What is the Alhambra?
The Alhambra is a large palace complex in Granada, in southern Spain. It is the embodiment of southern Spanish history, where Muslim and Christian architecture and culture meet. It was originally built by the Nasrid dynasty, the last Muslim rulers on the Iberian peninsula, who controlled Granada from 1232 until 1492. In that year, the Reconquista concluded with the capture of Granada by the Catholic monarchy and the Alhambra became the royal court of Isabella and Ferdinand.
What is the Alhambra like?
It's a beautiful place with a fascinating history. I highly recommend paying for a guided tour, as the history is quite complex and there's a huge amount of detail that you would likely miss without an expert guide.
Where is the Alhambra?
Granada, Spain
When did we go?
March 2026
How did we get there?
We flew to Malaga airport and then caught a bus to Granada. The bus takes around 2 hours and they go regularly.
Worth noting:
Granada is a fantastic city. As well as the Alhambra, it also has a number of neighbourhoods that are not to be missed. These include the gypsy area of Sacromonte, where you can visit the cave dwellings that were in use until the 1960s and see/hear flamenco. The Albaicín is the area that was populated by the Moriscos (Muslims who converted to Christianity) after the arrival of the Catholic monarchs in the 15th century.
What was the Alhambra's place in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
It was at number 9 in the 2015 edition. It dropped 5 places.
Does the Alhambra deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?
Yes but I'm not sure I would put it quite so high. It's fantastic and totally deserving of a place in the top 100 but better than the Pyramids? I'm not convinced.
