Muslim Granada: Alhambra and Arab Bath

Granada, Spain

Combine history and indulgence on an unforgettable excursion into Granada's Moorish heritage. Spend the morning exploring the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Alhambra, then treat yourself to a relaxing Arab bath in the afternoon.

In the morning, visit one of the most visited monuments in the world, the Alhambra (approximately 2.5 hours). Built on the red hill known as Assabic, overlooking Granada, construction of this Moorish fortress began in the 13th century by the founder of the Nasrid Dynasty, Mohammed Ibn Alhamar. The remarkable garden and courtyard complex also includes the 16th-century palace built by Charles V.

You then have the afternoon free before making your way to indulge in an Arab bath. Relax to the soothing murmur of water, glistening Arabic tiles, essential oils, jasmine perfume and mint tea.

You have the option of combining the traditional Arab hamman experience with a restful massage and aromatherapy.

USD $73.81

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Maria E C	April 2012
One activity has nothing to do with the other. They have different places but both were very good experience. They were wonderful

Review by: Louise C	March 2012
Would not recommend in the slightest. The Alhambra tour was pretty good and I would probably do that part again. However the whole tour was a mess. I was really miss lead about how the tour operates. I was under the understanding it was one big tour when in reality it was two very separate tours. The baths were shocking. I felt really uncomfortable because of people's behaviors in the pools and I had to wait until the very end for my massage even though I was one of the first to turn up. This was not a good experience and I would not recommend it what so ever.

Review by: Ann C	February 2012
The guided tour of the Alhambra was brilliant, the guide was very knowledgeable and passionate which came over really well. The baths were beautifully relaxing and just right after a day sightseeing. A great experience.

Review by: TAYYAB REHMAN B	January 2012
All was pretty much planned. I got picked up from a nearby hotel, they had separate guided tours for English and Spanish speaking people. Guides were knowledgeable and they had all tickets planned out. Granada is amazing, ah the palaces and the gardens with Arabic calligraphy. It took my heart away. I think Arab Bath is the must for anyone who is planning to visit Granada. They had hot, warm and cold pools with aromatic therapy. Sauna and massage with mint tea. It was magical. I am glad that I bought this tour. I loved it!

Review by: Bradley S	January 2012
Tour was satisfactory, better directions to the Baths would be helpful. Alhambra itself is beautiful!

Review by: Allan W	January 2012
The Alhambra is fantastic and, luckily, there weren't that many people. Our guide was well-informed and had a great personality. Since this was a birthday to myself, I opted for the baths. Certainly worth it. I was a little nervous about how I would know it was my turn for the massage because I was lounging in the sauna and the hot water area - I thought I had missed it. After a half hour of lounging, I asked the guy and he said another 30 minutes. Aaahhhhhh!!!! - more lounging - fantastic. I really enjoyed my day.

Review by: on	November 2011
Great experience !

Review by: on	November 2011
Too rush, The guide walk so fast . Havn't see the interesting place in detail. Also I went on the national holidays that a lot of visitors

Review by: Megan M	September 2011
The Alhambra is gorgeous and the gardens really set it apart from other historic buildings. I appreciated the information the guide gave to help me appreciate my surroundings. Also, the strict rules about when to see what would have been impossible to decipher without a guide. I'm glad I decided to upgrade to the Arab bath with a massage. It was very relaxing and different from other touristy things. It wasn't crowded and it's unlike any activity in America that I can think of. The baths are separate from the Alhambra and slightly hard to find. It's in an alley further down from the tourist office in Plaza Nueva. The massage lasted about 20 mins. There are lockers when you can change into your swimsuit and store you stuff. No cameras allowed. Also, if you want to freshen up afterwards bring a brush. There are plenty of mirrors, lotions and hair dryers in the locker rooms.

Review by: Angel F	September 2011
I immensely enjoyed my bath and massage. I took a star off my rating because my reception area experience was not positive. The waiting area was very small and limited to only 2 seatings. Customer-traffic of those leaving-coming was poorly managed and bottle-neck in heat-humidity became so unpleasant.

Review by: GHASSAN F	July 2011
not attended the arab bath, alhambra was very good.

Review by: Dave	July 2011
The tour to the Alhambra was excellent with an outstanding tour guide, Enrique. Was disappointed that the Arab Bath tour was not included in the bus tour as we had to walk to this from our hotel. Well worth the effort in the heat of Granada in the summer.

Review by: jeannette d	July 2011
Granada and the Alhambra are realy beautyful._br/_ The hamam is also a great experience._br/_ But i think it is maybe cheaper to book you one tour with a headset and a map and buscard for a few days._br/_ But it was perfect.

Review by: Emilie H	July 2011
Tour was informative, though was crowded and each stop felt a bit rushed. Felt like cattle being pushed along. Not sure if doing a self audio tour would have been just as informative yet less crowded/rushed?

Review by: nabeela m	June 2011
well organized

Review by: Richard L	May 2011
My wife and I had just finished a bicycle tour from Seville to Granada. On the tour we visited many Moorish ruins, including baths.We had an excellent guide on our trip to explain the baths and their workings but it never came together until we experienced the bath. With the limited number of persons admitted, we were truly lost in time. The incense,candles,and music,along with the hot room, cold room, steam room,tea room, and pools gave a sense of what it was like a thousand years ago. The experience was unparalleled. Rick Lang Canada

Review by: Tara S	May 2011
This tour was a disaster. First, we were never picked up by the bus and instead had to find our own way on the public bus to the Alhambra. We were constantly calling the number provided by Viator only to get " this number is not in service" messages. Once up there, we could not locate the tour in the designated meeting place and were put on another tour with a guide who spoke very fast and was boring. They took our vouchers which left us with nothing to show for the arab baths. Once we got ourselves to the arab baths, no help to the tour, they were the high point of the day. My recommendation, don't do this tour just book them in advance on your own. Its cheaper and less stressful. Arab baths are definitely worth it.

Review by: Daniel P	May 2011
The Alhambra tour was fantastic. The guide informative and the place stunning. But when it came to the Arab Baths and massage the organization fell apart. There was no tour. We were dropped off and pointed in the vague direction of the bath. Our Alhambra tour ended at one PM. We expected to start our Bath tour within an hour to make up the eight hour tour. We were told after multiple calls and confusion that our massage was scheduled for six PM. NIT ACCEPTABLE

Review by: Aileen A	May 2011
Spain doesn't have very good free wifi so I booked my tour last minute from a McDonald's then proceeded on a train to a hostel in Granada. Come to find out, it was necessary for me to confirm my hotel pick up by phone or internet, which was not at my disposal. By the time I checked into my hostel this was impossible so I did not get picked up from my hostel. Thanks to my hostel receptionist, I found my way to Alhambra by bus. The tour guide was adequate though at times his English was not that great. Some things were lost in translation like for instance, he said our tour included free wine and tapas and when I asked about this later, he said what are you talking about, that place is already closed. The whole experience of being guided through the massive Alhambra and Generalife in a structured manner and concluding it with the most relaxing time in the Arab baths was a grand experience and you could forgive the disorganization of having to find your own way to the Alhambra in the first place. Let's just say you have to be a little resourceful with this tour company, a little Spanish goes a long way but you won't regret the overall experience. If you were even more resourceful, you could probably buy the whole experience 20 euros cheaper on your own.

Review by: Stephen F	May 2011
This tour was not good. The English speaking guide had such a strong accent no one could understand what he was saying. They did not pick us up from our hotel and when we called we were told to get a taxi (they did pay us back). At the end of the tour was terrible. We were told the bus was full and to wait. We did not see our guide again. After some waiting, we asked a bus driver and he was kind enough to get out of his bus and walk us around to another bus for a drop off. I think there are better run tours around than this one.

Review by: Virginia W	March 2011
I would like to state that the Alhambra is really quite amazing, though it is under renovation. The guide was knowledgeable and very pleasant, though I don't think that the adding of the tour guide made it worth doubling the price. Also , the group that one is suppose to contact, Granada vision, was a little lax in being on time, or even matching the time on the voucher. No one in the tourist office or the Alhambra knew anything about them, this should be changed as finding any one in that area is hard. I was asked about where I was staying, but sent to a predetermined pickup point, which is fine, it should just be noted on the voucher where the pick up points are so the traveler can chose one.As for the Arab baths, it was amazing, and I highly recommend them as an add-on. As I traveled around Spain after, I would recommend them to anyone I met who was going to Granada. Also, the price in Granada is less than the Arab baths in other cities, and so so nice. I can't speak highly enough about them.

Review by: Linda K	November 2010
Save your money! Very inexpensive city bus brings you right to Alhambra and the audioguide gives you the time to enjoy the experience. Our tour guide had to divide his time between english and german speakers and then hustle to the next site (we did manage to have a 15 minute shopping break, however). Buses left at 2:30 and they had to be met. We skipped them, fought the crowds to get back in and saw the display on the restoration of the lion's fountain. This is one tourist destination that needs to be savored and this tour did not do that. The bath is great, skip the massage and be sure to bring a bathing suit.

Review by: Nicole T	November 2010
The bath portion of this trip was absolutely amazing and I'd do it every day of the trip if I could. It was perfect for the end of the trip. The alhambra day portion, was very informative although a bit long and boring at parts.

Review by: Michael T	October 2010
This tour was great, very informative. The baths and the massage were too short though.

Review by: Arnold G	October 2010
a wonderful way to end the day

Review by: Alex O	September 2010
The trip was very good The guide was brilliant with a lot of experience

Review by: Christopher K, Australia	July 2010
The guide was very good and informative and the bath is a great experience. However, I feel it's a little pricey, especially if you compare it to the Seville-Cordoba day trip which I think is excellent value.

Review by: Anonymous	July 2010
Guide for tour was not pleasant and barely spoke English. I just couldn't understand what she was saying.

Review by: Jerri M, United States of America	June 2010
Great tour guide at the Alhambra! Baths are a must!

Review by: Kathryn W, United States of America	June 2010
The Alhambra was of course lovely. The history offered by the tour guide was easily understandable and interesting. The only problem was that we visited on the last day of the Feria a carnival outside of town and for that reason many of the workers had called in sick. Thus, the crowds were not properly controlled and the guide was hard to hear at times. The Hammam baths were amazing. We packed our bathing suits at the last minute. Good thing because the whole experience involved dipping in underground pools of various temperatures. Lovely mint tea and a mediocre massage were to follow. This was an "outside the comfort zone" experience and very worthwhile.

Review by: John W	June 2010
The Alhambra is definitely worth seeing. If you also arrange for the Turkish bath massage, be aware that it isn't until early evening so there's about 4hrs between the Alhambra tour and the baths. You get a total of one and a half hours in the baths and the massage only lasts for 20 mins I was disappointed in the latter.

Review by: Marsha B, Canada	May 2010
Wonderful Alhambra tour. Really enjoyed Robert our guide. Groups could have been a little bit smaller. The Arab baths and massage were a treat at the end of a long day.

Review by: Ann D, United States of America	May 2010
The Alhambra is fabulous and our guide Robert made it all the more so he is friendly, informative and entertaining. Bravo! The Arab Baths were fun and evocative. Walking directions from our morning tour were minimal. Our hotel staff kindly resolve the hotel pick up at last minute. The volcanic ash travel crisis is to be blamed, I'm told. Still...

Review by: Felipe V	May 2010
Overall OK. Alhambra tour seemed rushed, but we still saw all the major areas. The guide didn't help explain where the baths were just pointed to a rough area on our city map. No mention of having to cross the river to find it. Definitely room to improve on logistics and guide instructions. Otherwise, the Alhambra was beautiful and the Arab Bath with massage is well worth it.

Review by: Albert T, United States of America	January 2010
Loved it - place was beautiful. It was well organized and the guide was good.

Review by: ALBERT T	January 2010
Loved it - place was beautiful. It was well organized and the guide was good.

Review by: Bjørn Roar A, Norway	October 2009
The guide was fabulous.

Review by: Barrie B, United States of America	August 2009
The tour of the Alhambra gave intense meaning to the wonders of the site. Our guide was most knowledgeable and patient. The Arab baths were a wonderful, unique, relaxing experience - though very difficult to find.

Review by: Ian M, United States of America	August 2009
Fantastic tour, the Alhambra was amazing. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. We had a sociologist on the tour who bombarded the tour guide with questions, and the tour guide knew all the answers. Hotel pickup and dropoff were great, but the tour just kind of ended abruptly with no real closure. Arab baths were OK, nothing special.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	June 2009
This was a great tour. Several other people were on the tour who had booked through a different tour company, and their reservations got messed up. My reservation, however, was perfect with no confusions or mistakes. This is my second time using Viator in Europe, and I have really enjoyed it. The Alhambra was amazing and the Arab bath definitely worth doing.

Review by: Lynn L	May 2009
I thought the Alhambra part was very good, but I never got to the bath! The man on the bus took my paperwork and didn't give it back, and then we got sent back to the city on a different bus, so I never got this part of my tour!

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	February 2009
The trip was great. The Alhambra was excellent, and the guide knew exactly what she was talking about. Will definitely go again.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	September 2008
The Alhambra was breathtaking. he start of the tour felt shambolic, but the guide we had was awesome and the experience was definitely enhanced by his knowledge and presence. We had to work to get the address of the baths from the tour company when the Alhambra tour was complete as they took the voucher right at the beginning, it wasn't needed for the bath. There really needs to be a system where you are given a brochure from the baths so you have a name and address, instead of someone pointing at a map. That being said, the 11th Century Arab baths were an amazing experience and one we will never forget.

Review by: Anonymous, Lebanon	August 2008
Nice trip, good English, but the historical information shown only from the Spanish side without any respect to the Muslim Arab side. The Spanish killed and forced about 2 million Arabs to change their religion to Christianity after they conquered Granada.

Review by: Anonymous	July 2008
There was a lot of confusion about where I was to meet the tour at the start. The tour also seemed to breeze very quickly through some parts and spend too much time in others.

Review by: Nur Atiqah A, United States of America	June 2008
It was awesome. The guide was very knowledgeable and patient despite my constant questioning. The bath was great as well. Rejuvenating after the hot summer day of walking.

Review by: Janette C, United States of America	April 2008
Overall, it was excellent. Our guide at the Alhambra was great. However, the actual group for the tour was too large 30 people. The arab bath was nice for the difference and price and the massage was great. It was something very nice to do after a day of walking the Alhambra.

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	April 2008
This is a fantastic experience - the Alhambra deserves a guide and ours was excellent. The Arab ritual bath was also great - do have the massage, it is well worth the extra money! The only problem was we did not have the address of where to go for the Arab bath ritual on our confirmation and it was only by luck we found the correct location. More information please for future travellers. Overall, absolutely loved it!!

Review by: Pallavi R, United States of America	January 2008
I had a great tour of Alhambra and the gardens, which I wasn't anticipating. It was a nice bonus. I enjoyed and learned a great deal on the tour. It was organized and well paced. I also loved the Arab bath - very relaxing, and worth it if you want an hour or two to relax. The massage was worth the few extra bucks - go for it!

Review by: Laura K, United States of America	May 2007
Really enjoyed this. The Alhambra is a must-see and the Arab bath is highly recommended.