The Alhambra is located on a hill overlooking Granada, about an hour’s drive from the Costa Tropical. Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, it is a palace and fortress complex built by the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain, then called Al-Andalus. It served as the residence of the Muslim kings of Granada and their court. Later, a Renaissance palace was added by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The Alhambra, along with the Generalife gardens, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and showcases beautiful Islamic architecture.
History
The name Alhambra derives from the the Arabic words “al hamra”, meaning “the red”, referring to the colour of the red clay of which the building is made. (The English word “amber” is derived from a related word in old Arabic: “anbar”).
The first reference to the Qal’at al Hamra was during the battles between the Arabs and the Muladies during the rule of the Abdallah (who reigned from 888-912). In one particularly fierce and bloody skirmish, the Muladies soundly defeated the Arabs who were then forced to take shelter in the Alhambra. According to surviving documents from the era, the red castle was quite small at that time, and evidence from Arab texts suggests that the building was extended to its present size some time later, almost certainly during the Nasrid Dynasty.
There are no further historical references to the Alhambra until the eleventh century when its ruins were renovated and rebuilt by Samuel ibn Naghralla, vizier to the King Badis of the Zirid Dynasty, in an effort to preserve the small Jewish settlement also located on the Sabikah hill.
Palaces
Ibn Nasr, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, fled to Granada to escape persecution by King Ferdinand. After arriving, he stayed at the Palace of Badis in the Alhambra and soon began building a new Alhambra suitable for a king. According to an Arab manuscript, “In 1238, Abdallah ibn al-Ahmar inspected the Alhambra, laid the foundations of a castle, and appointed someone to oversee its construction.” His design included six palaces, five forming a royal quarter, two circuit towers, and several bathhouses. During the Nasrid Dynasty, the Alhambra became a palatial city with an irrigation system for the gardens of the Generalife. Before this, the Alhambra relied on rainwater and water brought from the Albaicín. The creation of the “Sultan’s Canal” transformed the Alhambra into a luxurious palace-city instead of just a fortress.
Independent visit
Tickets are often sold out days or even weeks in advance, so it is advisable to book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased on the Alhambra ticket office website, or by telephone at (34) 858 889 002.
Same day tickets can be bought from machines located in the Alhambra and in the Andalusi monuments (Corral del Carbón, Bañuelo y Palacio Dal al Horra), subject to availability.
We strongly recommend booking an official guided tour which includes an entrance ticket. Click here to view our list of guided tour options.
Interactive audioguide: Once you arrive at the Alhambra, you can rent the interactive audioguide service. This is is available on the premises, or for download on iOS and Android devices. This tour guide includes an interactive map of the complex, audios, historical images, videos and 360º panoramic views. The visitor can choose between several routes adapted to different itineraries, tastes and available time. The price is 6 euros and it is available in German, Arabic, Korean, Chinese, Spanish, French, Dutch, English, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian.
Bring you passport. Tickets are personal and non-transferable. Each visitor must carry his own ticket during the whole visit, and it must be presented with a personal identification document.
General ticket: 19.09 euros. The general visit to the Alhambra takes around three hours.
Only Generalife Gardens and Alcazaba: 10.61 euros
Dobla de Oro ticket (includes Alhambra and 4 Andalusian monuments in Albaicín: 27.30 euros.
Night visit
This is the “illuminated Alhambra” visit. Itinerary: Alhambra interior, Nasrid Palaces and Charles V Palace. To buy tickets on the official page, click here.
Public guided tours
The ideal way to visit the Alhambra is as part of a walking tour group with an official guide who is a member of the Provincial Association of Guides of Tourism of Granada (A.P.I.T.). Click here to view our selected list of guided tours.
From Granada city centre, take the number 30 or 32 bus to the Alhambra.
Alhambra Guided Tours
A visit to Granada wouldn't be complete without a tour of the Alhambra. Click the button to check out our suggested guided tours.