6 Best Tours of Palaces and Castles in Granada

Granada is one of the provinces of the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain. This city is home to a wealth of historical monuments and has witnessed the passage of many cultures that have left their mark on great architectural examples, such as castles and palaces. That's why one of the best things to see and do in Granada is to visit these interesting sites.

To start your tour, the first thing to do is to enter the enormous complex of buildings known as the Alhambra, where you can see the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife and the Alcazaba. You can also visit the Palace of the Forgotten, where you will learn about the Spanish Inquisition. You can also visit the Calahorra Castle, explore the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo and the Palace of the Cordobas. Below, I will tell you more about each of these fascinating sites.

The Alhambra is one of the city's most important tourist attractions. It is a walled city where architecture, history and nature come together . This complex dates back to the Nasrid dynasty and is divided into several main sections: the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife.

There are many ways to visit, but in general I recommend three options: a guided tour, a private tour or a night tour. In any case, the important thing is not to miss out on tickets to the Alhambra.

Guided tour

The guided tour of the Alhambra is perhaps the most popular among tourists. You will visit the main sites of this complex and its gardens in the company of a group of approximately 30 people and an expert guide, who will explain everything you need to know to understand the history and importance of this site.

During the tour, you will visit the Palace of Charles V, the Palace of the Lions and the Generalife with its impressive gardens. Of course, you will also see the Nasrid Palaces. In addition, this type of ticket usually allows you to skip the queues, giving you faster access to explore the facilities.

• Price: the tour costs approximately £60 per person.
• Duration: the tour usually lasts two and a half hours.

Guided tour

With a private guided tour of the Alhambra and Generalife, the situation changes, as you will be alone with your group and the guide. You can also customise your tour and extend it a little longer than the guided tour.

You will explore the Arab citadel while listening to the guide's commentary and asking questions. In addition to visiting the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of the Lions and the other destinations included in the guided tour, you can choose to visit the Comares Palace and the Church of Santa María de la Alhambra.

• Price: the cost varies according to the number of people in the group. For 10 people, the total price is around £999, while three visitors will pay £349 and two people will pay approximately £299.
• Duration: the average duration of a visit to the Alhambra with a private group is estimated at 3 hours.

Guided tour

Booking a guided night tour of the Alhambra is an experience that combines elements of the two previous options: groups are small, with a maximum of 10 people, and the places visited are practically the same, also accompanied by a professional guide.

The distinguishing feature of this type of night tour of the Alhambra is that, by visiting the site at night, you will be able to appreciate every corner in a different way. Each space is strategically lit to create a special atmosphere that further highlights its beauty.

• Price: the cost of this tour is approximately £69 per person
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 2 hours.

Another of Granada's must-see palaces is the Palacio de los Olvidados, where history, culture and art come together. This 16th-century building will allow you to learn about the history of the Sephardic Jews of Granada.

This is undoubtedly one of the essential sights when visiting the Albaicín in Granada, as it is located in the same neighbourhood. Inside, you will find the Museum of the Inquisition, which houses a collection of Jewish artefacts, such as historical documents and religious and everyday items from that period.

However, what is most striking when touring the palace is the collection of more than 70 instruments of torture and capital punishment. You will see some ancient torture machines used during the Spanish Inquisition, such as the garrucha, the iron maiden, the rack and the toque, which will give you a clear idea of the cruelty of the time.

Given the palace's location, you will have the opportunity to see exceptional panoramic views of the city and even the Alhambra. You should know that this place has redefined its history and is now the setting for some flamenco shows in Granada, which you can enjoy during your visit if you go in the evening.

Details of interest

• Price: the tour costs approximately £7 per person.
• Duration: you will need around an hour to complete the tour.

A slightly more discreet palace also located in the Albaicín neighbourhood is the Dar al-Horra Palace, another 15th-century Nasrid palace. Although it is not as large as the palaces of the Alhambra, this is precisely what makes it more interesting for some people, as it offers a more intimate and serene experience. Without a doubt, for many, it should be included in the list of the best excursions and guided tours in Granada.

This site stands out for its Nasrid architectural elements and its historical importance, as it was the residence of Aixa, the mother of the last sultan of Granada, Boabdil.

The tour of this site is much more peaceful, as it is less crowded than other palaces. You will see the inner courtyard, which has a central pool and horseshoe arches. Also, take a look at the plasterwork and tiles around you. Climb up to the viewing tower and enjoy the beautiful view of the Albaicín, with its red roofs and the great silhouette of the Alhambra in the background. Take the opportunity to take some souvenir photos.

Details of interest

• Price: generally, to visit this palace you must purchase a combined ticket for the Muslim monuments, starting at £10 per person.
• Duration: as you can explore the palace at your own pace, there is no set time limit. However, it can take between 45 minutes and 1 hour to visit the site.

La Calahorra Castle is one of the most important castles in the province of Andalusia and is a must-see destination when visiting Granada. To get there, you will need to travel by car for just over an hour, covering around 90 km. The structure is built on a hill 1,250 metres above sea level, which makes it even more impressive.

This castle is an example of Renaissance architecture with Italian influences and dates back to the 16th century. As you walk around it, you will see defensive and decorative elements in its structure, composed of marble columns and arches. In its interior rooms, you will see some frescoes and sculptures.

This building also offers impressive views of the surrounding area, such as the Marquisate of Cenete and panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada. When visiting the castle, you will also learn about its history, construction and strategic and military importance.

Although this place is a national monument in Spain, it is privately owned and open to the public one day a week (usually on Wednesdays). Therefore, you should take this into account if you wish to visit.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of the guided tour is estimated at around £3 per person.
• Disadvantages of this option: there is only one day available for the visit and the times may vary, so you should check before going there.

When planning your itinerary to discover Granada in 4 days or more, you might want to consider including a visit to the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo. This is an old Almohad-style palace that stands out for its architecture and history. The building dates back to the 13th century and is considered a precursor to the Alhambra.

Located in the Jewish quarter of Realejo, this Nasrid palace was ceded to the Order of Santo Domingo in 1493, when it was given its current name. Inside , the main qubba stands out , a ceremonial hall with mullioned windows, plasterwork arches, blue and green glazed tiles, a wooden ceiling and other elements of great visual and architectural appeal.

If you want to breathe some fresh air during your visit, you can go to the gardens surrounding the building, where you can relax and walk along the small paths while admiring the vegetation and fountains. This space, which is not very crowded with tourists, will undoubtedly offer you a peaceful experience.

Details of interest

• Price: admission is free on Sundays, while the site is closed on Mondays. On other days of the week, admission costs around €2 for adults and €1 for children.
• Duration: you can visit the palace at your own pace, so there is no set time limit.

Take a tour of the Palacio de los Córdova and enjoy a brief journey through the history of Granada. The original structure was built in the 16th century, while the current structure was built in the 20th century. However, the palace retains its Renaissance elements combined with some Mudejar elements, making it an attractive place for tourists and locals alike.

This destination fits perfectly into your visit to Granada in 3 days or more, as it is located on the Cuesta del Chapiz, in the Albaicín neighbourhood, and is currently the headquarters of the Municipal Archive of Granada.

The place originally belonged to the military man and diplomat Luis Fernández de Córdova, and inside you can learn about this noble family who lived in Granada. You can also explore the surrounding gardens and enjoy beautiful views of the Albaicín and the Alhambra from the building.

Useful information

• Price: admission to this site is free.
• Duration: there is no time limit for visits, except that they are only allowed during the morning shift, which is usually from 10:00 to 14:00.

The duration of tours of palaces and castles in Granada depends on two main factors: the time you have available and the type of experience you wish to book. Please bear in mind that if you book a tour or excursion, you will have to adapt to the schedule, as the organisers are not only dependent on you but also on the rest of the group.

On the other hand, personalised tours or tours at your own pace offer you greater flexibility if you want to make a quicker visit or, on the contrary, if you are looking to delve deeper into each destination beyond the traditional visits.

To give you a clearer idea of the times involved, depending on the opening hours of the Alhambra, for example, you will need at least two hours to visit the complex. A castle or palace (such as the Dar al-Horra Palace) can be visited in 45 minutes to an hour. In some cases, at the end of the tour, you can stay in the gardens of some places to relax.

Taking tours of the palaces and castles is one of the best things to do in Granada in summer (due to the good weather) or at other times of the year. This is because it is one of the easiest ways to learn about the history of this city and the autonomous community of Andalusia.

You will learn about the different eras and cultures that have shaped the region, knowing that these buildings bear the traces of history and display them both inside and out. It is no surprise that many of the city's palaces and castles have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

From a more general point of view, visiting these palaces and castles will give you a better understanding of the historical context and the importance of each site in the development of the cultural mix that characterises the city of Granada and has influenced the history of Spain to the present day.

On this type of excursion and tour of the palaces of Granada, you will mainly see examples of the architecture of each culture, especially Islamic, which is evident in the horseshoe-shaped arches, plasterwork, intricate tiles and wooden ceilings.

On the other hand, in the case of the castles, most of which initially functioned as fortresses, you will see the imposing walls and watchtowers. In the palaces, you will visit the extensive halls, royal rooms, etc. In addition, many spaces highlight their contact with nature, as they have large gardens; due to their location in hilly areas, almost all of them offer views of the city and its surroundings.