Given its popularity, you can expect the Alhambra to be quite crowded. But, you can avoid wasting time standing in a queue with the help of a few tricks.
Buy tickets in advance online
The best way to skip the line at the Alhambra is by buying your tickets online. Please remember that on a particular day only 6,000 visitors are allowed inside the fortress. Book your tickets in advance or risk the chance of tickets being sold out. Buying your tickets also gives allows you to head on straight into the fortress at the time of your visit.
Choose the right time to visit
The fortress tends to be crowded between 11 AM and 5 PM during the weekends. When planning your trip, schedule your visit to the Alhambra for a time when it isn't too crowded. Early mornings during weekdays are a great time to make the visit.
Go for a guided tour
Another great way to skip the line at the Alhambra is to opt for a guided tour. This way you can enter the park through a second entrance that is much less crowded instead of waiting in line at the main entrance. A guided tour is also great because you get to actually learn about the fortress's history and conception.
Alhambra Itinerary
Duration: To fully explore everything Alhambra has to offer without rushing, you'll need to set aside at least 4 hours.
Route: The most important thing to remember while planning your itinerary is that the order in which you visit the different parts of the fortress is dependent on the time slot to access the Nasrid Palaces as mentioned on the ticket. Based on the slot allocated to you for Nasrid Palace, you can follow any of the below routes :
- Nasrid Palace - Alcazaba - Generalife
- Generalife - Alcazaba - Nasrid Palace
- Alcazaba - Nasrid Palace - Generalife
Don't forget to make time to visit the Charles V Palace. Since it's next to the Alcazaba, you can visit it either before or after visiting Alcazaba. Do remember to visit the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts while visiting the Charles V Palace.
To save time inside, make use of one of two available entrances, based on your itinerary. One entrance is located close to the Generalife Gardens and the other is close to Alcazaba and Nasrid Palaces.
