Independent Atlas

Travel, Culinary Adventures and Hidden Treasures

  • About Us
  • Travel
  • Independent Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Destinations
    • Ultimate Language Cheat Sheet Guides
  • Contact Us

Test

Test

  • About Us
  • Travel
  • Independent Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Destinations
    • Ultimate Language Cheat Sheet Guides
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Travel / The Alhambra – Top 5 Things you should not miss

The Alhambra – Top 5 Things you should not miss

February 17, 2018 By Bryony Davies

View of Alhambra Palace with Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background Granada, Spain

If you speak to anybody who has been to Granada, actually just anybody who has heard of Granada, they will all ask the same question “What did you think of the Alhambra?” Although we prefer to find hidden gems rather than queue at traditional tourist traps we’re not so silly as to miss experiencing The Alhambra; especially as it was a view we saw every morning from our balcony! The Alhambra is an ancient, world famous enormous palace and fortress complex. Its massive palace parapets are perpetually full of people peering over the walls at the panoramic view of the city (try and say that 3 times faster).

view of the alhambra from granada balcony
The Alhambra from our balcony in the Albacín Quarter

Work originally began on the fortress in the 13th century. It was added to and rebuilt countless times by Moorish and Catholic Kings before it was declared a National Monument in 1870.

Apparently, The Alhambra was meant to be a set for Game of Thrones (the private residence of House Martell in case you’re interested), but, at the last minute was beaten by The Real Alcázar de Sevilla. According to our source this remains a bit of a touchy subject for the Granadinos.

Alhambra palace garden architecture and pond water reflection with palm tree
Could this have been a palace of Dorne?

So, we booked our tickets and, my gosh, it was worth it! Our highlights are below along with a list of the Top 5 Things we think you just should not miss whilst visiting this historic masterpiece.

It’s super simple to buy your tickets online (€14 each at the official site) just have your passport at hand as you will need to enter your passport number as a form of ID for the tickets later. Then, if you have a smart phone you can then simply present your phone to the staff and they’ll scan you in using the QR code on the tickets. No queuing to collect tickets just straight through to the gates. Modern technology, eh?

The website colour codes available days so you can see when the Alhambra is busiest. It’s no guarantee, especially in high season, but we picked an orange coloured day and were able to get a feel for the palaces in a way which would have been far more difficult in a busier time slot – we even took some photos which looked like we were alone!

Another option is to visit in the evening when it is a lot quieter – tickets are almost half the price, although some areas are closed off.

Gate of the Pomegranate entrance to Alhambra Palace
Get ready for a walk...

You can google The Alhambra, you can speak to people who have visited and you can marvel at the Alcazaba from the city far below. But nothing will prepare you for actually being there. The enormous fortress rises majestically from atop Sabika Hill as though the hill itself was built for it, or even part of it.

To reach the main entrance you have a few options to choose from:

  1. Walk up the steep wooded hill through the Gate of the Pomegranates which is at the top of Cuesta de Gomérez (on the left at Plaza Nueva next to Los Diamantes bar). It’s a beautiful and tranquil area, full of bird song and the sound of the steady streams of water flowing downhill each side of the shady leafy path.

    It’s also a pretty gruelling incline (even for us coming from hilly Wales!) so take some water and stop if you need to – there are plenty of benches. The water in Granada is some of the purest in Europe, so refill your bottle from one of the many fountains and hydrate to your hearts content. In our opinion, this steep mini hike just makes entering the palace grounds all the more special – like you’ve earned it!

Alhambra waterfall
Niall wanted to plunge his face into this waterfall on the way up...
  1. Take the C3 minibus from Plaza Nueva just up the road from Plaza Isabel de Católica. Hop off at ‘Generalife’ . The minibus costs just €1.20 and may be the best choice dependent on the weather especially if it’s hot.
  2. Of course, you can get a cab or drive too but we're all about keeping to a budget so that we have more to spend on the fun things!

Right, you’ve made it to the Alhambra. Now here’s our list of the Top 5 Things you should not miss whilst visiting.

In no particular order:

#1 Le Medina

Alhambra medina gardens
Around every corner is another stunning scene

The main entrance gate will take you through to the medina. This part of the Alhambra complex was the working and residential area, and much of the foundations can still be seen. They were also a religious centre which makes sense as they are very calming. In fact, the beautifully symmetrical immaculate gardens are the perfect place to relax with a book and some tea. You can imagine the people who have sat before you, dreamers, writers, poets, Royalty…and plenty of weary tourists!

#2 The Nasrid Palaces - Including Palacio de Carlos V, Patio de los Leones, Palacio de Comares, Torre de Comares, Patio de los Arrayanes.

Alhambra Nasrid Palace Lions
The photo doesn't do this justice!

Our top tip is to take a moment to absorb the incredible decoration of the palaces. The walls and ceilings are decorated in beautiful ornate and symmetrical décor.

Alhambra Nasrid Palace Architecture
The detail on the archways took some serious skill...can you imagine?!

There are Arabic inscriptions engraved onto muqarnas (the fancy ceiling vaults) and many hidden in plain sight. The most common engraving is “Wa-la galib illa Allah”, which means “There’s no greater conqueror than Allah” there are also messages of happiness, ancient blessings and famous poetry, as well as (obviously) plenty of sentiments giving a big ‘shout out’ to the monarch of the time.

Alhambra palace water
Take some time to reflect in the courtyards

Patronato de la Alhambra obviously cater to tourists like us as they recreate bits of the ornate plaster work and wood carvings periodically for you to trace your fingers over – you shouldn’t touch the real thing!

Alhambra palace windows and view
Imagine having a view like that from your window?!
Palacio de Carlos V Nasrid Palaces Alhambra
Imagine this instead of your living room!!

*Note* Make sure you adhere to the time slot on your ticket in order to enter the Nasrid Palaces. They are about an 800 metre walk from the main entrance of the Alhambra. We came early, wondered around, and then started queuing 20 minutes before our ticket time. Despite booking during low season, and although they were all lovely to us, the staff do have a reputation of being strict – with anything from 2,000-9,000 visitors each day you can see why they need to be!

#3 The Panoramic View from the Vela tower on the Alcazaba

Alhambra view vela tower Sierra Nevada Mountains
Couldn't resist taking a pano shot of the view!
Alhambra Palace Vela Tower Alcazaba flags
The Vela tower is the one we could see from our balcony in the Albaicín

This was the part of the Alhambra we could see from our apartment. Vela means vigil and from the top of this enormous tower you can see the whole city and the silver sparkling motorway, with ant like cars snaking around going about their daily business. It’s certainly one way to feel like royalty far above the hustle and bustle of Granada.

#4 Take a break in Cat Plaza

Alhambra Palace plaza cat vela tower
A sunny plaza+cats+cerveza+snacks=heaven

We don’t know the real name of the busy plaza outside the entrance to the Alcazaba, but this area is a fantastic sun trap to rest your weary legs. You can sit on the low walls (not for the faint hearted) where you will have a view over the city while you get your energy back or enjoy a cerveza from the little café. Try not to fall asleep on the warm concrete lest the resident Alhambra cats think you’re prey.

Read more about the resident palace cats here (p.s. more cat photos)

#5 The Generalife

Alhambra Palace Generalife gardens
The tranquil Generalife gardens

You'll find the Generalife Gardens on the slopes of Cerro del Sol – the accurately named Hill of the sun. A lot of replanting goes on at the beginning of the year but this spoils nothing of the beauty of the gardens. Later on in the year they are full of the sweet scent of roses, myrtles and blossoms. The gardens were designed as a sanctuary for Kings to escape the pressures of office. As such, there is no focal point in each garden, instead they are a feast for the eyes and the senses. Fountains and streams abound creating the most peaceful atmosphere. Most websites suggest 3-4 hours at the Alhambra – Generalife is one of the many reasons why you should set your whole day aside to experience all of it.

#6 BONUS

Carmen de los Martires, sabika hill Alhambra Palace Granada
This hidden gem is a stone's throw away from the Alhambra's main entrance!

Visit the Carmen de los Martires right next to the Alhambra. See if you can spot one of the peacocks, ducks and red squirrels that hang out there! We have a short article about the gardens coming soon.

Shakespeare wrote “Curious travellers keep Granada in their heart, even without having visited it” We think he was talking about The Alambra and we hope to have shared just a bit of the magic of this place with you by writing this post. Let us know what you think. If you have any Alhambra stories or any treasures you think we may have missed please get in touch!

If you like this post make sure to add it to your Pinterest by pinning the below image!

Alhambra Pinterest Pin

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Destinations, Granada, Spain, Travel Tagged With: Alhambra, Cats, Cerveza, Gardens, Hike, Palace, Plaza Nueva, Secret, View

Comments

  1. Wendy says

    February 18, 2018 at 7:20 pm

    Thank you for such an interesting, enthusiastic, colourful, informative and inspirational post! It’s left me feeling like I have almost been there … and it’s definitely somewhere I’d now like to go….. In fact I’m really enjoying all of your posts. They add a touch of warmth and sunlight to the dull grey days we often get in England at this time of year 🙂 Please keep them coming…

    • Bryony Davies says

      February 20, 2018 at 2:57 pm

      Thanks Wendy,
      We are so glad that you like them!
      If you get the chance to visit Granada don’t hesitate to get in touch with us with any questions or for some of our tips on finding some of Granadas Hidden Gems!

  2. Doreen Pendgracs says

    March 1, 2018 at 7:19 pm

    Lovely post. I’ve not previously heard of The Alhambra. It looks like an amazing place to visit. I love Spain, and have not yet had the pleasure of exploring Granada, so this will definitely be on my list for my next trip there.

    • Niall Daly says

      March 1, 2018 at 7:28 pm

      Hi Doreen,
      If you get the chance to visit it’s definitely a must! Make sure to check out our other posts on Granada tapas too! It isn’t just a city for beautiful architecture!

  3. Nathan says

    March 2, 2018 at 4:40 am

    I’ve heard of Granada, but never knew of the Alhambra until your post. The entire place looks so grand and rustic, which just adds to its appeal. The Vela Tower absolutely offers a breathtaking view from the amazing vantage point, and I’d love to check out the beautiful architecture of the palaces for myself 🙂

    • Niall Daly says

      March 2, 2018 at 11:36 am

      Hi Nathan you really should, if you head to Granada fee free to drop us a message if you would like any hints or tips 🙂

  4. Claire says

    March 2, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Your post has just tempted me to book a ticket to Granada! ahha.. excellent post! Have shared it on google+ as well 🙂

    • Niall Daly says

      March 2, 2018 at 11:38 am

      Wooo! That’s the spirit Claire! You will love it! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Denny George says

    March 3, 2018 at 2:37 am

    The photo of Alhambra palace against the snow clad mountains looks absolutely awesome. You were lucky to have that view from your balcony. The interiors look great as well.

    • Niall (Independent Atlas) says

      March 17, 2018 at 10:16 am

      Thanks Denny, We were so lucky with the balcony. In fact if anyone wanted the view from our balcony we could definitely recommend the apartment we stayed in.

  6. Abhinav Singh says

    March 5, 2018 at 4:18 am

    I would love to visit Alhambra. Ticket price of €14 is a bit expensive for me, but I am glad that the footfall and the price drop in the evening. I was impressed with the detail on the archway. Generalife gardens looks like a great place for photo opportunities.

    • Niall Daly says

      March 5, 2018 at 9:45 am

      Hi Abhinav, yes if you’re on a strict budget the ticket price is a little high but it is a whole day of exploring and wonderment. We saved our budget from the day before to make sure we could go and enjoy ourselves. We hope you do get a chance to visit, and the night time visit looks amazing so let us know if you go to that.

  7. Kavita Favelle says

    March 6, 2018 at 9:50 am

    I visited the Alhambra on one of my first solo trips as an adult teenager, but I did have the security blanket of being in a tour, so it wasn’t particularly adventurous! I’d really love to go back as they didn’t give us as long there as I would have liked. I did enjoy exploring the Nasrid Palaces, but didn’t see much of the rest of the complex, and I don’t think I did the Vela tower or the Generalife Gardens.

    • Niall (Independent Atlas) says

      March 17, 2018 at 10:18 am

      Oh Kavita you must go back and see the rest of it! The palaces are just a fraction of the amazing beauty of the Alhambra. I’m sure you gained a lot of information from the tour though!

  8. Shaily says

    March 7, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    I love exploring old forts and palaces as they provide a great step-back in time. Alhambra is magnificent and it looks extremely fascinating. Thanks for listing down the important points and the hidden gems of the palace. Love the skilful intricate carvings on the archway, and the breathtaking views from the top.

    • Niall (Independent Atlas) says

      March 17, 2018 at 10:19 am

      Thanks for the comment Shaily, it really does have stunning views!

  9. Sandy N Vyjay says

    March 9, 2018 at 1:21 am

    The Alhambra looks massive and so impressive. The architecture looks really exquisite and the carvings are so intricate. I was reminded of the Mughal style of architecture looking at the Nasrid Palace. The views are indeed spectacular and I found the Carmen de los Martires enchanting. Indeed when you are in those parts you cannot miss visiting the Alhambra.

    • Niall (Independent Atlas) says

      March 17, 2018 at 10:06 am

      Sandy, you are so right, the architecture and style is breathtaking. Especially considering the palaces were continuously added to over many years under different rulers. Glad you liked the post. If you ever head to Granada let us know 🙂

Our latest post…

Dvor the best restaurant in Split, Croatia

Dvor Restaurant – Must be the best restaurant in Split

May 18, 2018 By Niall (Independent Atlas)

Finding the best restaurant in Split was a bit of a challenge, but I definitely think we found it. With the vast number of restaurants that Split has to offer, ranging from traditional food of the Dalmatian Coast, the freshest local fish, restaurants dedicated to barbecued meats of all varieties and wine bars stocked with [Read More…]

About Us

Picture of Niall and Bryony
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]')

Sign up to our newsletter

Travel, Culinary Adventures and Hidden Treasures

Living the good life on a budget!

 

Information

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Work With Us
  • Site Credits

Main Menu

  • About Us
  • Travel
  • Independent Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Destinations
    • Ultimate Language Cheat Sheet Guides
  • Contact Us

Social Media

  • Bloglovin’
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Independent Atlas

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Scroll Up
 

Loading Comments...