Comares Palace access is not included in all general Alhambra tickets. Only specific ticket types that explicitly grant entry to the Nasrid Palaces allow you to enter this official royal residence. Entry is tightly restricted via a strict, pre-booked timed slot printed on your ticket. Missing this precise window means forfeiting access entirely. To secure your entry, ensure you book a comprehensive Nasrid Palaces ticket well in advance.
What you lose if you skip it: From the outside, the Comares Palace is hidden behind austere fortress walls. If you skip it, you miss the Hall of the Ambassadors—the physical and spiritual heart of Nasrid power. You will entirely miss out on seeing the breathtaking, 8,017-piece wooden ceiling that maps the seven heavens of Islamic cosmology. That specific architectural masterpiece cannot be replicated or viewed anywhere else in Europe.
| Ticket type | No | General Grounds Access | Additional Features | Why Go For It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alhambra Gardens Only | No | Yes | Gardens, Generalife, Alcazaba | Budget/Last-minute option |
Nasrid Palaces & Comares | Yes | Yes | Self-guided access to all areas | Standard complete experience |
Alhambra Night Tour | Yes | No (Palaces only) | Dramatic evening lighting | Fewer crowds, romantic ambiance |
Guided Tour with Palaces | Yes | Yes | Expert local historian guide | Rich historical context |
Book the earliest morning slot (8:30am) or the final afternoon slot. Early morning provides perfectly still water in the central pool for crisp reflection photos. Midday sun washes out the fine details of the stucco and brings heavy tour groups.
Dedicate at least 30 to 45 minutes to the Comares complex inside your broader Nasrid Palaces route. Do not rush the central courtyard; take time to view the carvings from different angles.
Stand at the southern end of the Court of the Myrtles, looking north toward the grand Comares Tower. This specific alignment was designed by Nasrid architects to maximize the visual scale of the tower via its reflection.
The palace operates on a strict one-way flow, meaning crowds move sequentially. If a large tour group enters the Hall of the Ambassadors, step back into the courtyard for a few minutes until they pass to regain the quiet ambiance.
Look straight up when entering the Hall of the Ambassadors. The ceiling is a masterpiece of complex carpentry that most visitors glance at briefly; allocate several minutes to track its geometric patterns.
Do not lose track of time in the preceding Mexuar hall. If you miss your main palace entry window, you lose access to Comares entirely. Keep an eye on your watch.
From the simple administrative spaces of the outer court, entering the Comares Palace reveals the ultimate synthesis of text, geometry, and architecture. The design exposes how Nasrid sultans used physical spaces to humble foreign diplomats long before they ever reached the throne.
The formal entry portal features an incredibly intricate, symmetrical stucco facade built by Yusuf I. This served as a grand backdrop where the Sultan held outdoor audiences. Look closely at the carved Arabic script repeating the Nasrid motto: "There is no conqueror but God."
The central courtyard is organized around a massive, mirror-still rectangular pool. The water is flanked by deep green, aromatic myrtle hedges that cool the air. The pool's surface perfectly reflects the 45-meter-tall Comares Tower, blending solid architecture with shifting liquid elements.
A rectangular antechamber serves as a transition zone before the throne room. It features a spectacular semi-cylindrical wooden ceiling that resembles the inverted hull of a ship. Pay attention to the remnants of original gold leaf and red pigments in the wall corners.
The grand throne room is situated deep inside the massive Comares Tower. The walls are wrapped in a tapestry of colorful tile mosaics (alicatados) and delicate plasterwork. Sunlight filters through deeply recessed double windows, casting a dramatic, intentional glow exactly where the Sultan's throne once rested.
The crowning achievement of the throne room is its spectacular dome, crafted from thousands of individual cedar wood pieces. It forms a geometric masterwork representing the seven heavens of Islamic paradise. The intricate center represents the throne of God, designed to awe foreign emissaries.
The Comares Palace was built in the 14th century by Yusuf I and expanded by Muhammad V as the primary official residence and administrative heart of the Nasrid Dynasty. Most visitors don't know that the palace's dimensions are calculated entirely using harmonic geometric proportions based on the square root of two. It served as the dramatic stage where the last Muslim ruler, Boabdil, surrendered the keys of Granada to Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492. Today, it stands as the most pristine remaining medieval Islamic palace complex in the world.
Address: Calle Real de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain
No. Standard grounds-only tickets exclude the Nasrid Palaces. You must purchase a ticket option that explicitly includes Nasrid Palaces to see Comares.
No. The Comares Palace is visited as part of a fixed, sequential loop inside the broader Nasrid Palaces complex. It cannot be booked as a standalone attraction.
If you arrive late for your designated Nasrid Palaces time slot, staff will deny you entry. Re-scheduling or refunds are not permitted for missed times.
Absolutely. The Comares Palace is the architectural pinnacle of the entire Alhambra. Skipping it reduces your visit to looking at empty fortress walls and gardens.
The Comares section takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes to tour, which adds to the overall 1.5-hour duration required to walk through the complete Nasrid Palaces.
Yes, photography for personal use is allowed. However, you must turn off your camera flash to protect the ancient wall colors and leave your tripod behind.
Skip-the-line guided Alhambra tour with timed Nasrid entry, in your language of choice!
Inclusions #
Guided tour of Alhambra and Nasrid Palaces with skip-the-line entry
Expert English/ Spanish/ Italian/ French/ German-speaking guide
Group of up to 30/20/10 guests (as per option selected)
Private group of 1 to 10 guests (as per option selected)
Exclusions #
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Already have Alhambra tickets? Get a guided tour to unlock hidden stories!
Inclusions #
Guided tour of Alhambra, Generalife, Alcazaba & Nasrid Palaces
Expert Spanish or English-speaking guide
Exclusions #
What to bring
What’s not allowed
Accessibility
Additional information
Inclusions #
Access to Alhambra and Generalife
Entry to the Alcazaba and the Palace of Charles V
Private official guide
Exclusions #