We will be driving to Granada from Fuengirola. Rick-Steves does not recommend driving to the alhambra as parking is far. So what do we do as it appears if you are not staying in the city you cannot drive in or have I misread that. Is there a roadblock on the outskirts of the city with parking and then you take a cab to the alhambra? The reason I wish to know is becos we have tickets to enter at 11.30 so I need to allow time to get to Granada find parking etc. and do not want to miss my entry time as I understand entry to certain parts is timed.

We were staying outside of Granada and drove in in March. There is tons of parking right outside the Alhambra with each section of the parking lot being a little further away from the complex. The Alhambra exit off the road is on the southern edge of Granada. We stayed from 10:00am to midnight and our parking fee was E13. After visiting the Alhambra we then took the little shuttle bus from the Alhambra into the main part of the city (well worth the small bus fare). You must have misread Rick Steves.

We also parked outside the Alhambra.

DOCK,
A 3rd poster here to reassure you. It's so easy to drive to the Alhambra from outside the city of Granada. Don't drive into downtown; just look for signs for the CARRETERA DE CIRCUNVALACION, the ring road, (as Julies says, south of the city, -you'll pass the Convention Center), take exit 132 and the signs RONDA SUR, towards the Motril, Sierra Nevada and Alhambra. Or just follow all the tour busses! This ring road will take you around the city, circumventing the awful downtown traffic, and up to the Alhambra hill, where you'll find the huge parking lot, or series of parking lots.

After visiting the Alhambra, we've also just taken the minibus which departs from below the ticket office every 10-15 min. and drops you off downtown, near the Plaza Nueva, a short walk from the cathedral and Royal Chapel. There's also a minibus which runs to the Albaicin, the ancient Arab quarter.

Appreciate the help. Thanks for the info.