From €42Nazaries Palaces
The Nazaries Palaces are the heart of the Alhambra and the only royal palace complex still standing from the Nasrid sultans. This is where the famous Court of the Lions, the Hall of the Ambassadors and the carved stucco ceilings live. Entry is timed to the half hour and ruthlessly enforced, so understanding how the slot works is the difference between a flawless visit and a missed one.
Three palaces, one route
The Nazaries are not one palace but three connected ones that you walk through in a fixed sequence. First comes the Mexuar, the administrative and judicial wing. Then the Comares Palace, built for official receptions, where the Court of the Myrtles mirrors the Comares Tower in a long reflecting pool and the Hall of the Ambassadors rises under a dome of eight thousand cedar pieces. Finally the Palace of the Lions, the private royal residence, with its fountain ringed by twelve marble lions and the dizzying muqarnas ceilings of the Hall of the Two Sisters.
You cannot backtrack, so take your time in each room before moving on. Most visitors spend 60 to 90 minutes inside.
How the timed entry really works
Your slot is printed on the ticket and refers to entry into the Nazaries specifically, not the Alhambra in general. Note that the Nazaries door sits deep inside the complex, a 15 minute walk from the main ticket pavilion, so allow for that. Arrive at the door 5 to 10 minutes before your time. You cannot enter early, and once your grace window passes you are turned away.
Good news on the other side: the slot is an entry time, not an exit time. Once inside you can linger as long as you like. To guarantee a slot when the official channel is sold out, a guided Nazaries tour keeps reserved entries and adds context room by room.
What to look for inside
The Nazaries reward slow looking. In the Court of the Myrtles, watch how the architecture doubles in the still water. In the Hall of the Ambassadors, find the inscriptions that repeat the Nasrid motto, "there is no victor but God." In the Court of the Lions, look up at the honeycomb vaults rather than only at the fountain. The light changes everything, which is why the first morning slot and the last afternoon slot are the photographers favorites.
For the full ticketing picture and how the Nazaries fit alongside the rest of the hill, see the Alhambra overview and our Nazaries timed entry guide.
Booking the right Nazaries ticket
The standard general ticket includes the Nazaries by day. There is also a separate night visit that opens only the palaces in the evening, atmospheric and far quieter, drawn from a different ticket pool. If you want a guide to explain the symbolism and skip the queue, compare options on our tickets page. Whatever you choose, book early: the Nazaries are the first thing to sell out, often 30 to 60 days ahead in peak season.
Practical Information
LocationInside Alhambra, Granada
AccessTicket required
Price Range18 EUR
Highlights
- ✓ Timed entry required
- ✓ Court of the Lions
- ✓ Court of the Myrtles
- ✓ Hall of the Ambassadors
- ✓ Sala de los Abencerrajes
- ✓ Intricate stucco work
Tickets & Tours
Frequently Asked Questions
- What time should I arrive for my Nazaries slot?
- Arrive at the Nazaries Palaces door 5 to 10 minutes before your slot. This door is inside the complex, a 15 minute walk from the main ticket pavilion, so leave extra time to get there.
- Can I stay inside the Nazaries after my slot?
- Yes. The slot is the entry time only. Once inside you can take as long as you want, and most people spend 60 to 90 minutes.
- Are the Nazaries Palaces worth it?
- They are the single most remarkable monument in Spain and the main reason to visit the Alhambra. A gardens only ticket that skips them is not recommended for first time visitors.
- How far in advance do Nazaries tickets sell out?
- In peak season the best Nazaries slots go 30 to 60 days ahead. Book as early as you can, or use a guided tour that holds reserved entries.