Alhambra tickets are the part of the trip that causes the most confusion, and for good reason: there are several types, each one covers some areas and not others, and the general ticket sells out weeks ahead. Here’s a clear rundown of which tickets exist, how much they cost, what each one includes and which suits you best, so there are no surprises at the gate.
Alhambra ticket prices
These are the current prices (set by the Alhambra trust, the Patronato, and reviewed from time to time, so confirm the amount when you buy):
- Alhambra General (daytime visit): €22.27. The full ticket: Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Alcazaba, Palace of Charles V and the baths. This is the one most people want.
- Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba (daytime): €12.73. Everything except the Nasrid Palaces. Useful if the general ticket is sold out.
- Night visit to the Nasrid Palaces: €12.73. The palaces lit up and with fewer people. Does not include the Generalife or the Alcazaba.
- Night visit to the Gardens: €8.48. The Generalife gardens at night, at certain times of year.
The general price includes the booking fee. It’s the most expensive ticket because it’s the only one that gets you into the Nasrid Palaces, which are the most stunning part of the site.
Discounts and free tickets
- Under 12s: free, but you still have to add their ticket (at €0) when you buy the others.
- Over 65s from the EU: discount, on showing official proof at the box office.
- Carné Joven (youth card) holders: discount.
- Visitors with a disability of 33% or more: discount or free entry.
One heads-up, because it’s the most common mix-up: “the Alhambra is free on Sundays” is not true. What’s free on Sundays are the Andalusi Monuments in the Albaicín (El Bañuelo, Casa del Horno de Oro, Dar al-Horra, the Corral del Carbón), which are a different thing. The Alhambra itself is paid every day.
Ticket types: what each one includes
The key difference between them is whether or not you get into the Nasrid Palaces, the heart of the Alhambra and the part with a fixed time slot and limited capacity. The general ticket includes them; the gardens tickets and the night gardens visit do not. If you’re sure you want to see the palaces (and you should), make sure your ticket covers them.
To know what you’ll see in each area before choosing, take a look at what to see in the Alhambra. And if a night visit tempts you, I explain what the Alhambra at night and the Generalife are like.
Which one suits you?
If it’s your first time, the general ticket without a doubt: it’s the one that lets you see the Nasrid Palaces. If the general is sold out for your date (it happens a lot in high season), you have two options: the gardens ticket to see the rest of the site, or a guided tour with its own allocation, which sometimes has space when the standalone ticket doesn’t. And if you’re coming back or want something special, the night visit to the Palaces is a treat.
Remember: your access to the Nasrid Palaces has a fixed time slot. If you miss it, you don’t get into that part, though you can take the rest of the site at a more relaxed pace. Arrive with time to spare.
Where to buy them
Official tickets are sold on the Patronato’s website (tickets.alhambra-patronato.es). They sell out early, so buy them weeks in advance, especially the general ticket in spring and summer. If none are left for your date, the alternative is tours with their own allocation. I explain step by step where and how, and how to avoid resale sites, in the guide to how to buy Alhambra tickets.
If you’re going on your own, with your ticket and no guide, I tell you how in visiting the Alhambra without a guide. And to fit it all together, the main guide to visiting the Alhambra.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Alhambra ticket cost?
The general ticket (the full one, with the Nasrid Palaces) costs €22.27. The gardens ticket and the night Palaces visit are €12.73, and the night gardens visit is €8.48. Prices are set by the Patronato and reviewed periodically, so confirm the amount when you buy.
Are there free or discounted tickets?
Under 12s go free (you still have to add their €0 ticket). There are discounts for over 65s from the EU, Carné Joven holders and visitors with a disability. The Alhambra is not free on Sundays: what’s free that day are the Andalusi Monuments in the Albaicín.
What does the general Alhambra ticket include?
The main areas: the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife, the Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V and the baths. It’s the full ticket and the best choice for a first visit.
What’s the difference between the general and the night ticket?
The general includes the three areas by day. The night ticket lets you see only the Nasrid Palaces (or the Generalife, depending on the season) lit up and with fewer people.
Which is the best ticket to see the Alhambra?
The general ticket, because it includes the Nasrid Palaces, the most stunning part of the site. If it’s sold out, go for the gardens ticket or a guided tour with its own allocation.
Photo: Tuxyso (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0).