What time to pick for Nasrid Palace entry at the Alhambra

Debbie,
We visited the Alhambra in the afternoon
(3pm) because I’d read that the morning is very popular with most tour groups.

We didn’t have a guide but since
you’ve booked a private guide, I’d suggest asking him/her what the best time would be for touring the Nasrid Palaces.

I may be incorrect, however, I’d presume it’s less crowded in the morning when they open than at 10:30.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Priscilla. I have asked the guide a couple times and think she wants to leave it up to us on when we want to go, so that's why I thought about asking the forum. (And I know 'best' is subjective.) I know no matter what, it will be amazing!

I entered the Nasri Palaces at 2pm and would chose afternoon instead of morning given that it opens late morning.

Personally, I was happy to book Nasrid palace twice. I did the night tour first.....the plaster sculpting was really highlighted with the shadows and uplighting. Also, not very crowded. The museum is open in the evening and very uncrowded. Next morning I booked early entry (8:30 a.m.). The tours move at a faster pace than me, so I would just wait a bit and they were out of the way. I booked early in the day so I didn't want to feel rushed through the rest of the property in order to get back for a set time. It is a good size if you are having to rush back.
However, you would benefit from having the guide's knowledge before visiting the Palace in depth.
There is re-entry to most of the property as some go out and across the street for lunch, but there are set times your ticket is valid. Day vs evening. Previously it was morning or afternoon and evening but that is no longer the case. Nasrid Palace and the adjacent gardens is a single entry at the ticket time. There is a window of entry, I can't remember if it is 30 or 60 minutes, but once in, there in no limit to the time you can stay.
I might be tempted to do the Palace later than 1030 to give yourself time to doddle back. All the gardens are lovely and there is the Fortress, museum and shops to consider. There is a small food kiosk at the lookout point (right beside the line for the Palace) and you can join the locals for their cana of beer and either an omelet or toasted sandwich with a marvelous city view.
If I totally misunderstood and the guide also guides through the Palace, then I would definitely say to start with the Palace and end with the property. I didn't doddle through the Palace as much as I did the gardens....but that might be more my personal taste. They will still be lovely in October, btw.

Thanks for the additional thoughts. The guided time will include the Nasrid Palace. I think I might be confused about the rest of the grounds - are we able to go back to the other areas (i.e. Generalife) if we see them first?

No, you were correct the first time, there are 3 ticketed areas and you can only enter each once on your ticket. There's quite a bit of walking to get to the Nasrid unless you enter at the Justice Gate. The Alcazaba is quite near the Nasrid entrance, so it's best to visit it before the Nasrid (the Nasrid visit is one-way. I thought the Alcazaba was not very interesting, but the views are about the best on the campus. Here is the suggested route on the official website.

It would be easier to make suggestions if we knew what the guide's plan is. Roughly how much time will you spend at each "bit" and which ones will she go to with you? There are other buildings you can enter and there are extensive gardens. Do you want to visit the Charles V museum (I missed it because it closed at 1 pm)? When I was there, entrance to the Charles V Palace (without the museum) and the Arab baths did not require a ticket.

Like Maria, I did the night visit to the Nasrid first and loved it. When I went back a day later, it looked completed different in daylight.

I forgot that the Generalife is single entry. Also, the entry window is 30 minutes for the Palace.
I would think that it is still best to start with the oldest and more relevant buildings first - the Palace and Alcazaba - particularly with a guide to make it real. Personally, I think the Generalife buildings less in need of on the spot guiding. With a limited time with the guide, there is always time that you stop to hear what the guide wants to say. If you don't get as far as the Generalife, or if time is running short, you can always cover the history of it prior to entry - thus giving you time to take a lunch break, or at least not rush, and then take unlimited time in the that section.
Unless the guide says otherwise, I would enter at the Justice Gate closer to the Palace.

Thanks again for such great information! FYI, the guide is Margarita Ortiz de Landazuri, or one of her partners, I know some on the forum have taken tours with her in the past. She did say that they generally spend about an hour in the Palace. Thinking it will be a better use of our guided time to start with the Alcazaba and Palace, and then move on from there with what time we have left, and not rush it if we are taking it slower. Yes, thinking about Charles' Palace as well, will see how the timing goes.

Our first night we have a tapas tour of the Albaicin booked (where we are staying), and the Alhambra tour is the next day. Will take a look at the night booking and see if we might like to do that one of the other nights, after seeing it during the day.

If you want to see the Charles V, it's very close to the Nasrid, so best to visit before.

Hi Debbie,
The Alhambra complex is divided into different parts, more information here:
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2019/04/granada-tips-for-visiting-alhambra.html?m=1
I would visit the Nasrid in the morning, as early as you are normally awake and ready to go, because since it is timed access if you fix it for later on you (if you're like me) will spend the whole time thinking 'what time is it?, we have to be at Nasrid by ......'. Also Nasrid is the best part so it's better to visit it first when attention and energy is better, then you can relax in the gardens and see the rest at your own pace, or even get some lunch and a rest and visit Generalise etc after

Debbie, at what hotel are you staying? I am going in October-would love to hear what hotel you selected.

Thanks again, everyone! And to reiterate what has been stated many times on this site - get your tickets as soon as you can. They went up for sale on July 1, and on the 2nd (yesterday), the example time I gave above for 10:30 was already sold and many others are getting there. I decided to go with the morning and planning to see Alcazaba and Nasrid first, to make sure to have enough time for the Palace with the guide, and will see how much time is left for Charles V and Generalife. And Tina, I am like you and would have been thinking all morning 'what if we are late/how long will it take to get up there' and probably not enjoyed what else we were trying to do, so best to go in the AM and then see what time we have left for the rest of the day.

cftroy1, we are staying at an apartment in the Albaicín. At least one other forum poster has stayed there. As you will see the biggest reason we picked this apartment is the terrace overlooking the Alhambra, although the poster said the pictures of the apartment are accurate and the owner was very nice (lots of reviews too). She's on Airbnb and also on VRBO: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4238597?wl_source=list&wl_id=189685531&role=wishlist_owner&guests=2&adults=2&children=0&infants=0&source_impression_id=p3_1562180039_R9YEeqpNXECJxIbz