What is the best way to tour the Alhambra?
 

I’ve read various post about touring the Alhambra during the day and then again at night. I am a little confused about which areas would be most effective to see at night. Also, is it possible to tour with a private Guide? is that arranged when you buy your tickets?

I visited just the palace complex at night, but the gardens were not an option at the time. I visited both the palace and gardens in daylight. I would definitely visit at least the palace at night, it was much quieter and more atmospheric.

I thought a guide was completely unnecessary, but there seem to be some offerings on the web.

Visiting the Alhambra
 

A visit to the Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Palace of Charles V and the Bath of the Mosque and typically what eveyone wants to see. Visits to the Nasrid Palace is a timed ticket only. Night visits are available Tuesdays to Saturdays from April 1st through October 14th and onFridays and Saturdays from October 15th through March 31th.

Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife

If you are actually interested in learning about the Alhamba, then going with a guide works. One we recommend in Granada is Patricia Landazuri ([email protected]).

If you are actually interested in learning about the Alhamba, there is an excellent guidebook available on site.

To add a bit:

During the day, you can visit the entire Alhambra, but you will do so with MANY others, so be prepared for crowds and a LOT of noise, as tour guides shout over one another. Evening visits generally involve the magnificent Nasrid Palace -- the old Moorish palace -- only, and the number of visitors is greatly restricted. When I was there, everyone who was there during the evening spoke very, very quietly, and I found it absolutely magical! I didn't need to learn about what I was seeing -- I had done that in advance and during the day prior to my evening visit. I got to see this incredible palace with very different lighting, and to smell the flowering shrubs, and hear the fountains, and … well, I'm sure you get it. A travel highlight for me, for sure! Since I was there, I believe the Alhambra also offers evening visits to the Generalife (gardens) on some nights when the gardens can be visited before sunset, and if I had the chance, I would snag one of those reservations, too!

For daytime tickets, as Robert indicated, you must select a time for the Nasrid Palace and you may only enter it during your particular half-hour slot, but you can visit the other parts of the Alhambra before or after that timed entry. If it helps you plan your day, note that I started my visit within the first half hour of the opening for the day and I had a timed entry for the Nasrid Palace that began 1/2 hour after the Alhambra opened that day (although one should be able to reach the Nasrid Palace easily if one's time slot is the first of the day). I stayed until the grounds closed at 6 p.m. (I don't know how it works now, but at the time, those admitted in the morning could stay through the afternoon session as long as one didn't leave after the morning session ended. If one left after the morning session ended, one could not re-enter without an afternoon ticket.) I then returned for the evening visit and stayed the entire time allowed.

I did not work with a guide for either my day or evening visit. I had read about it extensively in advance, and when I was there, the audio guide that I used for my daytime visit, available on site, was excellent. I don't know the quality of the current audio guide, but believe that it is different.

Note that advance reservations for the Alhambra are critical.

Enjoy!