Alhambra--get tix and see Generalife first?
 

The end of May, we are traveling up from Nerja one morning and thought we would get our tickets to the Alhambra in Granada for about 11am. I would prefer to do the 'inside' tour of the palace when it is hottest, around 1pm-2ish and the Gardens before the sun gets too intense.<BR><BR>My question: if we get 11am entrance tickets can we go do the gardens first and come back to the palace at our liesure? Or do we HAVE to see the palace first?

As I recall you must use your tickets at the time indicated. You can get them in advance at certain banks throughout Spain, I believe. A good guide book will tell you how that works, but your plan to see the gardens early on is a good one.

If I remember from earlier posts, some have said that they only allow you into the Nasarid Palaces during the half-hour specified on your ticket. I wasn't sure what the "Nasarid Palaces" included? My guide book breaks the Alhambra into the: Casas Reales, Palace of Charles, Alcazaba.<BR><BR>If you have to use the tix at the time specified, is there a way to enter the Generalife earlier than your palace timeslot?<BR><BR>

<BR>The Alhambra" is a large complex of buildings/grounds on the Alhambra Hill including the Nasrid Palace, the Alcazaba, the Generalife and its gardens, the Palace of Carlos V, the parador, another small hotel, the Partal gardens, the fortress walls, gates and towers, the Secano gardens, and the Church of Santa Maria. The ticket you buy is for entrance to the Alcazaba, the Generalife and its gardens, and the Nasrid Palace (everything else you can wander around in for free - I don't recall if there's a separate nominal charge for the museum in the basement of the Carlos V palace). The Nasrid Palace is the only part of the ticket which has a timed entry - the Alcazaba and the Generalife can be visited at any time on the date of your ticket. If you miss your half-hour entry slot for the Nasrid Palace, you will be out of luck for the day - the guardians at the entrance will not slip you in before or after your allotted time. <BR><BR>It is highly advisable to buy tickets well in advance and actually have them in hand before you arrive at the Alhambra (see other recent Fodors posts for details of ticket purchase). Only 8000 or so are sold each day, and they are often sold out by mid-morning. It is really, really, really advisable to get tickets for the earliest possible entry time (something like 8:30 AM). The early time slots are the most desirable and sell out soonest. This is because by 10:00 AM (or even earlier), the Nasrid Palace (which is actually a series of small interconnecting courtyards and open rooms) will be unbearably packed by huge crowds, and will stay that way until afternoon closing time. (At least at some times of the year, you can also visit the Nasrid Palace for"illuminated" night visits from about 9 to 11 PM or so, but unless the policy has changed, night visit tickets can be bought only at the main ticket office on the Alhambra hill, and only a few hours before you want to enter). <BR><BR>Because of all this, most people plan to stay overnight in Granada for their visit to the Alhambra. I guess that if you get up really early, it is possible to visit the Alhambra as a day-trip from Nerja, but you should take the following into consideration: It's a good two-hour drive from Nerja to Granada on the N340 and N323. The traffic on both roads can be very bad (the N323 seems to be bumper-to-bumper diesel fume-spewing large trucks). Then, there's the freeway traffic in Granada itself. The parking lot of the Alhambra will also fill up early, and if you can't park there, you will need a fair amount of time to walk or ride a bus/taxi from the city up the Alhambra Hill. Even if you come by public transportation, the highway traffic from Nerja and the trek up the hill from the bus station will still be issues. <BR><BR>P. S. Yes, the Alhambra is absolutely worth every bit of the trouble it takes to see it.

I agree, there is alot of traffic coming from Nerja to Granada. You do need to have tickets in advance. I was there last week and the tickets were sold out by about 1:00. The line to buy tickets was also very long. I would not recommend driving back to Nerja late as the road was windy and narrow.

I agree, there is alot of traffic coming from Nerja to Granada. You do need to have tickets in advance. I was there last week and the tickets were sold out by about 1:00. The line to buy tickets was also very long. I would not recommend driving back to Nerja late as the road was windey and narrow.

Thanks for all of your insights! We are actually thinking of coming up to Granada via the SO2 from Almunecar--more scenic. I just think from what you have said I wouldn't want to chance getting tickets for morning if we might get caught in traffic. I think we might adjust our schedule to:<BR>See the Albaicin and El Banuelo in the morning and then go to the Alhambra about 2pm, even if the palace is somewhat crowded. Is it really that crowded the end of May? <BR><BR>Also, I hear it is difficult driving around in Granada. What is your opinion about parking? Should we try to go all the way to the Alhambra parking lot or somewhere outside of town and hope for a taxi? We are going on a Thursday.<BR><BR>P.S. We live in the windiest, most mountainous, dangerous driving place in the US, so I doubt the driving between Nerja and Granada will surprise us much.

The Alhambra is a collection of several very dissimilar pieces: Alcazar, Palace of Carlos V, Generalife, Nasrid Palace plus some odds and ends. People come to see the Nasrid Palace. The other stuff is not exceptional.<BR><BR>There are two time factors:<BR><BR>1. The Alhambra has morning, afternoon and evening sessions. This limits the time thst you may be on the gounds and see any of the sights.<BR><BR>2. Within each session, the time limit on the ticket applies only to the Nasrid palace. You can book any time (that's open), at the beginning, middle or end of your session. <BR><BR>There is no "inside tour" of the Nasrid Palace because it is not a palace in the normal sense. It is a collections of rooms and courtyards, so you spend more time outdoors than inside. You are right to be concerned about the heat, though. It gets very hot.

The Alhambra is magical and unforgettable so whatever you do, allow enough time to enjoy it and the Generalife gardens, which are also simply lovely.<BR><BR>For a treat, try to have a lunch on the outdoor patio area of the Parador de San Francisco immediately adjacent to the Alhambra; it is a very special place and serene and food is wonderful.<BR><BR>Have fun. It's a gorgeous spot of heaven on earth.<BR><BR>

HI:<BR><BR>I plan to buy tickets for the Alhambra but I do not know which time its better, we will arrive to Granada around noon and spend one night there, I was thinking of going to the Alhambra at 4pm and then have dinner at the Parador San Francisco, but since I saw the information I think next day early in the morning (9am) would be fine... any suggestions?

Neni- I'd suggest seeing some of the city when you arrive, and seeing the Alhambra the next morning. Then have your mid-day meal at the parador. Walk up to the Alhambra on Cuesta Gomerez and down on Paseo de los Tristes. <BR>Visit the cathedral and Plaza Bibarramblas. Also the Hospital Real is interesting, as is San Juan de Dios. I love the Belle Epoque buildings along the Gran Via. And the Albaicin and Mirador San Nicolas are beautiful in the evening.

neni and Becky,<BR>You have great responses to your questions, particularly from xxx, who has written one of the best explanations of the logistics of an Alhambra visit I've seen.<BR>neni,<BR>As patg has wisely advised, I'd also urge you to do some touring of downtown the day you arrive, then attack the Alhambra bright and early the next morning when you're fresh (a summer visit can be exhausting), purchasing tickets for the very earliest time slot, 8:30. The Cathedral and Royal Chapel downtown stay open til 7 in summer, Hospital Real until 8, weekdays. After touring a bit the first day, at sunset take a walk along the Darro and then up into the Albaicin to that famous Mirador de San Nicolas for those magical Alhambra views, with the snow capped Sierra Nevada peaks in the background. And those Belle Epoque buildings around the Gran Via really look lovely at night.<BR>I personally wouldn't start an Alhambra visit at 4 p.m. because of the crowds you'll still encounter, and to do the Alhambra and Generalife justice, you'll need about 5 hrs. And unless you're a guest, the Parador doesn't take reserv. for dinner. You'll need to be on the terrace at or before 9 p.m. if you want to avoid a long wait for one of those highly coveted outdoor tables-but dinner there sure is an unforgettable experience, very relaxing and romantic!. And classical guitarist will serenade you.

Just one addition to the above notes. You CAN get an evening ticket at the bank where you reserve your other tickets. The evening tours start at ten p.m. We went at two in the afternoon (but this was March, and not so hot) and again that evening, and were very glad we had gone both times. And, even with your advance payment at the bank, you need to go to the ticket office to turn in your chit for an actual ticket. <BR>Vera