4.5 stars and rounded up. A UNESCO world heritage site, one…read moreof the official residences of the Spanish monarchy, this location started as a hunting lodge in the 12th century then came into use for the royal household in the 16th century, with major constructions instigated by Phillip II and V, Ferdinand VI and Charles III. Today the palace rooms are open to the public as well as a several rooms at the entrance which chronicle the history, design and functional usage shifts of the palace. Compared to other royal residences, the number of viewable rooms are fewer though no less impressive. Highlights are the Salón Árab with its intricate Moorish-inspired carved and painted ceiling and walls, the Gabinete de Porcelana (Porcelain room) covered floor to ceiling with Roccoco chinoiserie motifs of birds, flowers, and Oriental-themed figurines strongly influenced by 18th century Romantic decorative trends. Personally I enjoyed seeing the more casual billiards room and imagining the games played hundreds of years ago. Also cool to see the wedding dresses worn by Spanish queens and princesses in the past century. The gardens surrounding the palace are fairly expansive and pleasant to walk around, you could easily spend an hour here. There are some fountains and manicured shrubbery, and scenic views along the Tagus River that borders the grounds. There's also a portion of the garden with many peacocks. Tickets are €9 to self tour the palace rooms. Gardens are free. Like many museums and palaces in Europe, unless you use the lockers (€1 coin operated, returned upon unlocking), they make you carry any larger bags or backpacks on your front rather than on your back. Museum store and bathrooms are available. Plan to spend ~2.5-3 hours here. There are several nearby restaurants with views of the river or more within a 15-20 minute walk closer to downtown.

Enchanting! I have yet to go inside yet have explored acres of the Queen's garden (jardine) and the…read morePrince's garden (Jardine del Principe). Many branches and varieties of trees and plants! Something different on every turn: statues or fountains!

The oldest bull ring in Spain, according to the records. This is a magnificent piece of…read morearchitecture, still actively used. We loved Aranjuez as a day trip out of Madrid, and finding this gem topped it off. Sadly, it was closed as it was too late in the day. But the ticket booth alone was worth the visit.

The tight city streets give it a nice character. It almost feels like a North African city. Every…read morealley way seems to have a different surprise so it is worth just walking around for some time.

Alcázar de Toledo is an excellent museum and absolutely worth visiting. Entry was only 5 euros and…read morethey have a basic security check where selfie sticks and drones are not allowed. They also provide lockers to store your items which makes walking around much more comfortable. No one really spoke English during our visit, but everyone was very helpful and made the experience easy. All of the exhibits were interesting and well maintained, and there is even a listening tour available in both English and Spanish which helps you understand the history behind what you are seeing. The third floor is the highest point in Toledo and offers incredible views of the city. It is definitely a highlight of the visit and a great spot for pictures. Overall, I would recommend this museum if you are visiting Toledo and have about two hours to look around. It is a well curated and memorable experience.

Toledo's massive Alcázar, one of the city's most magnificent buildings, is an imposing citadel that…read moresits atop one of the city's most historic sites. The Romans built the first palace here in the 3rd Century, and its ancient foundations can been seen in the massive foyer of the military museum that now calls the Alcázar home. Those foundations, now displayed as part of one of the largest archeological excavations in Spain, are the most interesting part of the massive complex, much of which was reconstructed following the palace's destruction in the 1930s, after a two-month siege by Franco's Nationalist forces. The Alcázar's fascinating role in the Spanish Civil War (it's basically Spain's version of the Alamo) isn't given the attention it deserves in the present museum, which focuses on Spain's military history from the Visigoths to World War II. The exhibits are interesting (particularly the collection of medieval armor and swords), but they seem random and disconnected, and the lack of detail on the history of the palace itself feels like a missed opportunity. Worth maybe an hour of your time, unless you're a military history buff, in which case it's probably worth two.

Here's something you don't see every day - it's a vertical garden. Not flat like the botanical…read moregardens nearby. This garden is a dramatic four-story (78 feet!) tall green wall near the CaixaForum building. Facing south, the garden gets near constant sunlight as it moves across the sky. And yes, it sure gets hot in Madrid. But you'll find yourself much cooler with a visit to the garden. Worth admiring the 250 different species of plants that survive and thrive without soil. It is an ever-changing, living piece of art. [Review 12542 overall, 2332 of 2019.]

Palacio Real de Madrid is probably my favorite palaces we've seen on our travels…read more I loved that they had these massive air purifiers so it didn't smell stale or dusty (it was incredibly comfortable), but I also adored the absolutely gorgeous purple wallpaper and how much care had been taken in the decor inside the building. Absolutely do a tour if you have a chance as ours gave such a clear impression of the space and added such a nice depth to our visit. It was one of my favorite things we did while in Madrid, and I can't recommend visiting Palacio Real de Madrid enough.

It was interesting, lavish, gaudy, historic and decadent. Went in early May so it wasn't peak…read moretourist season, and still fairly busy. Official tickets for the week was sold out, however was able to book with a tour company that wasn't that much more than regular prices. That actually seemed to have worked out better than I planned as it allowed you to skip the line. Plan for a couple of hours, and don't forget the armory on your way out.

Had a pleasant & very hot day together here at the valley of the fallen,…read moreThis place is very historical and the upside is that if you love history as much as we do you will definitely want to visit, the downside is.. a lot of walking.

My friend suggested this day trip from Madrid and it did not disappoint. Must go to the cathedral…read moreand marvel at how high the ceilings go - remember this is built in a freaking mountain so the engineering that needed to happen is beyond impressive. The cathedral itself had a very somber yet almost modern feel, probably due to the stone walls and floors. Probably the most memorable cathedral I have ever seen.

I have visited Madrid several times and did not realize that you can a) go into the Palacio de…read moreCibeles and b) that it is free. My bf made this discovery when he was exploring while I was at work. Great discovery! After entering through a security/bag check, you walk upstairs onto the 2nd floor. There is a tourist office as well as a large relaxing/working space. An exhibit offers an overview of the commitment to green spaces in English and Spanish. The floors above house the history of the building, including the architecture and design. There are also special exhibits featuring different artists. If you are visiting before early May 2026, I highly recommend Ana Juan's "Wunderkammer" exhibition. Beautiful and thought provoking! There is an observation deck that can be accessed for €4. It was closed in mid-Feb for technical repairs without a confirmed reopening date. Hopefully it will be available to the public again soon! A bit farther away but you can always venture to the top of the Riu hotel for incredible views.

So I was sad because I bought a ticket to go on the rooftop, but it was raining, so I couldn't. But…read morethey refunded me automatically, so that was good. So instead I meandered between floors looking at all the art waiting for the rain to dissipate a bit. Some was cool, some I didn't get, to each their own. It's a gorgeous building and worth a visit if you have the time. I'll have to come back for the rooftop next time!