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Royal Palace of Madrid
5 experiences and tours
Likely to sell out
Royal Palace of Madrid: Fast Track Entry
From €22
Likely to sell out
Royal Palace Madrid: Entry Tickets + Royal Kitchen Tour and Digital Royal Guide
From €22
Famous Landmarks Walking Tour
3hPrivate option availableFree cancellation
Madrid Free Walking Tour
3hTip-based
Free tour of Madrid's Old Town
3hFree cancellation
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On Christmas Eve 1734, fire destroyed the old Moorish fortress where the kings of Spain lived. Philip V ordered a new palace of stone on the same spot, so it could never burn again. The result is the largest royal palace in Western Europe, with more than 3,000 rooms, and it is still the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
Today the king lives elsewhere and uses the palace for state ceremonies, so most of its grand rooms are open to visitors. You walk through the Throne Room, the state dining room and the royal apartments, then see one of the finest collections of armour in the world.
This page gathers ways to visit with Artista: fast-track entry tickets, a ticket with a guided tour of the Royal Kitchen, and walking tours of old Madrid that pass the palace. Each card shows whether entry is included.
About Royal Palace of Madrid
Work on the palace began in 1738 and took about 17 years. Charles III was the first king to live in it, from 1764, and he filled it with work by the best artists of his time. The Italian painter Giambattista Tiepolo painted the great ceiling of the Throne Room.
The rooms show how the Spanish court lived in the 18th and 19th centuries: silk walls, clocks, porcelain and chandeliers in almost every room. The Royal Armoury holds armour worn by Charles V and Philip II, and the Royal Pharmacy keeps its old jars and remedies. The palace also owns a rare set of instruments made by Antonio Stradivari.
What to expect on a Royal Palace of Madrid experience
The standard route through the state rooms takes about one and a half to two hours. All visitors pass a security check, so arrive a little before the time on your ticket. The Royal Gardens around the palace are included with entry.
The Royal Kitchen is visited only with a separate guided tour. It is one of the best preserved royal kitchens of its time, with copper pots, long work tables and old stoves. The palace can close at short notice for official ceremonies, and some rooms may then be closed.
Best time to visit
Arrive at opening time or in the late afternoon to avoid the largest groups. Summer and holiday weekends are the busiest. The palace is open on most days of the year, but it closes for some official events.
On the first Wednesday of most months, the palace holds the Solemn Changing of the Guard at noon in the Plaza de la Armería, with soldiers in historic uniforms and horses. Citizens of the EU and Latin America can enter free on some weekday afternoons, but places are limited.
Getting around
The palace stands on the western edge of the old town, above the Manzanares river. The nearest metro station is Ópera, on lines L2 and L5, about a five-minute walk away. From Puerta del Sol it is a walk of about 15 minutes along Calle Mayor or Calle del Arenal.
The entrance for individual visitors is on the Explanada de la Almudena, next to the Almudena Cathedral. The Plaza de la Armería, the large square between the palace and the cathedral, is where the changing of the guard takes place. The Sabatini Gardens on the north side and the Campo del Moro below the palace are free to visit.