Palacio Real de Madrid
The official residence of the Spanish Crown, the Palacio Real is the largest royal palace in use in Western Europe, with 135,000 m² and 3,418 rooms. Built between 1738 and 1764 in the Italian Baroque style, it safeguards a collection of Flemish tapestries, armour and the Stradivarius Violin Collection.
What it is and why it's worth it
The Royal Palace of Madrid is no dead relic: it remains the official residence of the Royal Family (even though the monarchs don't live here), which is why it can close with a day's notice for a state event. It was built on the ruins of the Habsburg Alcázar, which burned down on Christmas Eve 1734. Philip V commissioned the project from Filippo Juvara, who died before completing it; Giovanni Battista Sacchetti finished it in Italian Baroque style, this time using limestone and granite instead of wood — a lesson learned from the fire. What truly justifies the visit isn't the gilded ceilings (impressive as they are) but two collections few visitors expect: the Royal Armoury, with suits of armour made for Charles V and Philip II by master craftsmen in Milan and Augsburg in the 16th century, considered alongside Vienna's one of the two finest in the world; and the Palatine Stradivarius Collection, four instruments made entirely by Antonio Stradivari (two violins, a viola and a cello) that Charles IV purchased in 1775 and which still sound in special concerts. Also note the inner courtyard: among the sculptures stand Moctezuma and Atahualpa, the last Aztec and Inca emperors — a nod to the Spanish imperial conscience.
Tickets, opening hours and how to beat the queues
General admission costs €14 and the reduced rate (students, seniors, large families) €7. The official guided tour adds €8 per person. If you also want to visit the Gallery of Royal Collections, the combined pack is better value: €24 general / €12 reduced. There is a free slot for EU and Ibero-American citizens during the last two hours before closing, Monday to Thursday, but only at the physical ticket office (not online): 16:00–18:00 in winter and 17:00–19:00 in summer. Opening hours: high season (April–September) Monday to Saturday 10:00–20:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–16:00; low season (October–March) Monday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00–16:00. Last entry is one hour before closing (check patrimonionacional.es before going). Closed 1 and 6 January, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. To skip the queue, book online with an assigned time slot — you bypass the ticket office entirely. Otherwise, arrive at opening (10:00) or, in low season, after 16:00. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest days; avoid Saturdays and public holidays.
How to get there and tips from those who've been
The easiest way is by metro: lines 2 or 5 to Ópera station, a 6-minute walk away. From Cercanías Renfe commuter rail, alight at Príncipe Pío (about 12 minutes on foot). By bus, lines 3, 25, 39 and 148 stop nearby. And if you're in the city centre, from Puerta del Sol it's about 12 minutes' walk along Calle Arenal or Calle Mayor. Budget your time according to what you want to see: the State Rooms alone, 1.5–2 hours; adding the Royal Armoury and Sabatini Gardens, 3–4 hours; and if you enter the Gallery of Royal Collections (opened in 2023), set aside half a day. That Gallery requires a separate ticket or pack and has long waiting lists in summer, so book ahead. Two tips you'll thank us for: there is no left-luggage, so avoid large bags (they may send you to the security desk), and an audio guide is available at the ticket office and as the Patrimonio Nacional app. Finally, the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro are free and offer great views of the palace exterior if you'd rather not pay for entry.
Frequently asked questions
How much does entry cost and is it worth booking online?
How much time do I need for the visit?
What is the best time to avoid the queues?
Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you book through them, Andelaria may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Transparency & affiliate policy
Book tickets and tours: Palacio Real de Madrid· 18 €Plan your trip
Book the essentials for your trip to Madrid.
Other places in Madrid
Museo del Prado
museoSpain's most important painting museum holds more than 8,000 works on display, among them Velázquez's Las Meninas, Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights and Goya's cartoons. Juan de Villanueva's neoclassical building, opened in 1819, is itself a monumental piece of architecture on the Paseo del Arte.
Parque del Buen Retiro
parqueDeclared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, El Retiro covers 125 hectares in the heart of Madrid. Its Estanque Grande with the Monument to Alfonso XII, the Palacio de Cristal and the rose garden with more than 4,000 rosebushes make it Madrileños' favourite green lung.
Puerta del Sol
plazaKilometre zero for all of Spain's radial roads, the Puerta del Sol is the symbolic epicentre of Madrid and of the country. The 18th-century Real Casa de Correos, the bear and the strawberry tree — the city's heraldic emblem — and the twelve New Year's Eve chimes make it an unmissable landmark for any visitor.
Templo de Debod
temploAn authentic 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, dismantled stone by stone in Nubia and given by Egypt to Spain in 1968 in gratitude for help rescuing Abu Simbel. Rebuilt in the Parque del Oeste with views over the Casa de Campo and the Sierra de Guadarrama, it is unique in the world outside Egypt.
Gran Vía y Edificio Metrópolis
avenidaMadrid's most famous commercial and theatre artery, opened between 1910 and 1933, packs some of the most spectacular buildings of European eclecticism into barely 1.3 km. The Edificio Metrópolis (1911), crowned by its bronze allegory and slate dome, marks the start of the avenue and is the city's most photographed skyline.
Fiestas de San Isidro
fiestaThe San Isidro Festival honours Madrid's patron saint every 15 May with a pilgrimage to the Pradera de Carabanchel, beside the hermitage and the Manzanares river. Free and open to all, it brings together more than 100 activities: street dances, chotis performances, rosquillas pastries and the great Feria Taurina de Las Ventas running alongside.
Orgullo de Madrid (MADO)
fiestaMadrid Pride (MADO) is Europe's largest LGBTQ+ event: its national march, free and open to all, runs along the Paseo del Prado to Colón and draws over two million people every first weekend of July. It was born in 1978 and has its heart in the Chueca neighbourhood.
Mad Cool Festival
fiestaMad Cool is Madrid's flagship rock and indie festival: it launched in 2016 and now takes place every July at the Iberdrola Music venue (Villaverde). Four days, multiple stages and international headliners. It is a ticketed event — you need a pass (full festival or single day), and they sell out in waves.