Generalife night visits, last dates

When do the Generalife night visits end in 2026?

On Saturday 14 November 2026. From 15 October the night gardens visit runs only on Fridays and Saturdays, 20:00 to 21:30, and from mid-November there is none until spring.

The official timetable lists three night seasons for the gardens: 1 April to 31 May and 1 September to 14 October at 22:00 to 23:30, and 15 October to 14 November at 20:00 to 21:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. There is no night gardens visit in June, July or August, and none from mid-November to the end of March.

As of late October that leaves six evenings. Book on the official ticket shop; the ticket office for the night visit opens at 19:00 and closes at 20:45.

What do you see on the Generalife night visit?

The access pavilion, the Paseo de los Cipreses, the Paseo de los Nogales, the New Gardens and the Generalife Palace itself, with the Patio de la Acequia lit up. Allow about 90 minutes.

The official night gardens page lists the route above. It is the Generalife half of the day visit, without the Alcazaba and without the Nasrid Palaces. The pools and fountains are lit, and the gardens are close to silent compared with the day.

The Patio de la Acequia is the centrepiece: the long water channel with its arching jets, the arcades at either end, and the lights of the Albaicín across the valley. The jets are 19th-century, by the way, not Nasrid. The Escalera del Agua is not on the night route list.

One house rule from the official page: no flash. It dazzles other visitors, and in the dark gardens it ruins everyone's photos.

How is the night gardens visit different from the night Nasrid Palaces?

Different places, different prices. The gardens night ticket (€8.48) covers the Generalife and its gardens. The Nasrid Palaces night ticket (€12.73) covers the palaces only. Neither includes the other.

The night Nasrid Palaces visit goes in past the Palace of Charles V, then through the Mexuar, the Comares Palace, the Palace of the Lions and the Lindaraja corridor, and out by the Puerta de la Justicia. Entry is strictly at the time printed on your ticket. It runs all year, on Fridays and Saturdays in winter.

This autumn the two visits share the same hours, 20:00 to 21:30, so you cannot do both on one evening. Do the palaces on Friday and the gardens on Saturday, or the other way round.

Our take: if you can only do one night, do the palaces. The Court of the Lions under lights is the image people travel for. The gardens are the better pick if you already have a daytime General ticket, or if you want an hour of quiet more than history. The Alhambra Experiences ticket (€22.27) pairs the night palaces with a daytime gardens visit, not with the night gardens. The night visit guide compares all three.

What does the Viator Alhambra night tour include?

Sultana-tours' night tour ($67, about 2 hours, up to 30 people) includes the night ticket, an official guide and a radio headset. It sells separate options for the Nasrid Palaces and for the gardens and Generalife, so check which one you pick.

The listing title says "Nasrid Palaces", but the operator also sells a gardens and Generalife option for the same tour. Several low reviews come from guests who booked the gardens option and expected the palaces; the operator replies that the option name says so. Read the option line before you pay. After 14 November only the palaces option can run, since there is no night gardens visit.

The meeting is at the Alhambra gate about half an hour before the visit; the operator says its autumn tours run from 19:30 to about 21:15. The booking is non-refundable, confirmation can take up to 48 hours, and the operator can cancel if too few people book. Guests report thinner crowds and good photos. One five-star review sums it up: "A lovely experience, very atmospheric. [...] it's quieter than during the day and you get the chance for some lovely photos".

Is a $67 guided night tour worth it against a €12.73 ticket? If the official night slots are sold out, yes. If they are not, buy the ticket, read up on the palaces first, and save the difference. Our night tour page has the full details.

What should you know before a night visit in November?

It is cold and dark. Bring a warm layer, your original ID and a phone torch for the paths outside, and arrive at the gate 30 minutes early.

Night tickets are named like day tickets, and staff check ID at the entrance, per the official FAQ. Evenings in Granada in November drop to single digits Celsius, and the Generalife sits higher than the palaces.

Getting back down is easy: the C30 and C32 minibuses link the Alhambra with the centre and the Albaicín, or walk down the Cuesta de Gomérez to Plaza Nueva in about 20 minutes. If you plan a day visit as well, use the time slot guide to set the palace slot, and read our winter post for the hours from 15 October.

Frequently asked questions