Day trip details
Prices
- Essential Alhambra: €89 adults (12 and over), €72 children aged 3 to 11.
- Alhambra with the Nasrid Palaces: €107 adults (12 and over), €85 children aged 3 to 11.
- Granada on your own, without the Alhambra: €35 adults (12 and over), €26 children aged 3 to 11.
- Children under 3 travel free, and their Alhambra entry is free too.
Choose your date in the booking calendar to see the current price of each rate. The price shown in the calendar is always the final price.
Availability & times
It runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and also on Sundays most months. Alhambra tickets are limited and sell out, so book as early as you can and check your date in the booking calendar, which updates in real time.
It is a long day: approximately 10 to 12 hours door to door, depending on where you are picked up. In summer the trip arrives in Granada later in the day, so you are also back later: the booking calendar shows which timetable applies to your date.
To see your exact pickup time, choose your date and your pickup point in the booking calendar.
Approximate return time
Winter timetable, arriving in Granada at 11:00
- Málaga · 19:00
- Torremolinos · 19:30
- Benalmádena · 20:00
Summer timetable, arriving in Granada at 13:00
- Málaga · 21:00
- Torremolinos · 21:30
- Benalmádena · 22:00
Which one applies depends on your date: the booking calendar shows it.
Approximate times, which can change with traffic on the day.
Pickup points by town
Málaga
- City centre, Av. de Andalucía 10 Rotonda de la Av. de Andalucía open in Maps
Torremolinos
- Torremolinos centre open in Maps
- Bajondillo area Restaurante El Cordobés open in Maps
Benalmádena
- Puerto Marina & Plaza Solymar area open in Maps
- Los Maites & Bil Bil beach area open in Maps
The booking calendar confirms your point and the time you need to be there once you pick your date. The coach waits approximately five minutes at each stop.
What's included
- Return coach from your chosen pickup point in Málaga, Torremolinos or Benalmádena
- English and Spanish-speaking guide on the coach and during the day
- Free time in the centre of Granada
- Alhambra ticket, with the Nasrid Palaces or the Essential Alhambra, depending on the option you choose
- Guided visit of the Alhambra with an official guide, with individual headsets so you can hear every explanation
Other options available:
- Granada on your own: approximately five hours of free time in Granada, with no tickets or guided visits
Not included: food and drink, and any ticket not listed above.
Documents & recommendations
- Bring the original identity card or passport you used to book. Alhambra tickets are issued in each visitor's name, and copies are not accepted.
- Pushchairs are not allowed inside the Alhambra.
- Comfortable shoes: the Alhambra visit lasts approximately three hours on foot, with slopes and steps.
- Bring a snack and water; about a litre per person is a good measure.
- It can be done with a folding wheelchair, as long as the person can get on and off the coach on their own or with a companion, as there is no specific assistance for boarding: say so when you book.
- The order can change: some days the group visits the Alhambra first and the city afterwards.
- Pets are not allowed.
Weather
Forecast for Granada, next 7 days
- Wed 28☀️24° 10°
- Thu 29☀️23° 11°
- Fri 30☁️21° 12°
- Sat 31☀️22° 12°
- Sun 1☀️20° 10°
- Mon 2☀️20° 9°
- Tue 3☀️20° 9°
Forecast from MET Norway (yr.no), updated every few hours.
Month by month
| Month | Average high | Average low | Days with rain | Hours of sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13.3 °C | 0.7 °C | 6 | 174 |
| Feb | 15 °C | 1.7 °C | 6 | 178 |
| Mar | 18.2 °C | 4.2 °C | 6 | 220 |
| Apr | 20.5 °C | 6.5 °C | 6 | 245 |
| May | 25.3 °C | 9.9 °C | 4 | 293 |
| Jun | 31.1 °C | 14.2 °C | 1 | 343 |
| Jul | 35.1 °C | 17.1 °C | 0 | 373 |
| Aug | 34.6 °C | 17.2 °C | 1 | 338 |
| Sep | 28.9 °C | 13.5 °C | 3 | 258 |
| Oct | 23.5 °C | 9.6 °C | 5 | 217 |
| Nov | 17 °C | 4.6 °C | 6 | 169 |
| Dec | 14 °C | 1.9 °C | 6 | 162 |
Official averages 1991–2020, Granada Air Base (Armilla) station (AEMET, WMO climate normals, source). Months with an average high of 33 °C or more are highlighted.
Cancellation policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure and get a partial refund: €25 per person is not refundable, because each Alhambra ticket is issued in the visitor's name. The same €25 applies if you change a name on the booking.
If you cancel later, arrive late or don't show up, there is no refund.
Choose how you visit
Granada with an Alhambra ticket and official guide
Approximately two hours free in the centre of Granada and a guided visit of the Alhambra of approximately three hours, with the Nasrid Palaces or the Essential Alhambra. This is the trip described on this page.
You're on this option — check dates and bookGranada on your own, without the Alhambra
The same coach and approximately five hours of free time in Granada, with no tickets or guided visits. A good choice if you prefer the Albaicín and the old town, or if Alhambra tickets have sold out for your date. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Each option opens its own booking calendar, where you'll see its current prices.
The Alhambra with your ticket sorted, and Granada at your own pace
The Alhambra is the palace city of the Nasrid kings of Granada, and its tickets are limited and often sell out. This day trip books yours, takes you round it with an official guide and leaves you time for the centre of Granada, with the coach there and back from the Costa del Sol.
From the coast to Granada
After pickup, the coach heads inland, with a stop of approximately half an hour for breakfast on the way and the Sierra Nevada coming into view as you get close. Breakfast is not included.
Free time in the centre
You have approximately two hours to walk the centre at your own pace: the Cathedral, Plaza Nueva, Calle Elvira with its tea houses, the Carrera del Darro and the Paseo de los Tristes, at the foot of the Alhambra and the Albaicín. It is also a good moment for some tapas.
The Alhambra with an official guide
The group meets the guide, goes through the ticket control and starts a visit of approximately three hours, with headsets so you don't miss anything. Here the group splits by option:
- With the Nasrid Palaces: the Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions, the Palace of Charles V, the Generalife and its gardens, the Partal and the archaeological area of the palaces.
- Essential Alhambra: the Medina and the Alcazaba, the Palace of Charles V, the Generalife and its gardens, the Partal and the archaeological area. It does not go into the Nasrid Palaces.
Some days the order is reversed and the Alhambra comes first.
Back to the coast
When the visit ends, the group meets up again and the coach takes you back to the same stop where you were picked up.
Frequently asked questions
Nasrid Palaces or Essential Alhambra?
Both options include the Palace of Charles V, the Generalife and its gardens, the Partal and the palatine archaeological area. The difference is the core of the visit: the Nasrid Palaces option goes into the Comares Palace and the Palace of the Lions, the heart of the Alhambra, with the Court of the Myrtles, the Court of the Lions and the finest plasterwork. The Essential option replaces them with the Medina and the Alcazaba, the old military fortress. If it is your one visit, the Nasrid Palaces are worth the difference.
What documents do I need?
The original identity card or passport you used when booking. Alhambra tickets carry each visitor's name and the monument does not accept copies.
Why is there a cancellation fee?
Because Alhambra tickets are issued in each visitor's name and cannot be passed on. If you cancel at least 24 hours before departure, €25 per person is kept and the rest is refunded. Later than that, or if you don't show up, there is no refund.
What if Alhambra tickets are sold out for my date?
Then the booking calendar won't show availability for that day. You can still go to Granada with the option on your own, without the Alhambra, or look for another date.
Is there a breakfast stop?
Yes, a stop of approximately half an hour on the way. Breakfast is not included.
Is there time for lunch?
Yes, during your free time in the centre of Granada. Lunch is not included.
Can I bring a pushchair?
Pushchairs are not allowed inside the Alhambra. Children under 3 travel free and do not pay to enter the Alhambra.
Is it suitable if I have reduced mobility?
It can be done with a folding wheelchair, as long as the person can get on and off the coach on their own or with a companion, as there is no specific assistance for boarding: say so when you book. The Alhambra visit is long and has slopes, so if you have any doubt, write to us before booking.
Does it pick up in Fuengirola?
No. This trip picks up in Málaga, Torremolinos and Benalmádena. If you are staying in Fuengirola, the nearest stops are in Benalmádena.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Pets are not allowed on this trip.
Is the Alhambra guided tour in English?
Yes. The visit is led by an official guide in English and Spanish, with individual headsets so you can hear every explanation.
Where does the coach drop you in Granada on the option on your own?
In the centre of Granada, at the Paseo del Salón. From there you have approximately five hours of free time.
More questions about Granada and the Alhambra
How long does the Alhambra visit take?
Approximately three hours with the guide, on foot. It is a large complex on a hill, with gardens, slopes and steps, so it is worth wearing comfortable shoes.
Why are Alhambra tickets so hard to get?
Entry is limited each day, every ticket carries the visitor's name, and tickets with the Nasrid Palaces have a set entry time. They often sell out, which is why a day trip with the ticket already booked is the simplest way to be sure of getting in.
What is the Generalife?
The summer palace and gardens of the sultans of Granada, on the hill next to the Alhambra, with terraces, water channels and views back over the palaces. Both options include it.
What is the Albaicín?
The old Moorish quarter of Granada, on the hill facing the Alhambra: narrow streets, white houses and viewpoints such as the Mirador de San Nicolás. With the option on your own you have time to walk up to it.
