Why go

The Royal Palace is Madrid at its grandest. Built in the 18th century on the site of the old Moorish fortress after the earlier Alcázar burned down, it is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, though they live elsewhere and use it for state occasions. With more than 3,000 rooms, it is the largest royal palace in Western Europe, and the route through the state rooms is a parade of frescoed ceilings, silk walls, chandeliers and gilded furniture.

It also sits in one of the most handsome corners of the city, facing the Almudena Cathedral across the Plaza de la Armería, with the Plaza de Oriente and the Teatro Real on the other side and the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro dropping away towards the river.

What to see

  • The Main Staircase. A sweeping marble entrance under a painted ceiling, designed to impress visiting ambassadors.
  • The Throne Room. Crimson velvet, mirrors and a ceiling by Tiepolo glorifying the Spanish monarchy.
  • The Gasparini Room. One of the most ornate rooms in the palace, covered in rococo stucco and embroidered silk.
  • The Royal Armoury. Suits of armour worn by Spanish kings and their horses, one of the finest collections of its kind.
  • The Plaza de la Armería. The great parade ground between the palace and the cathedral, with views west over the Casa de Campo.
  • Changing of the Guard. A solemn ceremony on the first Wednesday of most months; check the Patrimonio Nacional calendar before you go.

Plan your visit

From October to March the palace opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and from April to September until 7pm. On Sundays it opens from 10am to 4pm all year. The palace and box office close an hour before closing time. In 2026 it closes on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 25 December, and at 3pm on 24 and 31 December. It can also close for official events, sometimes at short notice.

A self-guided ticket costs €18, or €9 for ages 5 to 16, over 65s and students up to 25. Guided tours cost €26 (€17 reduced), with English tours at 10.45am, 11.45am, 1.45pm and 3.15pm from Monday to Saturday. Under 5s are free. Online tickets carry a €0.77 booking fee. A Royal District pass adding the new Royal Collections Gallery next door costs €24.

Citizens and residents of the European Union and Latin America can visit free, self-guided, from Monday to Thursday in the last two hours (4pm to 6pm in winter, 5pm to 7pm in summer). These tickets are only given out at the box office, so expect a queue.

The entrance is on the Almudena Cathedral side, from the Plaza de la Armería. Large backpacks and suitcases are not allowed while works continue. You can take photos without flash, but not with tripods or selfie sticks. Allow about 45 minutes for the state rooms and 30 for the Armoury.

Nearby

The Almudena Cathedral is across the square, the Sabatini Gardens are beside the palace, and the Temple of Debod is about ten minutes’ walk north. Plaza Mayor and the Mercado de San Miguel are about ten minutes east along Calle Mayor.