Alhambra

They check for passport/ID. Bring comfortable shoes, a lot of walking and stairs. It gets very crowded. The towers of the castle is impressive, it allows great views of the city. The extensive garden is well maintained. Museum exhibits are small.

Massive visual experience. Crowds a real issue. Fear site is suffering from excessive tourism and physical touching. We hired a personal guide that was well worth the money. Without the guide you will miss the history which is amazing. Go early. Take bus up hill to entrance. Walk back is all downhill. Research red bus which is an indirect route 1.60e

I visited the Alhambra Palace and got to learn about its history. The beauty of the palace, both inside and out, is incredible and absolutely worth the visit. Keep in mind that you’ll need your passport or ID to enter, and you’ll spend around 3 hours or more exploring the entire palace. You can also find tour guides upon entry in many different languages including Arabic, however you need to have cash with you to pay them.

Rich history and culture, beautiful architecture. Be prepared to have your passports checked at least four times during your visit. Ticket grants you one time access through the rooms but unlimited access to the beautiful gardens. Visit in winter when the trees are bearing oranges and the weather is cool.

This is an absolute must see for any trip in the south of Spain. We had a guided tour that took just under three hours and covered everything you need to know. Highly recommend getting tickets in advance, even in the low season.

Absolutely beautiful. 100% a must see if you got to Malaga. The old architecture is preserved very well and is absolutely stunning. It's definitely worth a visit

Make sure you buys your tickets weeks, if not months, in advance. Try to go early because you can be here for hours. Gorgeous area with a lot to see. The gardens and flowers were unexpected and very pretty. The buildings and history had so much details, make sure to get an audio guide as well, the app does a good job. We were here for 6h easily. Note that their food and drinks are from vending machines so plan accordingly. Also it's a bit of a hike so get there early

Excellent spot to visit! Get your tickets in advance and plan on going when is not hot, that can take away from the visit as everything is open and the heat can ruin the experience. Be ready to do a lot of walking and many stairs, there are many buildings to visit, so the sooner you get there the better. Amazing experience, full of history and great architecture.

They check for passport/ID. Bring comfortable shoes, a lot of walking and stairs. It gets very crowded. The towers of the castle is impressive, it allows great views of the city. The extensive garden is well maintained. Museum exhibits are small.

Massive visual experience. Crowds a real issue. Fear site is suffering from excessive tourism and physical touching. We hired a personal guide that was well worth the money. Without the guide you will miss the history which is amazing. Go early. Take bus up hill to entrance. Walk back is all downhill. Research red bus which is an indirect route 1.60e

I visited the Alhambra Palace and got to learn about its history. The beauty of the palace, both inside and out, is incredible and absolutely worth the visit. Keep in mind that you’ll need your passport or ID to enter, and you’ll spend around 3 hours or more exploring the entire palace. You can also find tour guides upon entry in many different languages including Arabic, however you need to have cash with you to pay them.

Rich history and culture, beautiful architecture. Be prepared to have your passports checked at least four times during your visit. Ticket grants you one time access through the rooms but unlimited access to the beautiful gardens. Visit in winter when the trees are bearing oranges and the weather is cool.

This is an absolute must see for any trip in the south of Spain. We had a guided tour that took just under three hours and covered everything you need to know. Highly recommend getting tickets in advance, even in the low season.

Absolutely beautiful. 100% a must see if you got to Malaga. The old architecture is preserved very well and is absolutely stunning. It's definitely worth a visit

Make sure you buys your tickets weeks, if not months, in advance. Try to go early because you can be here for hours. Gorgeous area with a lot to see. The gardens and flowers were unexpected and very pretty. The buildings and history had so much details, make sure to get an audio guide as well, the app does a good job. We were here for 6h easily. Note that their food and drinks are from vending machines so plan accordingly. Also it's a bit of a hike so get there early

Excellent spot to visit! Get your tickets in advance and plan on going when is not hot, that can take away from the visit as everything is open and the heat can ruin the experience. Be ready to do a lot of walking and many stairs, there are many buildings to visit, so the sooner you get there the better. Amazing experience, full of history and great architecture.

This time, we got a guided tour of the gardens and the Alhambra. It was really worth it, our tour guide knew her stuff and pointed out littles things like leaves on tress (to determine bitter vs sweet oranges) and details on some of the prisons and dungeons in the fortress. The gardens were in full bloom in early May so it was just beautiful to see the many colors around. As before, if you want to go to the Alhambra, the best thing is to buy online tickets at least 2-3 months beforehand so you can have your pick of times...they sell out very quickly. Great views of the city of Granada from high above. Also, the best thing is to catch the bus from city center to the top...it's a steep climb....

Love, Love, LOVE this place. The only thing is to watch out for is the water snakes in the ponds, looking for frogs. Otherwise, roam free!

If there is a heaven, it would look like this! Heavenly, awe-inspiring, majestic art and architecture. The Moors (Muslim rulers of Spain for 700+years until1492, while the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages) were talented and skilled artists and brilliant mathematicians. The symmetrical designs of tiles with carved verses from the Holy Quran are dazzling. Simple but elegant. The red color ("Al Hambra" the red one) fortress hides all the lovely designs and gardens inside its walls. Little do you know the wonders inside till you enter. There are a many cobbstone pathways and stairs to climb on this tour. You'll get your daily steps in! There are no elevators that I could see. Go slow and enjoy all the details. You'll feel overwhelmed by the crowds of people around you. This is a very busy tourist attraction- the iconic symbol of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan ahead (many months) to purchase tickets. Take your passport with you, as it required. You'll always remember this incredible Moorish Fortress in Granada!

Alhambra in Granada is a lot to unpack. The first question I have is 1) how did Spain maintain all of its great architecture through WW 1 and WW 2?? How did they do it?? Answer: They declared "neutrality" during WWs 1 and 2. And by doing so, they avoided our B-52s. (Actually B-29s) So, as a result, you find yourself here at this UNESCO site and in complete awe!! Alhambra is one of the finest examples of Moorish/Muslim architecture and design. Built in the early 1200s, it was a fortress and very much like a small encapsulated city - containing a mosque, gardens, public baths, courtyards, etc. What I couldn't comprehend or grasp was the "stalactite" design of the ceilings. This symmetrical, honeycomb design is considered "mocarabe" style. You'll get a neck ache just looking up as you try to fathom how this was carved?! It reminds me of dropping an alka seltzer in your glass and seeing an eruption of tiny bubbles. You'll also see beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, fountains, gardens, calligraphy, woodwork, and views of the town down below. There are a ton of visitors but if you're patient, you will get some alone time here and there. FYI, the Christian conquest was completed around 1492 and this place was left intact, neglected, partly destroyed by Napoleon and then rebuilt to what you see now. Don't miss this!!,, as you travel through the Iberian peninsula.....

We knew we had to visit the Alhambra on our visit to Southern Spain and thus Granada was on our list. Even though it was the slow season I made a reservation two months in advance. We opted for the 8:30am time slot for the Nazaries Palace tour and had been advised to be in line 30 minutes early (don't forget your passport!). Well we probably didn't have to be that early especially in February when we had to trudge up the hill in the dark (who knew it does not get light out until well after 8am this time of year). Since we had our tickets and were not using a guide we went directly to the Justice Gate to enter the complex (a shorter walk from town). Anyway the palace was very interesting and amazing though we had trouble with the free audioguide because our US mobil phone data plan was too slow to keep refreshing the audio. Hint bring your own ear buds so you don't have to hold the phone to your ear. Even without the guide the palace was quite fascinating. It did make me wonder what it would have looked like without the Catholic "remodeling". We enjoyed touring the rest of the grounds especially the view from the Alcazaba, the small museum in the Palace of Carlos, the gardens, and the Generalife (though later in the day that was very crowded). We brought our picnic and ate in one of the gardens. We opted to walk back to town via the Cuesta del Rey Chico - it was a nice alternative. Overall we spend more than four hours touring and exploring.

The historical site is so worthwhile to visit. This is a very late review as I travelled there in 2016, almost 10 years ago.

This is without question a must see. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance because they sell out. They get 8000 visitors a DAY here so I also recommend going at the first entry at 9 am. We used a private tour guide which I highly recommend - I think we got so much more out of the visit than the folks on group or self-guided tours. I cannot recommend Margarita enough - email her at info@alhambratours.com I found her on Rick Steve's travel forums and she is an absolute gem. Incredibly knowledgeable and she's a local so she had great tips and advice on places to go outside of Alhambra. One thing I was so impressed with is how spotlessly clean the grounds and buildings are. They really take amazing care of this national treasure - the marble floors gleam in the sunlight.

This is the most gorgeous palace & fortress I have visited in Europe. If you visit Spain, you must stop here! The palace and gardens were designed by the Moors. It has gorgeous architecture and stunning design throughout, including intricate tile work, artistic calligraphy and carved wood. The fountains and gardens are beautiful! Icons were banned in Islam, so the palace is adorned with designs, carvings, mosaics and artistic calligraphy, including sacred scripture (as seen in Mosques as well). The Moors who moved across North Africa, then through Morocco and into Spain, actually brought the importance of water, public baths, water fountains, and regular bathing to Europe during the Dark Ages. During my History course in Spain I learned that Europeans at the time only fully bathed once a year and used heavy perfumes and flowers to cover smells. The Muslim Moors washed several times daily for ritual prayer (at fountains in courtyard of the mosque) and keeping the entire body clean was an important practice of their faith. We can thank the Moors for the public baths, fountains, gardens, gorgeous architecture, stunning artwork, mathematics, astronomy, exchange of free thought and debate, and higher education centers to help usher Europe back out of the Dark Ages. This Moorish palace was later used as a castle/fortress when the Catholics regained control of Grenada. It overlooks the town of Grenada and the Mediterranean Sea. I will add photos later, but they are similar to ones already posted.

Amazing architecture and design, and the fact that the weather happened to be STUNNING made our visit to these sites absolutely spectacular. Be prepared for a full afternoon of walking and admiring all your eyes can take in!

Ah, the Alhambra. One of the top treasures of Southern Spain. I've heard of it for many years, but finally was near enough and the weather good enough to make the trek. It was well worth it. I strongly encourage making reservations in advance, rather than leaving your visit to chance. I was able to use public transportation to get to the top of the hill (it was quite easy from the Granada bus station), and then wandered down the hill on foot with one of the folks on our tour. Note: it can get quite cold in Granada in the winter, often below freezing overnight and in the morning hours. This can impact your comfort on your visit , since the Alhambra sits atop of a hill, and much of it is inside (without heat) or in the shade. Even with comfy cold-temperature gear it can still be quite trying over a 3+ hour tour. When I was there, it was below freezing much of the morning, and most of the fountains were turned off to prevent damage to them.

I first visited this magnificent site 20 years ago, so my current visit is somewhat colored by the differences I experienced. This trip was so crowded that there were very few places that gave the serene experience I had decades ago. It is a place that prompts deep thought and reflection on history and culture, but the throngs of people make that difficult. Still, it is awesome in its history and the grounds are superbly maintained. Just too many people, and having long lines for passport checks (twice during our tour) dampened my enthusiasm this time.

Possibly one of the most beautiful structures in the world, parts of which have stood since the 13th century. The views from The Alhambra and Generalife take your breath away. We are so blessed to have had the privilege of seeing this in our lifetime.

Absolutely gorgeous Moorish palace and gardens. 100% must-see. Be sure to make your reservations in advance, wear comfortable shoes, and bring plenty of water. Expect a crowd, too. This was my favorite attraction in Granada.

A must see if you visit the entire country of Spain. Tickets are not expensive at all and the visit is definitely worth it! I fell in love with the amazing architecture and the serene vibe of the place. Be sure to bring your passport or ID because you will need to show it when you enter. I found the staff to be nice but yet somewhat disorganized because signage was lacking in many areas as far as where to go. The Alhambra itself is so different than how I expected it to be. But overall I was stunned at the endless beauty around every corner!

We made a day trip from Sevilla to Granada just to do Alhambra, and I am so glad we did. It was definitely one of our trip highlights, especially and most notably the Nasrid Palaces. If Alcazar was something you enjoyed, this is definitely worth adding to your list. The grounds of Alhambra are just beautiful, and the Nasrid palaces are breathtaking. It's preserved quite well, and you get to see quite a bit of the premises. I did the handheld audio tour which gave some decent history, but it wasn't that great. I think I might have enjoyed a live guided tour a bit more. If you are in a time crunch, be sure to privatize the Nasrid palace and be certain to book your entry time ahead of time. You have to have a definite reservation to enter. Also bring your passport, you cannot enter the grounds of Alhambra without it.

The beautiful Alhambra has delighted visitors since the 8th century. With several palaces, gorgeous gardens, and a fortress to explore, there is enough history and amazing architecture to delight everyone. We booked a guided tour with Guillermo through Tours By Locals. Without his expert guidance we would have never understood the history and significance of what we were seeing. In 3.5 hours we learned so much. While anyone can enjoy the multitude of photo ops, our experience was enhanced with Guillermo's input. I am leaving Granada with newfound knowledge.

I won't talk about how amazing the place is, because there is no question about that. My review will focus on our planning for the visit. The base for our visit to Andalusia was Sevilla, and we took trains to Granada and Cordoba. The train tickets weren't available for sale the company's online portal (Renfe.com) until about 3 weeks before our train travel date. We checked every day for about 2 weeks and bought our tickets at a good discount the first day they became available. We also booked our tickets to the Alhambra right after we bought the train tickets, making sure that we had enough time to go from Sevilla early morning (7:14 departure time) to Granada and have brunch there before our timed visit to the site. The careful planning really paid off, as we encountered none of the troubles that many other tourists experienced. Another factor that really improved our experience is that we visited in the low season. Without a large crowd, we got to see the place with leisure and took many great photos. Even though the day of our visit was a bit cold and partly sunny (high of 6C/42F) and even had some snow flurries, the weather was still largely pleasant with adequate clothing.

We took a one-day bus tour here through Viator with a guide. It's a beautiful location with so much to see and do. It feels like a large mansion, palace or castle on a hill with a moat. You can see amazing views of the city from the building. There are gardens, bedrooms, hall ways, a grotto and so much to see and do. You can easily spend an entire day here walking through all the rooms and looking at the decorative walls. There's a lot of small walkways. I do recommend coming early and either booking a tour or staying through the night because there could be quite a few people and tour groups, making the experience less exciting. However, when I went there were just enough people to make it feel busy but not overly crowded.

It was so beautiful! It was great to see how the sultan and sultans lived. There is still a lot of construction to preserve the building but it was so beautiful. We had the best guide Fatmi, who took care of my mom during the tour. It is definitely a walking tour, wear comfortable shoes and take ibuprofen after! The palace is gorgeous!

La Alhambra or Red Castle in Arabic is located on the top of Sabika hill in Granada overlooking Albaicin and Alcazaba neighborhoods. The whole complex was irregular in shape and is surrounded with defensive walls like any fortress. The oldest part of the Alhambra is the Alcazaba, a fortress with multiple towers. Nasrid dynasty fortified the Alcazaba and used it as a military base for the royal guard of the sultan, experts still believe the structure was built before Muslims arrived to Granada. The first historical records of the Alcazaba (and the greater Alhambra) date to the 9th century. In 13th century , Mohammed I, the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, settled into the Alcazaba of Albaicín, but was attracted to the ruins on the Sabika hill. He eventually established a royal residence of Alhambra and began creating the palatine city known today. During its prime, the Alhambra had three main sections: The Alcazaba, a military base that housed guards with families; the palatial zone, several palaces for the sultan and his family ; and the Medina, a quarter where court officials lived and worked. Alhambra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with two other sites: the Albaicín (or Albayzín) and the Generalife Garden. We visited in June 2021, during Covid. Got our tickets days in advance, at earliest time slot, so we were among first to arrive in the morning. The complex's is absolutely incredible. The details are incredible, the tile work and just the way it was all composed gibes away such a relaxing vibes. It is hard to imagine soldiers walking on these grounds. Gardens are extremely well kept, we were impressed in this arid climate how everything was green and gorgeously vibrant. It is an absolute must!!

I strongly recommend seeing Alhambra but not necessarily taking a tour. It is pleasant and is basically the sole thing to see. Great views, but very crowded and very hilly. Be prepared. Note: These gardens are over-rated as compared to other country's palaces, parks, and gardens.

The Alhambra is a must see. We booked our tickets to the Alhambra then planned the rest of our trip to Spain. Be sure to book your tickets in advance! There are different types of tickets and options to visit the Gardens and/or the Nasrid Palace at night. We purchased the General Day ticket and was there a full day to take it all in. At the entrance, we rented a self- guided audible tour and wandered. It was nice to not have to worry about keeping up with a tour group. The Alhambra is really a special experience. So much history to appreciate. The Alhambra is on hill above Granada. We took a taxi to the Alhambra and caught a taxi to get back to town. The local bus stops right in front. Remember to take your passport, staff may need to verify.

Beautifully and meticulously manicured grounds and garden. It's hard to believe that 8000 travelers visit the place daily. The Nasrid palaces is highlight as well as the stroll through the gardens. If you are traveling with travel group, make sure the ticket include the Nasrid palaces. The moorish architectural flow and sensibility is highlighted here. There are several controls to enter different places. Make sure you take one piece of Identification with you for random checks. (Written by husband)

La Alhambra is a former royal palace complex and fortification and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The blend of Moorish and Christian architecture has made the Alhambra famous, and it has been mentioned in literature for hundreds of years. The Generalife is the outer villa with stunning gardens that are said to emulate paradise described in the Koran. The Alhambra is certainly a symbol of Granada as it sits on a hill overlooking the whole city. As I was walking throughout Granada I kept getting glimpses of the Alhambra. Knowing that this is Spain's most visited attraction, we bought tickets (15,40 euros each) 3 months before our trip through their website. You can pickup the tickets at their box office or you can go to the Corral del Carbón, located at Calle Mariana Pineda 8. To save time, we picked them up in advance so that we wouldn't have to stand in any long lines once we arrived. The grounds are so vast that it took several hours for us to walk through everything. One of my favorite sights was the Palace of the Lions. The filigree detail on the archways are gorgeous and I love the white marble fountain of lions in the center of the courtyard. The Court of the Myrtles was also very interesting and reminded me a lot of the Courtyard of the Maidens at the Alcázar in Sevilla. The gardens were also hard to beat, including the Palace Garden of the Sultans in the Generalife. It's difficult to do the Alhambra and Generalife justice just describing what you'll see and experience. It should be a bucket list item for anyone who loves to travel to go see this beautiful piece of history.

Qalat Alhambra, "A pearl set in emeralds," described by the Moorish poets. 800th Review~ For those of you who do not know me, I try to stay extremely positive and optimistic. But if things do not go my way, I am the biggest cry baby. Qalat Alhambra is one those rare places where I have cried not once but twice. Once when the tickets were sold out trying to see it. And second time when we ended up coming back to Granada, Spain. Words can not describe how I felt, when I found out we were going to Spain once more to see Alhambra from the inside. (Sam M, I will never forget this trip, all the thank you-s in the world are not enough). Biggest tip: Buy the tickets in advance online, we stood in line early morning but still there were 5 people ahead of me when they were sold out. You can buy them about 3 months in advance. Experience~ Alhambra's palace/fortress/gardens are extremely gorgeous and the rare jewel of Andalusia. It should not be afterthought, while visiting Spain, go to Granada. I wont go into to much detail, since I loved every moment of visiting it. It can be described in many ways, but the true way to know about it is by visiting. Of course I want to go for a third time to Granada.~

There are few places that actually moved me emotionally. One being St. Peter's Cathedral at the Vatican and the other was here. Amazing architecture and history coupled with views of Granada. There's so much written about this place that I can't top what has already been said. What I can do however is provide some tips! Make sure you book tickets way in advance. Like weeks in advance during peak season. Unfortunately even booking a few weeks out I could only get a 6:30 entrance ticket. They close at 8:00 so I had to hurry along but I'll take it. Food is not allowed on the premises so make sure to eat a hearty meal beforehand. There are drinking fountains throughout and the water is sourced from the Sierra Nevadas so it's pretty tasty. No selfie sticks allowed and backpacks must be worn in the front! The walk up is beautiful and peaceful if you can do the hike. Highly recommend.

This is definitely a cool spot to visit. I've been wanting to see the place after watching a Korean drama called Memories of the Alhambra (probably the reason why I added Granada to my travel list). Do plan ahead and get tickets online before you visit. There are some free areas where the ticket is not needed but if you want to see the palace you'll need to book a time and get the tickets a few months in advance. I was only able to get the general admission ticket by booking a month or so early since the palace tickets were sold out already. This place is really big so wear comfortable walking shoes! I spent a good amount of time walking around and taking pictures, you can probably spend a day here if you want. There's a lot to see so do give yourself enough time to enjoy!

WOW!! I don't even know what to say. If you are in Granada ven for just half day, THIS is what you should be doing and seeing. What an amazing place! Full of history and beauty. It is absolutely breathtaking. I could go back here every year and I'm sure I would see something different every time. The gardens and the view to the whole city of Granada and the Sierra Nevada mountains are amazing. Do yourself a favor and go here and take a guided tour!

This is the quite the palace, you should go here and experience the moorish design and style. The garden's design and method of style is quite interesting, as well of how much symmetry they have in their design. You'll also find it interesting to find loads of alterations throughout the entire palace that happened during the Spanish Reinaisance. I'd recommend coming here if you're interested in seeing the moorish design or if you were just interested in seeing how the sultans lived.

What an amazing place! The architecture is stunning and there is a lot of fine detail that went into this project. I loved the rhythm that was used in the site. There are many shapes that fall into sequential order that make the site very pleasing and appealing.

You need to go here! We had a private tour guide take us around the property but man oh man was this place stunning! The details are just breathtaking and have so much meaning. The history is so important too. We were literally in the same room as Christopher Columbus when he received his money from the King to explore the Americas. Woah. Lots of walking. So many picturesque courtyards and views of Granada from above. Take your time and definitely add this to your list of todos if you are ever in Granada!

The most visited national site in all of Spain with on average 10,000 visitors per day. We visited in late April during a stretch of perfect spring (sunny and 71) weather with a private guide. We visited all three sections on our tour including the Generalif (gardens and hunting palace). We booked our guide and tickets months in advance-when we were there in April we were told they were already sold out through July so if you plan to visit YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD. Your entry into the main palace will have a specific time-our was 3:30 pm. We were told most of the big groups like the 10-1:20 pm times but expect it to always be busy. One of the advantages of a guide is being expertly moved from place to place and directed to the best views and spots for photos. We got some great ones.

This is it...the grandest, largest, and most spectacular alcazar in all of Europe. I think. Buy your tickets weeks, maybe months, in advance as it does sell out! Be well rested. Bring water. Wear comfortable shoes; leave those sexy high heels and the old flip flops in your room. Prepare to spend at least half a day here. And don't be late for your scheduled entry time for the Nasrid Palace, you don't want to miss it! 14€ takes you to a whole new world, shinning, shimmering, splendid. The Alhambra is straight out of a fairy tale. Fairy tale as in Aladdin, not Sleeping Beauty. Princess Jasmine definitely could've lived here. Words are worthless in describing the gorgeous Moorish architecture, grounds, gardens, rooms, palaces, and fortresses...check out all the photos!

Did the walking tour that included tickets to all of the palace. The outside scene was amazing during the tour since we were on the other side of the valley. Took a good 30min walk to the palace. From there i walk around for another good 2 hr. This place is huge. Lot of cool scenery and pictures taken at the garden are amazing.

One of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. I've been to the Alhambra multiple times and every time I'm blown away by it's sheer beauty and grace. Definitely a place to visit when in Granada, Spain.

If you have a bucket list, The Alhambra might well be up there with your top ten. I don't know if words can do justice to this place-fortress, town, castle, garden all in one breathtaking location. It's literally like heaven on earth. First, like everyone says buy your ticket in advance. The lines are crazy long. However, rather than buying it from their website which is kinda hard ask your hotel if they can buy it for you. We did and we are glad that we did. It's load cheaper also if you go out on your own as opposed to going in a big group and just get one of the head phones set to guide you through the palaces n the garden. Big groups on tour are just in my opinion get in the way of your own enjoyment. One must continually keep up or other group members just or they get in the way of your photos or they are rushed through the sites rather than being allowed to linger and savor the ornate architecture and to breath in the peacefulness of the gardens. Additionally, instead of hiking up The Alhambra and huffffing and puffing up for 45 minutes take the C3 bus and just conserve your strength in the place itself because you will need it. You'll be going up and down hills and stairs all throughout. We were there for almost 5 hours and I still needed more time. If you want more exercise, just walk down back into town.

The Nasrid Palaces here alone make it worth it to go. It's beautiful and nothing like anything else I'd ever seen.

I seem to find two types of travelers reviewing this spectacular building. There are the ones who seem to compare it to other marvels around the world and not impressed with it and others who are are blown away by it, and I definitely fall in the latter group. I am by no means here to yuck anyones yum, but Alhambra is a moorish delight and one that I think can stand up against many other marvels around the world. First off, this place is an absolute well oiled machine! Do not expect to stroll up pay and start exploring thinking no one else will be there! They run tours only all day and late into the night. I had booked my ticket at least three months in advance, and was not sure which I would get in terms of the day or night until a month before. I opted for the night as I have never seen a majestic wonder of the world at night, so figured it was time. The whole process was orchestrated to perfection in terms of a pickup from the hotel, all the way to the drop off at the end of the night or next morning (Got back around 1:00 AM). The tour was very informative, but I felt the need to keep wandering around to try to stay awake as I started the tour late at night. I can go on and on about each room and the handcrafted walls, floors, ceilins, statues, etc, but I am pretty sure the photos can do more justice than I can! A quick pro tip though from our guide, which he had mentioned that they will be soon limiting the number or visits a day as they cannot keep up with the demand. I guess it tails on what I had said before, but seriously, check it out six months in advance as that may be the only time to secure your slot. You seriously cannot miss out on this beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site, it will be one you cherish for quite some time!

If you are visiting Granada chances are that you plan to see one of the most impressive historical sights of Spain, La Alhambra y El Generalife. La Alhambra (translation: "The Red One") dates back to AD 889, when it was originally constructed as a fortress. The ruins were rebuilt in the mid-13th century by the Moorish ruler, Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar, and converted into a palace in 1333. This royal palace complex is the most remarkable Islamic architecture in Spain. Despite neglect, vandalism, and some unwise restoration La Alhamabra is one of the finest examples of Muslim art. La Alhambra is a maze of rooms that open to gorgeous courtyards. The palace is connected by many small rooms and passages so it is easy to get lost or turned around in this huge complex. Be prepared to spend a minimum of three to four hours at La Alhambra. We started our visit in the early morning and finally left when our feet were tired and we were hungry for lunch. We rushed through the gardens since it was cold and many of the flowers were not in bloom in January. Some noteworthy attractions at La Alhambra: The Palace of Charles V, The Mexuar Oratory (prayer room) at Nasrid Palaces, Comares Palace, The Court of the Myrtles (Patio de los Arrayanes), The Hall of the Abencerrajes family (rumor is that all of the family was murdered here), the ceiling in the Hall of Ambassadors, Court of Lions with the famous fountain of lions, and the Hall of the Kings. TIP: Buy your tickets at least two months in advance for Nasrid Palaces. The popular time slots do fill up quickly. All of the main sights are in Nasrid Palace so this is not a sight to miss at La Alhambra.

A cool and sunny fall day was just perfect for my visit to La Alhambra. And if you are like me would rather eat than sightseeing, this is still worth your while to take a half day for the experience. Special thanks for my travel mate for booking and reserving the time for our visit to Nasrid Palaces. Since we were early, the place was not busy at all. There were no lines getting into Nasrid Palace. I was able to have a quiet moment admiring the grounds and took some photos before all the other tourists arrived! Pro tip: ordered and tried picking up your tickets at least a day prior at one of the service kiosks. The lines for getting the same day tickets was ridiculously long. Even the lines for picking up tickets was long and slow moving too! At 14 € admission is definitely worth a visit! And a good way to walk off all the food that you ate and make room for some more.

Garden review only-The Alhambra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the 2nd most visited attraction in all of Europe after the Colosseum in Roma. In 889 AD it was built on the remains of Roman fortresses. In 1333 it was converted into a royal palace by the Sultan of Granada. In 1492 Columbus received royal endorsements for his voyage here. In 2018 I visited the gorgeous gardens and used it for a pretty killer game of hide & seek with my girls. Haha! We didn't know in advance the day of our visit since we were road-tripping and just blowing with the wind. Tickets to the actual site were completely sold out in the middle of summer (aka prime time tourist season) so we opted for the garden tickets, which were free for children under 10 and just €8 for an adult! WELL WORTH IT!! (If you too decide to just stop by unplanned and cannot get into the main site, I urge you to still come see the gardens!) Oh, and tickets can only be purchased through the link in their site. They do have an English version! The views over Granada are absolutely incredible and admission to the garden does include access to one of the summer homes, which gives you a really good taste of the overall design, feel and purpose of the Alhambra. I was so blown away by the hand carved details in Moorish style (Moor, in English usage, a Moroccan or, formerly, a member of the Muslim population of what is now Spain and Portugal. Of mixed Arab, Spanish, and Amazigh (Berber) origins, the Moors created the Arab Andalusian civilization and subsequently settled as refugees in North Africa between the 11th and 17th centuries) This was definitely a highlight of the garden for me. They are absolutely breathtaking!! I stood in awe with so many turns I made. Just when I thought I saw the most Instagram-worthy photo op, there was another! Wow! Just gorgeous! It's a photographers paradise! The gardens are lush and some sections are really vibrant and even have fruit. The fountains are all so lovely. There were too many to count, but the kiddos loved splashing each other in them all! The kiddos who originally thought they wouldn't enjoyed their time here loved it too. Parents, perhaps make it a little more fun with a game of Ispy or Hide & Go Seek! We came first thing in the morning and luckily avoided the swarms of tourist!! They come on bus trips! Definitely be the first ones through the door if you can! There's a great little cafe with really tasty fresh pressed juices and smoothies! Hit the spot afterwards on a hot day! They also have light breakfast and lunch bites. Cash only! There's a lovely gift shop too with some very crafty pieces. Think art museum gift shop style. Parking isn't awful. There are a few lots on your right and it is by the hour. We stayed roughly 1.5-2 hrs and paid around €6 Euro. The kiosk to pay however is very easy to miss. There's no sign at all. It's just before the exit on your left. You have to actually pull into the lot and then get back in the lane to exit.

Just knowing that it is a UNESCO World heritage site raises your hopes of a grand visit. The gardens are the key part and the crown jewels. They are so beautiful and the fort itself is very well maintained. In the end of the tour, views of the mountains and city of Granada are beautiful. There are several picture spots. It's important to have a good guide, otherwise tends to get boring in some spots. This is a must do if you have time on your Spain tour. But I would only visit if you have some interest in history and forts. Otherwise, it's a very long and tiring walking tour.

If you come to Granada is most probably to visit the Alhambra. If it is, plan in advance to book online. Otherwise, you will have to wake up early (5am) to wait in line to purchase tickets. The ticket office opens at 8am. We arrived at 5:45am, there was already a line-up. It's the most visited monument in Spain after all. Gates open at 8:30am. We were blasted away to see so much beauty ! So majestic, the gardens, the architecture, the fountains, etc. Very recommended ! 5/5 Visited in October 2016

In anticipation of our trip to Spain, we booked tickets for La Alhambra online 3 months ahead of time and they were already nearly sold out for the summer months. That in itself should tell you something. At about $17 USD for tickets, this is a monument at which you can spend most of the day We arrived via bus ahead of our scheduled tour time so we could get our bearings. Upon entering, you are winded through beautiful gardens until you get to the palace itself. Be mindful that strollers are not allowed inside, so if you have one, be sure to check it in at the locker area ahead of time. They provide free baby carriers to borrow while your stroller is on hold. The entire Alhambra is a massive site. There are endless rooms, books and crannies with beautiful handcrafted detail, fountains and beautiful, heavenly gardens. This was certainly one of the highlights of our time here in Granada. It is not to be missed. I only took 1 star off because the entrance and staff were a bit unorganized. It was difficult to tell where to enter, what our ticket included and how to figure out where to be. After arriving I found out I needed to get a ticket for my child, although it was free, but requires waiting in another line. Then, every so often somebody wanted to scan our tickets over and over again to enter a new area. Besides these slight inconveniences, the Alhambra is certainly a site that you must see. Impressive in every regard and the views of the city from the top cannot be beat.

So breathtaking and amazing. A must see for visitors to this region of Spain. Buy tickets early!!!! Make sure your tickets include admission into Palacios Nazaries (not all of them do). Recommend getting a ticket for earlier in the day -- we went at 10:30 am in the low-season March and 10:30 was ok but it was starting to get crowded. Allot at minimum 3 hours to explore the entire Alhambra complex. 4 hours would be even better so that you can really take your time and soak it all in. There is so much to see! You want to enter through the Justice Gate. You can get there early and look at stuff before your Palacios Nazaries admission time.

Amazing place, make sure you book before you come and get the guided tour by an individual. You will not be disappointed. We loved it here and spent about 3 hours on the tour. Wonderful pictures from very special designs

Fantástico guide who knew all about her subject matter. The mathematical perfection, the theater of politics, and the importance of irrigation to political power

Amazing, senior, and amazing views. So much history! Our guide, Christina Izquierdo was knowledgeable and fun! Made the day a real pleasure. Highly recommend this city, and its most popular attraction!

It's great to see the magnificent architecture and imagine the life back in the day here. The palace has become run down over the ages and with the many times it has changed hands over the years. The wall carvings are interesting to look at and good to go in there once to walk around. However, nothing is left except the empty rooms and many are under construction which made the visit feel a bit gloomy and the cold probably didn't help either. Worth a visit? Still yes, but dress warmly and be prepare to walk.