I was really looking forward to seeing the Alhambra - it's a palace and fortress complex perching atop the steep hils of Granada, with construction first starting in the 1200s. It's one of the most famous architectural wonders of Islamic architecture and is one of the best preserved places in the world of islamic origin (mixed with Spanish Renaissance architecture). Our ticket included access to all visitable places of the complex (a lot free to the public), Nasrid palace (timed entrance), the gardens and the Generalife (former country estate). We did an unguided tour, so I felt like we missed out on the history a bit as we walked through the palace - it reminded us of the Real Alcazar from Seville, but bigger and more grand in scale. I'm glad our ticket was for 10AM because the grounds only got busier throughout the morning. read more

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The highlight of Moorish architecture in Grenada was found here at this sprawling hilltop location. Remember you need your passport to buy tickets and gain entrance so don't forget it. It was the only item checked by security when entering the palaces, Alcazabs and Generalife. We took bus C32 from the center and while most people got off at the Alhambra main entrance we exited the bus at Puerta de la Justicia which was a lot closer to the Nasrid Palaces plus avoided some of the uphill slog. We also visited the Palace of Charles V (quick but surprising acoustics) and Alcazaba (old fort with a tower climb) before ending at Generalife. I forgot that all the museums on site were closed on Mondays. I purchased our tickets online and secured a 9am entrance to the Nasrid Palaces which wasn't as crowded at that hour. The was some renovations happening but for the most part we were able to enjoy the stunning architecture and views. The Partal Palace was our favorite along with the Hall of Ambassadors and Court of the Lions. Walking through the gardens and then downhill to the Generalife we went against the flow of visitors. The Generalife was a much smaller palace that served as the summer retreat. Here water was a highlight showcasing the prowess in the engineering that went into supplying water to these gardens and palaces - Escalera del Agua. The Royal Chamber was a must see inside with richly detailed ceiling, arches and walls. If your legs are still strong after visiting everything then I suggest walking back to town via Cuesta Del Rey Chico. It was a path that ran below the walls of the Alhambra and gave a different perspective and much less crowds. read more

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This was actually my second attempt at visiting Alhambra. The first time, shortly after arriving, it started to storm. Unfortunately, I had to take a raincheck and hope that someday I would return. Actually, this place has been at the top of my bucket list for quite a while. Was it everything that I expected? Yes, and more, the place represents a turning point of advancements for all of mankind. Moorish rule in Hispania introduced advancements in medicine, mathematics, and sanitation. Their streets were lit at night while most other cities were dark at night. This place is a thousand years older than the Taj Mahal in India. Advancements here and in Cordoba changed the world forever. Many of the advancements were brought here from the middle east and the far east. Contributions from this area from this time period in southern Spain are omitted from most history books. A visit here fulfilled my wish of one day visiting. I loved my visit and encourage others to learn more about the historical importance of the area. read more

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Amazing complex! The Alhambra showcases some of the best of the Islamic empire's grandeur. The grounds itself are quite larger. They include the exquisitely carved and decorated Nasrid Palace, the Alcazaba (fort), the Generalife, which includes manicured myrtles and gorgeous views of the palace exterior and grounds. The complex also is an engineering marvel given its elaborate use of channeling water for fountains, reflection pools, and irrigating crops. The tickets for the grounds are quite easy to book but getting tickets to the Nasrid Palace require advance booking for most timeslots. I ended up going at 8:30a, which is a confusing time to enter when the grounds open at 8:30a. Nevertheless, entering by the Carros gates is best for that booking to be able to directly enter the palace. Come around 8a to line up. Bring your passport and ticket for entry. Even on a rainy and cold winter day, the complex was spectacular. read more

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Visiting The Alhambra was one of the most beautiful experiences of my entire life. I went on a perfect weather day, and everything about the place was breathtaking. The detail in the architecture is unreal every arch, courtyard, and tile feels like stepping into another world. The Nasrid Palaces were the absolute highlight, and the views over Granada from the Generalife Gardens were unforgettable. Photos don't come close to capturing how magical it feels in person. Just a heads-up: you need to book tickets 2-3 months in advance AT LEAST, especially the timed entry for the palaces they sell out fast, but they're 100% worth it. I went with a guide and recommended it as you will get the most of out of your visit. Plan to spend several hours exploring and wear comfortable shoes. A must-see if you're anywhere near southern Spain. I hope I can return once again to this magical place! read more

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Words can describe the beauty of the Alhambra. It must be seen in person. Buy tickets at least a month in advance and try to get the earliest time of day so that there are less people on the property. Don't forget your passport. read more

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It was impressive but we went to Grenada just to see Alhambra Palace and I did not think it was worth visiting the town just for this landmark. We much preferred visiting Barcelona (Gaudi's buildings like La Sagrada Familia) and Seville (Seville gothic cathedral). Grenada is super hilly, narrow single lane roads shared by people and cars, scammy vendors. read more

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Hi echo all the rave reviews about the Alhambra. This was my number one must during my visit to Spain. I went with a tour group and they were very thorough and explaining much overarching history and themes. However, my advice to anyone visiting would be to take some time after your tour is over to really take in the beauty of this place. Do this at your own pace... it's such a mesmerizing experience. From the gardens to the intricate decor within the buildings themselves, one is fascinated at how this was achieved 1100 years ago! The beautiful fountains, offer, respite and calm. Just stunning! read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

Ever since I learned about Granada and La Alhambra after taking Spanish Literature & Art, it's been on my bucket list. Words can't even begin to describe the beauty of this place. I'd recommend arriving early, as it gets extremely hot and even more crowded later in the day. Plan to spend several hours here and buy all the tickets in advance, as there are several options. I didn't realize Alhambra was so much more than just a fortress wall and made the mistake of thinking I could squeeze it all into one hour. With that limited time, I only managed to see the Generalife. The gardens were so peaceful and lush. Listening to the fountains and watching the beauty of the Alhambra walls were magnificent. read more

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This time, we got a guided tour of the gardens and the Alhambra. It was really worth it, our tour guide knew her stuff and pointed out littles things like leaves on tress (to determine bitter vs sweet oranges) and details on some of the prisons and dungeons in the fortress. The gardens were in full bloom in early May so it was just beautiful to see the many colors around. As before, if you want to go to the Alhambra, the best thing is to buy online tickets at least 2-3 months beforehand so you can have your pick of times...they sell out very quickly. Great views of the city of Granada from high above. Also, the best thing is to catch the bus from city center to the top...it's a steep climb.... read more

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If there is a heaven, it would look like this! Heavenly, awe-inspiring, majestic art and architecture. The Moors (Muslim rulers of Spain for 700+years until1492, while the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages) were talented and skilled artists and brilliant mathematicians. The symmetrical designs of tiles with carved verses from the Holy Quran are dazzling. Simple but elegant. The red color ("Al Hambra" the red one) fortress hides all the lovely designs and gardens inside its walls. Little do you know the wonders inside till you enter. There are a many cobbstone pathways and stairs to climb on this tour. You'll get your daily steps in! There are no elevators that I could see. Go slow and enjoy all the details. You'll feel overwhelmed by the crowds of people around you. This is a very busy tourist attraction- the iconic symbol of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan ahead (many months) to purchase tickets. Take your passport with you, as it required. You'll always remember this incredible Moorish Fortress in Granada! read more

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Alhambra in Granada is a lot to unpack. The first question I have is 1) how did Spain maintain all of its great architecture through WW 1 and WW 2?? How did they do it?? Answer: They declared "neutrality" during WWs 1 and 2. And by doing so, they avoided our B-52s. (Actually B-29s) So, as a result, you find yourself here at this UNESCO site and in complete awe!! Alhambra is one of the finest examples of Moorish/Muslim architecture and design. Built in the early 1200s, it was a fortress and very much like a small encapsulated city - containing a mosque, gardens, public baths, courtyards, etc. What I couldn't comprehend or grasp was the "stalactite" design of the ceilings. This symmetrical, honeycomb design is considered "mocarabe" style. You'll get a neck ache just looking up as you try to fathom how this was carved?! It reminds me of dropping an alka seltzer in your glass and seeing an eruption of tiny bubbles. You'll also see beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, fountains, gardens, calligraphy, woodwork, and views of the town down below. There are a ton of visitors but if you're patient, you will get some alone time here and there. FYI, the Christian conquest was completed around 1492 and this place was left intact, neglected, partly destroyed by Napoleon and then rebuilt to what you see now. Don't miss this!!,, as you travel through the Iberian peninsula..... read more

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Visited the Generalife by day and the Nasrid Palaces by night. Passports required at all times for entry. The gardens are beautiful and could be done without a guide but I would recommend a guided tour or even an audio guide for the Palaces. read more

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We knew we had to visit the Alhambra on our visit to Southern Spain and thus Granada was on our list. Even though it was the slow season I made a reservation two months in advance. We opted for the 8:30am time slot for the Nazaries Palace tour and had been advised to be in line 30 minutes early (don't forget your passport!). Well we probably didn't have to be that early especially in February when we had to trudge up the hill in the dark (who knew it does not get light out until well after 8am this time of year). Since we had our tickets and were not using a guide we went directly to the Justice Gate to enter the complex (a shorter walk from town). Anyway the palace was very interesting and amazing though we had trouble with the free audioguide because our US mobil phone data plan was too slow to keep refreshing the audio. Hint bring your own ear buds so you don't have to hold the phone to your ear. Even without the guide the palace was quite fascinating. It did make me wonder what it would have looked like without the Catholic "remodeling". We enjoyed touring the rest of the grounds especially the view from the Alcazaba, the small museum in the Palace of Carlos, the gardens, and the Generalife (though later in the day that was very crowded). We brought our picnic and ate in one of the gardens. We opted to walk back to town via the Cuesta del Rey Chico - it was a nice alternative. Overall we spend more than four hours touring and exploring. read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - View from tower - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

This is without question a must see. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance because they sell out. They get 8000 visitors a DAY here so I also recommend going at the first entry at 9 am. We used a private tour guide which I highly recommend - I think we got so much more out of the visit than the folks on group or self-guided tours. I cannot recommend Margarita enough - email her at info@alhambratours.com I found her on Rick Steve's travel forums and she is an absolute gem. Incredibly knowledgeable and she's a local so she had great tips and advice on places to go outside of Alhambra. One thing I was so impressed with is how spotlessly clean the grounds and buildings are. They really take amazing care of this national treasure - the marble floors gleam in the sunlight. read more

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Love, Love, LOVE this place. The only thing is to watch out for is the water snakes in the ponds, looking for frogs. Otherwise, roam free! read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - Como se LLAMA!?!?! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

The American Hotel within the confines of the Alhambra Monument serves great food. We started with delicious asparagus -- huge tender spears that tasted so fresh. I had the lamb chops -- wonderful, thinly cut, and very much in our theme of spring. My partner had the Spanish tortilla with salad. We also recommend the coffee. Allergy-friendly. read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - Eating area of American Hotel. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

The experience in this architectural antiquity is an incredible opportunity to glimpse into the past. The variety of texture and the intricacy of the design really capture the eye. The water implements add a nice sound element to the serene environment. The history of the place is very intriguing as well. Even though the Spanish kicked the Muslims out of the country, a lot of the culture and language remained and that shows throughout the Alhambra, especially in the fountain in the middle with the 4 branches. read more

Ah, the Alhambra. One of the top treasures of Southern Spain. I've heard of it for many years, but finally was near enough and the weather good enough to make the trek. It was well worth it. I strongly encourage making reservations in advance, rather than leaving your visit to chance. I was able to use public transportation to get to the top of the hill (it was quite easy from the Granada bus station), and then wandered down the hill on foot with one of the folks on our tour. Note: it can get quite cold in Granada in the winter, often below freezing overnight and in the morning hours. This can impact your comfort on your visit , since the Alhambra sits atop of a hill, and much of it is inside (without heat) or in the shade. Even with comfy cold-temperature gear it can still be quite trying over a 3+ hour tour. When I was there, it was below freezing much of the morning, and most of the fountains were turned off to prevent damage to them. read more

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The beautiful Alhambra has delighted visitors since the 8th century. With several palaces, gorgeous gardens, and a fortress to explore, there is enough history and amazing architecture to delight everyone. We booked a guided tour with Guillermo through Tours By Locals. Without his expert guidance we would have never understood the history and significance of what we were seeing. In 3.5 hours we learned so much. While anyone can enjoy the multitude of photo ops, our experience was enhanced with Guillermo's input. I am leaving Granada with newfound knowledge. read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

Amazing architecture and design, and the fact that the weather happened to be STUNNING made our visit to these sites absolutely spectacular. Be prepared for a full afternoon of walking and admiring all your eyes can take in! read more

A must see if you visit the entire country of Spain. Tickets are not expensive at all and the visit is definitely worth it! I fell in love with the amazing architecture and the serene vibe of the place. Be sure to bring your passport or ID because you will need to show it when you enter. I found the staff to be nice but yet somewhat disorganized because signage was lacking in many areas as far as where to go. The Alhambra itself is so different than how I expected it to be. But overall I was stunned at the endless beauty around every corner! read more

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Do NOT buy tix from Viator. We bought tix to Skip the Line Alhambra & Generalife. A week before our trip, we got a message saying that there was a system problem, and they were not sure whether we actually had tix. They said we could trade it out for a walking tour of Granada, or hold on to see if they worked it out. I opted to hang on to work it out. At that point, every other option was completely sold out, so what option did I have? Two days before, Viator sent an email with our vouchers, where to park, where to meet, etc. the morning of the tour, I got a text msg saying they were looking forward to seeing us. We drove 1 hr 15 minutes each way, paid to park, only to be told that, nope, we didn't have tickets, and nope, there was nothing that could be done. What a FAIL. read more

This is the most gorgeous palace & fortress I have visited in Europe. If you visit Spain, you must stop here! The palace and gardens were designed by the Moors. It has gorgeous architecture and stunning design throughout, including intricate tile work, artistic calligraphy and carved wood. The fountains and gardens are beautiful! Icons were banned in Islam, so the palace is adorned with designs, carvings, mosaics and artistic calligraphy, including sacred scripture (as seen in Mosques as well). The Moors who moved across North Africa, then through Morocco and into Spain, actually brought the importance of water, public baths, water fountains, and regular bathing to Europe during the Dark Ages. During my History course in Spain I learned that Europeans at the time only fully bathed once a year and used heavy perfumes and flowers to cover smells. The Muslim Moors washed several times daily for ritual prayer (at fountains in courtyard of the mosque) and keeping the entire body clean was an important practice of their faith. We can thank the Moors for the public baths, fountains, gardens, gorgeous architecture, stunning artwork, mathematics, astronomy, exchange of free thought and debate, and higher education centers to help usher Europe back out of the Dark Ages. This Moorish palace was later used as a castle/fortress when the Catholics regained control of Grenada. It overlooks the town of Grenada and the Mediterranean Sea. I will add photos later, but they are similar to ones already posted. read more

Absolutely gorgeous Moorish palace and gardens. 100% must-see. Be sure to make your reservations in advance, wear comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of water. Expect a crowd, too. This was my favorite attraction in Granada. read more

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We took a one-day bus tour here through Viator with a guide. It's a beautiful location with so much to see and do. It feels like a large mansion, palace or castle on a hill with a moat. You can see amazing views of the city from the building. There are gardens, bedrooms, hall ways, a grotto and so much to see and do. You can easily spend an entire day here walking through all the rooms and looking at the decorative walls. There's a lot of small walkways. I do recommend coming early and either booking a tour or staying through the night because there could be quite a few people and tour groups, making the experience less exciting. However, when I went there were just enough people to make it feel busy but not overly crowded. read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - Alhambra view - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

Possibly one of the most beautiful structures in the world, parts of which have stood since the 13th century. The views from The Alhambra and Generalife take your breath away. We are so blessed to have had the privilege of seeing this in our lifetime. read more

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The Alhambra is a must see. We booked our tickets to the Alhambra then planned the rest of our trip to Spain. Be sure to book your tickets in advance! There are different types of tickets and options to visit the Gardens and/or the Nasrid Palace at night. We purchased the General Day ticket and was there a full day to take it all in. At the entrance, we rented a self- guided audible tour and wandered. It was nice to not have to worry about keeping up with a tour group. The Alhambra is really a special experience. So much history to appreciate. The Alhambra is on hill above Granada. We took a taxi to the Alhambra and caught a taxi to get back to town. The local bus stops right in front. Remember to take your passport, staff may need to verify. read more

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Beautifully and meticulously manicured grounds and garden. It's hard to believe that 8000 travelers visit the place daily. The Nasrid palaces is highlight as well as the stroll through the gardens. If you are traveling with travel group, make sure the ticket include the Nasrid palaces. The moorish architectural flow and sensibility is highlighted here. There are several controls to enter different places. Make sure you take one piece of Identification with you for random checks. (Written by husband) read more

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La Alhambra or Red Castle in Arabic is located on the top of Sabika hill in Granada overlooking Albaicin and Alcazaba neighborhoods. The whole complex was irregular in shape and is surrounded with defensive walls like any fortress. The oldest part of the Alhambra is the Alcazaba, a fortress with multiple towers. Nasrid dynasty fortified the Alcazaba and used it as a military base for the royal guard of the sultan, experts still believe the structure was built before Muslims arrived to Granada. The first historical records of the Alcazaba (and the greater Alhambra) date to the 9th century. In 13th century , Mohammed I, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, settled into the Alcazaba of Albaicín, but was attracted to the ruins on the Sabika hill. He eventually established a royal residence of Alhambra and began creating the palatine city known today. During its prime, the Alhambra had three main sections: The Alcazaba, a military base that housed guards with families; the palatial zone, several palaces for the sultan and his family ; and the Medina, a quarter where court officials lived and worked. Alhambra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with two other sites: the Albaicín (or Albayzín) and the Generalife Garden. We visited in June 2021, during Covid. Got our tickets days in advance, at earliest time slot, so we were among first to arrive in the morning. The complex's is absolutely incredible. The details are incredible, the tile work and just the way it was all composed gibes away such a relaxing vibes. It is hard to imagine soldiers walking on these grounds. Gardens are extremely well kept, we were impressed in this arid climate how everything was green and gorgeously vibrant. It is an absolute must!! read more

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La Alhambra is a former royal palace complex and fortification and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The blend of Moorish and Christian architecture has made the Alhambra famous, and it has been mentioned in literature for hundreds of years. The Generalife is the outer villa with stunning gardens that are said to emulate paradise described in the Koran. The Alhambra is certainly a symbol of Granada as it sits on a hill overlooking the whole city. As I was walking throughout Granada I kept getting glimpses of the Alhambra. Knowing that this is Spain's most visited attraction, we bought tickets (15,40 euros each) 3 months before our trip through their website. You can pickup the tickets at their box office or you can go to the Corral del Carbón, located at Calle Mariana Pineda 8. To save time, we picked them up in advance so that we wouldn't have to stand in any long lines once we arrived. The grounds are so vast that it took several hours for us to walk through everything. One of my favorite sights was the Palace of the Lions. The filigree detail on the archways are gorgeous and I love the white marble fountain of lions in the center of the courtyard. The Court of the Myrtles was also very interesting and reminded me a lot of the Courtyard of the Maidens at the Alcázar in Sevilla. The gardens were also hard to beat, including the Palace Garden of the Sultans in the Generalife. It's difficult to do the Alhambra and Generalife justice just describing what you'll see and experience. It should be a bucket list item for anyone who loves to travel to go see this beautiful piece of history. read more

La Alhambra y El Generalife - The gardens - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Granada, GR

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I won't talk about how amazing the place is, because there is no question about that. My review will focus on our planning for the visit. The base for our visit to Andalusia was Sevilla, and we took trains to Granada and Cordoba. The train tickets weren't available for sale the company's online portal (Renfe.com) until about 3 weeks before our train travel date. We checked every day for about 2 weeks and bought our tickets at a good discount the first day they became available. We also booked our tickets to the Alhambra right after we bought the train tickets, making sure that we had enough time to go from Sevilla early morning (7:14 departure time) to Granada and have brunch there before our timed visit to the site. The careful planning really paid off, as we encountered none of the troubles that many other tourists experienced. Another factor that really improved our experience is that we visited in the low season. Without a large crowd, we got to see the place with leisure and took many great photos. Even though the day of our visit was a bit cold and partly sunny (high of 6C/42F) and even had some snow flurries, the weather was still largely pleasant with adequate clothing. read more

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Qalat Alhambra, "A pearl set in emeralds," described by the Moorish poets. 800th Review~ For those of you who do not know me, I try to stay extremely positive and optimistic. But if things do not go my way, I am the biggest cry baby. Qalat Alhambra is one those rare places where I have cried not once but twice. Once when the tickets were sold out trying to see it. And second time when we ended up coming back to Granada, Spain. Words can not describe how I felt, when I found out we were going to Spain once more to see Alhambra from the inside. (Sam M, I will never forget this trip, all the thank you-s in the world are not enough). Biggest tip: Buy the tickets in advance online, we stood in line early morning but still there were 5 people ahead of me when they were sold out. You can buy them about 3 months in advance. Experience~ Alhambra's palace/fortress/gardens are extremely gorgeous and the rare jewel of Andalusia. It should not be afterthought, while visiting Spain, go to Granada. I wont go into to much detail, since I loved every moment of visiting it. It can be described in many ways, but the true way to know about it is by visiting. Of course I want to go for a third time to Granada.~ read more

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There are few places that actually moved me emotionally. One being St. Peter's Cathedral at the Vatican and the other was here. Amazing architecture and history coupled with views of Granada. There's so much written about this place that I can't top what has already been said. What I can do however is provide some tips! Make sure you book tickets way in advance. Like weeks in advance during peak season. Unfortunately even booking a few weeks out I could only get a 6:30 entrance ticket. They close at 8:00 so I had to hurry along but I'll take it. Food is not allowed on the premises so make sure to eat a hearty meal beforehand. There are drinking fountains throughout and the water is sourced from the Sierra Nevadas so it's pretty tasty. No selfie sticks allowed and backpacks must be worn in the front! The walk up is beautiful and peaceful if you can do the hike. Highly recommend. read more

It was so beautiful! It was great to see how the sultan and sultans lived. There is still a lot of construction to preserve the building but it was so beautiful. We had the best guide Fatmi, who took care of my mom during the tour. It is definitely a walking tour, wear comfortable shoes and take ibuprofen after! The palace is gorgeous! read more

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I first visited this magnificent site 20 years ago, so my current visit is somewhat colored by the differences I experienced. This trip was so crowded that there were very few places that gave the serene experience I had decades ago. It is a place that prompts deep thought and reflection on history and culture, but the throngs of people make that difficult. Still, it is awesome in its history and the grounds are superbly maintained. Just too many people, and having long lines for passport checks (twice during our tour) dampened my enthusiasm this time. read more

This is definitely a cool spot to visit. I've been wanting to see the place after watching a Korean drama called Memories of the Alhambra (probably the reason why I added Granada to my travel list). Do plan ahead and get tickets online before you visit. There are some free areas where the ticket is not needed but if you want to see the palace you'll need to book a time and get the tickets a few months in advance. I was only able to get the general admission ticket by booking a month or so early since the palace tickets were sold out already. This place is really big so wear comfortable walking shoes! I spent a good amount of time walking around and taking pictures, you can probably spend a day here if you want. There's a lot to see so do give yourself enough time to enjoy! read more

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You need to go here! We had a private tour guide take us around the property but man oh man was this place stunning! The details are just breathtaking and have so much meaning. The history is so important too. We were literally in the same room as Christopher Columbus when he received his money from the King to explore the Americas. Woah. Lots of walking. So many picturesque courtyards and views of Granada from above. Take your time and definitely add this to your list of todos if you are ever in Granada! read more

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We made a day trip from Sevilla to Granada just to do Alhambra, and I am so glad we did. It was definitely one of our trip highlights, especially and most notably the Nasrid Palaces. If Alcazar was something you enjoyed, this is definitely worth adding to your list. The grounds of Alhambra are just beautiful, and the Nasrid palaces are breathtaking. It's preserved quite well, and you get to see quite a bit of the premises. I did the handheld audio tour which gave some decent history, but it wasn't that great. I think I might have enjoyed a live guided tour a bit more. If you are in a time crunch, be sure to privatize the Nasrid palace and be certain to book your entry time ahead of time. You have to have a definite reservation to enter. Also bring your passport, you cannot enter the grounds of Alhambra without it. read more

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The most visited national site in all of Spain with on average 10,000 visitors per day. We visited in late April during a stretch of perfect spring (sunny and 71) weather with a private guide. We visited all three sections on our tour including the Generalif (gardens and hunting palace). We booked our guide and tickets months in advance-when we were there in April we were told they were already sold out through July so if you plan to visit YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD. Your entry into the main palace will have a specific time-our was 3:30 pm. We were told most of the big groups like the 10-1:20 pm times but expect it to always be busy. One of the advantages of a guide is being expertly moved from place to place and directed to the best views and spots for photos. We got some great ones. read more

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