We are wanting to book our Alhambra tickets online. Which is better--morning or afternoon? We are leaning toward afternoon because you can enter at 2:00 and can stay until 8:00 when we can enjoy seeing it lit up. Any opinions? Also, can we get senior discounts even though we aren't from the EU? The info we read seemed to indicate that you had to be from an EU country.
Thanks!
I don't think you will get a senior discount if you're not from an EU country. I'd like to congratulate you, however, on going to the Alhambra. I cannot believe anyone would go to Spain and miss it. DO book ahead, as it's very busy and if you wait till the last minute you'll be forced into an expensive tour and have to go through it too quickly. I think the idea of entering at 2pm is fantastic if you get to stay till 8pm. It's absolutely magnificent lit. I will say that out of all the sites I've seen in Europe, this one, to me, was the most spectacular. Get the RS podcast or whatever, and really learn about it. I hope you're going when the gardens are in bloom. Make sure you're ON TIME for your entry, as they will turn you away if you're not! If the ticket says 2pm, you'd better be there, They give a little grace time but not much, and it can be tricky if you're driving there.
It probably wasn't planned as such but our day visiting the Alhambra was just perfect.
Your visit is in two parts - first the gardens and then the palace.
I think we started in the Generalife Gardens at 1pm or so.
Then before our scheduled time of 4pm for the Nasrid Palace we retreated to the patio of the adjacent Parador.
One or 2 jugs of sangria later we were refreshed to continue on.
Later that evening and a stunning restaurant terrace in Albaicin with the Alhambra gloriously illuminated.
A couple of clarifications are in order. The morning and afternoon tickets provide for entry into the several ticketed areas of the grounds within the timeframe. But you can visit the grounds, eat at a restaurant, shop and visit the museum throughout the day. More specifically, you will be given a timeslot for entry into the Nasrid Palace portion. THAT is the timeframe you must meet or lose your chance to see the Nasrid.
I personally like the morning slot as you can see the ticketed areas, then stay as long as you like to have lunch, shop or just admire the views.
I can't comment on the senior discounts.
When are you going to be there?
If you're going in warm month, you may want to get in and out before the day really heats up. If you're going in a cooler month, going in the afternoon may be more comfortable.
We were there in April and had a 9 am time, the time you enter the Palace portion of the Alhambra. As far as I know you visit the rest of the Alhambra at your leisure - we stayed better than half a day. I was fine getting the palace entrance when we did and doing the other sights afterward.
