Free Alhambra: free access spaces and visits with reservation

You can visit the Palace of Charles V and the Alhambra Museum for free, within their schedules. That is not equivalent to free entry to the Nasrid Palaces, the Alcazaba or the Generalife. To prepare your trip, distinguish the free access spaces, the conditions of each museum and the free programs that require a reservation.

What you can see without buying a ticket to the monumental complex

The Board of Trustees confirms free access to the Palace of Charles V and the Alhambra Museum. You do not need to purchase a general ticket to visit these two spaces; Follow the opening conditions and the instructions of the staff.

A simple proposal is to get to the palace, walk through its patio and enter the museum if it is open. You can add a walk through the permitted and signposted outdoor environment. Do not count on access to the interiors of churches, hotels or private buildings as part of a free route.

Museum hours are not palace hours

The Alhambra Museum is closed on Mondays. On Tuesdays and Sundays it opens from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; from Wednesday to Saturday, from 08:30 to 20:00 from April 1 to October 14 and until 18:00 from October 15 to March 31. Announces extension until 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays from May to September. Check special openings before choosing the day.

Museum of Fine Arts: free with conditions

It is on the upper floor of the Palace of Charles V and has its own conditions. Its official file publishes general admission of €1.50 and free access for the accredited groups it lists, including European Union nationals. It also indicates free days for everyone. Check if you can qualify for one of them and bring the necessary accreditation.

The museum has a different calendar than the patio. If you want to see both museums, consult our guide to the Palace of Charles V and confirm the notices of each institution.

Grenadians and residents: free visit with reservation

The Patronato program is aimed at residents in the province of Granada and has limited space with prior reservation. Saturday visits are managed in collaboration with the Provincial Council through a “Meeting Point”; On Sundays, tours are offered for residents, whose reservation is consulted from the program page.

It is not automatically free for any visitor or for all residents of Andalusia. Before organizing yourself, check the route offered, availability, how to prove your residence and the conditions of your reservation.

Minors: free entry also requires a ticket

According to the frequently asked questions of the Board of Trustees, free tickets for children from 3 to 11 years old are reserved together with those for adults. For children under 3 years old, the ticket is provided at ticket offices or accesses without prior reservation. The free admission of a minor does not make the entry of the adult accompanying him or her free of charge.

Special dates: check which spaces are open

We do not give a calendar of “free days throughout the Alhambra” without a current call to support it. A free activity or museum day may have its own capacity, schedule or reservation and may not include the Nasrid Palaces. Read the specific call and keep the confirmation when registration is required.

How to prepare a free ride

1. Choose the space first: palace patio, Alhambra Museum or program with reservation.
2. Check the schedule of the day and the access conditions in its official source.
3. Decide how to get there. If you go up on foot, leave room for hills and breaks.
4. Add Fine Arts only if it fits into your schedule and you accept its rate or provide a free condition.

The duration depends on the spaces you choose and the time you want to dedicate to them; We do not present a two-hour route as a guaranteed duration. If you want to enter the venues with a ticket, consult the official ticket channel and check the modality that includes what you want to visit.

Sources and revision date

Conditions verified on October 3, 2026 with the instructions of the Board of Trustees, the calendar of the Alhambra Museum, the Fine Arts file, the program for residents and the frequently asked questions linked in each section. The proposed walk is an editorial orientation; It does not certify an in-person visit nor does it guarantee places, services or openings on another date.