The Alhambra
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Why go
- The Court of the Lions, with its twelve-lion fountain and gallery of 124 marble columns.
- Views across the Granada plain from the Alcazaba’s highest tower.
- The Partal Palace, the oldest standing Nasrid palace, overlooking the city from the northern walls.
- The Generalife, a former Nasrid summer palace with historic orchards and landscaped gardens east of the walls.
- The round courtyard of Charles V’s two-storey Renaissance palace.
Opening hours
Today08:30 – 18:00Show all
Don't miss
- Puerta de la JusticiaYusuf I built this gate, which opened in 1348, at the historic entrance to the public market square facing the Alcazaba.At the historic entrance leading to the former public market square facing the Alcazaba.
- Torre de la CautivaBuilt by Yusuf I, this northern-wall tower contains richly decorated rooms forming a miniature palace.Along the northern walls.
- Comares TowerThe rulers’ throne stood here, overlooking their lands.In the Comares Palace.
Know before you go
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 08:30–18:00.
- Opening hours: Friday and Saturday, 08:30–18:00 and 20:00–21:30.
What's inside
- Medina — The upper city housed administrative functions and residences, distinct from the Alcazaba’s military role.
Tips for your visit
- The Generalife lies outside the Alhambra’s walls, across a ravine on the opposite slope.
Interesting facts5
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The Comares Baths are the best-preserved part of Isma’il I’s initial palace construction.
Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 2) -
Nasrid palace courtyards often had a pool or fountain; water features helped cool rooms in summer and manage sunlight and drafts in winter.
Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 3) -
Arabic wall inscriptions include Qur’anic excerpts, court poetry and the Nasrid motto “wa la ghalib illa-llah.”
Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 3) -
Stucco, ceilings and marble capitals were originally painted in red, blue and gold.
Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 3) -
Alhambra comes from Arabic al-Qal’a al-hamra, meaning “red castle.”
Alhambra - Wikipedia
Shorts
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Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain 🇪🇸 #alhambra #granada #spaintravel …Kelsey in London
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NASRID PALACE (PATIO OF THE LIONS, PATIO DE LOS LEONES) - ALHAMBRA PA…Aqib Iqbal
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5 Best Viewpoints in Granada, Spain | City ViewsTours With Coke
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Exploring Granada, Spain #shorts #shortvideo #shortsvideo #travel, #s…World Access Travels
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La Alhambra | Granada, Spain solo travelSavannah Gabrielle
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AlhambraMiss Pajama Traveler
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GeneralifeSeyyah İbrahim
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The Glorious Alhambra, Granada SpainCivil Mind
History
A fortress probably stood on Sabika Hill by the 9th century. Under the Nasrids, the Alhambra became a self-contained city separate from Granada, with a mosque, public baths, homes, workshops and a tannery. Muhammad III built the Partal Palace and the main mosque, on the site of today’s Church of Santa Maria. Calle Real divided residential quarters to the south from palaces to the north.
- 1238Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar began the complex after taking Granada and founding the Nasrid dynasty.
- 14th centuryYusuf I and Muhammad V led major building campaigns that shaped the royal palaces.
- 1492After Granada’s conquest, the Alhambra became a royal palace for Ferdinand and Isabella. Christopher Columbus presented his expedition plans in the Hall of Ambassadors.
- 1526–1637Charles V commissioned a Renaissance palace in 1526. Construction began in 1527, and it remained unfinished after 1637.
- 1812French troops destroyed eight towers before Spanish soldier José Garcia stopped the destruction.
Show all
- 1828Restoration began under architect José Contreras.
- 1829–1832Washington Irving lived in the complex for four months in 1829 and published Tales of the Alhambra in 1832, helping bring it international attention.
- 1923–1936Leopoldo Torres Balbás introduced a more systematic, archaeology-led approach to conservation.
How to get there
- On footFrom Plaza Nueva, climb Cuesta de Gomérez through the Alhambra woods and pass Puerta de las Granadas to reach the southern entrance.
- On footThe main eastern access is via the visitor centre, connecting Secano with Generalife.
- On footThe oldest entrance, Puerta de las Armas, is reached from the Darro riverbank, passing Torre de la Vela.
- On footAddress: Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n, Palacio de Carlos V, Granada.
Sources: Alhambra - Wikipedia · Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 2) · Alhambra - Wikipedia (part 3) · Alhambra - Wikipedia · Alhambra - Wikipedia · Alhambra (Grenade) - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
- Phone
- 958027971
Questions and answers
How did water reach the Alhambra?
A canal brought mountain water, helping turn the stronghold into a palace-city and supplying nearby estates such as the Generalife.
What does the Lions fountain’s inscription contain?
A twelve-verse poem by Ibn Zamrak runs around its vertical rim.
Are today’s building names medieval?
Some original names are unknown; many current names were coined after the medieval period.
What was the Rawda?
It was the Nasrid dynastic mausoleum; only partial remains survive.
Where did the main mosque stand?
It stood on the site now occupied by the Church of Santa Maria de la Alhambra.
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