The map above shows the route of a typical visit to the Alhambra.

The map above shows the route of a typical visit to the Alhambra.

Reduced mobility access. It is not well known but as long as you have already got the actual ticket it is possible to enter the Alhambra at the Puerta de la Justicia (the red star on the map) thus avoiding the 600 metre walk down from the entrance (blue arrows). If you used a Spanish credit/debit card to reserve tickets on Internet or by phone, you can pick up the tickets from any Caixa Bank cashpoint in Spain using the same credit card. If you used a foreign card, then one of the group will have to get the tickets from the ticket office. The most strenuous part of the Alhambra visit is climbing the towers in the Alcazaba. We recommend that people with reduced mobility enter via the Puerta de la Justicia then go directly to the Nazrid Palaces and the Partal gardens. Then if you have enough energy afterwards, you can go up towards the Generalife.

Understanding the arrival time. When you buy your tickets, you will be given a half-hour slot to enter the Nazrid Palaces. You must not be late as they are now very strict. There is always a queue but sometimes people queue for the next session. Alhambra attendants normally go along the queue to check that everyone with tickets for a particular time gets in so if you arrive with only a few minutes to spare, it is a good idea to show your ticket to an attendant to make sure you don't need to go to the front of the queue.

Problems are caused when people think that they must enter the Alhambra complex at the time on the ticket without realising that there is a 30-minute walk from the main entrance to the palaces (see blue arrows on the map above). This is why it's a good idea to pick your tickets up at least an hour before you are scheduled to enter the Nazrid Palaces.

Arrival by bus. The 30 and 32 minibuses come up from the centre of Granada every 15 minutes from Gran Via or Calle Pavaneras (behind Plaza Isabel la Católica) (click here for more info). The B's on the map above are the bus stops.

Arrival by car. You can see the parking spaces on the map above. For prices and info about the Alhambra car park click here. It is easy to get to the Alhambra car park because you can go by motorway almost all the way. If you look at the map on this page you will see the blue motorway going around Granada.

Arrival on foot. Just go to Plaza Nueva then walk up the Cuesta Gomerez opposite the fountina. It would take about 15 minutes and is uphill.
If you are staying in the Sacromonte there is a shortcut from the Paseo de los Tristes. It is called Cuesta de los Chinos because it has lots of little stones. You can see this path above between the Partal and the Generalife.