Alcázar of Seville vs Alhambra: Which One Should You Visit?

If you can, see both. They tell two halves of the same story. The Alhambra is the palace of the last Muslim rulers of Spain. The Real Alcázar is the palace a Christian king built in the same style, with some of the same craftsmen's traditions. If you only have time for one: choose the Alcázar if you are staying in Seville, the Alhambra if you are going to Granada anyway.

The difference in one table

	Real Alcázar (Seville)	Alhambra (Granada)
Built by	Christian kings, in Mudéjar style	Nasrid sultans
Still in use	Yes, a royal residence	No, a monument
Setting	In the heart of the city	On a hill above the city
Visit length	2–3 hours	Half a day
Tickets	Timed entry, €15.50	Timed entry, sells out far ahead

Choose the Alcázar if…

• You are based in Seville and do not want a day trip.
• You love gardens: the Alcázar has some of the finest palace gardens in Spain, right in the city centre.
• You have a few hours, not a whole day.

Choose the Alhambra if…

• You are travelling to Granada anyway.
• You want the Islamic palace in its original setting, with views over the city and the Sierra Nevada.

Seeing both

Seville and Granada are a day trip apart. Book the Alhambra first, since it is usually the harder ticket, and fit the Alcázar around it. For the Alcázar, the official shop is the cheapest way in; if your date is sold out, a guided tour with entry is the fallback.

Related

• Is the Alcázar worth visiting?
• Ticket prices and where to buy