I would like to visit the Alhambra Palace in Granada and wondered if anyone could give me information on the best time of year to go, affordable places to stay and any other must see places in the area, or infact any information that would give me a good insight to the visit.

Thanks
polly

You could stay at the Parador adjacent to the palace

I would go later in the year when it is not too warm and not so busy.

Wear comfortable shoes

Thanks very much for the hotel advice. It sounds like an excuse to go shopping for shoes

Had a look at the Parador rates it's a little too expensive for me, although it looks absolutely beautiful. Anyone know of anywhere a little more economical

Water and Food ! unless it's changed not much inside

You need to book a long way in advance, it' always fully booked. And mega expensive! Anywhere decent in Granada itself, Plaza Nueva area, there's a minibus up and down to the Alhambra all day long from there.

You also need to pre-book your entry ticket to the Alhambra itself.

There are plenty more "economical", but best to check them out first as many of them can be basic in the extreme.
A word of warning, there are usually some local spivs waiting on the Granada approach roads offering to escort tourist cars to overnight accomodation.
No doubt they get a nice little earner for their troubles from the establishments concerned, however having viewed what they had on offer and the prices, I politely declined and found something better for much less money myself.

Al Hamra is arabic for 'the red' I think the hill is reddish coloured clay.

Try the Hotel Albero ... it is on the outskirts of Granada ... free parking ... excellent hotel and very reasonable ... about a 10 min bus ride into Granada (1.25€ I think) and very regular and saves very expensive parking in the city, if you can find anywhere! Check the hotel out on Tripadvisor.

Go when it is cooler ... walking up thru the old town in cool weather is hard work anyway !

When you book the Palace check your ticket, you are only allowed into the site after a certain time and have a 30min window to enter the Palace itself. Book online if you can !.

Visit the Cathedral and Sacramento also the arab baths, you can also do open top bus city tour. done all these rather often as we live an hour away, Love Granada. As another poster has said you need to book the tickets in advance and collect on your arrival, need to take the credit card used to collect, automated machine.

Also the time you pick is the entrance to the Nasrid Palaces, and you have to be in at that time, the rest of the time you can wander around.

I think it is stunning, you can rent a little electronic interpreter for , cant remember 4 euros? not much, well worth having, easy to use, you see "display notice 5" and press number 5. really good.

Agree, I have been four times including a night visit, and as I'm a keen photographer, I love it! Also view it from The Plaza de San Nicolás, in the Albaicín, especially as the sun is setting, very impressive. Probably the best spot to view the Alhambra. I'd go again tomorrow!

If you want something fairly cheap, situated at the bottom of the hill from the Alhambra, own parking, 10 mins walk from the center, this might fit the bill. It's the only hostal I have ever tried, but I was pleasantly surprised.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Andalusia.html

Thank for that Agoreira, it's just the thing we are looking for.

We are thinking of going in late November. Does anyone know if the Palace is open at that time of year.

Alhambra is the most visited 'sight' in Spain and it only closes on a few days. Certainly end November its open.
Once you are definite about the day of visit you can buy entry tickets on the official site and collect them once you are in Granada.
This is the booking site.
http://www.servicaixa.com/nav/en/muc...ral/index.html

before you ask questions like - what's the best time to visit, or how long should I allow etc read through all the advice on the official Alhambra web site (just this hour being updated so not opening) :

http://www.alhambra-patronato.es/

There are hundreds of beds to sleep in Granada. I like going through Trip Advisor to research:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...ia-Hotels.html

Try to find somewhere not far from the Cathedral area or Plaza Nueva. there are some really nice places to stay.