final ticket check point of your visit prior to the end time on your general reservation. For example, if you choose to visit the Alhambra in the morning, you can enter as early as 8:30am, but must pass through the final ticket scanning check point prior to 2pm. For the Nasrid Palaces, they allow 300 people to enter every 30 minutes, and you must enter in the 30 minute window printed on your ticket, or you’re out of luck. In the winter, the lineups to enter the Nasrid Palaces aren’t terrible. However, in the high season, it is recommended that you are in line for the Nasrid Palace one hour prior to the 30 minute window you’ve reserved! 5. Once you’ve chosen your time slots, you are almost done. You just need to enter your credit card information, and you’re good to go. Remember to take that credit card with you to pick up tickets!

The plus side of walking up that huge hill to the Alhambra: the views of Andalucia! Pick Up Your Tickets Once you’ve purchased tickets, you’ll still need to pick up physical tickets with a bar code once you arrive in Granada. There are two easy options for picking up your tickets: 1) Stop in at any La Caixa Bank ATM in Granada, and put the credit card you used to purchase the tickets into the machine. It will recognize your card and print out the tickets. 2) Swing by the Tienda de la Alhambra (Alhambra Shop) on Calle Reyes Católicos nº 40 once you’re in Granada. It is just down from Plaza Nueva, and is a quick walk from the cathedral area. The shop has a ticket dispenser: pop in the credit card you used to buy the tickets, and out come they come! (Update September 2016: The bookshop has closed as of September 2016, but they have opened an office just down the road at Corral del Carbon, 200 meters down the road – I have included this on my custom map, below!

Thank you to another reader tip for this!) An example of a Caixa Bank ATM where you may print your Alhambra Tickets Closer up view of where your Alhambra Tickets tickets will be dispensed The Day of Your Visit Wear sensible shoes. You’ll want to plan on walking throughout the complex for between three and four hours, on average. To get to the Alhambra, you can either take one of the many public buses from Plaza Nueva or walk. If you choose to walk, we’d recommend you enter at Puerta de la Justica, which is about a 15-minute uphill walk from Plaza Nueva. If you enter here, you must already have tickets. If you don’t have tickets, take the bus to the main entrance. Again, we’d really recommend visiting the Nasrid Palaces during the first reservation of the day (8:30am), and then working your way through the rest of the complex. You can purchase basic drinks and food on site, but food stops aren’t plentiful, so you may want to bring water and a snack. If you have mobility issues, accommodations can be arranged. Get in touch with the Alhambra people in advance of your visit.

What to do if Tickets are Sold Out Too Confusing? Tickets Sold Out? Recently, a reader got in touch saying he’d messed up: he didn’t know he had to book ahead of time, and all the tickets were sold out. He asked us what his options were, and I honestly didn’t really know. So I researched it, and it turns out you’re not totally out of options. Probably the easiest option is to book a tour. Tour companies — being the savvy organizers and planners, they are — know that some people won’t know how far in advance they have to book, and they’ll be ready to help you. Consider a tour with Viator . Honestly, we haven’t used them before (yet), but in general, Viator has a great reputation among the travel blogger community, and sends writing work to lots of bloggers, so we’re happy to support the company. I’ve done some research, and have listed some tour options below. Basically, I looked for the highest rated tours, checked the reviews to make sure they’re good, and then thought about which tours I would be interested in taking myself. Those are the tours you’ll find below!

Skip the Line Tour Learn More The Skip the Line: Alhambra and Generalife Gardens Half-Day Tour has excellent reviews, and is probably great for most peoples’ needs. Starting at $63, and including the €15 ticket, door-to-door transport from your hotel, not having to wait in lines, and a knowledgeable guide, it seems like a pretty good deal, especially if you’ve left it too late to get a desirable reservation time. Honestly, if I was heading to the Alhambra and didn’t want to deal with it all, this is what I’d be doing. Private Tour Learn More The Alhambra and Generalife Small Group Guided Tour is about 3 hours long, which feels like the exact right amount of time to see what you need to see, and learn some of the history, without being overkill. It includes skip-the-line entrance, which makes things much more convenient than trying arrange it all yourself. It gets great reviews. "Highlights" Walking Tour Learn More The Granada Highlights Guided Walking Tour appears to be relatively new on Viator, at least at the time of update (June 2016).

The few reviews it has are good, and it seems to be the right amount of time for many people – 3 hours, walking through the highlights of the Alhambra. It includes tickets to the Alhambra, but doesn’t seem to include skip-the-line. Heading to Seville, Next? Let Us Help You Decide Where to Stay in Seville, & Find Out Our Favorite Things to Do Where to Stay in Seville Guide What to Do in Seville If you don’t want to take a tour, but haven’t been able to buy tickets… You can explore the gardens for free. Honestly, this option kind of sucks for the most part, because inside the attractions is awesome. What is cool about this, is you get a great view of the city when standing in the free part, near the entrance to Nasrid Palace. So it’s not a total bust, but also not the best. Finally, you could book a night ticket on the Ticketmaster Website . That’s what the reader who emailed us did, and he found it to be fine, but not perfect.

He said it was difficult to take nice photos, because it was so dark, but also because the ‘no flash’ rule isn’t enforced, so other people’s flashes are constantly going off. His advice: good in a pinch, but it would be a nicer experience if you could visit in the daytime What’s Next? Glad you asked. Geoff made a beautiful video about Alhambra here. Download & Print Our Free Map And, we’ve created a free, downloadable and printable map with our recommended tips and order for visiting the Alhambra, from picking up your tickets to the way of visit, plus an awesome view of the Alhambra in the afternoon! Click the link below. Download (PDF, 279KB) Where to Stay in Granada When we visited Granada, we stayed in an Airbnb apartment that was a bit far out. If I were to do it again, I’d probably get a hotel closer to the centre. And because we started getting so many emails from people wondering where to stay in Granada , we actually created an entire post on it.

We hired a local blogger who’s lived in Granada for 4 years to outline all the best places to stay, and then went in and added our own thoughts and tips! You can see our Where to Stay in Granada Guide here! We really hope it helps with your trip planning! Frequently Asked Questions I’m slowly working my way through all the comments, emails, tweets and Facebook messages we get about visiting the Alhambra, to create a concise database of FAQs you can use when planning your trip. How and Where do I Buy an Audio Guide? Unfortunately, the Alhambra has discontinued the audio guides. In the past, it was possible to rent an audio guide for €6.50 to use while visiting the Alhambra, but in summer 2016, we received a note from a reader to tell us the audio guides are gone and have been replaced by an app. This has been confirmed by several sources now. While the app sounds like a great idea, it seems to have some significant problems.

We heard from a reader that you need Wifi to use the app (Network: Alhambra / Password: unesco2012) BUT the Wifi is actually too weak to use the app properly. The consistent message we’ve been getting from readers is to either 1) Book a tour so you get the info, or 2) Bring a good guidebook with you. I can’t really recommend a guidebook, as we haven’t used them personally while at the Alhambra. However, I have combed Amazon for Alhambra guidebooks, and can point you to the two following book, which seems pretty good and gets good reviews. The reason I’ve chosen this one, rather than the other books available, is that it seems actually usable while visiting the site, rather than scholarly tomes or souvenir coffee table books:

Question: In which country can you see the world famous Alhambra Palace?
Answer: Spain