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Javier rodriguez jimenez CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Palacios nazaríes

Palace

The Nasrid Palaces within Granada's Alhambra display intricate stucco, tilework, water channels and courtyards. Visitors tour the palaces for Islamic architecture, historic rooms and the Court of Lions.

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Palacios nazaríes essentials

Address: Alhambra, Camino de la Alhambra, s/n, 18009 Granada, Spain
Website: alhambra-patronato.es
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About Palacios nazaríes

The Palacios Nazaries are the Nasrid royal palaces at the heart of the Alhambra complex in Granada, Andalusia, constructed during the 13th and 14th centuries as the main residence of the Nasrid emirs. The palaces form the political and ceremonial centre of the Alhambra and contain some of its most elaborate decorative work.

Key components include the Comares Palace with its Salón de los Embajadores, and the Palace of the Lions centred on the Patio de los Leones with its fountain supported by 12 marble lions. Interiors are extensively decorated with carved stucco, glazed tilework and intricately carved wooden ceilings, and the spaces are organised around courtyards and water features.

Built and expanded by successive Nasrid rulers in the 1200s and 1300s, the palaces were altered after the 1492 Reconquista and have undergone extensive conservation since the 19th century. They sit on a fortified hill overlooking the city of Granada with views toward the Sierra Nevada mountains.

  • Date and status: The palace complex dates to the 13th and 14th centuries and forms the core of the Alhambra UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Fountain of the Lions: The central fountain in the Patio de los Leones rests on 12 marble lions, an iconic feature of Nasrid decorative art.

What to See#

  • Comares Palace: Home to the Salón de los Embajadores, the principal ceremonial chamber and diplomatic reception room within the Comares Palace, notable for its ornate stucco and tile decoration.
  • Palace of the Lions: Built in the mid-14th century under Muhammad V, this area centres on the Patio de los Leones which features a central fountain supported by 12 marble lions and a surrounding portico with muqarnas and carved stucco.
  • Mexuar: A sequence of rooms used for administration and audience functions that adjoins the main palaces; historically served formal and lower-court functions within the Nasrid royal complex.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Palacios nazaríes

Best visited in spring or autumn for pleasant weather and good light; book Nasrid Palace timed tickets well in advance.

Spring
March-May · 10-25°C
Blossom and pleasant temperatures; garden colors are at their best.
Autumn
September-November · 12-25°C
Comfortable weather with fewer tourists than summer; ideal for courtyard light.
Winter
December-February · 3-15°C
Crisp air and shorter days; the palaces are quieter though some garden plantings are dormant.

Weather & Climate near Palacios nazaríes

Climate

Palacios nazaríes's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 34°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 44 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
39°
Warmest Month
-5°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Good 2° - 13° 5° 53 mm partly cloudy 75% 3.1 m/s 0.4 low 9.8h
February Good 3° - 15° 7° 43 mm partly cloudy 73% 3.4 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.7h
March Very Good 5° - 18° 11° 42 mm partly cloudy 69% 3.4 m/s 1.0 high 11.8h
April Very Good 7° - 19° 13° 45 mm partly cloudy 66% 3.7 m/s 1.5 high 13.0h
May Excellent 10° - 24° 17° 34 mm partly cloudy 58% 3.3 m/s 1.9 very high 14.0h
June Ideal 14° - 29° 22° 18 mm mostly sunny 46% 3.1 m/s 2.3 extreme 14.5h
July Ideal 17° - 34° 25° 3 mm clear 39% 3.0 m/s 2.4 extreme 14.3h
August Ideal 17° - 34° 25° 4 mm clear 43% 2.8 m/s 2.1 extreme 13.4h
September Ideal 14° - 29° 22° 19 mm mostly sunny 56% 2.7 m/s 1.5 high 12.3h
October Excellent 10° - 22° 16° 43 mm some cloud 65% 2.8 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.1h
November Very Good 6° - 17° 11° 51 mm partly cloudy 73% 3.0 m/s 0.5 low 10.0h
December Good 3° - 13° 7° 57 mm partly cloudy 76% 3.1 m/s 0.3 low 9.5h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Palacios nazaríes

The Alhambra sits on a hill overlooking Granada’s Albaicín district. From Granada city center (Plaza Nueva), it is a 20-30 minute walk uphill or a short taxi ride; regular buses (C3 and C4) also serve the hill. Most visitors arrive by foot from the old town via Cuesta de Gomérez. Timed-entry tickets are required for the Nasrid Palaces-arrive at the assigned time.

Tips for Visiting Palacios nazaríes

  • Purchase a combined Alhambra ticket that includes the Nasrid Palaces (Palacios Nazaríes) - the palaces have strict timed entry and sell out quickly, especially in high season.
  • Enter the Nasrid Palaces at the assigned time; late entry is not permitted and security is strict.
  • Explore the Generalife gardens in the late afternoon when golden light softens the courtyards and fountains.