I tried to purchase night tickets for Alhambra for May and none were available. Surprised as the guide book suggested they are not that hard to get in advance. We are staying at a hostel, yet to be determined, and i'm wondering what other options we might have. We are interested in the Night visit and then a daytime ticket for Generalife Gardens.
Posted by
Washington DC
27092 posts
Sue, don't blame the guidebook too much. At top destinations, things are getting noticeably tighter every year. I see it happening in places I traveled to in the last 2 or 3 years: More recent visitors are having a lot more trouble than I did in nailing down tickets.
These are the options I'm aware of, in increasing order of cost (but I have limited knowledge about the money side of things):
Contact your hotel, which may have tickets set aside for guests. The additional expense may be minor.
See whether Dobla de Oro tickets are available (though I don't know whether that can get you a night ticket). DdO tickets are sold on the regular Alhambra website.
See whether the Granada Card has availability for your dates (probably for daytime visit only, but I am not sure).
Look for a commercial tour (or two tours). Be sure of what you are getting; there's at least one company out there selling tours that do not include the Nasrid Palaces.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thanks for the suggestions. I was able to get late afternoon Dobla de Oro tickets to Alhambra for the date we wanted. I will still look around for night tickets. I was surprised at how tight the night time tickets were for mid May. They are sold out until June!
Posted by
Washington DC
27092 posts
Oh, I'm so glad you got at least one ticket! Perhaps a few nighttime tickets are made available for purchase day-of. Some tourist sights do that.
There are no time blocks for the nighttime visit, I don't believe. I'm going in early May (bought tickets February 9th), and my ticket just says 10 PM; I don't remember being asked to choose a time. So they have a lot fewer nighttime slots than daytime slots. And my guess is that a lot of nighttime tickets are sold to people who planned to go in the daytime but were unable to get a ticket.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4573 posts
Are the night dobla d'oro tickets also sold out? Otherwise, look for tour operators offering night tours - if available
Posted by
California 🦋
5205 posts
Sue,
There are still a few Dobla de Oro at Night tickets available for mid- May.
Do book them ASAP before they disappear!
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
OP
10 posts
I got some Dobla de Oro tickets! They are for 5 pm. so the crowds will be less. I will still look around for some night time tickets as that would be a great experience, I think.
Posted by
OP
10 posts
Thank you for that website link. I was able to get night tickets, Dobra de Oro, as well as daytime. I don't know why I couldn't find that website earlier for night time tickets. But, anyway, we'll see it during the day and at night. Thank you very much!!
Sue
Posted by
California 🦋
5205 posts
Sue,
It's great that you were able to book your night tickets.
We visited during the day but it looks like the night visit is very special.
Make sure you eat a creamy ice cream at "Los Italianos" right across the street from the cathedral.
If you're looking for a great place to view the majestic Alhambra at sunset, consider going to El Huerto de Juan Ranas (across the street from San Nicolás mirador) and sit on the terrace by the bar. We enjoyed an early dinner and a delicious cheesecake with raspberry syrup.
Do get there early as this place fills up rather fast.
Here's a helpful website about buses in Granada
Wishing you a wonderful trip!