I am having much difficulty purchasing tickets for entrance to the Alhambra April 23, 2009. When you go to the web site www.alhambra-tickets.es it takes you to a web site called ServiCaixa. When you go to the area General Visit and select the date you want to visit, the calendar stops at December 2008.
Are you able to purchase tickets past that time or am I just at the wrong site to purchase tickets.
This was the information my hotel gave me to purchase tickets.
Any help would be appreciated. I do not want to wind up in Granada and not be able to see the Alhambra.
Other sites have indicated that you can purchase tickets up to a year in advance.

kakiebell,
It's too early to purchase those tickets. You can only purchase them 3 months, 90 days out. You're on the correct site. Servi Caixa has taken over the Alhambra online ticket sales (used to be BBVA)-you just have to wait until 3 months out.

Thanks for that question. Was wondering the same thing. Does anyone have a recommendation for tour guides to the Alhambra? Our hotel offers organized tours for 49euros/person, tickets and guide included. Sounds pricey, but a least the tickets would be purchased in advance.

€49/person is very pricey. The auto guide is very easy and inexpensive and the Alhambra is not that confusing.

hi kakiebell,

I agree with Robert that the guides are very pricey. honestly, the alhambra is very easy to tour, with or without an audio guide - we did it with one but it wasn't that much better than the guide book we had.

when you are able to purchase the tickets, make sure that you book for the night time too - although you only see the nasrid palaces at that time, seeing them all lit up at night is really magical, plus you get to wander through the gardens at night.

have a great trip,

regards, ann

I too think that hiring a guide doesn't put your euros to very good use, particularly since the guided tours are usually groups of 20+.

Following a guide and trying to grasp all the explanations he/she gives you (some times not in easily understandable English) while cramped into a small space (Nasrid Palace rooms with 300 visitors per 1/2 hr.), can actually detract from the experience. I think you will remember and discover more by having the freedom to wander at your leisure-either with the audio guide or with the Alhambra and the Generalife guide book that's sold at every book store.

I would book tickets online at the address given above and choose the earliest time spot possible (first is at 8:30 am). From 10 am on, the whole complex gets terribly crowded.

We were there last week and I used the audio guide and found it unsatisfying. I thought the prose was too flowery and I didn't have a good sense of history from the text. Since I didn't use a tour guide I don't know if that would be better. However, I probably won't ever go there again so perhaps after spending all the money we did on the trip, the cost of a tour guide is relative. Looking back, I wish I had read more about the history myself.

I think anyone visiting the Alhambra should read <i>Tales of the Alhambra</i> by Washington Irving beforehand.

Hi Kakiebell,
I found this article that might be of some help. It seems though that you were in the right place.
http://noambit.typepad.com/my_weblog...ody-who-c.html

In terms of guides, i see throught the same sites facebook page that they are working on an Alhambra audio tour. The tour you can buy at the ticket office isn't bad though.

We will be going to the Alahambra in January on the 31st. Is it best to go in the morning or in the evening? Sunset is 6:45 that night but I am not sure if it is best to go in the morning since it is winter?

Dancingqueen,
We were last there in early February and found the light perfect in the late morning for taking photographs in and around the grounds if you like sharp lighting. Also you'll find the crowds are smaller if you schedule your appointment by 11:00 am. The earlier the better!

Winter in Granada can be rather pleasant, low to mid 60's during the day, but it will be chilly at night.

You might want to download a copy of Maribel’s Guide to Granada. You’ll find it an excellent resource in planning your visit (maribelsguides.com).