Granada Card, when it pays off

Granada Card or separate tickets? The honest answer: it depends on what you will actually visit. The pass can save money and simplify transport, but it can also cost more if you only want the Alhambra, your plan is mostly free or you qualify for reductions the pass does not reflect.

GRN URBAN does not sell Granada Card or earn from your purchase. This guide compares official prices, pass types, transport and cases where it does not pay off — with a calculator to match your real plan against individual ticket costs.

Is Granada Card worth it?

There is no universal formula. The useful questions are: which Alhambra visit do you want? and how many paid monuments will you use during your stay?

Usually worth it if:

• you want daytime Alhambra General (48h or 72h passes);
• you will also enter several bundled monuments (Cathedral, Royal Chapel, monasteries, museums…);
• you will use some urban buses between hills and the centre;
• you stay at least 2–3 days;
• or individual Alhambra tickets are sold out but Granada Card shows availability.

May not pay off if:

• your priority is the Alhambra and little else;
• your itinerary is mostly free (viewpoints, walks, neighbourhoods);
• you qualify for significant free entry or reductions elsewhere;
• you will barely use urban transport;
• you have only one day and cannot fit the included sites.

Pass types and prices

Fares published from 13 November 2025 on the municipal modalities page. Information checked on 9 August 2026. Verify on the official source before buying.

Pass	Price	Official validity	Alhambra access
Granada Card 72h	€60	4 consecutive full days (not literal 72 hours)	Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife)
Granada Card 48h	€55	3 consecutive full days (not literal 48 hours)	Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife)
Granada Card 24h	€50	2 consecutive full days (not literal 24 hours)	Nasrid Palaces night visit (no Alcazaba or Generalife)
Granada Card Gardens	€50	2 consecutive full days	Alcazaba and Generalife (no Nasrid Palaces)
Child (ages 3–11)	€13	Same as linked adult	Same as linked adult

Prices and conditions verified on Granada Tourism — modalities and prices.

Which Granada Card to choose

The decision is not “always buy the longest pass”. Start with the Alhambra visit type; price and validity follow.

• Full daytime Alhambra: Granada Card 48h or Granada Card 72h. The verified difference is €5; the higher pass adds the Andalusian monuments shown in the table.
• Nasrid Palaces at night only: 24h. A different product — not a substitute for daytime General.
• Alcazaba and Generalife without Palaces: Gardens pass. Not a complete Alhambra visit.

To fit the pass into your trip, cross-check what to see in Granada, Granada in one day, Granada in two days or the monumental route for a stop-by-stop walk.

Granada Card 72h

€60 · 4 consecutive full days (not literal 72 hours). Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife). It is the pass that adds Corral del Carbón, Bañuelo, Casa del Horno del Oro, Maristán and Dar al-Horra Palace in the checked municipal table.

The difference from 48h is €5. The official Andalusian Monuments bundle costs €8.48 separately; compare it only if you will actually visit those sites.

If you will not visit those extras, that difference adds no value for you.

Granada Card 48h

€55 · 3 consecutive full days (not literal 48 hours). Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife) and the main shared monuments. It may fit a multi-day trip, but the calculator should decide from your actual visits.

Granada Card 24h

€50 · 2 consecutive full days (not literal 24 hours). Be careful: Nasrid Palaces night visit (no Alcazaba or Generalife); it does not replace daytime Alhambra General.

It can make sense for the night experience specifically, availability situations, or city + night Palaces priorities. If you want the full daytime Alhambra, this is not the right pass.

Granada Card Gardens

€50 · 2 consecutive full days. Alcazaba and Generalife (no Nasrid Palaces). It may suit you if the Palaces are not a priority or you have already seen them; it is not a complete Alhambra visit.

Which Alhambra each pass includes

The Alhambra General price used by the calculator is €22.27, checked on 9 August 2026. Always confirm the current fare on the Patronato portal before buying.

• Granada Card 72h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife).
• Granada Card 48h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife).
• Granada Card 24h: Nasrid Palaces night visit (no Alcazaba or Generalife).
• Granada Card Gardens: Alcazaba and Generalife (no Nasrid Palaces).

When buying you must select Alhambra visit date, Nasrid Palaces time (when applicable) and Card start date. The Palaces time is mandatory — you cannot enter whenever you like.

All included Alhambra zones on the same day: you cannot split zones across different days within one booking.

Included monuments

All four adult passes share a core. 72h adds Andalusian extras. Grouped by value:

Essential heritage

• Cathedral
• Royal Chapel

Renaissance and Baroque

• San Jerónimo Monastery
• Cartuja Monastery

Andalusian Granada

• Casa de Zafra
• Cuarto Real de Santo Domingo
• 72h only: Corral del Carbón, Bañuelo, Horno del Oro, Maristán, Dar al-Horra

Culture

• Fine Arts Museum
• Casa de los Tiros
• Archaeological Museum
• Sacromonte Abbey

Families / science

• Parque de las Ciencias (general admission)

Parque de las Ciencias: general admission is included, but not the Planetarium or BioDomo, which have separate fares and booking. Confirm both amounts officially.

Included transport

All passes include 9 urban bus trips and 1 full tourist train circuit (not hop-on hop-off), according to information checked on 9 August 2026.

Urban bus

• 9 trips only within the validity period.
• You do not scan the PDF on the bus — collect transport titles at enabled ticket machines first (municipal site lists six).
• Covers Granada urban lines (Alhambra, Albaicín, Sacromonte).
• Not metropolitan lines. Airport bus not included.

Tourist train

One full circuit. Not hop-on hop-off. Headphones are listed at an additional €2 in the checked dataset.

How to buy Granada Card

Sales open 3 calendar months ahead. Official channels: Granada Tourism, Clorian and official phone. No direct sales point in Granada. GRN URBAN links only to official channels.

Before you click Buy

1. Correct pass (especially Alhambra type).
2. Card start date.
3. Alhambra visit date.
4. Nasrid Palaces time (if applicable).
5. Names and ID (nominal pass).

Start date cannot be changed afterwards. Alhambra date and Palaces time are normally not freely modifiable. Cancellations are generally not allowed; optional cancellation insurance may appear at checkout — check current terms.

How to use Granada Card

You receive print at home by email. Mobile or paper is fine. Alhambra requires official ID. Included monuments usually allow direct entry without the ticket office, except specific procedures.

Granada Card when Alhambra is sold out

Granada Card has its own allocation of Alhambra tickets. General admission may be sold out on tickets.alhambra-patronato.es while Card slots remain — but availability is not guaranteed. Sold-out General does not automatically mean sold-out Card.

Recommended order: Patronato official channel → check Granada Card → alternative visit types → last-minute places. Step-by-step detail is in our Alhambra sold-out guide.

Granada Card Child

€13 · ages 3–11. It has the same services as the linked adult pass and must be bought with an adult pass (up to 3 child passes per adult). Confirm age and conditions in the official checkout.

Reductions, disability and EU museums

Granada Card has no extra discounts for students, pensioners, etc. If you qualify for Alhambra reductions or museum free entry, compare individual tickets — they may be cheaper.

If you qualify for disability reductions, compare individual prices first. Accessibility varies by monument — price and physical access are not the same.

Fine Arts, Casa de los Tiros and Archaeological Museum may be free for EU visitors under current conditions. Other visitors should confirm the current fare. The calculator supports EU museum free entry and does not inflate savings with entries you could get free.

Break-even examples

With currently published prices:

• Alhambra General + Cathedral + Royal Chapel + Cartuja + San Jerónimo: €50.27.
• 3 bus trips × €1.60 = €4.80.
• Individual total: €55.07 vs Granada Card 48h: €55.

This is maths, not a recommended itinerary. Someone doing those five visits plus several buses is already at break-even.

72h vs 48h: €5 difference. The 72h pass adds Andalusian monuments; the combined ticket costs €8.48 separately. It only pays off if you will visit them.

What is NOT included

• Alhambra guide or audio guide.
• Planetarium and BioDomo at Parque de las Ciencias.
• Airport bus or metropolitan transport.
• Every museum or monument in Granada.
• Hop-on hop-off on the tourist train.

Common mistakes

1. Thinking 24h includes full Alhambra: night Nasrid Palaces only.
2. Thinking Gardens includes Nasrid Palaces: it does not.
3. Assuming airport bus is included: it is not.
4. Assuming hop-on hop-off train: one full circuit only.
5. Ignoring Nasrid Palaces time: a serious mistake.
6. Buying without checking dates: not freely changeable.
7. Buying only to “save” without calculating: may not pay off.
8. Expecting a physical card on arrival: no direct sales in Granada; buy online/phone in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Is Granada Card worth it?

Depends on what you visit. Use the calculator and compare with individual tickets.

Which pass includes Nasrid Palaces?

Granada Card 72h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife); Granada Card 48h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife); Granada Card 24h: Nasrid Palaces night visit (no Alcazaba or Generalife); Granada Card Gardens: Alcazaba and Generalife (no Nasrid Palaces).

Does Granada Card include the whole Alhambra?

It depends on the pass: Granada Card 72h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife); Granada Card 48h: Daytime Alhambra General (Alcazaba, Nasrid Palaces, Generalife); Granada Card 24h: Nasrid Palaces night visit (no Alcazaba or Generalife); Granada Card Gardens: Alcazaba and Generalife (no Nasrid Palaces).

How much does it cost?

Granada Card 72h €60, Granada Card 48h €55, Granada Card 24h €50, Granada Card Gardens €50 and Child €13 (checked on 9 August 2026).

How long is it valid?

Use official validity: Granada Card 72h: 4 consecutive full days (not literal 72 hours); Granada Card 48h: 3 consecutive full days (not literal 48 hours); Granada Card 24h: 2 consecutive full days (not literal 24 hours); Granada Card Gardens: 2 consecutive full days.

Does it include buses?

9 urban trips within the validity period.

Does it include the airport bus?

No.

Does it include the tourist train?

One full circuit, not hop-on hop-off.

Can I buy if Alhambra is sold out?

Separate availability may exist — check before giving up.

Can I change the date?

Normally no.

Where to buy?

Official web/phone; no direct sales in Granada.

Is there a child pass?

Yes, €13 (ages 3–11, linked to an adult).

Does Granada Card include BioDomo?

No.

How this guide connects across GRN URBAN

Granada Card is a tickets and transport decision, not an itinerary. These pages help cross-check the pass with your real plan:

• Before booking: before you travel to Granada (Alhambra checklist, accommodation, low-emission zone).
• Priorities: what to see in Granada and viewpoints.
• Itineraries: one day, 48 hours and time-based plans.
• Neighbourhoods and tapas: Albaicín and tapas in Granada (not included in the pass, but usually part of the trip).
• If you prioritise free plans: free things to do — useful to see whether you really need a monument pass.
• Automatic planning: Plan builds an interest-based itinerary; return here to compare whether those places are on the Card.
• Calendar: Granada events for special dates that may affect mobility or opening times.

Official sources

• Granada Tourism — modalities and prices
• Granada Tourism — buy
• Patronato de la Alhambra — timetables and fares

Review prices and conditions every 30–60 days. Before travelling, cross-check with before you travel to Granada and, for a first itinerary draft, Plan.