The Alhambra
The exquisite Moorish palace-fortress of Granada - a dreamlike complex of carved stucco, tiled courts and fountain gardens beneath the mountains, a UNESCO jewel.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
The Alhambra is the most exquisite surviving palace of the Moorish world, a hilltop citadel above Granada where the sultans of the last Muslim kingdom in Spain built a dreamlike complex of slender columns, honeycombed vaults, carved stucco filigree and tiled courts around fountain gardens. A UNESCO jewel set against the snow-capped Sierra Nevada, it is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
What you actually see
- The Nasrid Palaces - the exquisite carved and tiled royal halls and courts.
- The Court of the Lions - the famous fountain court of slender columns.
- The Generalife gardens - the summer palace gardens of water and greenery.
- The Alcazaba and views - the old fortress and the view over Granada.
When to go
Spring and autumn for mild weather and blooming gardens; summer is very hot. Book a timed ticket well ahead, as the Nasrid Palaces have a strict timed entry and sell out weeks in advance.
Honest expectations
The famous Nasrid Palaces have a strict timed entry and sell out far ahead, so book weeks in advance; without a ticket you cannot enter them. The full site is large and needs half a day and a lot of walking. It is deservedly world-famous and busy.
Nearby
The Albaicin old quarter faces it across the valley; the Sierra Nevada rises behind.
What to pack for The Alhambra
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
