Granada Alhambra Palace Opening Times

The Alhambra in Granada is one of the most beautiful monuments in Spain and one of the most visited. If you want to visit it during a trip to the Nasrid city, the first thing to do is to check the opening hours to plan your visit.

The second thing to do is to buy tickets or book a guided tour of the Alhambra in advance to explore it with a professional guide who will reveal all its secrets to you.

The Alhambra is open every day of the week, from Monday to Sunday. Before buying your tickets to the Alhambra, please note that the opening hours of the entire monumental complex (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Palace of Charles V and Bath of the Mosque) are as follows:

For guided tours of the Alhambra, there are usually several passes throughout the day: in Hellotickets, for example, the first visits start around 8:15 am, so you can organize your visit according to the plan you have for the rest of the day.

Although you can visit the Alhambra of Granada on your own, if it is the first time you visit this important monumental complex and you are not familiar with its history and the different spaces that compose it, my advice is to book a guided tour of the Alhambra to discover with an expert guide all the corners and curiosities of the Nasrid palace city.

You will have a much more complete and interesting vision not only about its historical but also artistic dimension. Guided tours of the Alhambra in Granada take place during the monument's opening hours.

If this is your first time in Granada you will probably want to visit the Alhambra during the day, but if you feel like enjoying a quiet visit without the crowds, an excellent option is to book a guided tour of the Alhambra in Granada by night.

If the beauty of the Alhambra is striking in daylight, it is even more so at night. The lighting envelops the palatine city in an enigmatic and fascinating atmosphere. To contemplate it in the moonlight and in the stillness of the night is a magical experience.

In the article Night visits to the Alhambra I tell you everything you need to know about this kind of tours that discover the most enigmatic and intimate side of the monument. You will love them!

Before buying tickets to the Alhambra, take note of the opening hours to visit the Generalife Gardens and Palace, the summer villa to which the sultans of Granada retired to rest and escape the formalities of court.

The Generalife Palace and its gardens is one of the most popular areas of the Alhambra along with the Nasrid Palaces.

Daytime visits

Night visits

This is the most visited part of the Alhambra in Granada and where the Nasrid kings resided. During the tour, access to the Nasrid Palaces must be made at the time indicated on the ticket as only this part of the monumental complex will be accessible during these hours.

Remember that the visit to the Alhambra must be organised according to the time of entry to the Nasrid Palaces and be punctual due to the existing capacity control.

Daytime visits

• Early in the morning: Generally, the best time to visit the Alhambra is early in the morning when it opens its doors. It is usually not crowded and you will be able to visit all the areas of the monument at your leisure. Besides, after the visit you will have the rest of the day to do other activities. If you want to know what else you can do in Granada, don't miss the post The best excursions and guided tours in Granada.
• After lunch: The number of visitors is also lower around 3pm and 4pm, so after eating in a restaurant near the Alhambra, the afternoon is also a good time to visit it. You will also have the chance to enjoy the sunset while strolling within its walls.
• By night: However, night visits to the Alhambra in Granada are fascinating, because thanks to the special lighting of the palatine city, the experience of visiting it in the silence of the night becomes magical.

When buying your ticket or visit to the Alhambra, bear in mind that it is open every day of the year except 25th December and 1st January. However, if there are any changes to your plans or the monument has to close in the unlikely event of an incident or unforeseen event, you can check by doing a Google search before you travel.

Finally, if you are planning a visit to the Alhambra in the near future, to get the most out of this fantastic experience I recommend you read the article Tips for visiting the Alhambra where you will find more useful advice.