anna_h

Please could anyone give me some advice about the Alhambra tickets purchased in advance. The website (www.alhambratickets.com) says I need to select an entrance time, once inside I can stay as long as I want, but that I will be allocated a half hour segment for entry to the Nazaríes palace (the half hour entrance time not being specified on booking). My question is; what if I choose an entrance time of 11am, but don't end up arriving until say 2pm (because I don't want to plan too far in advance); will I get allocated a time for the palace which may already have passed by the time I get there?. I don't want to miss out on an experience but I don't want to feel too tied to an advance schedule on my holiday. The information on the web does not help with such a specific enquiry.
I know it's an odd question, but I would appreciate any advice on this or other aspects of Granada - particularly outdoor dining recommendations!!

Cheers, Anna.

111op

I believe that you must enter the Nasrid Palace during the 1/2 hour time slot specified on the ticket. So you should arrange your itinerary so that you can make it to the Palace for the time slot you choose.

You get to choose the 1/2 hour slot you want. (At least that's what I did last year. If the slot is filled up, then you'll be given a choice of the remaining free slots.)

I don't know how easy it is to get a time slot for the Palace when you get there. I believe people here have said that you need to go early in the morning and queue, and I think that that's a waste of time.

MaureenGP

I don't think I understand your question, as far as not arriving by your scheduled time. Obviously, if you buy a ticket for 11 a.m., it will not be good for 2 p.m.
If I remember correctly (and oftentimes I do not), we did not order our tickets in advance, but my husband got up early and was among the first in line for that day's tickets.
Whatever you decide, please try to see the Alhambra, because it's reason enough to go to Spain. Whatever else you are doing can wait, because this is one special place. Also, try to buy tickets to see it at night, which is an entirely different experience.

anna_h

Sorry, i'll try to explain better - I can pre-book a time for general Alhambra entrance and arrive at any time I wish, but I cannot pre-book a time for the Nazari palace, and the info says I have to go at the alloted time (which presumably gets alloted without my knowledge and I only find out on arrival). Perhaps I am making too much of a problem out of this, but I do want to see everything, but without having all my time totally planned in advance.
111 and Maureen - thanks for your help.

Ian

Anna

You choose a time when you book. So choose a time 2 - 3 hrs AFTER you know you can arrive. That way, you can wander & see the other parts & present yourself at the Nasrid entrance at the right time. They will not allow you in if you miss the time slot. But you can stay as long as you want once you're in.

Ian

kayd

As I read the instructions (and it is also what I remember from my visit to the Alhambra), you buy a ticket for entry to Alhambra grounds for either the morning (8:30-2:00) or afternoon (from 2:00 on). Your entry into the palace will be for a specific half-hour within the time your general ticket.
We had morning tickets, arrived shortly before opening, and saw the palace at 10:00; before and after our time in the palace, we saw the rest of the grounds and Generalife. We left around 1:30.

anna_h

Kayd

Thanks for your reply. When you arrived early, did they already allocate a time for Nazari, or did you get to choose? I don't plan on arriving early so don't know how it will work.

Thanks to everyone - does anyone have any memorable restauarants to recommend?

Intrepid1

We just visited the Alhambra two weeks ago. We had booked a time slot which was set in stone. Once you book a particular time slot you are expected to arrive ahead of that time in order to pick up the tickets.

Be aware that although we had booked ahead, the line at the Alhambra ticket office to pick up tickets that WERE booked ahead was fully 45 minutes long so plan accordingly.

the only restriction time-wise is for entrance to the N-palace; you can visit the other sections for as long as you like and you can go out and then re-enter those later until the site closes for the day.

Intrepid1

There are several restaurants close to the ticket office and also a restaurant in the Parador on the grounds. For a dinner meal the Parador terrace restaurant which overlooks the Generalife and the ravine is absolutely wonderful to include the food and service.

Eloise

Anna_h: If your loosy-goosey approach is more important to you than to visit the Alhambra, then I suggest that you simplify things for yourself and forget about visiting the Alhambra.

kayd

We ordered in advance over the Web and our confirmation indicated our time for the palace. We picked up the tickets immediately before going into the grounds.
Try to get a palace time an hour or two after you plan to be at the entrance gate so you don't have to rush to the palace -- it is a big fortress, actually a town within fortress walls. Allow a bare minimum of four hours, all day if you have the stamina for it.

BeachGirl247

First, I'll second the nod for the Parador for a restaurant by the grounds. Memorable setting facing the Generalife gardens. Also, Cunini was fantastic with a great atmosphere and indoor and outdoor dining. Hope it is still there. The whole baked sea bass was outstanding. Fun tapas bar for cocktails before dinner.

For the ticket question, if you miss your appt time for the Palace you cannot enter the palace and they can sell out for the day. I understand you don't want to plan too far ahead but that would be such a disappointment if you missed the palace. They allow 30 minutes (at least when we went) to explore and must exit before the next group comes through. Then you can wander the rest of the Alhambra either before or after your palace entry time. From the front gate, allow 10-15 minutes to arrive at the palace. We took the first appt in the morning for the palace at 8:30 and arrived at 8am. Glad we did as it took 20 minutes in the line to get our online tickets -- the other line was longer. Also, after 9 or 9:30, the tour buses arrive and its very crowded after that. Also, take your confirmation sheet and the same credit card on which you charged the fee.

Kristina

I have to jump in here and ask...
If I pre-buy tickets for the afternoon, 2-8 PM, do I need to be there before 2PM to pick up the tickets if I want to enter at 4PM? We plan on taking the train to Granada from Sevilla and it arrives at 2PM. So, any advice?

Ian

Kristina

I don't know for sure, but I don't see why not. They don't look at the ticket until the entrance to the Nasrid, the Generalife & the Alcazaba. But only the Nasrid is timed. You can get on the grounds without a ticket, you just can't get into the main attractions. You're going to be really tight for time at 4. Dump luggage, taxi to Alhambra, 15 minute walk (min) from gates to Nasrid. Little time for a ticket lineup . . .

Ian

BettyB

We were there in July. Booked an afternoon ticket, with entry to Nazrid Palace at 3.00. We got to Alhambra at about 2.00 and had to queue for about 5 minutes only to pick up the tickets. We talked to people who lived in Spain and who had been twice to queue for tickets without getting them, so they have not seen it yet!

Intrepid1

Once AGAIN I will tell you that two weeks ago the line to pick up reserved tickets was 45 minutes long. This may or may not be the case every day during the "high" season but I wouldn't necessarily PLAN on it only being 5 minutes long, either.

BettyB

This is what I hate about this board - Intrepid1 I was only trying to help - just like you!!! When I post for advice I like to hear lots of people's experiences.... even (or especially)if they differ from each other.

111op

Hi, anna_h -- I didn't read the rest of the posts, but I read your post time stamped 5:15 pm on Aug. 11.

Perhaps the reservation procedure has changed. When I booked my ticket for Alhambra, I could specify the time slot I wanted for the Nasrid Palace. I think that I might have preferred the morning, but I ended getting a slot around 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon (I forget) as all the morning slots were taken.

Has someone else here tried to reserve for Alhambra recently? As I said, that was last October.

The lines were quite short to pick up tickets were short, by the way, but yes, I guess it depends on the season.

Only the Nasrid Palace is subject to a timed entry system.

dimb

Eloise,

Anna_h is "loosey goosey" because she doesn't want to be dictated to by a time? Have you ever thought it may be you who is "loosey goosey" in your unquestioning support to a monarchy? At which point was any royal family elected rather than steal its inheritance from honest working people? I guess because of your ignorance you must be an American - that would explain a lot. Carry on wallowing in your ignorance, but please don't disrespect others just because they're not conformist morons.

Anyway, good luck for the future


Dimb

Duggan

Dimb, are you sure your second letter shouldn't be a 'u'?