Alhambra, Granada - minimum time to book tickets in advance?
Replies: 11 - Last Post: Apr 18, 2012 5:28 PM Last Post By: PhiMeow
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Alhambra, Granada - minimum time to book tickets in advance?
Hi there,We're going to be in Granada at some point in October this year on a fortnight's travel through Andalusia by car. One of the must-do things is a visit to The Alhambra. I was wondering what the minimum time to book tickets in advance would be? I've heard anywhere between 3 months and a week. As we would like a nice cruisy travel without too much structure, we haven't got a pinpointed date we'd be there and would like to leave it that way as long as possible, but want to be realistic about when these tickets would sell out, we'd be really disappointed to miss seeing it. I'm imagining October isn't exactly peak season, but not dead quiet either.
Any advice?
Cheers!
Edited by: munkitots
1
HelloYes, October is not peak season, so should be easier. You can book in advance, not sure about how many months in advance but shouldn´t be a problem if you do it around Ag or Sept in (www.alhambra-tickets.es)
At bad, if you can´t book them or whatever, everyday you have tickets availables at the Alhambra´s door. Go very early in the morning (like 7 or 7.30h) and do a queue to get one. If is a week day in October, will be fine.
So, no worries, you will see it I think.
Edited by: qablo
3
I don't know how relevent this info is concerned since it is some years since we went but here is our experience.We went to a branch of the BBVA bank in Valencia and bought tickets for the Alhambra for about 4 days later, no problem. This was in July, ie high summer, so October should be unlikely to be as busy.
One point, when we did this what we got from the BBVA was a voucher entitling me to pick up our tickets from a booth at the Alhambra. Although not as long as the line for the booth for people wanting to buy tickets on the day I'd still reckon on 20 minutes to pick up your tickets if you are planning on doing the Nasrid Palace first (that's the only part which has a 30 minutes time limited slot for you to visit).
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Queries on the Alhambra are so regular, I am sorry I have read little of the above. I will direct anyone who wants the peace of mind of having tickets at a time and/or date to suit them, here -http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187441-c77529/Granada:Spain:Buying.Alhambra.Tickets.Online.html
Edited by: annemariet
5
Buy on line is most convenient via www.alhambra-tickets.es (ticketmaster)You can buy a ticket in advance from 1 day to 1 year so I suggest you buy it 3-4 days before you arrive. Make sure you have the credit card you used to purchase the tickets with as you will use this to pick up the actual tickets from the special yellow ticket dispenser located nearby the main entry queue.
Search this forum for more discussion about time etc or the link as per Annemariet's post above.
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#5 you can end up being disappointed if you leave it that late . Try to book as soon as you have a date. 1 week is risky 1 month is pretty safe.#4 the article need a bit of updating. ServiCaixa has handed over the ticket purchase system to http://www.ticketmaster.es/nav/es/mucho_mas/granada/recintos.html?q=alhambra&t=fast#recinto_09OZ . servicaixa still works via a redirection but it might confuse people. servicaixa machines still spit out tickets.
#3 BBVA is no longer involved in the system at all
#2 if you are going next week use the above information to pre book if there is availability. Otherwise there are always some sold for the day and your hotel may also have an allocation as a last (or first) resort.
Edited by: walkalpujarra
7
You won't need to book Alhambra tickets in advance, after mid-September.Just turn up and buy on the door.
10
Thank you all so much, excellent info, really helped narrow it down – I think for 'Plan A' we'll go with that online booking paying by card, maybe 3 days in advance (we should have an idea where we are on the road in our trek to be able to plan when we'll hit Granada) and keep the idea of a 7.00am queue up our sleeves, paying cash, as 'Plan B'.Special thanks to PhiMeow - you've helped me on several posts now, half my holiday plans are tweaked to your suggestions now, haha - cheers :)
