The Alhambra Nasrid Palaces story – A tour of its history, architecture & interiors

The calligraphic scriptures looked like motifs on the palace walls
While the muqarnas glistened on the ceilings of the halls.
Pools and fountains added to the courtyards glory
While the arches beckoned everyone to listen to the Alhambra Nasrid palaces story.
 
Discover why it is worth visiting the Nasrid Palaces in Alhambra, Granada. Learn about its intriguing history along with the key highlights of what to see inside the Nasrid Palaces. Get insider tips on the Nasrid Palace tickets and how to make the most of your visit here. 

Considered the crown jewel of the Alhambra, the Nasrid Palaces were high on my list of things to see in Granada. Imagine my despair when I discovered that despite attempting to book more than a month in advance, the tickets for the Nasrid Palaces were sold out. Sure, there is plenty to see in the Alhambra other than the Nasrid Palaces, but I was not ready to settle down for that. I will leave the story of how I finally got the tickets for the later part of the blog post. For now, suffice to say that my Nasrid Palaces tour was worth every bit of the extra fee and effort I took to get here.

It is possible that you are wondering, “Was that extra effort to get tickets really needed?”. “Is it really worth visiting the Nasrid Palaces?” Well, then you have landed on the right page that will help you decide. Nasrid palaces are full of stories – right from its enticing history to the infinite details that reside in its Islamic architecture and art and the tales of the people who lived there.

In this Nasrid Palaces guide, I will take you through the intriguing history of Nasrid Palaces, why they were built, and what makes them so important. From the gorgeous Alhambra arches and ceilings to the famous Alhambra Arabic calligraphy on the walls, I have shared what you must not miss when you are inside the Alhambra palaces. You will also, get tips on Alhambra Nasrid palace tickets and timings – including that of the Nasrid Palaces night visit.

After going through this virtual tour, I am sure you will have your answer and in all probability, will end up planning your visit to the Nasrid Palaces.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links. This means that at no cost to you, I will receive a small commission if you purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting me with this.

What are the Nasrid Palaces? Are the Nasrid Palaces the same as the Alhambra?

The uninitiated tend to use the two phrases – Nasrid Palaces and the Alhambra interchangeably. However, the two refer to different things, which most people realize only when they begin buying the tickets. The Alhambra refers to a fortress or citadel that is atop the Sabika hills in Granada. The entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was built by the Nasrid dynasty that ruled Granada from the 12^th century.

The Alhambra includes defensive structures in the Alcazaba region, pleasure gardens or the Generalife, homes of the nobles, streets and much more. The Nasrid palaces inside the Alhambra were the residences of the Nasrid royal family. They are iconic for the extravagant Nasrid architecture and art – which has survived to date!

The story of Nasrid Palaces (The Nasrid Palaces history)

Tired of the constant attacks from the Castillean kings, Muhammed I moved his base to Sabika hill. This was in early 1200s but that is not when the story of Nasrid palaces began. Muhammed I (Al Hamar) had a smaller palace within the Alcazaba (the fort area) where he stayed with his family. It was only in the 13^th century when the Nasrid dynasty reached stability that Muhammed I ordered for separate elegant palaces to be constructed in the Alhambra.

Sadly, Muhammed I did not get to enjoy the first of the Nasrid palaces that came up near the Gran Mezquita (Grand Mosque) of the Alhambra. There are evidences of subsequent additions to this palace. However, most of them were torn down by the Nasrid emir, Yusuf I – only to be replaced by grander and more elegant Nasrid palaces. In fact, it is Yusuf I and his son Muhammed V who are credited for the phenomenal Moorish architecture and Nasrid art that you can see today in these Alhambra palaces.

The Nasrid Palaces in Granada became symbols of the wealth and prosperity of the ruling dynasty. They remained so, even after the palaces were handed over to the Spanish kings by the last Nasrid King – Muhammed XII . This was in 1492 and the Nasrid palaces became the royal court of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. The Spanish royalty added a few of their own elements to these Alhambra palaces but maintained the original Islamic décor.

The Nasrid palaces story under the Spanish kings continued with several interesting and historic events like the infamous Alhambra decree that forced Jewish conversions and the grant to Christopher Columbus to find new lands. Charles V was the last to stay here and even order his palace to be built. However, he never stayed there. After the 16^th century when the power moved to the Royal Palace of Madrid, Alhambra Nasrid palaces were abandoned.

For years, the site suffered neglect and destruction – from pilferage and natural disasters. It was only rediscovered along with the Alhambra in the 1800s. It became even more popular after the famous work, Tales of Alhambra, was released by Washington Irving and it brought the spotlight back to this heritage site. Eventually, massive restoration efforts were made to preserve and bring back the lost glory of the Nasrid Palaces. And that concludes the historical story about the Nasrid Palaces. What you still have not seen and heard is the visual story of its architecture and interiors.

The Layout of Palacio Nazaries

The Nasrid Palaces is a huge area next to the Alcazaba. As evident in this Nasrid Palaces map, it is right behind the Charles V palace (No.11 on the map). It is close to the Alhambra entrance through Puerta de la Justicia (the gate of justice)- which is what you should use if you plan to visit the Nasrid Palaces first.

There are three main sections of the Nasrid Palaces that are interconnected by galleries, patios and gardens. Each of these sections have their own halls, courtyards and chambers that served a distinct purpose.

• The Mexuar, which served as the royal court
• Palacio de Comares (Comares Palace) that was the official residence of the Kingmos
• Palacio de los Leones (The Lion Palace) – which was the private area of the royal family.

What is amazing is that each of these sections had their own signature décor and theme. In addition to these sections, there are remains of the older Nasrid palaces, the Royal bathhouse and a few other structures.

The Nasrid architecture

The classic Islamic style of architecture was very evident even in the pictures that I saw of Nasrid Palaces. The signature arches, carved pillars and geometric patterns dominate the spaces inside the Nasrid Palaces. There is an elaborate use of colorful mosaic tiles and intricate motifs on the facades of the palaces.

Another interesting aspect of the Alhambra palace architecture is the use of courtyards with water features – from reflective pools to fountains. It is on some of these that you can spot the Renaissance touch. You can also, spot a fair bit of stucco work, especially on the ceilings.

The ceilings have another standout element that makes the Alhambra Islamic architecture so stunning. The muqarnas look like inverted honeycombs or a stack of glistening stalactites and are symbolic of heaven.

The one feature of Nasrid art that I found different from the Mughal or Islamic architecture in India is the Arabic inscriptions on the wall that double up as motifs. It isn’t unusual to find the Quranic calligraphy in monuments like Taj Mahal or the Agra fort. However, what made it different to my eyes what the manner in which it was integrated into the carved walls – almost like floral filigree work.

The Alhambra architectural style involved use of stone, mud and wood. The Nasrid palaces were constructed such that the interiors remained cool during summer while the walls insulated the chambers from the extreme cold of winters.

What to see inside Nasrid Palaces? (Highlights of Nasrid Palaces)

More tales are coming your way with this virtual tour of the Nasrid Palaces. I am going to take you in the exact order of things that I saw on my Nasrid Palaces visit. Let’s begin from the Nasrid Palace entrance that is behind the Charles V palace.

Exploring the Mexuar – the first of the places to see inside the Nasrid Palaces

Mexuar comes from the Arabic word “Mashwar” which means a conference hall. This section of the Nasrid Palace complex used to be the throne room and court of the Nasrid emir. It is also one of the oldest of the original palaces of the Nasrid Kings. Though Yusuf I demolished most of the earlier palace, he just altered the Mexuar and extended it to the Comares palace.

The Mexuar is also, a space that underwent a lot of transformation under the Spanish kings. A part of it was converted to a chapel. Later when Napolean’s troops attacked the Alhambra, it got subject to a lot of destruction. A lot of restoration had to be done to bring it to the present condition.

The courtyards of the Mexuar

When you enter this section of the Alhambra Nasrid Palaces complex, you will encounter foundations and ruins of two courtyards. The first is the Patio del Mezquita, or the courtyard of the mosque. As the name suggests, there was a small mosque attached to a place of ablutions in this courtyard

The 2^nd courtyard is conspicuous with the remains of a fountain. This is the Patio de Machuca. This wasn’t the original name but as the Nasrid Palace story goes, in the 16^th century when Charles V ordered his new Renaissance palace to be built, the then architects Machuca and Pedro stayed in the tower within the courtyard. The tower still exists and is called Torre del Machua after the architect as is the square.

The original fountain used to have two golden lions along its sides on which the fountain would spray water.  

Sala del Mexuar

This is the most important part of the Mexuar that served as the throne room. It used to have a dome for a ceiling – below which the throne was kept. However, now when you enter, you will see a flat wooden ceiling with the classic muqarna design on it. The dome was replaced by this ceiling during the Spanish rule to make way for an additional floor. The former court was converted into a chapel.

You can see a wooden gallery in this hall – which again was a part of the chapel gallery for the choir.

The mosaic wall and the pillars with the muqarna corbels are some of the original parts of this Nasrid Palace hall. If you are on a guided Nasrid Palaces tour, then most likely, you will be taken to a section of the mosaic wall where you can spot the Nasrid dynasty coat of arms. There is also a place where the symbol of Charles V is embossed onto the mosaic.

Another important highlight of this part of the Mexuar is the entrance through which you come in. This was not the original one but was made during the time of Muhammed V. Later, of course, as evident from the Spanish crown emblem, it became the entrance to the chapel.

The Oratory

Attached to the Sala del Mexuar, is a small chamber that served as the private prayer room of the Nasrid King. It has a carved mihrab with a lot of stucco work around it. I particularly loved the arched windows here that give a gorgeous view of Granada city.

It is here that you will first encounter the classic Nasrid Arabic calligraphy that I spoke of in the architecture section. I love the way it blends into the floral motifs that enhance the lattice windows of the room.

Cuarto Dorado or the famous Golden Room of the Alhambra palaces

The Golden Room is a rectangular area that was used as the waiting area for visitors and was decorated to impress. The first thing that might hold your attention here is the wooden ceiling with carved geometric patterns. If you look carefully, within these shapes are golden motifs. This is what gives it the name of a gilded palace or the Cuarto Dorado.

The ceiling is an example of a typical Mudejar or Moorish architecture that you will see in the rest of this tour. And it only gets more impressive later. The room has a courtyard with a small marble basin in the center. This is called the patio of the gilded room, and it connects the Mexuar to the Comares palace.

 For me, the most impressive part of the Golden Room were the ornate arched doorways that led to a small portico with arches and marble pillars. The intricate art is a classic Nasrid Palace architectural characteristic that you will see more in the tour. Try to get a glimpse of a blocked doorway to a passage. Once upon a time, that space led to an underground passage for the Nasrid guards to move around the palace.

From the courtyard, you will be guided towards what is referred to as the Comares façade – a wall with two doors. The doorway is quite intricately decorated and has a wooden roof with muqarna or Mocárabe design. One door usually the right one is closed and used to lead to the Mexuar. The left one is what you will take to continue the rest of the Alhambra Nasrid palaces tour.

Palacio de Comares or the Comares Palace – the next section of the Nasrid Palaces tour

Get ready to be dazzled as you step into the official residence of the Nasrid king. As the story of this Nasrid palace goes, Yusuf I got his residence made with the objective of impressing all his visitors and I have to say, he got it right. Though he may not have lived to see a few of his chambers finished, his son Muhammed V did complete justice and made sure the objective was achieved.

Glitz, glamour and art along with ingenious engineering awaits you are you visit the Comares palace in Alhambra. The name is believed to have come from the stained-glass technique (Comaries) that has been used in the palace – the one that filtered light right to keep the chambers bright while insulating the harsh heat.

Patio de los Arraynes or Court of Myrtle

No – my dear Potterheads, not the Moaning Myrtle! Well, that was the first reference that came to me (and now you know who is the Potterhead).

The courtyard gets its name from the myrtle bushes that line a gigantic reflective pool. It is also called the Patio de la Alberca or courtyard of the pool. The green pool is not just a work of art but also, a product of thoughtful construction. It gets fed by the two fountains that are on either side of the pool. The interesting part is that there are no ripples formed with the flow of water. This is because the water from the fountain has been made to slow down – thus allowing the pool to maintain its mirror qualities.

You will be entering from the southern portico, which is identical to the one opposite in terms of décor. The space opens into the courtyard in the form of seven arches, of which the central one is the biggest. Spend some time observing these Alhambra arches for their exquisite design and typical Mudejar stucco work. My guide at Alhambra was patient enough to share and explain a few terms of this stucco work. Let’s see if you can spot them in my pictures or on your real tour.

• Arabesque motifs – the floral and leafy designs
• Sebka – This is typical Moroccan Islamic style with motifs inside a rhombus shape.
• Zellij – the typical mosaic work along the walls of the Nasrid Palaces, Alhambra.
• Muqarna – also called Mocarbes. This is a three-dimensional element found on the ceilings and the capital blocks of the pillars.

Getting back to our inside the Nasrid Palaces tour and the south portico, you will be able to spot all of the above, along with the Islamic epigraphy on the walls. The porticos used to be connected to chambers that now no longer exist. It is believed that Charles V broke down those rooms (which might have been reception rooms) for his own palace. Thankfully, he left the gorgeous portico intact.

At the other end of the reflective pool, you can see the Comares tower, which is the tallest one in Alhambra. The chambers on this side are intact. As you walk towards the other portico, you will see there are more doors on the sides. These led to the women’s residences.

Don’t miss the dome shaped stucco frieze along the walls of the portico. Also, there are these stunning arched niches with the typical Zellij tile work, muqarnas for their ceiling and arabesque as well as the calligraphic motifs framing the space.

Comares tower

While you cannot explore the upper echelons of the 45m high tower, you can just admire it from the Court of Myrtle. This is where the bedroom of the King was. It is also, where the stained glass windows that gave this palace its name are.

Sala de la Barca or the Hall of the Boat

Possibly the reception room of waiting space, the name of this hall is believed to have come from the Arabic word – “Baraka” which means blessing. This is in fact, inscribed at various places on the walls of this room. The name however, got twisted when spoken in Spanish. It changed to Barca which means boat and hence, the new nomenclature.

Frankly, it suits the long rectangular space with a wooden ceiling filled with geometric carvings. Notice the bluish-white corners of the ceiling that mould into the arches. This is again the infamous muqarnas that I have been constantly talking about.

Salon de los Embajaderes or the Hall of the Ambassadors

The Hall of Boat is like an antechamber to the most stunning room of the Comares palace. The Hall of Ambassadors used to be the actual throne room of the Nasrid dynasty kings. The space is quite mesmerizing with the play of light and shadow that enters through its lattice windows and arched entrances.

The walls had me in oohs and aahs with the way the arabesque motifs blended into the epigraphic ones. It is so ornate that you cannot decipher where the Alhambra inscription ends and where the floral motifs begin. There is this one façade that has the typical rhomboid sebka designs.  Adding further glamour, is the dome of wooden ceiling and the mosaic artwork along the skirtings.

The 125m ceiling is believed to be the largest woodwork ceiling in the Islamic western world. It is made by an interlocking method with over 8000 pieces and is believed to represent the seven heavens of Islam.  

The floor was made of marble but today, only the central portion is intact. The surrounding floor tiles are of clay. Looking at the center piece, I can only imagine how stunning the floor might have been during the hey days of the Nasrid palaces.

Another highlight of this Nasrid palace room is the three alcoves. The central one, with two lattice windows, used to be where the king’s throne was. The calligraphic motifs around this alcove praise the Nasrid King. I am told that the lattice windows in the alcoves had stained-glass elements but were lost owing to a gunpowder explosion in the 1590s.

Before you exit this palace, try to spot the Taqa. This is a small niche along the arched doorway that was used to keep a decorative vase or pot.

Palacio de los Leones – the famous Palace of lions inside the Nasrid Palaces

One of the most popular Nasrid Palace photos on the internet is that of the Lion Palace. It is the most scintillating part of the Alhambra Nasrid Palace and the complete credit for this goes to Muhammed V. It largely conforms to the Islamic style of architecture but there are quite a few elements from the Renaissance Catholic style. The influence is attributed to the close friendship between Muhammed V and the Catholic King – Pedro I -the cruel one (oops!)

The palace of lions strikes an impeccable balance of craftsmanship and engineering where natural elements like wind, water and light emphasize the dazzling interiors of the Nasrid palaces. It is here that you will see an elaborate use of marble and colors. The entire space is laid out around a central courtyard. Every gallery, pavilion and chamber exudes an oomph factor and maybe, like me, you will tag this as the favorite part of your Nasrid palaces tour in the Alhambra.

Sala de la Mocárbes or the Hall of the Mocarbes

This was the entrance hall to the Palace of Lions. The first thing you will notice is a partially damaged ceiling. This is from the same gunpowder explosion that I mentioned earlier. Prior to that, it was the room with the most beautiful Alhambra ceilings – three classic muqarnas. Today, it has a vaulted one with plasterworks.

At one end of the ceiling, you can clearly see the Nasrid coat of arms. Three arched doorways with honeycomb work (muqarnas) give you a glimpse of the central courtyard – the pride of the Lion Palace.

Sala de los Abencerrajes or the Hall of Abencerrajes

Before you enter the central courtyard of lions, you will find yourself in the Hall of Abencerrajes. Hold your temptation to rush out to the courtyard for a bit as this chamber is home to an intriguing aka ghostly Nasrid palace story.

The original name of this hall was different but it changed to this following the killing of the Abencerrajes knights. As the tale goes, there was a distinguished family in Granada by the name of Abencerraje. One of the youngsters fell in love with a Nasrid princess who in turn was caught trying to escape. The then Nasrid king called the family on the pretext of a dinner. He beheaded them in this chamber.

Rumors have it that the ghosts of the Abencerrajes party around here. Also, as proof to the tale, there is a rusty stain near the marble basin that occupies the chamber. However, there is a dispute on the authenticity of this story.

The gruesome tale however, does not take away the beauty of this chamber. For me, it largely lies with the elegant muqarna ceiling, which is in the form of eight-pointed star. There is a space where you can see tiny windows lighting up the dazzling dome. The 3D art continues in the niches below the windows and seamlessly merges with the walls that have the sebka motifs on them.

Patio de los Leones (Patio of lions)

Past the arched doorway, you step into the popular courtyard of lions. The marble fountain in the center with 12 lions spouting out water is almost like a signature picture of the Nasrid palaces. The fountain was so beautiful that the poet Ibn Zamrak wrote praises of it, right next to the marble basin.

The fountain is connected to four channels of water – one in each cardinal direction – leading to a gallery or pavilion. What adds to the beauty of this entire scene are the 124 marble columns with arches of muqarnas.

Sala de los Reyes or the Hall of the Kings

The hall of Kings is a set of seven rooms – 3 square ones that are connected to two rectangular rooms – one at each end. In addition these, there are two bed chambers. Throughout this halls, you can see the double-arched doorways – which possibly had curtains of silk and muslin separating the sections. A square dome of muqarnas dominates each chamber.

The hall, however, gets its name from the ceiling art that lies in its lateral chambers. These are colorful depictions of the Kings of the Nasrid dynasty – the central one showcasing the first 10 kings while the remaining ones have various scenes of the court like hunting. These paintings lack the fine details of the Nasrid art and are a Catholic touch to the chamber. The artwork is done with vegetable colors and is on a canvas of leather that is in turn, attached to the wooden ceilings.

Sala de dos Hermanas or the Hall of the two sisters

If you guess that there is some story related to the sisters behind this hall, then well, you like me, are mistaken. It owes its name to the two marble flagpoles on its floor. That, honestly, was not what drew me to the chamber. It was another exquisite muqarna ceiling – again a star, but this one had tiny domes within those honeycombed structures. The impressive part that you need to observe is that within the tiny domes are more of the inverted muqaranas – the details within details.

The light from the lattice windows along the ceiling makes the roof glisten – like stars in the night sky. With ceilings like these, there is honestly no need for a chandelier! The stunning craftsmanship more than makes up for it.

My guide mentioned that there are more than 5000 prism-like pieces that make this dome-shaped ceiling – which incidentally is the 2^nd largest ceiling in the Alhambra. Also, quite like the Taj Mahal at various times of the day, the ceiling sparkles differently. I am told that it looks stunning even when you do the tour of Nasrid Palaces at night

Ibn Zamrak – the same poet who inscribed his poetry by the fountain of lions- has praised this one too. This time, his poetry is a part of the Arabic calligraphic motifs on the walls of the chamber. The hall and its bed chambers were used by the Queen and her family.

Sala de los Ajimeces or the Hall of Ajimeces

Twin balconies are what you will see when you exit from the Hall of two sisters. This rectangular space is termed the Hall of Ajimeces. The narrow space leads to twin balconies on the other side called the Mirador de Lindaraja.

Mirador de Lindaraja

More than the view, I was amazed by the craftsmanship in the twin balconies of the Mirador de Lindaraja. Also, called the Daraxa’s mirador, the quintessential arched doorway was filled with Nasrid motifs – from Arabesque to sebka and epigraphic. Adding to the glamour were the mosaic zelljis. The frames reminded me the beautiful Rajputana chattris and pavilions of the Sisodia royal gardens in Jaipur as well as the Mughal balconies in Agra palace. Though completely different in terms of architecture and design, the premise was the same –  to create structures that amplified the view that the place offered.

Emperor’s chambers

On the way out, you will see some plain chambers of which one has a plaque of Washing Irving. These chambers were taken over by Charles V and the décor stripped down. They came to be known as the Emperor’s chambers. The most significant aspect of these chambers are the coffered ceilings – a contrast from the intricate muqarna ones that you have been seeing so far.

One of these chambers has a plaque mentioning that Washing Irving had stayed here. The gentleman is quite important to the rediscovery and popularization of the Alhambra in general owing to his book – the Tales of Alhambra.

Patio de la Reja

Also, called the Patio of the Wrought Iron Grille owing to the timeless grill that is within the patio since the 1600s. The patio has a small fountain surrounded by cypress trees which are over a century old.

Harem

The harem was a very private space of the Nasrid kings. It is actually a misnomer for the area was not to accommodate concubines but to have some private space and time for family. I mention this for the story attached to the place where King Muhammed V was playing with his grandchildren and was intruded by a prophet and his followers without any prior notice. This led him to make the space separate and private for his time.

The three wives of the Nasrid King Muley Hacen stayed in the chambers. He also, had a fourth wife who was in fact, a Spanish slave by the name Isabel de Solis. She was later called Zoraya after her marriage but she did not stay in the Harem. She was given a room in what was called the Torre de la Cautiva or the Tower of the captive. The Tower of Captive is not a part of the Nasrid palaces but is located along the ramparts of the Alhambra.  

That said, only the patio of the harem exists at the south end of the Lion fountain. The rest of it was taken apart by Charles V for his palace.

With that, you have covered this gem of Nasrid Palaces. The Palace of Lions was my favorite among all the places to see inside the Nasrid Palaces. It is truly a legacy of the Nasrid Kings in Granada.

The baths or hammams in the Nasrid Palaces

The Royal Bathhouse is located between the Comares Palace and the Palace of Lions. You can see one section of it on your way out from the Palace of lions. It seems pretty simple but actually what you see is just one of the many chambers. The one in the picture is a steam room or the hot bath area which has ducts between the walls. These ducts were used to carry the steam from the hot oven and heat up the room. It has a marble floor and mosaic walls.

Before this room, there is a chamber called the Hall of beds where people would undress. It also, had two beds to lie down – possibly for a massage. The room had a balcony which has a quirky rumor attached to it. It is believed that the Kings could see their naked wives from the balcony and depending on his mood, would throw an apple at the one who he wanted to spend the night with.

The bath house also, had a cold bath chamber which was more like a small swimming pool with cold water in it. Historians believe that the Nasrid kings adopted this style of bath houses from the Roman baths.

El Partal Palace – remains of the oldest Nasrid palaces in the Alhambra

Last but not the least among the attractions inside the Nasrid Palaces is the El Partal palace that was built in the 14^th century. Only the portico and the tower of the palace remain. The portico has a lovely wooden domed ceiling and has the classic Nasrid motifs along its walls. Lattice windows add to the simplistic beauty.

The tower is called Torre de las Damas which translates to the tower of ladies. It used to have a gorgeous ceiling which has now found its way to a museum in Berlin.

A set of terraced gardens with reflective pools stands in front of the portico. The Partal gardens are they are called now, did not exist originally. The area had a few more Nasrid houses that were taken down for newer constructions. It was only in 1900s that the present-garden was created.

As you exit, don’t miss the views of Granada from the portico.

With that, I conclude this virtual Alhambra Palace tour. Don’t you now agree that it is so worth visiting the Nasrid Palaces? If so, then you might want to read the next few sections for certain tips.

How early should I book the Nasrid Palaces tickets?

As early as you can. Nasrid Palaces have visitor limitations. They allow 300 people per half an hour. Therefore, the tickets are limited and get sold out weeks (sometimes months in advance). Thus, it is advisable to book it as soon as you plan to visit Spain or Granada.

I tried booking mine more than a month before my trip to Spain and the ones on the official website were sold out. Even the guided tours on GetYourGuide as well as Viator were sold out. I finally managed to get lucky with last-minute tickets through this link. The tickets I got included the Granada city pass and were a little higher than the regular prices.

You can also, opt for a night visit to the Nasrid Palaces. I am told the palaces are gorgeous with the lights but you have to resort to photography without flash. It might be a bit difficult if there is a lot of crowd.

Where can I book the tickets for the Nasrid Palaces?

You can book the tickets through any of the following means –

• The official website
• Through third-parties like Get Your Guide and Viator
• With the Granada city pass.

I have discussed the pros and cons of each in detail in my tips and guide to the Alhambra blog post.

Can I just do the Alhambra without the Nasrid Palaces?

After this blog tour of the Nasrid Palaces, you might still want to try getting the Nasrid Palace tickets. However, for some reason, if you cannot get them, then you should do the Alhambra anyway. As discussed in this blog post, there are plenty of things to see inside the Alhambra without the Nasrid Palaces.

Should I do a guided tour of the Nasrid Palaces?

I did take a guided tour of the Nasrid Palaces and I found it extremely satisfying. There were several nuances that you cannot spot unless someone is there to show it to you or explain the backstory. There is an option of an audio guide at the entrance but I cannot comment on whether it is as good as having an in-person guide.

General tips for the Nasrid Palaces tour

• Do not miss the timed entry for your Nasrid Palaces tour. It is mentioned on your ticket. Be there at least 15 – 20 minutes before as the queue at the Nasrid Palace entrance does tend to get long. If you miss your entry time, there is no way you can visit Nasrid Palaces on that day.
• Cameras are allowed into the Nasrid Palaces but you have to ensure that you do not use flash.
• You can stay for a maximum of 3 hours inside the Nasrid Palaces.
• There are no strict guidelines on the Nasrid Palaces clothing. Just wear something comfortable. Brighter clothes do add color to your pictures.
• Expect crowds. You just have to be patient.

With that, I conclude the Nasrid Palaces guide. I hope you found the article useful. do share it around and have fun whenever you visit the place.

Common FAQs about the Nasrid Palaces

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Ami

Popularly referred to as a Restless Ball of Energy. My Mom refuses to entertain my complaints about my equally restless daughter & assures my husband that I was born with a travel bug.

I am a Post-Graduate in Marketing by qualification and a travel blogger by passion. Besides travel, I enjoy photography and if you don’t find me at my desk, I would be out playing badminton or swimming or just running. I believe in planning for every long weekend through the year. And when I cannot travel physically, I travel virtually through this travel blog. My travel stories have also, got published on various websites and magazines including BBC Travel, Lonely Planet India and Jetwings. I have recently published my first book – When Places Come Alive – a collection of stories that are based on legends, landscapes, art and culture of a place which is available in both ebook and paperback format.

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