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Current Info on Buying Tickets to the Alhambra

I need the most current information about how to purchase tickets for the Alhambra in Granada. I want to Ticketmaster.es but everything is in Spanish. I'm reading about problems printing out the tickets. What is the latest info so I don't do it incorrectly. I need the tickets (2) for Saturday, May 5th. Thanks much.

Posted by
5188 posts

Pamela,

Here is the English version of Ticketmaster.es

Click on 'buy tickets', under, 'Alhambra General', choose your desired date & follow the steps.
It looks like you can only buy tickets up to April 30th now, so wait a week or so, to buy ticket for May.

Once you book your tickets, you will receive an email confirmation, (print & bring with you), then you will need to pick up your tickets once you arrive to Andalucía.

Make sure you bring the same credit card used to purchase your tickets, as you'll need it (along with your passport), when you pick up your tickets.

Hope this helps!

Posted by
15560 posts

You can get your tickets from any Caixa machine (it's like an ATM) in Spain, so you don't have to wait to get to the Alhambra or even to Granada. You stick your credit card in the machine and follow the directions. It takes a few minutes because the machine prints out each ticket. That will save you're needing to stand in line at the main Alhambra entrance. You can enter from other places, but you'll probably want to start at the main entrance to pick up audio guides and maps.

Posted by
5188 posts

Pamela,

I'm answering your PM questions here; to benefit others who may have the same question(s)

Where in Andalusia do we pick up the tickets? Or did you mean pick them up at the Alhambra?

You have several choices as to where you can pick up tickets when booked in advance online (or by phone):

  • The Alhambra ticket office... at the main entrance of Alhambra complex
  • Certain CAIXA cashpoints found at Caixa Banks in Spain, as explained by Chani (above)
  • the Corral del Carbón on Calle Mariana Pineda, in Granada (open Monday-Sunday, 09:00 - 19:00).

As aforementioned, make sure you bring the same credit card with which you purchased your tickets online.

When we were there (October 2015), we picked up our tickets at the Alhambra bookstore, however, the bookstore is currently closed, due to renovation/construction work.

** It's a good idea to retrieve your tickets the day before your visit, or at least a few hours prior to your visit.

Posted by
65 posts

Helpful post. Thank you. Two quick questions:

1 - Can I pick up my tickets from a CAXIA cashpoint at a Caixa Bank either in Valencia or Seville before I get to Granada or would this only work within Granada perhaps?

2 - Do the machines have instructions in English for inserting your credit card and getting your tickets printed out?

Thanks

Posted by
3948 posts

I picked mine up last week at the Corral de Carbón. It is a tiny staffed office, straight ahead as you enter the area, where they have 2 machines and allow 2 people inside at a time. You insert your card and the machine asks a few questions (having asked what language first) and then prints the tickets. It was so easy, I can't remember exactly what questions. I had both night and daytime tickets and just completed the process for each.

Edited to add: with tickets in hand, we entered from the Justice Gate, which is closest to the Palace, since we planned to see it first and Gardens last. There were audio guides available there (handiest for a night visit). You may have to return audio guides to the place you rent them (I don't know this for sure), which would be quite a bit of extra walking. The minibus makes stops at both the Justice Gate and the Main Entrance, of course.

Posted by
3 posts

Jumping into this thread--I am having difficulties purchasing tickets for the Alhambra for Saturday May 13th. I was able to do this a few weeks ago with no problems, but we need to buy new tickets since our travel plans have changed.

Every time I tried (yesterday and today) I get "your card cannot be validated. If this continues contact your bank". I called my bank last night and there was no issue with it being declined or unauthorized because of fraud. They think it's an issue on ticketmaster's end.

I tried purchasing the tickets on different browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome) and using different cards (Credit and debit) and none of it made a difference. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Posted by
5188 posts

Blippo72,

I'd suggest you start your own post.
Having said this, I will reply as this may benefit others.

I don't know why you're having issues booking your Alhambra tickets online via Ticketmaster...
Your other option is to buy your tickets by calling the Alhambra directly .

Regarding your comment here:

I was able to do this a few weeks ago with no problems, but we need to buy new tickets since our travel plans have changed.

You may be able to get a refund for the tickets you booked a few weeks ago.
You will find the information you need by reading my response to this post from a year ago.

I hope it all works out for you! ;-)

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you very much Priscilla. I ended up calling the Alhambra directly and spoke to a very nice representative, so I'm all set! I'm so glad it worked out and I can see the Alhambra.

Posted by
5188 posts

Blippo72,

It's good to hear that it all worked out for you!

Were you able to get a refund for the tickets you'd booked a few weeks ago?

Enjoy your trip!

Priscilla

Posted by
65 posts

I am in Valencia right now and tried about 3 different Caxia ATM machines to print my Alhambra tickets without success. Is perhaps it only possible to do at Caxia ATM machines in Andalusia? If so, I am headed to Seville in a few days. Perhaps I can do it from a Caxia ATM there?

Many thanks...

Posted by
5188 posts

Hi Marc,

Please let us know if you were successful in retrieving your tickets from a Caixa ATM in Sevilla.

You can always retrieve your tickets at the Alhambra office or at the Corral del Carbón in Granada, near Plaza Isabel la Católica.

Posted by
65 posts

Since the Caxia Bank ATM tells me there are no Alhambra ticket purchases associated with my credit card, which is wrong of course, I am giving up on Caxia Bank after wasting a lot of my vacation time running around to no less than 6 of their ATM machines and standing in line to speak with their service employees about it in 3 of their branches. My advice, skip Caxia Bank.

It seems the best thing is to pick up my tickets at Corral de Carbón in Granada the day before I am scheduled to visit Alhambra. The link below has good concise info and was just updated about a week ago.

http://granadainfo.com/alhambra/collecting.htm

Posted by
65 posts

Just picked up my Alhambra tickets at Corral de Carbón. It was very easy. They have an automated machine. You just put your credit card into the machine that you used to buy the tickets and it prints your tickets out straight away. It took just one minute. You may have to wait if there is a line at the machine, as there is only one machine, but I got lucky as there was no line when I arrived.

As I said, skip the Caxia Bank ATM in my opinion. If you purchased tickets from ticket master already, and you are able to arrive in Granada at least one day before your visit to Alhambra, then I think Corral de Carbón is your best option. It's also located right in the center of town and was only a 2 minute walk from my hotel.

Also, I would urge you to book your tickets at least a month in advance as I did if you can. At the moment I understand that tickets for Alhambra are sold out until at least the 22nd of April on the ticket master website and, according to the people working at Corral de Carbón, they said there are no tickets available until early May.

Posted by
5188 posts

Hi Marc,

Just picked up my Alhambra tickets at Corral de Carbón. It was very easy. They have an automated machine. You just put your credit card into the machine that you used to buy the tickets and it prints your tickets out straight away. It took just one minute. You may have to wait if there is a line at the machine, as there is only one machine, but I got lucky as there was no line when I arrived.

Thanks for the update!

It's always helpful to others who will be traveling to Granada in the near future.

You're correct... Alhambra tickets are already completely sold out for April & for the beginning of May. I'd suggest buying the Alhambra tickets as early as 3 months in advance.

I, also, could not get my credit card validated on Ticketmaster. I want to go on May 21st and will try to call them directly tomorrow. I can't believe how difficult this seems to be!!

Posted by
5188 posts

Merle,

I, also, could not get my credit card validated on Ticketmaster. I want to go on May 21st and will try to call them directly tomorrow. I can't believe how difficult this seems to be!!

Did you notify your bank regarding your foreign transaction, prior to trying to book your Alhambra tickets?

Yes, you can book your tickets by calling the Alhambra directly, where you'll have the option to speak with a Spanish, English, or French operator.

Hope it all works out for you!