Last December my boyfriend and I did a trip to Granada, and I cannot stop thinking about it. Granada will always be one of my favorite places in Spain because of its incredible history and culture. And of course, we got to visit the Alhambra together. For me, it was the third time seeing the Alhambra gardens, but honestly, I could come back a thousand times and be mindblown all over again.
The Alhambra is such an incredible monument. In this post, we will take a closer look at the Alhambra complex. And we will talk about the Alhambra gardens, called Generalife, in more detail. I already know you will be absolutely mindblown by its beauty and historical value.
Let’s just say once you have visited Granada your bar will be very high when it comes to other cities in Spain.
If you want to find out more about the Alhambra gardens, keep reading. In the end, I also give you 5 tips that you should know before visiting!
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Other posts about visiting Granada that you cannot miss:
Self-guided walking tour in Granada with map + itinerary: This post includes a self-guided walking tour itinerary for visiting Granada. Explore Granada by yourself in only one afternoon. Check it out!
Itinerary for spending two days in Granada: This post includes a complete guide for spending 2 days in Granada. From walking tours, to the old town, Flamenco Shows, Sacromonte, and more!
Tips for visiting Granada in winter: You totally should visit Granada during the winter months. This guide includes an amazing itinerary about what to do in Granada during winter. Bring your warm clothes!
Read this before visiting the Alhambra Gardens
Something that is super important is that you book your tickets for the Alhambra Gardens in advance. When I visited the Alhambra in Granada I booked our tickets 3 weeks in advance. According to the website, there were only a few tickets left.
You can book your tickets here (include the Alhambra Gardens, but NOT the Nasrid Palaces)
Here you can book the tickets to the Alhambra that include the Nasrid Palaces.
Visiting the Alhambra gardens: Guided tour or Audio tour?
Before visiting Granada so many people told me to do a guided tour of the Alhambra. So, we were actually debating whether we should just take the official audio, which costs 6€ per person. Or if we should sign up for a guided tour of the Alhambra. In the end, my boyfriend had a rough cold during our visit and we decided to take the audio tour, just to be more flexible and to be able to take breaks.
But, I definitely recommend doing one of these tours. If you visit the Alhambra without any further guidance you will probably not understand the history behind this complex. It will also be hard to see the whole Alhambra in a logical way. Keep in mind, the whole Alhambra complex is so much larger than it looks. And having a tour really helps to understand the historical and cultural aspects better.
Which tour suits you the best?
The guided tour is the perfect option if you want to go with a local expert and want to ask questions. Believe me, you will learn so much about the Alhambra that day. And it is really nice to be accompanied by a local guide who tells interesting facts and details about this monument.
You can find a selection of guided Alhambra tours here.
But, if you want to be flexible during your visit you can simply purchase the audio tour at the entrance of the Alhambra. It costs 6€/person and comes with several guides you can choose from (Express or longer versions). Apart from that, you get a map full of information to be able to locate yourself in the Alhambra gardens.
What are the Alhambra Gardens?
The Alhambra is a Moorish Palace from the Nasrid Era and we can definitely call it the most famous monument in Granada. If you are currently planning on visiting Granada, this incredible monument should be at the very top of your bucket list.
The Alhambra is not just a palace, it is much more a complex with gardens and other areas that once were part of the life of this impressive monument.
In the following, we will have a look at the different areas of the Alhambra:
When speaking of the Alhambra gardens, usually the Generalife is meant. The Generalife was the summer palace of the Nasrid rulers. A truly beautiful place, and I cannot wait to talk more about it below!
The Alhambra consists of the following areas:
- Palacio Carlos V: This palace was built by monarch Carlos V in order to show the triumph of Christianity over Islam. It was only finished in the 20th century. Nowadays, the palace houses several museums
- Medina: The medina was an area where servants and craftsmen lived. In this area, we can find baths and other public spaces. And of course, houses of governmental officials and other .
- Rauda: The royal cemetery where the remains of the Grenadine royals are. You can find this place only by entering the Nasrid Palaces first.
- The Nasrid Palaces: This palace complex was the residence of the kings of Granada. It consists of three main buildings: The Mexuar, The Comares, and the famous Palace of the Lions (Make sure to purchase tickets that include entry to the Nasrid Palaces. You can find them here.)
- Generalife (Alhambra Gardens): The summer palace and the recreational gardens of the Nasrid rulers. The Alhambra gardens are located in the East of the Alhambra on a hill overlooking the city of Granada.
- Alcazaba: The Alcazaba is a military complex that dates back to the 13-15th century
When talking about the Alhambra Gardens usually the Generalife is meant.
That is why I want to talk about the Generalife in this blog post.
Generalife: What you have to know about the Alhambra Gardens
The Generalife was the resting place of the Nasrid rulers and was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. The name “Generalife” kind of sounds English, but does get pronounced the Spanish way Je-ne-ra-lee-feh. It most likely comes from the Arabic term jannat al-‘arīf and seems to mean “Garden of the Architect” or “Garden of the Artist”
Together with the Amphitheater at the entrance, the Generalife and the Alhambra Gardens host the yearly Music and Dance Festival here.
But how did the Generalife and the Alhambra Gardens look like during the Nasrid Era?
The palace and the Alhambra gardens were used as a retreat space for Nasrid rulers and their families. Most likely, the areas of the Alhambra gardens were also used as orchards or kitchen garden. Many sources mention that the Generalife also had agricultural use in the past.
The Patio de la Acequia already existed in the Nasrid Era before the 16th century, while other parts of the palace were added during the later centuries.
There are several places in the palace with so-called “miradores”. These are the windows that permitted visitors to have a look at the outside areas of the Alhambra Gardens. Many of these lookouts have incredible stuck decorations. These were crafted with impressive detail and are incredibly well preserved. Keep in mind that they are centuries old!
All in all, the Generalife had all kinds of amenities and areas to be self-sufficient for its visitors. It even included a bathhouse and a prayer room. It really offered its visitors everything they could ask for during their recreational time in the Alhambra gardens.
And what about the Alhambra Gardens today?
Of course, the Alhambra gardens changed over the centuries. Especially, after the reconquest of Granada several modern elements were added to the Alhambra
For example, the original Alhambra gardens had very little botanical influence. Nowadays, we can see different types of flowers that were added during the latest centuries. We can see that in the “jardines nuevos” (in English: new gardens) that were added during the 20th century.
The modern water fountains we can currently see in the Alhambra gardens were also installed during the 19th century. But that does not mean that the people in the Nasrid Era were not educated about their water! During excavation work, there was even a watering system uncovered. That made it possible for the plants, trees, and other areas of the garden to be watered and taken care of.
Since the 1984 the Alhambra complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site, all together with the Generalife.
My tips & recommendations for visiting the Alhambra Gardens:
1. Get your tickets in advance!
As mentioned before, the Alhambra is Granada’s most important monument with hundreds of people visiting it every single day. But there is a limited number of people that are allowed to go inside per day. That is why you should get your tickets in advance. When we visited the Alhambra gardens, we saw many people at the entrance trying to buy tickets. But the soonest tickets available were four days in advance.
What I am trying to say is you should already book your ticket now!
You can book your tickets here (include the Alhambra Gardens, but NOT the Nasrid Palaces)
Here you can book the tickets to the Alhambra that include the Nasrid Palaces.
2. Be punctual when visiting the Nasrid Palace in the Alhambra
The Nasrid Palace is my personal highlight of the Alhambra. This is why I do recommend getting the tickets that include the entrance to the palace, even though they might be a bit more expensive.
What you should keep in mind is that, depending on the hour indicated on your ticket, you have one hour to enter the Nasrid Palace. This means, if your ticket says 4 pm, you are allowed to enter between 4 and 5 pm. If you happen to arrive later at the entrance of the Nasrid Palace (Not the Alhambra entrance!), you will not be let inside.
Keep in mind, when you enter the Alhambra, you have to walk around 15 min to the entrance of the Nasrid Palace. There, you will have to queue for about 15-20min before you can enter. For example, if your ticket says 4pm, I would arrive at the Alhambra at 3pm, just to be save.
3. Block at least half a day for visiting the Alhambra
It is completely up to you how much time you want to spend visiting the Alhambra. If you are fast, you could be done in one hour. But, if you want to see every corner and enjoy your time, four hours is a good indication.
My boyfriend and I were so tired after visiting Alhambra! You do end up walking a lot, as the whole complex is very large. Walking from one area to the other takes time. We would not have been able to do any other activities after our visit!
4. Wear proper footwear during your visit
I feel like it is very important to wear proper footwear when visiting Alhambra. When we went to the Alhambra gardens in December we were surprised by some rain during our trip. The Alhambra is a huge complex full of gardens, ruins, and nature. We had to walk around some muddy areas and I was so glad I was wearing boots! During summer, I would make sure to wear sneakers. I know Granada gets insanely hot during the summer months. But I honestly don’t think it would be comfortable walking around the whole area with open shoes.
Whatever you end up wearing just be aware you will have to walk around in it for a couple of hours.
