The Alhambra reopens to visitors after the Granada earthquakes, but the Alcazaba remains closed

The Alhambra in Granada reopened to visitors on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, after the precautionary closure ordered on Tuesday following the earthquakes recorded in Granada and its metropolitan area.

The Board of the Alhambra and Generalife has confirmed that the monument is once again welcoming visitors during its usual opening hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., although the reopening comes with restrictions and changes to visitor routes to strengthen safety in case of further aftershocks.

The Alhambra's official X account, @alhambracultura, also announced the reopening on Wednesday and specified that the Alcazaba and the Andalusi Monuments are excluded from the visit, and will remain closed while inspections continue and their condition is assessed.
 

The Alcazaba remains closed after the earthquakes

The main restriction affects the Alcazaba of the Alhambra, which will remain closed until further notice, according to the Board.

Although the initial inspections have found no significant structural damage, some minor and highly localised issues have been identified in non-structural elements. In the Alcazaba, incidents have been observed affecting merlons, battlements and small rendered elements.

The closure therefore remains in place as a precaution while technical teams continue to assess the condition of this part of the monument complex.

The Alhambra's official ticketing website also states that Dar al-Horra Palace remains closed on Wednesday for safety reasons.
 

The Andalusi Monuments also remain closed

For the time being, the reopening does not include the Andalusi Monuments, located mainly in the Albaicín district.

The Board has officially stated that these sites will remain closed until inspections have been completed by the Conservation Service and experts from the University of Granada, who are assisting in assessing the effects of the earthquakes.

This restriction affects visits linked to these monuments, so anyone planning to visit them should check the latest official information before travelling.
 

Special routes through the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife

The Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife are open, although the Board has temporarily modified their visitor routes to allow for rapid evacuation should another seismic event occur.

In the Nasrid Palaces, the authorised route passes through the Mexuar, Patio of the Gilded Room and Court of the Myrtles, before continuing via the accessible entrance for visitors with reduced mobility towards the Hall of the Two Sisters, Hall of the Kings and Hall of the Abencerrajes. The exit leads towards the area around the Court of the Lions, with the Puerta del Príncipe designated as the evacuation route.

At the Generalife, the visit includes the Paseo de las Adelfas, the South Pavilion, the North Pavilion, the Patio de la Sultana and the Upper Gardens, before returning via the Paseo de las Adelfas.

The Board explains that these changes are intended to guarantee visitor safety and allow a faster exit from the monument should evacuation become necessary.
 

No significant structural damage at the Alhambra

Inspections carried out after Tuesday's strong earthquakes have, for the time being, ruled out significant structural damage across the monument complex.

Antonio Sanz, First Vice-President of the Regional Government of Andalusia and Regional Minister for the Presidency, Health and Emergencies, said after the initial inspections that no damage had been observed that suggested a risk of collapse in the Nasrid Palaces or the Alcazaba.

However, very localised damage to decorative and non-structural elements has been found. In addition to the minor issues detected in the Alcazaba, some decorative plasterwork pieces fell in the Nasrid Palaces, particularly in the Throne Room.

These incidents explain why inspections are continuing even though a large part of the monument has already been able to reopen to the public.
 

The Alhambra closed on Tuesday after a precautionary evacuation

The reopening comes just one day after the latest seismic episode to affect Granada.

At 10:37 a.m. on Tuesday, 18 August, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred with its epicentre north-west of Gójar, followed over the next few hours by further tremors that were clearly felt by the population.

In response, the Board activated its safety protocols. The Alcazaba was evacuated first, and access to the Nasrid Palaces was subsequently suspended while those already inside were assisted in leaving. The Board ultimately decided to close the entire monument complex on Tuesday afternoon to allow technical inspections to be carried out.

The episode came just a few days after the earthquake recorded in the early hours of 15 August, which also required the Alhambra to be inspected before it could reopen.
 

Granada continues to experience seismic activity

The seismic activity did not end with Tuesday's tremors. During the early hours of Wednesday, Spain's National Geographic Institute recorded new, lower-magnitude earthquakes in Granada and its metropolitan area, several of which were felt by residents.

This ongoing activity explains the precautionary measures adopted by the Board despite the reopening of the monument.

The Alhambra's management team continues to assess the situation on an ongoing basis so that further measures can be introduced if necessary.
 

What visitors to the Alhambra need to know

Anyone planning to visit the Alhambra on 19 August can do so, but should bear in mind that the situation has not yet fully returned to normal.

The Alhambra is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; the Nasrid Palaces and the Generalife can be visited via adapted routes; the Alcazaba remains closed until further notice; and Dar al-Horra Palace and the Andalusi Monuments remain closed while inspections continue.

The Board recommends following the instructions of Control, Information and Security staff at all times and is updating visitor information through its official channels, including the X account @alhambracultura and the official ticketing website.

The reopening therefore marks a first step towards normality at the Alhambra after the Granada earthquakes, although inspections are continuing and some areas will remain closed until conservation officials can fully guarantee safe conditions.