Hotels near Real Alcazar

The Real Alcazar is the oldest royal palace still in active use in Europe. Its construction began in the 10th century under the Umayyad dynasty, but the building you see today is primarily the work of Pedro I of Castile, who in 1364 commissioned Mudejar craftsmen from Granada and Toledo to build a palace rivalling the Alhambra. The result is a layered complex where Islamic geometric tilework, Gothic vaulting, and Renaissance additions sit side by side across courtyards, gardens, and ceremonial halls. The Patio de las Doncellas, with its sunken garden and double-tiered arches, is the architectural centrepiece.

The gardens are as significant as the palace interiors. Spread across roughly seven hectares, they include the Mercury Pond, the Garden of the Poets, and the Grotesque Gallery - a 16th-century mannerist wall covered in artificial rock formations. Allow at least two hours, more if you plan to sit in the gardens. The palace gained additional fame as a filming location for Game of Thrones (Dorne scenes) and has appeared in several other productions. Entry costs approximately EUR 16 for adults, with free entry on Monday evenings (limited capacity, book online).

Pro Tip: Book your timed-entry ticket online at least a week ahead during March to May and September to October. Morning slots (09:30-10:30) tend to sell out first, but the palace is actually less crowded in the final entry slot of the day when tour groups have moved on.