Night Visits to the Granada Alhambra Palace

Discover the Alhambra by night on a very special night tour through the most emblematic corners of the monument, a visit you won't forget!

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

8 min read

Night Visits to the Granada Alhambra Palace

The Alhambra at night | Tetiana Shyshkin

Considered the eighth wonder of the world, the beauty of the Alhambra in Granada has inspired travelers from all over the world for generations. In daylight, the Nasrid fortress looks imposing and monumental but after sunset, darkness and silence envelop it in a mysterious and fascinating atmosphere worth seeing.

Contemplating the Alhambra by moonlight is a magical experience that you can not miss during your trip. Here's how to get your tickets to the Alhambra and everything you need to know about night visits.

The best option

Granada Alhambra Night Guided Tour

Tour the Alhambra by night in this magical experience.

Discover this unique monument on a guided night tour that will take you to contemplate the best of Islamic art in a special light.

Duration: 2 hours

Whether you go for the first time or because you repeat -like many- your visit to Granada, this guided night tour of the Alhambra is one of the most popular plans in the city. You will tour the complex with an expert guide who will help you discover the special charm of this essential monument.

In small groups of no more than 10 people you will explore the different palaces and rooms of the Alhambra in a two-hour tour under the spectacular moonlight of Granada.

Recommended if... you do not want to miss the most romantic and original plan possible and contemplate the night illumination of the Alhambra.


How to book a guided tour at night in the Alhambra

Illuminated decoration at night| ©Daniel Lobo
Illuminated decoration at night| ©Daniel Lobo

Guided tours of the Alhambra are the best way to explore the mythical Nasrid palace city, the last living trace of this dynasty in Spain.

During the tour, you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you all about the history and architecture of this reference point of Hispano-Muslim art in the West, explaining in detail all the sites you see. Thanks to their experience, they know how to turn a cultural visit into something fun and interesting so that making a night visit to the Alhambra is a plan that you definitely have to do during your stay

The price of guided tours of the Alhambra varies depending on the type of tour you book and what the tour includes. In Hellotickets you can book online the night guided tour of the Alhambra. Of course, do it well in advance of your trip because they run out quickly.

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra

How to get tickets to visit the Alhambra by night

Illuminated Alhambra with Granada in the background| ©Pablo
Illuminated Alhambra with Granada in the background| ©Pablo

There are currently two types of night visits to the Alhambra: the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife Palace and gardens. As with the daytime visits, you will also need to buy a ticket to the Alhambra at night to see these areas of the monument separately.

The price of the night tickets to the Nasrid Palaces (which includes access to the Mexuar, Comares Palace, Palace of the Lions and Corridor - Lindaraja) is 8 euros while the night tickets to visit the Generalife Palace and gardens cost 5 euros.

Anyway, in my opinion, buying the tickets at the ticket office is not the best option. My advice is to buy your Alhambra tickets online and in advance to save yourself from having to queue endlessly at the ticket office. The Alhambra is one of the most visited monuments in Spain even at night!

There are many people who have already seen the monument in the morning and now want to come back to see it at night and live an original and different experience under the stars. If you don't book your tickets to the Alhambra in advance you could run the risk of running out of them since the capacity is limited, and that would be a shame!

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra

Is it worth seeing the Alhambra at night?

Enjoy the beauty of the Alhambra and its illumination.| ©www.twin-loc.fr
Enjoy the beauty of the Alhambra and its illumination.| ©www.twin-loc.fr

Absolutely. If the beauty of the Alhambra is striking in daylight, I must say that at night it looks with a special charm. To contemplate it in the stillness of the night and the moonlight is a magical experience.

Despite the darkness in which the visit takes place, the spaces are well illuminated which allows us to better appreciate certain ornamental elements such as the reliefs of the plasterwork, the chiaroscuro of the architecture or the muqarnas. At night the Alhambra displays its colors and beauty in all its splendor!

In addition, as it takes place during the silence of the night and there are not as many tourists as in the morning, the walk through the Alhambra is quiet and you can enjoy much more of the fusion between the palatine city and the surrounding nature. Contemplating the Alhambra at night while listening to the sound of the water in the background is an intimate and cozy experience.

In any case, I believe that night visits to the Alhambra are complementary to daytime visits and not a substitute for them. That is, they provide a different and unique view of the monument but if it is the first time you go to the Alhambra I recommend a daytime visit because you can tour the entire enclosure and you will have a global vision of the fortress, while in the night visits you are only allowed to see a part: the Nasrid Palaces or the Generalife and its gardens.

In short, I recommend a night visit to the Alhambra if you already know the monumental complex and want to enjoy the views of this beautiful place in an original and surprising way while discovering its legends and its most enigmatic side.

However, if you are one of those travelers who prefer to avoid the morning crowds when visiting the palatine city, I think the night tours of the Alhambra can also be a very interesting option for you. So don't hesitate, you will have a great time!

Book a guided tour to the Alhambra

How much does it cost to visit the Alhambra at night?

Interior decoration of the Alhambra| ©Daniel Lobo
Interior decoration of the Alhambra| ©Daniel Lobo

The night tours of the Alhambra do not cover the entire monumental complex but only a small part (although very important) where you can only see the Nasrid Palaces and Generalife Palace and the gardens. The price, therefore, is lower than the general daytime ticket which costs 14 euros at the box office.

Thus, the price of night tickets to the Nasrid Palaces (which includes access to the Mexuar, Comares Palace, Palace of the Lions, the Palace of Charles V and Corridor - Lindaraja) is 8 euros while night tickets to visit the Generalife Palace and gardens cost 5 euros.

In the case of a guided tour of the Alhambra, the entrance fee may be a little higher, about 60 euros, but it is well worth it as you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will explain in a pleasant way the history and architecture of this monument, so you will get the most out of the visit. You will not miss any detail!

Book a guided visit to the Alhambra

How long does the guided tour of the Alhambra last?

Admire the nighttime beauty of the Alhambra| ©Paul VanDerWerf
Admire the nighttime beauty of the Alhambra| ©Paul VanDerWerf

Unlike the daytime tours that usually last between 3 and 4 hours because they cover the entire complex, night tours of the Alhambra are shorter since they only cover either the Nasrid Palaces or the Generalife Palace and gardens. Normally the guided night tour of the Alhambra lasts about 2 hours.

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra

Can I visit the Alhambra at night with children?

Beautiful muqarnas decoration| ©Andrew Nash
Beautiful muqarnas decoration| ©Andrew Nash

Of course you can. The guided tours of the Alhambra are adapted to families and the guides are very friendly with children.

However, those who know the kids best to know if a tour of this type can please them are their parents. If so, I highly recommend the night tour because not only will they enjoy the beautiful views of the Alhambra but they will learn things in a fun way and hear some very curious legends.

If the children are still small, sometimes parents prefer to visit the monuments at their own pace in case at some point an emergency arises or you have to take a break to eat or play a little. If you think your family will be more comfortable visiting the Alhambra at night on their own, it is best to buy general admission tickets.

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra

What are the opening hours of the Alhambra at night?

Don't miss out on an unforgettable experience| ©Ben30
Don't miss out on an unforgettable experience| ©Ben30

To visit the Alhambra at night there are two types of visits, the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife Palace and gardens. Both are done at the same time but separately.

  • Summer night visit (from April 1 to October 14): from 10 PM to 11:30 PM.
  • Night visit in winter schedule (from October 15 to March 31): from 8 PM to 9:30 PM.

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra

What will I see on the night tour of the Alhambra?

Beautiful views from the Generalife| ©www.twin-loc.fr
Beautiful views from the Generalife| ©www.twin-loc.fr

Nasrid Palaces

The Nasrid Palaces was the complex where the kings of Granada resided. They are composed of three independent buildings known as the Mexuar (audience area), the Palace of Comares (official house of the king) and the Palace of the Lions (the harem and the abode of the royal family).

During the tour of the Nasrid Palaces you will see such beautiful rooms as the Abencerrajes room (the king's bedroom), the Ambassadors' Hall (the symbolic center of Nasrid power), the Kings' Hall (the sultan's council room), the Myrtles' courtyard (where the embassy receptions were held) or the Lions' courtyard (an allegory of paradise).

These palaces are a sample of the sophistication and good taste of the Nasrid kings, the last rulers of Al-Andalus. During the visit to the Nasrid Palaces I recommend that you pay attention to the wonderful ornamental motifs that decorate them as the impressive muqarnas in arches and domes, glazed tile plinths or spectacular plasterwork.

The Generalife Palace and gardens

The Generalife was the summer villa of the Nasrid kings, where they went when they wanted to relax and escape the formalities of the court.

Located on the Cerro del Sol, it is one of the most beautiful places in the Alhambra and one of the few almunias that have survived from medieval times in all of Al-Andalus.

Strolling through the Generalife, among its gardens and manicured courtyards, is a delight at night. An oasis of tranquility where you can enjoy the fresh air and the soothing sound of the water from the fountains and pools of the palace.

Book a guided tour of the Alhambra