When we visit a new place, we want to know everything we are going to need and be able to do. Especially a place where we are going to walk for a long time as is the case with the Alhambra. Therefore, making sure what shoes to take, at what time to go, what you can see, etc. are the keys to enjoy as much as possible this place.
So, stick around and we will tell you everything you need to know that will make your visit very special and comfortable!
When to visit the Alhambra
The best months to visit the Alhambra are May, April and June, because it is neither too hot nor too cold.
A good time to visit the Alhambra and its gardens, avoiding the crowds within the opening hours from 8:30 to 20:00 is early in the morning. At opening time from Monday to Friday, as there will be few people. But if you don’t feel like getting up very early, around 18:00 would be a good time. Because it won’t be so hot and the monuments are best seen in natural light.
Important! It should be noted that some places can also be visited at night, as is the case of the visit to the Nasrid Palaces. From April 1st to October 14th the opening hours will be from from 22:00 to 23:00. From 15th October to 31st October the opening hours will vary, from 20:00 to 21:30. If you want to enjoy a guided tour to the Alhambra, you can do it with local guides.
Book tickets in advance and where to enter the Alhambra
If you don’t want to waste time queuing to buy your tickets, the best option is to buy them online on the official website. You can pick them up at least one hour before the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces.
If you already have your tickets, it is best to enter through the Gateway to Justice. But if you do not have them, you should go to the Entrance Pavilion.
The most suitable clothes, shoes and accessories
If the visit is in the summer time, we should bring a cap or hat, sunglasses, a bottle and a good fan. On the other hand, if the visit takes place in winter, a coat, a cap, a scarf and gloves will make our visit more comfortable. It isbest to be comfortable and well prepared if we want to fully enjoy our visit.
As for the bags, large rucksacks and pushchairs should be left in the luggage room. If you go with babies, you will be interested in the following:
Board of Trustees of the Alhambra y Generalife has a free baby carrier service.
Make sure your camera has the flash off or remove the flash attachment if you want to be able to take photos. They can deteriorate the monuments as they are continually exposed to the rays of the flash.
Food, drink and animals
In order to ensure the preservation and protection of this great place, it is completely forbidden to eat in the Alhambra complex, there are places destined exclusively for this purpose. But after eating, you should throw the rubbish in the bins.
If you do not take something to eat, you can find small cafeterias within the enclosure.
The entry of any kind of pet is totally restricted in all the enclosure except for guide dogs.
What to visit in the Alhambra and the order of the visit if the do not want to miss anything
- Inside the Alhambra we can distinguish 5 different areas to visit, divided in this way we can visit in an orderly way and without missing any corner of this wonderful place.
- One of the first areas is the Access Pavilion, where we can see the Alhambra Square, the Acequia Real, Medina, the Seven-Storey Gate among others.
- Another area is the Alcazaba with its different towers, Castrense Neighbourhood and the Garden of the Adarves.
- Once we have visited the Alcazaba, another beautiful area is the Nasrid Palaces, where we will find various courtyards and rooms, as well as the Façade of Comares, and the Queen’s Hairdresser.
- At this point we will be close to the Partal, a terraced area modified in the 20th century, where we can visit its towers, the Oratory of the Partal, the Little King’s Slope and the Partal Palace and the Palace of Yusuf III.
- One of the last areas we can visit is the Generalife, an area outside the walls where the sultans and nasrids spent their free time in its many courtyards, gardens, on the water stairway, etc.
- And last but not least, we cannot forget to visit the various buildings and monuments that can be found in the surroundings of the Alhambra.
