Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real)
#3 in Best Things To Do in Madrid
1 of 3
2 of 3Price & Hours
Details
Scorecard
- Value 4.5
- Facilities 3.0
- Atmosphere 5.0
U.S. News Insider Tip: Time your visit with the changing of the guard ceremony on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Every first Wednesday of most months, the Solemn Changing of the Guard is staged by 400 people and 100 horses as it was done in the 19th century. – Julienne C. Raboca
One of the largest palaces in the world, this royal residence housed the kings of Spain from the mid-1700s to the early 1900s. Although the royal family does not currently live in the palace, it is still considered their official residence. It is also thought to be the largest royal palace in Western Europe with a total of 3,418 rooms, only some of which are open to the public, including the popular armory room and royal pharmacy.
Inside, highlights include the recently restored Salón del Trono, a grand throne room often referred to as the "Hand-Kissing Room of the King." The palace also houses the Hall of Columns, a ballroom and function room now used for celebrations and public events. The Royal Armory presents an impressive collection of luxury weapons and suits of armor. Additionally, the Royal Chapel showcases a remarkable assortment of string instruments crafted by the renowned Antonio Stradivari.
The majority of visitors were wowed by the luxuriousness and the grandeur of the palace, but many also complained about the long lines to get in – booking in advance is recommended. If you want to beat the crowds, make sure to arrive early in the day. Reviews also suggest opting for a guided tour or an audio guide (available for an additional 4 or 5 euros) to hear stories behind the rooms, which compete to impress. Several visitors have also compared Palacio Real with Versailles, with the Spanish version garnering a surprise victory per recent reviews.
If you want to skip the palace interiors, you might be interested in touring its on-site gardens. The neoclassical Sabatini Gardens are adjacent to the property, and accessible via street stairway. However, if you really want to beat the palace crowds, walk farther down the street behind the palace to the less-traveled Campo del Moro Gardens for a truly royal retreat. You can reach Campo del Moro Gardens by getting off the Príncipe Pío metro, and the palace from the Ópera or Plaza de España metro stops. For more information, visit the palace's website.
Hours
The Palacio Real is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., from Mondays to Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays; the gardens stay open until 7 p.m. daily. Visit the website for seasonal opening hours, which are reduced from October to March.
Tickets
Admission costs 14 euros (or about $15) for adults and 7 euros (around $8) for minors ages 5 to 16; children 4 and younger enter for free. Free entrance to the palace is available to all ages Monday to Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
More Best Things To Do in Madrid
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2 of 22#1 El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro)
To the east of central Madrid, Parque del Buen Retiro (El Retiro Park) can be translated as "Garden of the Pleasant Retreat," and that's what it is – a sprawling swath of lush greenery filled with formal gardens, lakes, cafes, playgrounds and more. This 300-acre park previously housed Felipe IV's palace and gardens, and wasn't open to the public until the late 19th century. In 2021, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with Paseo del Prado as "a landscape of arts and sciences."
Today, you can still rent a rowboat before heading to the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), which holds regular art exhibitions. You can also stop and smell the roses in the Rosaleda (Rose Garden), which boasts more than 4,000 roses; May and June are the best months to see them in full bloom. Plus, for those traveling with little ones, the Teatro de Titeres hosts puppet shows most weekends. To the south lies a fountain where uncannily, the angel Lucifer stands before his fall from grace. Madrileños claim that the Ángel Caído (Fallen Angel) statue is the only one in the world depicting the Prince of Darkness before his transformation.
To the east of central Madrid, Parque del Buen Retiro (El Retiro Park) can be translated as "Garden of the Pleasant Retreat," and that's what it is – a sprawling swath of lush greenery filled with formal gardens, lakes, cafes, playgrounds and more. This 300-acre park previously housed Felipe IV's palace and gardens, and wasn't open to the public until the late 19th century. In 2021, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with Paseo del Prado as "a landscape of arts and sciences."
Today, you can still rent a rowboat before heading to the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), which holds regular art exhibitions. You can also stop and smell the roses in the Rosaleda (Rose Garden), which boasts more than 4,000 roses; May and June are the best months to see them in full bloom. Plus, for those traveling with little ones, the Teatro de Titeres hosts puppet shows most weekends. To the south lies a fountain where uncannily, the angel Lucifer stands before his fall from grace. Madrileños claim that the Ángel Caído (Fallen Angel) statue is the only one in the world depicting the Prince of Darkness before his transformation.
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