New ticketing system and ID requirements for Alhambra visits - Granada

I tried to do a dummy booking today for a friend. The old site is no longer accessible and the new site (new subcontractor) is not working properly yet. Hopefully they'll get it going in a day or two.

Yes, I hope so. I also hope that it will solve the credit card problems that Ticketmaster used to have. Supposedly the new provider hosts the online ticket sales for the Prado in Madrid, and I don't hear the same complaints for that site. All those Australians that cannot book on line via Ticketmaster would be so happy. Fingers crossed.

We visited the Alhambra today. We were not asked for identification; nor did I see anyone else asked.

Today's news is that the Corral de Carbon and machines are closed and our current vouchers need to be changed at the main gate.....with proper ID (passport). Not sure if Caixa Bank machines are still issuing tickets, but one needs to allow time -either to make a special trip for tickets, or arrive early enough for the exchange and get down to the Nazrid Palace in time. At the gate, you can queue for counter help, or use the machines.

Today's news is that there are no longer any 'day of' sales at the ticket office. Here is an exerpt of the Granada News translation
《It basically says that with the new ticket system now introduced they are doing away with queues at the main entrance. NO MORE QUEUES for tickets ! It will all be SMART ! and booked using the Internet.
To quote
In this way, visitors will know for sure whether or not tickets are available, without needing to make a long queue to finally stay at the gates of the monument.
unquote
Reselling of tickets was normal prior to this change so now each ticket sold will be identified to the individual so prepare for the checking of identity when entering.
To note that if there are unsold or returned tickets on the new system now operating you will be able to check on line up until 2 hours before each opening and buy without the need to rise early and go to the ticket office》

I sure wish there was a way to let everyone who has bought Alhambra tickets in the last few months know about these changes, particularly the possibility of needing to show identification. We had our visit at the end of September. Neither of us carried our passports with us. I had taken a pic of passports on my phone rather than carrying the real ones around, and I wonder if they would accept that? I can't imagine having to try to go back to the apartment to retrieve identification and all the way back to the Alhambra to get in, in time for the Palace entrance too. Yikes!

Might they accept other ID such as drivers licence or maybe a good idea to get a passport card

I know the ID thing really twists up North Americans. In Europe, passports are left around frequently and they don't stress about it but we do. By the letter of the law, you are supposed to carry national id at all times. A drivers license isn't national. I appreciate it is a pain to replace a passport. A passport card is a US thing, but might suffice. Even a photocopy might suffice for purposes of linking the ticket purchase to the voucher holder....but it also says 'may' be requested to show....I am sure security is well versed in tourists not having the 'right' id and it might matter more if you are caught in some more dubious activity other than wanting to look at a national monument.

New report is that new system requires passport details for booking online, even for children's free tickets. CC issues are none, but you will need to decide your own comfort level about id.

I'd be inclined to carry the passports in a money belt under my clothes until there is more information on how this is enforced.

Jane, that is as good of a solution as any. You could carry the photocopy of passport in your bag, and then pull out the passport if necessary.
Hopefully we will have more information in the coming days.
I booked via the old system, but can report what I see when I am there in 3 weeks.

We were there yesterday. I had purchased tickets in July. We took our passports with us , but were not asked for any ID. We found it a painless process to pick up our tickets.
It's an absolutely amazing place!

Great.
as the italic section says, personal identification is required for the purchase and visit - as of October 1. The new purchasing system actually requests your Passport number or national ID (I just did a dummy booking). Whether you need to show it in Alhambra, is at the discretion of the various staff or security. So a maybe, maybe not scenerio, but my recommendation was to be prepared 'in the event of being asked'.

Thanks for this info. We are going this Saturday with pre-reserved tickets and we will bring our passports. I will update everyone on what we e pertinence on Saturday. BTW Córdoba has been amazing and I thank the RS folks for all the recommendations and info!

Cheers, Amy