Cancel

Open app

Search

La Alhambra y El Generalife

4.7 (280 reviews)

La Alhambra y El Generalife Photos

Recommended Reviews - La Alhambra y El Generalife

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Frank M.

Visiting The Alhambra was one of the most beautiful experiences of my entire life. I went on a perfect weather day, and everything about the place was breathtaking. The detail in the architecture is unreal every arch, courtyard, and tile feels like stepping into another world. The Nasrid Palaces were the absolute highlight, and the views over Granada from the Generalife Gardens were unforgettable. Photos don't come close to capturing how magical it feels in person. Just a heads-up: you need to book tickets 2-3 months in advance AT LEAST, especially the timed entry for the palaces they sell out fast, but they're 100% worth it. I went with a guide and recommended it as you will get the most of out of your visit. Plan to spend several hours exploring and wear comfortable shoes. A must-see if you're anywhere near southern Spain. I hope I can return once again to this magical place!

Garden
Stephanie C.

It was impressive but we went to Grenada just to see Alhambra Palace and I did not think it was worth visiting the town just for this landmark. We much preferred visiting Barcelona (Gaudi's buildings like La Sagrada Familia) and Seville (Seville gothic cathedral). Grenada is super hilly, narrow single lane roads shared by people and cars, scammy vendors.

Safia S.

Hi echo all the rave reviews about the Alhambra. This was my number one must during my visit to Spain. I went with a tour group and they were very thorough and explaining much overarching history and themes. However, my advice to anyone visiting would be to take some time after your tour is over to really take in the beauty of this place. Do this at your own pace... it's such a mesmerizing experience. From the gardens to the intricate decor within the buildings themselves, one is fascinated at how this was achieved 1100 years ago! The beautiful fountains, offer, respite and calm. Just stunning!

Generalife gardens
Christina H.

Ever since I learned about Granada and La Alhambra after taking Spanish Literature & Art, it's been on my bucket list. Words can't even begin to describe the beauty of this place. I'd recommend arriving early, as it gets extremely hot and even more crowded later in the day. Plan to spend several hours here and buy all the tickets in advance, as there are several options. I didn't realize Alhambra was so much more than just a fortress wall and made the mistake of thinking I could squeeze it all into one hour. With that limited time, I only managed to see the Generalife. The gardens were so peaceful and lush. Listening to the fountains and watching the beauty of the Alhambra walls were magnificent.

Keith M.

Visited the Generalife by day and the Nasrid Palaces by night. Passports required at all times for entry. The gardens are beautiful and could be done without a guide but I would recommend a guided tour or even an audio guide for the Palaces.

Robert S.

This time, we got a guided tour of the gardens and the Alhambra. It was really worth it, our tour guide knew her stuff and pointed out littles things like leaves on tress (to determine bitter vs sweet oranges) and details on some of the prisons and dungeons in the fortress. The gardens were in full bloom in early May so it was just beautiful to see the many colors around. As before, if you want to go to the Alhambra, the best thing is to buy online tickets at least 2-3 months beforehand so you can have your pick of times...they sell out very quickly. Great views of the city of Granada from high above. Also, the best thing is to catch the bus from city center to the top...it's a steep climb....

Bride and groom at the Alhambra
Kinnie I.

If there is a heaven, it would look like this! Heavenly, awe-inspiring, majestic art and architecture. The Moors (Muslim rulers of Spain for 700+years until1492, while the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages) were talented and skilled artists and brilliant mathematicians. The symmetrical designs of tiles with carved verses from the Holy Quran are dazzling. Simple but elegant. The red color ("Al Hambra" the red one) fortress hides all the lovely designs and gardens inside its walls. Little do you know the wonders inside till you enter. There are a many cobbstone pathways and stairs to climb on this tour. You'll get your daily steps in! There are no elevators that I could see. Go slow and enjoy all the details. You'll feel overwhelmed by the crowds of people around you. This is a very busy tourist attraction- the iconic symbol of Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plan ahead (many months) to purchase tickets. Take your passport with you, as it required. You'll always remember this incredible Moorish Fortress in Granada!

Garden
Gerry T.

Alhambra in Granada is a lot to unpack. The first question I have is 1) how did Spain maintain all of its great architecture through WW 1 and WW 2?? How did they do it?? Answer: They declared "neutrality" during WWs 1 and 2. And by doing so, they avoided our B-52s. (Actually B-29s) So, as a result, you find yourself here at this UNESCO site and in complete awe!! Alhambra is one of the finest examples of Moorish/Muslim architecture and design. Built in the early 1200s, it was a fortress and very much like a small encapsulated city - containing a mosque, gardens, public baths, courtyards, etc. What I couldn't comprehend or grasp was the "stalactite" design of the ceilings. This symmetrical, honeycomb design is considered "mocarabe" style. You'll get a neck ache just looking up as you try to fathom how this was carved?! It reminds me of dropping an alka seltzer in your glass and seeing an eruption of tiny bubbles. You'll also see beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, fountains, gardens, calligraphy, woodwork, and views of the town down below. There are a ton of visitors but if you're patient, you will get some alone time here and there. FYI, the Christian conquest was completed around 1492 and this place was left intact, neglected, partly destroyed by Napoleon and then rebuilt to what you see now. Don't miss this!!,, as you travel through the Iberian peninsula.....

Como se LLAMA!?!?!
Quang B.

Love, Love, LOVE this place. The only thing is to watch out for is the water snakes in the ponds, looking for frogs. Otherwise, roam free!

View from tower
PJ C.

We knew we had to visit the Alhambra on our visit to Southern Spain and thus Granada was on our list. Even though it was the slow season I made a reservation two months in advance. We opted for the 8:30am time slot for the Nazaries Palace tour and had been advised to be in line 30 minutes early (don't forget your passport!). Well we probably didn't have to be that early especially in February when we had to trudge up the hill in the dark (who knew it does not get light out until well after 8am this time of year). Since we had our tickets and were not using a guide we went directly to the Justice Gate to enter the complex (a shorter walk from town). Anyway the palace was very interesting and amazing though we had trouble with the free audioguide because our US mobil phone data plan was too slow to keep refreshing the audio. Hint bring your own ear buds so you don't have to hold the phone to your ear. Even without the guide the palace was quite fascinating. It did make me wonder what it would have looked like without the Catholic "remodeling". We enjoyed touring the rest of the grounds especially the view from the Alcazaba, the small museum in the Palace of Carlos, the gardens, and the Generalife (though later in the day that was very crowded). We brought our picnic and ate in one of the gardens. We opted to walk back to town via the Cuesta del Rey Chico - it was a nice alternative. Overall we spend more than four hours touring and exploring.

Pam H.

This is without question a must see. Be sure to purchase your tickets well in advance because they sell out. They get 8000 visitors a DAY here so I also recommend going at the first entry at 9 am. We used a private tour guide which I highly recommend - I think we got so much more out of the visit than the folks on group or self-guided tours. I cannot recommend Margarita enough - email her at info@alhambratours.com I found her on Rick Steve's travel forums and she is an absolute gem. Incredibly knowledgeable and she's a local so she had great tips and advice on places to go outside of Alhambra. One thing I was so impressed with is how spotlessly clean the grounds and buildings are. They really take amazing care of this national treasure - the marble floors gleam in the sunlight.

Eating area of American Hotel.
Susan F.

The American Hotel within the confines of the Alhambra Monument serves great food. We started with delicious asparagus -- huge tender spears that tasted so fresh. I had the lamb chops -- wonderful, thinly cut, and very much in our theme of spring. My partner had the Spanish tortilla with salad. We also recommend the coffee. Allergy-friendly.

View of the Sierra Nevada mountains from the Alhambra.
Will L.

Ah, the Alhambra. One of the top treasures of Southern Spain. I've heard of it for many years, but finally was near enough and the weather good enough to make the trek. It was well worth it. I strongly encourage making reservations in advance, rather than leaving your visit to chance. I was able to use public transportation to get to the top of the hill (it was quite easy from the Granada bus station), and then wandered down the hill on foot with one of the folks on our tour. Note: it can get quite cold in Granada in the winter, often below freezing overnight and in the morning hours. This can impact your comfort on your visit , since the Alhambra sits atop of a hill, and much of it is inside (without heat) or in the shade. Even with comfy cold-temperature gear it can still be quite trying over a 3+ hour tour. When I was there, it was below freezing much of the morning, and most of the fountains were turned off to prevent damage to them.

See all

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 0
Photo of Gerry T.
1907
1034
23085

2 years ago

Helpful 22
Thanks 7
Love this 27
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of PJ C.
76
2114
2325

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Tanja N.
11
386
3950

5 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Rabia J.
3681
1516
6082

8 years ago

Helpful 40
Thanks 1
Love this 42
Oh no 0
Photo of Tiffany K.
1093
1545
1242

8 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0
Photo of Rita L.
3365
1053
9417

6 years ago

Helpful 113
Thanks 1
Love this 118
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Jim R.
49
1821
5837

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lam L.
297
479
1433

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 7

La Alhambra y El Generalife Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - La Alhambra y El Generalife

- Your time on the ticket is the time you are supposed to enter the Nasrid Palace, not just the compound overall.

Mentioned in 19 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Barrio del Sacromonte - If the formidable hike is too much, take a cab to the Restaurant Cueva de la Rocio.

Barrio del Sacromonte

4.2(5 reviews)
0.9 km

The walk up and through Barrio del Sacromonte is well worth doing but be warned: it's a formidable…read morehike. I queried a restaurant proprietor about distance & height from the base & he said: "La subida no es tan mala y no está demasiado lejos. Un poco!" Un poco! I don't think so. Still, I would do it again, both for the magnificent views and for the uniqueness of the caves. Some of the 16th-century Santas Cuevas (Holy Caves) have been converted into McMansions but most remain modest and subtly expressive. If you think the walk is too much, take a cab to the top and enjoy a meal and Flamenco performance in the neighborhood that claims to be one of Flamenco's birth places. But do not miss Sacromonte--a profound look into Granada's complex history.

Please note that my review is of the walk up Camino del Sacromonte and not of any of the…read moreattractions that you will find in the area. The cave pictures that you see when you google Sacromonte and see the caves are posted are from the Museum of the Sacromonte caves or from one of the flamenco venues in the area. As for the walk on Camino del Sacromonte you will get rewarded with a nice photo of the Alhambra but you won't see into any cave homes along the way. If you want to see the caves then go to the museum or make arrangements with one of the flamenco shows. We didn't go to a show here but many outfits will pick you up from central Granada to watch a flamenco show, give you a free drink and then drive you back down back to town for 20 Euros.

Photos
Barrio del Sacromonte - A few of the cuevas has been developed into gorgeous mansions.

A few of the cuevas has been developed into gorgeous mansions.

Barrio del Sacromonte - As you walk downhill you'll spot the Alhambra in the distance.

As you walk downhill you'll spot the Alhambra in the distance.

Barrio del Sacromonte

See all

La Alhambra y El Generalife - landmarks - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...