Alhambra Visit: Guide with Top Tips and Advice

20/09/2024 Indrani Ghose

Europe, Travel, UNESCO World Heritage Site, World

The historic Alhambra is so majestic and huge that it can be overwhelming to chalk out the sequence of all things to do and see in Alhambra; especially if you have limited time to tour Granada Spain. The Alhambra tickets are valid for one day only. Even a hurried Alhambra visit can easily take 4 to 5 hours. That is why it is important to chalk out the best way to visit Alhambra.

Travel blogger: Indrani Ghose
Post written on September 2024.

Planning the Alhambra Visit in Granada Spain

The recommended tour of the Alhambra spans about 2.5 hours, covering roughly 3.5 km of winding paths, courtyards, and breath taking sights. Before you embark on this immersive tour there’s one key thing to keep in mind: the order of your visit is largely determined by the time slot on your ticket for the Nasrid Palaces. It’s essential to plan your day around this, as the palaces are the heart of the Alhambra and access is strictly controlled according to the slot mentioned in the ticket.

As I explored, I found it best to pace myself, soaking in the beauty and history along the way, while keeping an eye on the time to ensure I didn’t miss my scheduled entry. The path is studded with captivating sights and soothing shades. My route plan helped me make the most of my time without feeling rushed and also reach the Nasrid Palace gates on time.

Circular Interior of Palace of Charles V Alhambra

Places to See in Alhambra Granada

It is important to plan how to visit the Alhambra, the various sights sequentially. Before you begin, take a moment to study the plan of Alhambra well. It’s the key to navigating the complex’s vast grounds, understanding the locations of its attractions, and allocating time for each. Here are 19 major sights of Alhambra complex in Granada Spain offering a unique glimpse into its rich history and stunning architecture. Read on to know the best easy way to navigate through them so that your Alhambra Visit is worthwhile.

The 19 highlights of Alhambra complex consists of gardens, palaces, towers, forts, museums and other interesting landmarks.

5 Main Gardens in Alhambra

Generalife Gardens (Jardines del Generalife) located near Generalife Palace, outside the main Alhambra complex-45 min
Partal Gardens (Jardines del Partal) located near the Partal Palace, between the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife-min 20 min
Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles) located inside the Palace of Comares in the Nasrid Palaces. Min- 10 min
The Gardens of the Palace of the Lions (Palacio de los Leones) located around the Court of the Lions in the Nasrid Palaces. Min-10min
Alameda Gardens located at the lower part of the Alhambra near the Alhambra Forest. min – 15 min

Alhambra Visit - Things to Do in Alhambra

Map of Gardens – Alhambra Granada Visit

4 Palaces in Alhambra

Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes) (minimum time required 1.5 hours)
Generalife Palace (Palacio del Generalife) (45 min)
Palace of Charles V (Palacio de Carlos V) (30 min)
Partal Palace (Palacio del Partal) (15 min)

1 Fort/Fortress in Alhambra

Only one important fortress-Alcazaba. (Tour time minimum 30 min)

2 Museums in Alhambra

Alhambra Museum (Museo de la Alhambra) (time required 30 min)
Fine Arts Museum of Granada (Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada) (30 min)

Other important monuments and structures within the Alhambra complex are:

Church of Santa María de la Alhambra – Located near the Palace of Charles V (minimum time reqd. 10 min).
Baths of the Mosque (Baños de la Mezquita) – Located close to the Nasrid Palaces (10 min)
Gate of Justice (Puerta de la Justicia) – Located near one of the main entrances to the Alhambra (5 min)
Puerta del Vino (Wine Gate) – Located near the Alcazaba (5 min)
Torre de la Cautiva (Tower of the Captive) – this is part of the outer walls, near the Partal Gardens. (10 min)
Torre de los Picos (Tower of the Points) – it is on the northern walls of the Alhambra (5 min)
Convent of San Francisco (Parador de Granada) – part of the Parador de Granada, a luxury hotel within the Alhambra complex (10 min)

How to See the Alhambra

Plan the sequence in which you will see all the important sights of Alhambra ahead. That will save you a lot of time, particularly if you are on a tight schedule, that is just for a day in Granada. A lot depends on the slot you have got to see the Nasrid Palace. Check your Alhambra ticket.

In my case we got the last slot for a 6 PM entry ticket to Nasrid palace. Read our Last-Minute Adventure to get the Alhambra tickets on the same day. So, in a way it was easy to plan out the Alhambra visit starting from Generalife.

The Puerta de la Granada (Gate of Granada) is closer to the Generalife compared to the Puerta de la Justicia. This gate is near the main ticket office and visitor center, from which it’s just a short walk to the Generalife gardens and palace.

IMPORTANT TIPS TO VISIT THE ALHAMBRA

The officials check your ticket timings at the entry of each of the important sights of Alhambra.
The Nasrid Palaces have a strict entry time. Try and arrive early, at least 10 to 15 minutes early, else you may find a long queue of noisy tourists ahead of you.
Enter through Puerta de la Justicia if you plan your entry to Nasrid palace first.
If you miss your time slot, you won’t be allowed entry.
Once you enter during your assigned time, you can take your time inside the palaces, but you cannot re-enter if you leave.

Back to our route during our Alhambra Visit

Without guide, we were on a self-guided tour of Alhambra. We walked sequentially from the Generalife to the Nasrid Palaces, halting at the highlights of the site on the way.

1. Recounting the start of my journey from Generalife Gardens (Jardines del Generalife), nestled just outside the main Alhambra complex, I am reminded of the serene retreat which was once the summer palace and countryside estate of the Nasrid rulers. So hard to believe that such a peaceful atmosphere exists, a contrast to the traffic chaos outside the walls of Alhambra. In the Upper Gardens, I’m surrounded by lush greenery, vibrant flower beds, and the soothing sound of fountains. The shaded walkways offer a perfect escape from the Andalusian sun, guiding me through this tranquil oasis, where nature and architecture blend seamlessly. It’s the ideal beginning to my exploration of Alhambra.

Alhambra Gardens

2. After wandering through the gardens, I find myself at the entrance of the Generalife Palace (Palacio del Generalife). As I step inside, the first thing that catches my eye is the Court of the Water Channel (Patio de la Acequia). Such perfection with graceful symmetry! Long, narrow pools of water reflect the sky, and delicate fountains send soft ripples across the surface.

We move from room to room, clicking pictures all the way, dodging other tourists at the same time. I’m struck by the simplicity of the rooms. Unlike the opulence of other palaces, these rooms feel intimate and serene. There’s a sense of calm in their design—an understated elegance that speaks to the palace’s role as a place of retreat.

3. After soaking in the beauty of the Generalife, we next make our way through the Lower Gardens, savouring the last glimpses of the fountains and vibrant greenery. Exiting the palace grounds, the pathway leads us towards the Alhambra complex, a distance taking around 10 to 15 minutes.

The path meanders through scenic routes, offering stunning glimpses of Granada below. We gazed at the city below, a mix of red-tiled rooftops and winding streets, framed by the distant Sierra Nevada mountains.

4. The imposing Justice Gate (Puerta de la Justicia) marks the entrance to the Alhambra. The grandeur of this masterpiece of Islamic architecture, with its elegant curves and geometric patterns is something not to be missed. The massive Moorish arch stands tall, its intricately carved stonework telling stories of a time long past. Walking through this gate feels like time travel—centuries of history and power seem to echo off its walls. Just imagining that this gate once marked the threshold between the world outside and the royal city within gave me goosebumps!

Before making my way to the Nasrid Palaces, we decided to take a quick detour to explore the Palace of Charles V and Alcazaba.

5. The Palace of Charles V immediately strikes me as a bold contrast to the surrounding Moorish architecture. Its Renaissance style, with an imposing circular façade, smooth symmetry, and classic columns, feels almost modern against the intricate details of the Alhambra. Stepping inside, I’m greeted by a vast open courtyard that takes my breath away. The perfectly circular space, framed by a two-tiered arcade of columns, creates a stunning interplay of light and shadow, lending the courtyard an ethereal calm. The interior rooms too spoke of the same contrast.

It’s a captivating blend of styles and histories, offering a unique window into the evolution of this remarkable place. It’s as though I’ve crossed into a different era, with an entirely new architectural language.

6. Alcabaza is the oldest and most fortified part of the Alhambra. This ancient military fortress stands out dominantly with its thick stone walls, narrow pathways, and sturdy towers that once guarded the entire complex.

I went all the way up to the Torre de la Vela, the watchtower that crowns the Alcazaba. Climbing up the stone steps feels like ascending through time, and once I reach the top, I’m greeted with the most breathtaking, panoramic view of Granada! The city stretches out below, a tapestry of terracotta rooftops, winding streets, and distant hills. This was another impressive viewpoint within the Alhambra complex.

After taking in the incredible views from the Torre de la Vela, I follow the signs leading me to the heart of the Alhambra: the Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes)-the hughlight of Alhambra Granada Visit.

Alcazaba fortress Alhambra

Finally, I arrive at the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces, clutching my timed ticket, eager to step through the threshold into a world of stunning Moorish art and craftsmanship. This is the moment I’ve been anticipating—a journey into the very essence of Alhambra’s splendour.

Again, let me tell you these palaces are so beautiful, you may forget the flow of time. So, a little bit of alertness and rough distribution of time would be helpful to fully explore the 4 main sections of Nasrid Palaces.

7. Ideally one would need at least 2 hours to fully appreciate the Nasrid Palaces, exploring all sections at a comfortable pace. To a certain extent we could. But if I really had time in my favour I would have lingered on for another hour.

7.1 Mexuar is the first section we entered. The rooms here were used for public affairs, where officials met and justice was administered. The architecture here is a balance between beauty and practicality, with stunning plasterwork and Moorish decoration.

For the first time it dawned on me why tickets are restricted and it is valid for one day. This palace can get crowded with tourists and it would be impossible to pause and appreciate the art and architecture. This place steals your heart!

7.2 With great reluctance I moved on from this section to Palace of Comares (Palacio de Comares) after spending around 15 minutes. Mark my words this is a major highlight, where you’ll want to take your time soaking in the grand design and symbolism.

7.2.1 Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes), a large reflecting pool surrounded by myrtle bushes and elegant archways, is one of the most photographed sections. Every archway had a tourist posing, we had to wait for turns at some places.

7.2.2 Hall of the Ambassadors (Salón de los Embajadores) is the largest room in the Nasrid Palace and well decorated too. Afterall it was used for receptions and diplomatic meetings. Its intricate ceiling and detailed walls are breath taking. I am failing in adjectives here.

7.3 The next section of Nasrid Palaces was Palace of the Lions (Palacio de los Leones). The main sub-sections to this sight are:

7.3.1 Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones): I finally got to see the most photographed part of the Nasrid Palaces-its central fountain supported by 12 marble lions and surrounded by delicate columns. You too would have seen almost all pamphlets and ad features of this site. Once there I found myself trying to get the right angle to photograph without tourists in frame. Difficult, it was!

Court of the Lions (Patio de los Leones) Alhambra

7.3.2 Hall of the Abencerrajes: A stunning space named after a tragic story involving a noble family. The Legend: According to local lore, the powerful and respected Abencerrajes family were accused of treason or sedition, allegedly plotting to overthrow the sultan, during the reign of the last Nasrid sultan, Boabdil. The male members of the family went to the Hall of the Abencerrajes, under the pretence of a banquet. Once they assembled, the sultan ordered their execution.

However, there is no solid historical evidence to support the mass execution of the Abencerrajes family. The story adds a sombre tone to its stunning beauty. The Muqarnas (stalactite-like carvings) ceiling is stunning here.

7.3.3 Hall of the Kings: This hall has beautifully painted ceilings depicting medieval scenes, a rare glimpse into the non-religious art of the time.

7.4 Finally, we moved on to the Royal Baths (Baños Reales) which were used by the Nasrid royalty for relaxation and purification. These baths are attractive for their domed ceilings with star-shaped skylights, evoking a sense of peace and tranquillity and also a symbol of the luxurious lifestyle of Nasrid rulers. We spent the final 20 minutes of our Nasrid Palace tour here.

Quick glance at itinerary of Alhambra Visit in 4 hours

So, this was my Alhambra Granada Plan and to a large extent I was able to stick to my time frame. We skipped the museums, a big miss I know, but it enabled us to stroll leisurely through other places of Alhambra

Generalife 40 min
Generalife Gardens 20 min
Palace of Charles V 20 min
Pause at several viewpoints in gardens and towers
Alcabaza Fortress 30 min
Nasrid Palaces 2 hours

I hope this description has given you a clearer picture of all things to do in Alhambra and how to see the Alhambra in the time frame that you can afford. You can reverse the entire sequence of Alhambra things to see given to suit your time capsule. You can also choose just those places you are more interested in.