Alhambra, Granada - is it worth the cost!!

[AdventureTravelDreamer]

We have booked a long weekend for the first May bank holiday staying just outside Granada. We are planning on hiking in the Sierra Nevada one day and sightseeing in Granada another including a flamenco. I know that to get tickets for Alhambra you need to book in advance but they all seem really expensive. The site I was on, which I think is the official site, looked like tickets were starting at €43pp so for a family of four we are looking at the best part of €200!!

Has anyone been? Is it really this expensive and if so is it worth it?

Yes, 1000 times yes.

tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/

Is the official site and it's nothing like 43 euros. 14 euros each and children under 12 go free.

Book in advance, it gets REALLY busy.

It is utterly stunning. Unforgettable.

I have been there three times over the years & would go there again, it's a magical place. And yes, book in advance.

I went there years ago and it was the most wonderful place I've ever been to.

Yes. When we stayed in Granada for a week we went three times. Twice during the day and once on a night tour.
Amazing place.

Yes! It might be my favourite place in the world.

Yes it is

It’s one of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen. I went to Granada for three days a couple of years ago and did one night visit and three day visits to the Alhambra. I couldn’t get enough of it.

And, yes, as stated above, it certainly should not cost 43 euros.

Most definitely!

Also, do buy the official tickets directly from the website PP suggested. Actually a real bargain.

We went two years ago. Without doubt one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. I want to go back but this time without the whining teenager we took with us last time who spent most of the time trying to get a signal on his mobile!

Yes, it’s worth it.

I was there about 30 years ago and still remember it. I would love to go back. And that was when I was a child and really not interested in that sort of thing.

We went early June and it wasn’t crowded at all.

The tickets you need to get a long time in advance are for the Nasrid Palaces, which have a timed entry. But you can enter and leave the Alhambra site at will.

Book online, direct through the official Alhambra site, download your tickets, and away you go,

It’s worth every penny.

The online ticket entry cost via the official Alhambra booking site is €14 and some cents pp. That includes entry to the Nasrid Palaces.

A bargain and not to be missed. If you need to save money do take water and food with you though. The refreshment offer inside the Alhambra isn’t great.

tickets.alhambra-patronato.es/en/

We went late May , it was wonderful. We booked the first entry of the morning and got there early. It was quiet and atmospheric . It had filled up by the time we finished the tour but frankly you can’t go to Granada and not go to the Alhambra.

We also walked out of town past the university to a gorgeous convent . And the tombs of Ferdinand snd Isabella are impressive

This is a good guide

www.wandertooth.com/alhambra-palace-granada-spain-tips/

We did it the way they suggested.

I did like it very much, but it was also very crowded and being short I had trouble seeing at times.

Highly recommended is watching the sunset from across the valley at one of the bars there - or from the park. I actually found this more uplifting than the actual visit.

I went in January last year and apart from the timed section for the palace it was not too busy (but still sunny and warm with great views of snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains). Only bought ticket (online from official site and downloaded to phone) about 2 days before visit and was about £12 when converted from euros, great value as was there for 5 or 6 hours and then when they closed you could still stay in the outside area which doesn't close, to watch the sunset over the old town.

Lots of cats and kittens, who will surround you and watch you eat your packed lunch much to the amusement/fascination of other tourists who seemed to think person sat on bench surrounded by hungry cats was a great photo opportunity.

As others have said, spectacular place and worth every penny. Go first thing in the morning or mid afternoon to avoid the day trip coach tour crowds and bring sandwiches and drink with you so you can sit in the garden and have lunch and save money (you don't have to sit in the cat section!). Apart from the palace where you select a pre-booked time slot, you can visit the rest in any order, so if one bit is too busy just come back to it later...

Book well in advance though, I got lucky leaving it to last minute and it was off season...

Seville and Cordoba are better.

Yulebealrite we are thinking of doing Seville in May, any tips ?

Wow, thanks for all the responses, advice and tips! We are really looking forward to the weekend

Definitely worth it. Tickets on the official site linked above sell out very fast but if you miss it they release some closer to the date if you can hold your nerve and not pay the inflated prices through the unofficial sites. Make sure you are there in plenty of time for your timed entry to the Nasrid Palace. Absolutely stunning. Very crowded when we went in October half term.