Hi everyone,
we bought our tickets, but, the process seems kind of confusing. Specifically, can we pick up our printed tickets the day before? What is the best place to pick them up?
If we got tickets for 12 noon, does that mean we must be out by 2pm? Can we be IN earlier, just not at Nasrid palaces?
What else do people get hung up on?
The Alhambra has changed the visiting hours to make it simpler. As of April 1, there are no more morning or afternoon tickets, just all-day tickets.
The timed entry (as before) is for the Nasrid Palaces. You should plan to be at the entrance about at least 15 minutes beforehand (and allow more time if you'll need to check any large bags and backpacks). Once you are in the Palaces, you can stay as long as you want. There's a one-way path through the buildings, you can backtrack if you want, just have to exit at the other end. You can enter the campus (it's huge) any time before that. I'd recommend entering at the main entrance where you can pick up audio guides and maps and get other information. You can enter the other ticketed areas at any time during the day from opening to shortly before closing. The museum in the Charles V palace may close earlier, so check.
You can get your tickets in Spain at any Caixa ATM in Andalucia (Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, etc). Caixa is the largest bank in Spain, so there are machines everywhere. You must use the same credit card you used to buy the tickets. Just put your card in the machine, choose English, and follow the easy instructions. It takes several minutes because the machine prints each ticket while you wait.
You can also pick your tickets up ahead of time at the Alhambra office in Corral de Carbon in the center of Granada. Not far from Plaza Nueva and the Cathedral - if your hotel is nearby or if you are visiting this area the day before this is quite convenient. There is a machine to get your tickets, and a person with information if you need anything. I definitely suggest printing the tickets ahead, either at the ATMs mentioned or at this office.
Your specific time slot (12 in your case) is for NASRID only. Note that they are STRICT on that - line up at the Nasrid at 12 (many people get there before their slot and line up). If you are past 12:30 you will not be let in. If you get there at 12:20 and see a line...those are probably the 12:30 people and you should go to the front to claim your 12:00 slot. I saw this happen to someone who had a 9 but waited behind me in the 9:30 line and didn't get in.
You can be on the grounds before - anytime that morning you can enter the other ticketed parts, like the Generalife Garden and the Alcazaba fort. As of last fall (2016) you had to be out of any ticketed area by 2PM but there was some leeway for people with appointments in the 12-2 range. I don't know the details on that, but apparently that has changed anyway (thanks Chani!).
Some areas are not ticketed and you can be there any day, any time it is open. Charles V, some of the grounds, and the Parador hotel and grounds are available without a ticket. The Generalife Gardens and the Alcazaba fort check your ticket. In my experience you had to be out of those by 2 with a morning appointment but you could enter as early in the day as you wanted.
