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Official tickets: price and where to buy
Buy on the official Alhambra ticket website (run by the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife), or from an authorised seller. Official tickets are the cheapest option, and they are sold for a specific date and a timed entry to the Nasrid Palaces.
| Ticket | Price (approx.) | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Alhambra General | €19–21 | Nasrid Palaces (timed), Alcazaba, Generalife, Partal |
| Gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba | €10 | Everything except the Nasrid Palaces |
| Night visit, Nasrid Palaces | €10 | The palaces only, on set evenings |
| Night visit, gardens and Generalife | €7–8 | The gardens only, on set evenings |
| Dobla de Oro | €25 | Alhambra General plus several Andalusí monuments in the Albaicín |
| Children under 12 | Free | Still need a ticket |
Reduced prices apply to children aged 12–15, pensioners and some other groups, with ID.
Tickets carry the visitor’s name and ID or passport number. Bring the same document: staff can ask for it at the entrance.
Comparison: official ticket vs guided tour vs city pass
| Option | Price (approx.) | Availability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Alhambra General | €19–21 | Sells out weeks ahead | Independent visitors who book early |
| Alhambra guided tour | €60–80 | Often available when official tickets are gone | First visit, last-minute trips |
| Small-group or private tour | from about €150 per group | Good | Families and groups |
| Granada Card | about €50 | Includes a timed Alhambra entry | Several monuments and city buses in 2–3 days |
| Day trip from Seville or from Málaga | €100–170 | Good | Visiting Granada in one day |
A guided tour costs more because it includes the guide and a ticket bought in advance through the tour company’s allocation. It is not a scam: it is often the only way to visit at short notice.
Free entry
- Children under 12 enter free with a ticket.
- The Albaicín view: the Mirador de San Nicolás and the Mirador de San Cristóbal, facing the Alhambra, are free and open all day.
- Some areas outside the paid zone (the woods below the walls, the Puerta de las Granadas and the Puerta de la Justicia) can be walked without a ticket.
Sold out? What to do
- Check the official website again. Returned tickets reappear, especially a few days before and early in the morning.
- Look at other ticket types. Night visits and the gardens-only ticket often have space when the day ticket is gone.
- Book a guided tour. Tour operators hold tickets and often have availability until the day before. See Alhambra guided tours.
- Change the date. Weekdays in winter are much easier than weekends in spring.
How to book on the official website
- Go to the official Alhambra ticket website and choose Alhambra General.
- Choose the date, then the Nasrid Palaces time slot. Pick a morning slot if you can.
- Enter the name and ID or passport number of every visitor.
- Pay by card. You receive the tickets by email; you can show them on your phone.
- On the day, be at the Nasrid Palaces entrance a few minutes before your time.
Scams to avoid
- Look-alike websites. Search ads can lead to resellers with names and designs that look official, charging much more for the same ticket, sometimes without saying so clearly.
- Tickets without your name. Tickets are nominative. Second-hand tickets in someone else’s name may be refused at the entrance.
- “Skip the line” claims. Every official ticket has a set time; there is no line to skip for ticket holders. Pay more only for a real guide.
FAQ
How much are Alhambra tickets?
About €19–21 for the Alhambra General ticket with the Nasrid Palaces, about €10 for the gardens, Generalife and Alcazaba, and about €10 for a night visit to the palaces. Children under 12 are free.
Why are Alhambra tickets always sold out?
Visitor numbers are capped to protect the monument, especially in the Nasrid Palaces, and demand is very high from spring to autumn. Book several weeks ahead.
Can I buy Alhambra tickets at the entrance?
Only if there are any left for the day, which is rare in high season. Don’t rely on it.
Do I need my passport to visit the Alhambra?
Bring the ID or passport whose number you used when booking. Staff can check it against the ticket.
Is a guided tour of the Alhambra worth it?
Yes, if you want to understand what you are seeing, or if official tickets are sold out. The palaces have little information on site.