Alhambra & Nasrid Palaces Guided Tour with Tickets Granada

The Alhambra, the red palace of the Nasrids

The Alhambra takes its name from the Arabic al-Qal'a al-Hamra, the red fortress, after the colour of its walls at sunset. Muhammad I ibn al-Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, began building here in 1238, and his successors turned the hill of al-Sabika into a palace city that ruled the Emirate of Granada for more than 250 years.

On 2 January 1492 the last sultan, Muhammad XII, known in Spain as Boabdil, handed the keys to the Catholic Monarchs. Today the Alhambra is Spain's most visited monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Is the Alhambra worth visiting? For many travellers it is the single highlight of a trip to Spain.

The Nasrid Palaces and the Court of the Lions

The heart of any Alhambra tour is the Nasrid Palaces, entered at a fixed time printed on your ticket. You pass the Mexuar, where the sultan held council, then the Comares Palace with the Court of the Myrtles, its long pool reflecting the tower of the Hall of the Ambassadors, the throne room of Yusuf I.

Next comes the Palace of the Lions, built by Muhammad V in the 14th century, with its courtyard of slender columns around a fountain carried by twelve marble lions. Look up at the honeycomb muqarnas domes in the Hall of the Abencerrajes and the Hall of the Two Sisters. The motto wa la ghaliba illa Allah, no victor but God, is carved everywhere.

The Alcazaba and the Palace of Charles V

The Alcazaba is the oldest part of the Alhambra, a military fortress at the western tip of the hill. Its ramparts once housed the royal guard, and you can still see the foundations of soldiers' houses in the parade ground. Climb the Torre de la Vela for the finest panorama over Granada, the Albaicín and the Sierra Nevada.

Between the fortress and the palaces stands the Palace of Charles V, begun in 1527 in pure Renaissance style. Its perfect circular courtyard inside a square building is a striking contrast to the Nasrid architecture next to it. Our guide explains how the Christian monarchs lived in and changed the Alhambra after 1492.

The Generalife gardens and practical tips

The Generalife was the summer estate of the Nasrid sultans, on the neighbouring hill of the sun. Its Patio de la Acequia, a long water channel framed by fountains, flowerbeds and arcades, is one of the oldest surviving Andalusian gardens. The sound of water was part of the design, as was the view back to the palaces.

How to get to the Alhambra: take the small Alhambra bus from Plaza Isabel la Católica or walk up the Cuesta de Gomérez from Plaza Nueva in about twenty minutes. The best time to visit the Alhambra is spring or autumn, early in the day. Alhambra tickets are personal, so bring the passport or ID used for booking.