Granada Palace and Castle Tours

Granada is one of the provinces of the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain. This city treasures several historical monuments and has witnessed the passage of multiple cultures that have left their traces in great architectural samples, such as castles and palaces. That is why one of the best things to see and do in Granada is to visit these interesting sites.

To begin your tour, the first thing to do is to enter the huge complex of buildings of the Alhambra, where you can see the Nasrid Palaces, the Generalife and the Alcazaba. You can also visit the Palace of the Forgotten, where you will learn about the Spanish Inquisition. You can also go to the Calahorra Castle, explore the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo and the Cordoba Palace. Below, I'll tell you more about each of these fascinating sites.

The Alhambra is one of the most important tourist sites in the city. It is a walled city where architecture, history and nature blend . This complex dates back to the Nasrid dynasty and is divided into a few main sections: the Alcazaba, the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife.

There are many ways to visit it, but in general I recommend three options: a guided tour, a private tour or a night tour. In any case, the important thing is that you do not run out of tickets for the Alhambra.

Guided tour

The guided tour of the Alhambra is perhaps the most popular among tourists. You will visit the main sites of this complex and its gardens in the company of a group of approximately 30 people and an expert guide, who will explain what you need to understand the history and importance of this complex.

During the visit, you will pass through the Palace of Charles V, the Palace of the Lions and the Generalife with its impressive gardens. Of course, you will also visit the Nasrid Palaces. In addition, this type of entrance is usually without queues, so it gives you a faster access to explore the facilities.

• Price: the visit costs approximately 66€ per person.
• Duration: generally, the stipulated time for this tour is two and a half hours.

Private tour

In the private guided tour of the Alhambra and the Generalife the situation changes, because you will be only with your group and the guide. In addition, you can customize your tour and extend it a little more than in the guided tour.

You will enter the Arab citadel while listening to the guide's comments and clarify your doubts. In addition to visiting the Nasrid Palaces, the Palace of the Lions and the other destinations included in the guided tour, you could choose to visit the Comares Palace and the church of Santa Maria de la Alhambra.

• Price: the cost varies according to the number of people in the group. If there are 10 people, the total value is around 999€, while three visitors will have to pay 349€ and two people will have to pay 299€ approximately.
• Duration: the average duration of the visit to the Alhambra with a private group is estimated at 3 hours.

Night tour

Booking a guided night visit to the Alhambra is an experience that combines elements of the two previous modalities: the groups are small, with a maximum of 10 people, while the places to visit are practically the same, also with a professional guide.

The characteristic that distinguishes this type of night visit to the Alhambra is that, by visiting the place at night, you can appreciate every corner of the Alhambra in a different way. Each space is strategically illuminated to create a special atmosphere that highlights its beauty even more.

• Price: the cost of this visit is approximately 69€ per person.
• Duration: the stipulated time for this tour is about 2 hours.

Another of the must-see palaces in Granada is the Palace of the Forgotten, where history, culture and art are mixed. This enclosure, dating from the sixteenth century, will allow you to learn about the history of the Sephardic Jews of Granada.

Undoubtedly, one of the must-see when visiting the Albaicin in Granada, as it is located in the same neighborhood. Inside you will find the Museum of the Inquisition, which houses a collection of Jewish artifacts, such as historical documents, religious and everyday elements of that time.

However, what is most striking when touring the palace is the collection of more than 70 instruments of torture and capital punishment. You will see some ancient torture machines used during the Spanish Inquisition, such as the garrucha, the iron maiden, the rack and the toque, which will give you a clear idea of the cruelty of the time.

Given the location of the palace, you will have the opportunity to see exceptional panoramic views of the city and even the Alhambra. You should know that this place has re-signified its history and nowadays it is the stage for some flamenco shows in Granada, which you could appreciate during your visit if you go during the night.

Interesting details

• Price: the tour has an approximate cost of 7€ per person.
• Duration: you will need about an hour to do the tour.

A slightly more discreet palace also located in the Albaicín neighborhood is the Dar al-Horra Palace, another Nasrid palace from the 15th century. Although this one does not have the extension of the palaces of the Alhambra, but just this makes it more interesting for some people, as it offers a more intimate and serene experience. Undoubtedly, for many, it should be included in the list of best excursions and guided tours in Granada.

This enclosure stands out for the elements of Nasrid architecture present in its interior and its historical importance, since it was the residence of Aixa, the mother of the last sultan of Granada, Boabdil.

The tour of this space is much quieter, being less crowded than other palaces. You will notice the inner courtyard, which has a central pool and horseshoe arches. Also, take a look at the plasterwork and tiles around it. Climb the lookout tower and see the beautiful view of the Albaicín, with its red roofs and the great silhouette of the Alhambra in the background. Take the opportunity to take souvenir photographs.

Details of interest

• Price: generally, to visit this palace you must purchase a combined ticket for the Muslim monuments, from 10€ per person.
• Duration: since you can do the tour on your own, there is no stipulated time. However, it can take between 45 minutes and 1 hour to visit the site.

La Calahorra Castle is one of the most important castles you will find in the province of Andalusia and is a must-see destination when visiting Granada. To reach it, you will have to travel by car for a little over an hour for about 90 km. The structure is built on a hill 1,250 meters above sea level, which makes it more imposing.

This castle is a sample of Renaissance architecture with Italian influences and dates from the sixteenth century. As you walk through it you will see defensive and decorative elements in its structure, composed of marble columns and arches. In its interior rooms, you will see some frescoes and sculptures.

Also, this building offers impressive views of the surroundings, such as the Marquisate of Cenete and panoramic views of the Sierra Nevada. Likewise, visiting the castle you will learn about its history, construction and strategic and military importance.

On the other hand, although this place is a national monument of Spain, you should know that it is privately managed and visits to the public are made one day a week (usually on Wednesdays). So, to know it you have to consider this factor.

Details of interest

• Price: it is estimated that the cost of the guided tour is around 3€ per person.
• Disadvantages of this option: there is only one day available for the visit and schedules may vary, so you should inform yourself before going to the place.

When preparing your itinerary to visit Granada in 4 days or more, you might consider including a visit to the Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo. This is an ancient Almohad-style palace that stands out for its architecture and history. The building dates back to the 13th century and is considered an antecedent of the Alhambra.

Located in the Jewish quarter of Realejo, this Nasrid palace was ceded to the Order of Santo Domingo in 1493, when it was given its current name. Inside is the main qubba, a hall of protocol composed of twin windows, plasterwork arches, blue and green glazed tiles, wooden ceiling and other elements of great visual and architectural appeal.

If you want to breathe fresh air during your visit, you can go to the gardens surrounding the building, where you can relax and walk along the small paths, while admiring the vegetation and fountains. Undoubtedly, this space little crowded by tourists will offer you a peaceful experience.

Details of interest

• Price: the visit is free on Sundays, while on Mondays the site is closed. On other days of the week, the entrance fee is about €2 for adults and €1 for children.
• Duration: you can visit the palace at your own pace, so there is no time limit.

By taking a tour of the Palacio de los Cordova you can take a little trip through Granada's history. The original structure was built in the 16th century, while the current structure was built in the 20th century. However, the palace preserves the Renaissance elements combined with some Mudejar elements, which make it an attractive place for tourists and locals.

This destination is perfectly integrated into your visit to Granada in 3 days or more, as it is located on the Cuesta del Chapiz, in the Albaicin neighborhood and is currently the headquarters of the Municipal Archives of Granada.

The place initially belonged to the military and diplomat Luis Fernandez de Cordova, and inside you can learn about this noble family who lived in Granada. In addition, you can explore the surrounding gardens, and from the building you can enjoy beautiful views of the Albaicín and the Alhambra.

Information of interest

• Price: entrance to this site is free of charge.
• Duration: there is no limit to the duration of the visit, except that these are only allowed during the morning shift, which is usually from 10:00 to 14:00 hours.

The duration of the palace and castle tours in Granada is relative according to two main factors: the time you have available and the type of experience you intend to hire. Keep in mind that if you hire a tour or an excursion, you will have to adapt to the tour schedule, since the organizers depend not only on you but also on the rest of the group.

On the other hand, personalized tours or self-paced tours give you a higher level of flexibility, if you want to make a quicker visit or, on the contrary, you are looking to go deeper into each destination beyond the traditional visits.

To give you a clearer idea of times: for example, depending on the Alhambra's schedule, a minimum of 2 hours is required to visit the complex. A castle or palace (such as the Dar al-Horra Palace) could be visited for 45 minutes to 1 hour. In some cases, at the end of the tour, you could stay in the gardens of some places to relax.

Doing palace and castle tours is one of the best things to do in Granada in summer (because of the good weather), or at other times of the year. This is because it is one of the easiest ways to learn about the history of this city and the autonomous community of Andalusia.

Thus, you will learn about the different eras and cultures that have made life in the region, knowing that these buildings collect the traces of history and exhibit them both inside and outside. It is not in vain that many of the palaces and castles of the city have been recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

From a more general point of view, knowing these palaces and castles will allow you to better understand the historical context and the importance of each space for the development of the mixture of cultures that represents the city of Granada and that has influenced the history of Spain until today.

In this type of excursions and tours through the palaces of Granada, you will see mainly the architecture of each culture, especially the Islamic, which is evident in the horseshoe-shaped arches, plasterwork, intricate tiles and wooden ceilings.

On the other hand, in the case of the castles, which mostly functioned initially as fortresses, you will see the imposing walls and watchtowers. In the palaces, you will visit the extensive halls, royal rooms, etc. In addition, in many of them, the contact with nature stands out, since they have large gardens; due to their location in areas of relief, almost all of them offer views of the city and its surroundings.