The Nasrid Palaces after dark: 90 minutes inside the Alhambra at night, without the daytime crowds. Here is what the ticket covers, what it does not, and how to book before it sells out.
Seven years resident in Granada. Specialist in Nasrid architecture, Al-Andalus history, and Andalusian walking routes.
The Alhambra night visit is not the full Alhambra. That needs saying first, because the ticket price (€12.73) and the name can create the wrong impression. What you get is 90 minutes inside the Nasrid Palaces (the Mexuar, the Hall of the Ambassadors, the Court of Lions) after the daytime crowds have left and the building is lit from within. The Alcazaba fortress, the Generalife gardens, and the Partal terraces are closed. You follow a predetermined route and exit.
That is still, for most visitors, the best 90 minutes available in Granada. The stucco muqarnas in the ceiling of the Hall of the Ambassadors under artificial light shows geometry that afternoon sun washes flat. The Court of Lions at 22:30 in August, with perhaps forty people rather than four hundred, is a different place. The question is whether the restricted scope (no gardens, no fortress, Palaces only) fits your plans.
This guide covers exactly what is included, the schedules for both seasons, how to book, photography rules, and the practical details that catch visitors out. For tickets to the full daytime Alhambra, see the Alhambra tickets planning guide or the Alhambra tickets guide.
Three separate night products exist. They are not combinable on the same evening — all run at the same time.
The main night product. Covers the Mexuar, Palacios de Comares (including the Hall of the Ambassadors and the Courtyard of the Myrtles), Palacio de los Leones (Court of Lions), and the Corredor-Lindaraja balcony with city views. Also includes the Gate of Justice entry and Charles V Palace. Duration: 90 minutes on a fixed route.
Not included: Generalife gardens, Alcazaba fortress, Partal gardens, museum access.
A separate night tour of the Generalife gardens and water terraces. Runs at the same time as the Palaces visit — you choose one or the other for the evening. If your priority is the gardens after dark (the pools, the sound of water, the cypress walks), this is the ticket. The Nasrid Palaces are not included.
The Dobla de Oro is a combined visit covering the Nasrid Palaces and additional areas of the monument complex. This is the premium night ticket for those who want more time or scope. Check the official Patronato site for current inclusions, as the itinerary can vary seasonally.
All prices verified May 2026. Source: alhambra-patronato.es.
The Alhambra runs two distinct night-visit seasons. The change happens on 15 October and 1 April.
15 October – 31 March
1 April – 14 October
Arrive at least one hour before your access time
The night visit runs two sessions per evening during peak periods. If you hold a ticket for the later session, you still need to arrive an hour before that session's start time. Check your ticket confirmation for the exact access slot.
Night tickets sell out well ahead of the visit date, particularly in summer. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed.
Book directly from the official Patronato site
Until 23:59 on the day before the visit. There is no same-day booking window via the online system during peak season.
Changes and refunds are not accepted. Choose your date carefully. If you book and cannot attend, the ticket is forfeit.
Original identity documentation (passport or national ID) must be presented at the entry gate. Printed or digital booking confirmation is also required.
July and August: two to three weeks minimum. June and September: one to two weeks. April, May, October: one week. Winter Fridays and Saturdays: a few days to one week, depending on the calendar.
For the full comparison of daytime versus night ticketing options, see the Alhambra tickets guide or the Alhambra tickets planning page.
The route through the Nasrid Palaces at night is fixed. You cannot linger indefinitely in any single room, but the pace is slow enough for photography. Total time inside: 90 minutes.
Gate of Justice
Entry point. The 14th-century gate is lit from below — the carved hand and key in the arch are readable in a way they rarely are by day. Allow 10 minutes.
Mexuar
The oldest section of the Nasrid complex, converted to a chapel after 1492. Geometric tile dados at floor level, carved stucco above. Allow 15 minutes.
Palacios de Comares
The Hall of the Ambassadors — a throne room with a cedar ceiling representing seven levels of heaven — and the Courtyard of the Myrtles with its long reflecting pool. At night, the pool surface is still; the reflection doubles the tower. Allow 25 minutes.
Palacio de los Leones
The Court of Lions, with its twelve marble lions supporting the central fountain. The muqarnas stalactite vaulting in the two pavilions is illuminated from below. Allow 20 minutes.
Corredor-Lindaraja
A gallery overlooking the lower Albaicín and city lights. The exit is here. Allow 10 minutes, then a short walk to the main gate. Total inside: 80–90 minutes.
Flash photography: strictly prohibited throughout the night visit. Guards enforce this actively.
Tripods: banned during night visits. The €5 tripod permit sold for the daytime Alhambra does not apply here.
Handheld gimbals and stabilisers: permitted.
Practical advice: a camera with a fast lens (f/1.8 or wider) at ISO 1600–3200 produces usable results without flash. The lighting is warm and directional; exposure times of 1/30s handheld are achievable with image stabilisation.
Four significant areas of the Alhambra are excluded from the night Nasrid Palaces ticket:
Tours are selected for quality, not commission. We earn a small fee if you book — at no extra cost to you.
Fast-track access to the Nasrid Palaces lit at night, plus the Generalife by moonlight — sells out weeks ahead
No. The Nasrid Palaces night ticket (€12.73) covers the Mexuar, Palacios de Comares, Palacio de los Leones, and the Corredor-Lindaraja. The Generalife gardens run as a separate night tour at the same time (€8.48) — you cannot do both in a single evening. The Alcazaba fortress is also excluded from night visits entirely.
In summer (June–August), night tickets sell out two to three weeks ahead. In shoulder season (April–May and September–October), one week is usually enough. Winter (October–March) offers the most availability, but the limited Friday–Saturday schedule means popular dates still go fast. Same-day tickets exist in theory but rarely in practice during peak season. Book at tickets.alhambra-patronato.es.
Flash photography is strictly prohibited. Tripods are banned during night visits. Handheld gimbals and stabilisers are permitted. Guards enforce the photography rules actively. The €5 tripod permit that exists for the Alhambra applies only to designated day-visit areas, not to the night tour.
Winter season (15 October–31 March): Friday and Saturday only, session from 20:00 to 21:30. Ticket office opens at 19:00. Summer season (1 April–14 October): Tuesday through Saturday, session from 22:00 to 23:30. Ticket office opens at 21:00. You must arrive at the ticket office at least one hour before your assigned access time.
The two visits are different experiences. At night, the Nasrid Palaces are specially lit and far quieter than during the day — the stucco detail on the muqarnas ceilings reads differently under artificial light than in afternoon sun. What you miss: the Alcazaba, Generalife gardens, and Partal gardens are not accessible. If you can only visit once, a full daytime ticket (which can include all three zones) covers more ground. If you want the Nasrid Palaces specifically and prefer fewer people, the night visit delivers that. See the Alhambra tickets guide for a full comparison.
Reporter notebook
Practical observations gathered the way a local journalist would keep them: short, specific, and more useful than brochure copy.
The only authorised source for Alhambra night tickets is tickets.alhambra-patronato.es. Third-party resellers sell the same ticket at 30–40% above face value. Cancellations and refunds are not accepted on Patronato tickets, so pick a date you are certain about. The booking deadline is 23:59 the day before your visit. Phone booking is available at +34 958 027 971 if the website is down.
Summer night visits (22:00–23:30) are popular, but July and August tickets sell out two to three weeks ahead and the palaces are still crowded inside. April, May, and October run the same evening sessions with far more available tickets, comfortable temperatures, and quieter corridors. The light-on-stucco effect that makes the night visit worthwhile does not depend on season.
The Alhambra requires you to arrive at the ticket office at least one hour before your designated access time. In practice, arriving 70–80 minutes early is sensible — the walk from the car park or taxi drop-off to the ticket office is longer than maps suggest, especially at night. Miss the window and you forfeit your ticket. No refunds are issued for late arrivals.
The night visit ends by 21:30 (winter) or 23:30 (summer) and leaves you on the Alhambra hill. Most visitors head straight down and miss the obvious follow-through: the Albaicín is 15 minutes on foot. Bars along Calle Elvira and Calle Calderería serve until midnight. In summer, finishing at the mirador of San Nicolás after the visit — the Alhambra lit below, city lights spread out — is the better end to the evening than any restaurant.
