Tickets to the Alhambra in Granada that include the Nasrid Palaces can sell out days in advance. However, there is a workaround that will get you into the palaces.
The Alhambra of Granada is one of the greatest attractions in Spain. The palace and fortress complex is one of the world’s most impressive examples of Islamic architecture, and is steeped in history.
The problem for most visitors is that they think they can just rock up to the Alhambra and get tickets on the day.
Getting tickets for the Alhambra on the day
It is possible to get into the Alhambra buying tickets on the day. However, these tickets tend to only cover the gardens, Generalife palace and Alcazaba fortress.
All of these are well worth seeing, and would be the highlight of most other cities. But the star attractions at the Alhambra are the Nasrid Palaces.
What are the Nasrid Palaces?
The Nasrid Palaces are the jewel in the Alhambra’s crown. These former royal palaces feature the most sumptuous decoration within the complex, and largely retain their Islamic character.
Timed tickets are required to visit the Nasrid Palaces, and these Alhambra tickets often sell out days in advance.
In fact, when I checked, they were sold out for the whole of next week.
How to get Nasrid Palaces tickets for tomorrow
If you want to see the Nasrid Palaces, and haven’t bought tickets well in advance, there is a workaround. It’s a more expensive workaround, sure, but it’ll usually get you into the Nasrid Palaces the next day or the day after.
The solution is to book a ticket for a tour. Guided tours get pre-allocated a number of tickets for all areas of the Alhambra – including the Nasrid Palaces. Therefore, if there are spots on the tour available – and availability is usually much better than for the self-guided Nasrid Palaces tickets – you can get in.
Alhambra ticket costs: Tour vs self-guided
At the time of writing, the price for an individual ticket to the Alhambra that includes the Nasrid Palaces is €19.09. For a guided tour that includes the Nasrid Palaces, as well as the rest of the Alhambra, it’s €39.99.
That’s twice as much, but if you’ve not planned in advance, this may well be the only way to see the best of the Alhambra while you’re in Granada. Besides – on a tour, you’ll get a lot more information than you’ll pick up walking around on your own.
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