How to Get Cheap or Free Tickets for the Granada Alhambra Palace

If you would like to visit the Alhambra for less or for free, this post tells you how you can do it.

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

7 min read

How to Get Cheap or Free Tickets for the Granada Alhambra Palace

Detail of the arches of the Alhambra | Luis Cardoso

The Alhambra is one of the most beautiful monuments in Spain, which receives thousands of visitors every year. It is a unique palatine city in Europe and a cultural reference of Hispano-Muslim art in the West. To visit it you will have to book a ticket for the Alhambra.

Getting tickets for the Alhambra on the Internet is easy. However, the possibility of finding discounts that allow you to see the Alhambra for less money or for free is not so easy. If you would like to know if you are one of the visitors who can get cheaper tickets for the Alhambra I advise you to read on.

The most cost-effective option to see the Alhambra: a guided visit

Make the most of your visit to the Alhambra| ©Jorge Fernández Salas
Make the most of your visit to the Alhambra| ©Jorge Fernández Salas

If you are travelling to Granada on a tight budget and you want to save as much as possible when visiting the Alhambra because you have other activities planned, you can always buy the general admission ticket (without guided tour or audio guide) on the official website of the monument or at the ticket office.

However, these tickets do not have a cancellation option in case of unforeseen circumstances. And if you choose to get them at the ticket office for the same day, the queues can be interminable and you run the risk of running out of tickets, as places are limited. The standard ticket price for adults is 19 euros.

In my opinion, for a little more money the best option to explore this mythical Nasrid palace city is to take a guided tour of the Alhambra with a professional guide who will reveal all the secrets of this landmark of architecture and Islamic art in Spain

The price of guided tours of the Alhambra varies depending on the type of tour you book and what the tour includes but in Hellotickets you can find options from 37 euros.

Book a visit and tickets to the Alhambra

How can I save money buying tickets for the Alhambra?

Tour this architectural wonder full of history| ©Sharon Mollerus
Tour this architectural wonder full of history| ©Sharon Mollerus

The Alhambra in Granada is one of the most famous and visited monuments in Spain. As you might expect, it is difficult to find discounts, deals or cheap tickets at the last minute. However, it is not impossible to save money when buying tickets for the Alhambra. I'll tell you how you can do it. It's very easy!

Buying your ticket at the ticket office

One option is to try to buy a single ticket without a guided tour for the day of the visit at the ticket office. Although it is a bit cheaper, I do not recommend it because the demand to see the Alhambra is very high and places are limited.

Tickets usually sell out in no time at all and it is not worth queuing endlessly at the ticket office. Your time is also precious and if you buy your Alhambra tickets online in advance you can spend it doing other more fun activities in Granada.

Visiting the Alhambra with the Granada Card

The Granada Card is a tourist pass with which you can visit the Alhambra and the Generalife, as well as other attractions in the city. With this card you can also use the city bus to get from one place to another comfortably.

By purchasing the Granada Card you will not only save time (as you will not need to queue at the ticket office of each monument to get your tickets) but also money because this tourist card for 24, 48 or 72 hours will allow you to access the main attractions and services of Granada at a reduced or flat rate.

Children from 2 to 11 years old can also use the Granada Children's Card which includes the same services as the adult card, so if you are travelling as a family this is an option to consider to save a little more.

Take advantage of discounts

The Alhambra has some discounts for specific groups (people with disabilities, European Youth Card holders, EU citizens over 65, etc.) who can buy tickets at a lower price than the general public.

In order to benefit from these discounts it is essential that these people present proof of eligibility at the ticket office.

Book your visit and tickets to the Alhambra

Who has access to reduced rates at the Alhambra?

Interior decoration of the Alhambra| ©Gwen Fran
Interior decoration of the Alhambra| ©Gwen Fran

Visits to the Alhambra in Granada are paid and you will need to buy a ticket to gain access. However, some groups can get them at a lower price than the general public. Broadly speaking, this is the list of people who could benefit:

  • European Youth Card holders.
  • EU citizens over 65 years of age.
  • Groups linked to cultural or educational institutions with 15 or more members, with prior authorisation.
  • Disabled persons.

If you are one of them, you will have to present a document at the monument's ticket office with proof that you are entitled to the discount. I recommend you to go with enough time in advance so that this procedure does not take too much time out of your visit to the Alhambra.

Alhambra tickets for children

Guided tour groups| ©Rob Hodgkins
Guided tour groups| ©Rob Hodgkins

Getting tickets at the ticket office

Families who would like to try to get single tickets without a guided tour on the day of the visit at the ticket office can take advantage of the free or discounted tickets available for children.

  • The general tour for children up to and including the age of 11 is free when accompanied by an adult.

  • The general visit for children from 12 to 15 (inclusive) will have a reduced price of 8 euros when accompanied by an adult.

However, you will have to bring an identity document where the age of the child can be verified. Even though they are free, it is compulsory for all visitors to have a ticket to enter, as it is a guarantee against any incident that may occur in the museum.

Book your tickets online

The great advantage of booking your Alhambra tickets online in advance is that you will have your tickets with you before you set off and will not have to queue endlessly at the ticket office to try and get one of the tickets on sale for the day.

The capacity is limited and the demand is very high so you could run the risk of running out of tickets after having been there so long waiting.

In Hellotickets you can book tickets to the Alhambra or guided tours where the price of children's tickets is also somewhat lower than that of adults, so you can save money without having to get tickets at the last minute once in Granada!

Book your visit and tickets to the Alhambra

When is it free to enter the Alhambra?

Justice Gate| ©Matt Kieffer
Justice Gate| ©Matt Kieffer

At present there is no specific day on which you can enter the Alhambra free of charge. To visit the interior of the monumental complex you must purchase a ticket in advance.

However, there are some exceptions that will allow you to enjoy the Alhambra without spending a euro. Here's how you can do it!

If you are from Granada or live in Granada

The Alhambra is the great emblem of the city of Granada and, with the aim of raising awareness of its historical and cultural importance among the local population, the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife launched an initiative so that all people from Granada and residents in the province can enter for free during the weekends.

Those who want to visit the Alhambra for free have to make an online reservation by filling out the form and attaching the required supporting documentation.

Another option is to book in person at the Residents' Office located in the Corral del Carbón. Unfortunately, people who are not from Granada or do not live there cannot participate in this initiative.

If you are a foreign traveller

If you are on a tight budget on your trip to Granada and prefer not to buy tickets or you have not been able to get tickets, don't worry because you can always visit the free part. Although it is the less spectacular part, it has some very interesting places to see such as:

  • The ramparts
  • The Gate of Justice, which is the most iconic gate in the city.
  • The Plaza de los Aljibes
  • The Gate of the Carriages
  • The Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.
  • On the esplanade in front of the palace you can see the Wine Gate and even take a souvenir photo with the Albaicín in the background.
  • The Calle Real, the main street of the old Medina which has been preserved since the Middle Ages.
  • The Parador de Turismo de Granada in the Alhambra

Another place you can go for free to enjoy the wonderful Alhambra is the Mirador de San Nicolás in the Albaicín quarter. It is said to have the most beautiful sunset in Spain and the best panoramic view of the Andalusian fortress with the Sierra Nevada in the background. You will also have unbeatable views of the Alcazaba, the Nasrid palaces and the Generalife.

Book your visit and tickets to the Alhambra

In short, what can I see for free in the Alhambra?

Palace of Charles V| ©michael clarke stuff
Palace of Charles V| ©michael clarke stuff

Access to the monumental complex is paid and you will need to buy a ticket to the Alhambra in Granada to take a tour of the Nasrid palace city. However, there are some sites in the Alhambra that you can see without spending money.

To make it clearer, here is a summary of what you can see in the Alhambra for free and what you can't see:

Requires a paid entrance ticket

  • The Nasrid Palaces
  • The gardens and the Generalife Palace
  • The Alcazaba
  • The Bath of the Mosque

It is free and does not require an entrance fee

  • The Walls
  • The Justice Gate
  • The Aljibes Square
  • The Palace of Charles V, which houses the Alhambra Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts.
  • The Royal Street of the Alhambra
  • The Wine Gate
  • The viewpoint of San Nicolás
  • The Gate of the Carriages
  • The Parador de Turismo de Granada in the Alhambra, a former 15th century convent built by the Catholic Monarchs.

Book your visit and tickets to the Alhambra