Palace · Granada, Spain
Alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. Built 1239. It drew 2,600,000 visitors in 2023.
Photo: Jebulon via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Granada, Spain |
|---|---|
| Type | Palace |
| Built | 1239 |
| Annual visitors (2023) | 2,600,000 |
| Coordinates | 37.1775° N, 3.5900° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Alhambra is known for
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain.
About Alhambra
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and the only well-preserved palace from the medieval Islamic world. Additionally, the palace contains notable examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture.
History
The evidence for a Roman presence is unclear but archaeologists have found remains of ancient foundations on the Sabika hill. A fortress or citadel, probably dating from the Visigothic period, existed on the hill in the 9th century. The first reference to the Qal‘at al-Ḥamra was during the battles between the Arabs and the Muladies during the rule of ‘Abdallah ibn Muhammad (r.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Alhambra website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Granada |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Federico Garcia Lorca Airport (GRX) |
| Distance from the airport | 10.3 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) · Málaga, Spain · 61.0 miles away
- Gibraltar Airport (GIB) · Gibraltar, Gibraltar · 120.6 miles away
- Seville Airport (SVQ) · Seville, Spain · 127.7 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
Where to stay nearby
Places to stay near Alhambra, with a link to each place's own site.
- Parador de Granada · Inside the Alhambra grounds
State-run hotel inside the Alhambra
- Hotel Alhambra Palace · Alhambra hill, Granada
Historic hotel beside the Alhambra
Where to eat nearby
Places to eat near Alhambra, with a link to each place's own site.
- Restaurante Ruta del Azafrán · Calle Reyes Católicos, Granada
Andalusian restaurant in central Granada
- Carmen de San Miguel · Plaza de San Miguel Bajo, Granada
Restaurant in the Albaicín with Alhambra views
More landmarks in Spain
More palaces
Frequently asked questions
What is Alhambra?
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Spain.
Where is Alhambra located?
Alhambra is in Granada, Spain. Its coordinates are 37.1775° N, 3.5900° W.
How do I get to Alhambra?
The nearest town is Granada, and the nearest airport is Federico Garcia Lorca Airport (GRX), about 10.3 miles away (straight line).
When was Alhambra built?
Alhambra was built 1239.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q47476 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.alhambra-patronato.es — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.