The Alhambra: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Visit

Thinking about visiting the Alhambra? Good!

Granada is one of my favorite cities in the entire world and the Alhambra is quintessentially Granada. You’ll see awe-inspiring architecture, outrageously intricate details, perfectly manicured gardens and the some of the most unbelievable attention to detail.

So, enjoy a cafe con leche and a pan con tomate, or perhaps some churros and chocolate and then set out to explore the Alhambra!

This post is all about the Alhambra!

All about the alhambra

The construction of the Alhambra started in 1238. The four main components of the area are the Alhambra (overall city/site area), the Alcazaba (military section), the Nasrid Palace (royal palace) and the Generalife (gardens). The purpose of the site was to serve as a palace for the Royal family, a military fortress for the last muslim rulers in Spain.

About the generalife and the Gardens

The structures have all been maintained and preserved beautifully. Even the attention to detail in the gardens is mind boggling. The hedges are perfectly manicured, the weeds are all removed and flowers are in bloom almost year round.

The angles and placement of plants are all strategically chosen. Water elements, using the water from the nearby Darro river, were designed to create a sense of tranquility. This feature paired with the 170 different plants create a microclimate to beat the strong summer heat (by 18ºF).

The gorgeous details of the alhambra

Even zooming in on these photos doesn’t do the intricacies of this place justice. The shapes, designs, repetition, angles, mathematics, pillars and symbolism is truly captivating. The details are one of the reasons I highly recommend booking a guided tour – so you can truly understand and notice all the fine details in this incredible place. (Information on booking tickets is in the section below).

One of the most outstanding sites is a portion of the ceiling made from over 8000 pieces of cedar and poplar wood that give the effect of honeycomb.

What you need to know

Tickets and Tours: The the entire area – the Alhambra, the Nasrid Palace and the Generalife are all so beautiful, unique and special. I don’t always feel the need to have guided tours of places or museums, but this is one place where having a tour is super important. There are so many details that a guide will point out and help you to appreciate and understand the importance of this place.

*When purchasing tickets make sure it includes the Nasrid Palace and the Generalife – not just the Alhambra!*

Click here to buy tickets in advance before they sell out!

Hours: The summer hours are 8:30 am – 8:00 pm and winter hours are 8:30 am – 6:00 pm.

Important to note: They’re also closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day