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    Palacio Real de Madrid

    4.4 (237 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Rhonda W.

    If your in town we really enjoyed the palace and cathedral were worth the visit. We were there rather late in the day. There is usually a fee but they gave us the tickets at no cost which was appreciated ... possibly since the time. We didn't take a tour or want to hear the history .. just look around. We would have totally missed out if someone from our tour hadn't said it was spectacular so we hopped in a taxi and took a quick look. It was lovely as most palaces are but never visited one with no fee.

    Alaleh P.

    The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) is one of the city's most iconic landmarks, known for its grand Baroque‑and‑Classical architecture and its impressive scale. It sits in the heart of Madrid and serves as the official residence of the Spanish royal family, though it's mainly used today for state ceremonies. With more than 135,000 square metres and over 3,000 rooms, it's the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Inside, the palace showcases lavish state rooms, historic art collections, and beautifully preserved details that reflect centuries of Spanish history. Nearly two million visitors come each year to explore its halls, admire its architecture, and enjoy views of the surrounding gardens and city. It remains one of the few official royal residences in the world that is open to the public. You can purchase guided tours in different languages in advance.

    Christina H.

    If there's a royal palace, I'm booking a tour. I've visited several across Europe, but none compare to the magnificence of the one in Madrid. As the largest royal palace in Europe--and one of the largest in the world--it's truly awe-inspiring. Given the palace's incredible size and countless rooms, I highly recommend booking a guided tour through a third party. With a guide, not only do they provide insight on the history of the palace and the royal family, but they also have exclusive access to areas not open to the general public. It's easy to lose yourself in the richness of the space since every inch of the palace is intricately designed.

    Throne room
    Stephanie C.

    A must visit in Madrid! I've been to many palaces across Europe and the world and the Royal Palace of Madrid is one of my favorites. There are many elaborately decorated rooms and almost all of the palace is open to the guest which I appreciated. Google maps does not lead you to the front entrance, instead it leads you to the gates by the back which you cannot enter through. Double check your navigation if you're worried about running late for a tour like we were. Thankfully we were able to go with the next tour group. The Royal Palace of Madrid is grander than all the palaces in Portugal and Budapest and Austria etc. There were so many themed rooms and I highly recommend taking a tour with a museum docent. If you are lucky you may happen to visit the palace when the Royal family visits. We missed them by just a few days!

    Lizzie Y.

    Palacio Real de Madrid is a MUST visit site when in Madrid. I was able to purchase tickets the day before for a reasonable price, ~64€ for 4 people, through the Headout app. Came with audio guide. Truly beautiful inside and it's ginormous! What was once the home to the Kings of Spain from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, it's currently still the biggest palace in Western Europe & I'd say it's definitely worth spending 1-2 hrs here to admire the architecture.

    Salim K.

    Stepping into the Royal Palace of Madrid is like crossing the threshold into another world one defined by grandeur, splendor, and the undeniable weight of history. The palace definitely stands as a striking symbol of national pride and regal power. From the very first glance, the scale of the palace is awe inspiring. With over 3,400 rooms, it is one of the largest palaces in Europe, and each space seems to outdo the last in elegance and extravagance. The white stone façade gleams in the Spanish sun, and the sweeping views over the Campo del Moro Gardens and the distant mountains set the scene for what awaits inside. Inside, opulence reigns. Rich tapestries, gilded moldings, crystal chandeliers, and ceilings painted by masters such as Giaquinto and Tiepolo make it clear that this is not merely a residence; it is a declaration of monarchy, power, and refined taste. Every room tells a story, from the Throne Room's velvet-draped walls to the astonishing banquet hall and the lavish Royal Chapel. What truly sets the palace apart, however, is its attention to detail and the preservation of artistry. Even the palace's lesser-known corners are a masterclass in craftsmanship and style. Visiting the Royal Palace is not just a walk through Spanish history it's a deep immersion into an era where architecture, politics, and art converged to form an enduring legacy of imperial brilliance. It's a rare place where every inch whispers majesty, and where opulence is not simply decoration but identity. In a world increasingly defined by minimalism, the Royal Palace of Madrid unapologetically reminds us of the power of magnificence. We were somehow not able to visit the royal armory section which we would definitely make up for in our next visit. Definite recommendation!!

    Rohan D.

    It's pretty impressive, the museum and interior of the palace are not as important as the Golden Triangle of great Madrid Art Museums but the palace will only take an hour or two. It's right across a big plaza from the big cathedral so you can hit both late in the afternoon, time it to see the sunset from the western part of the plaza.

    Julie D.

    I mean, what's not to like? It's opulent. It's lavish. Yada yada yada I started my morning with a tour here. Having a guide is the way to go. I wouldn't want to just walk the property not getting the back story of every room. Our tour started at the meeting point - the tour guide office. We walked to Plaza Mayor then we made our way to the palace. I oohed and ahhed at every room I walked into. Lucky for us, the property is open to the public. I say this because the Spanish royal family still uses it. The collection of all the things previous royal members have collected is truly impressive. The artworks. The jewelry. The rugs. I suggest signing up for an early morning tour. My group entered after 10am. There was definitely a much bigger group tours as we made our way out I was stressed for the staff that had to watch families who let their kids free and stress out the staff as they would try to cross the barricades between the artwork.

    Ino R.

    Beautiful treasure that Madrid, and Spain have to share with the world. If you have the opportunity, DO NOT miss. How often do you have the chance to walk through a functioning palace... this place is huge. The audio guide has a recommended agenda for you that pretty much hits the high points, but the visit to the palace can be so much more if you allow it. The guards were not intrusive, but the palace museum goes through waves of crowds, and you could go with it, but I actually enjoyed listening to the various tour guides that each had their takes on the rooms and the history. The place is great for people watching as thousands of folks visit this place daily. Our later time slot at 1600 was fine, and I did not feel that the guards were pushing us through... until, it was closer to the closing time of 1800 (6 p.m.). I also got the kids an audio guide, and surprisingly they used it to understand what they were looking at. It might have been better only if it was age appropriate, but it was in English, and I listened, walked, and spoke with them about what they saw, what they liked, and how it connected to Spain's history and future. My favorite room was the porcelain room, but there were other rooms that were just as amazing, like the dining room and the crowning room... the royal chapel...amazing. There is so much history here, both classical and contemporary. We got a combo tour that the Palacio Real site has, that allows us to visit the Royal Gallery within 7 days of purchase and visit to the Palacio Real. We did not have to wait for the folks that showed up on a whim. Worth the wait, but with an advanced and timed ticket... you don't have to.

    Maria T.

    Opulent to the nth degree! Every trip to Madrid has to include a tour of the palace. It's huge and beautiful! We loved reading about the historic significance of this majestic palace and our self guided tour took about an hour. Tons of gold, marble, brocade, and crystal! It does get a little tedious... I mean... big room, chandelier- big room chandelier- big room chandelier... etc. okay we get it... but still worth a gander!

    The main courtyard of the Palacio Royal
    Joe P.

    Madrid's Royal Palace, Europe's largest and one of its most spectacular, is a sprawling exercise in over-the-top regal opulence, with galleries and ballrooms that seem to go on forever -- whenever you think it's topped itself, there's another room around the corner that outdoes the last. Started in 1735 by King Philip V following the destruction by fire of Spain's Royal Alcázar (which stood on the same spot), the design was modeled after the Palace of Versailles, where Philip had spent his childhood. With more than 3,400 rooms, it remains the official residence of the Spanish royal family, although it's presently used only for official state ceremonies. Visitors can tour the most impressive rooms in the palace, from the Grand Staircase at the entryway to the stunning royal apartments of King Charles III, who redecorated the palace with its current Baroque-Rococo interior, a design that gives the impression of bring inside a giant Italian painting. No room is a better expression of this style than the mind-blowing Gasparini Room, which features a frescoed ceiling by Tiepolo, silk walls, painted stucco figures and a multicolored marble floor. It takes your breath away, and seems like grandest room in the palace -- until you reach the impossibly large Dining Room a bit later in the tour. By far the grandest space you'll see is the mind-blowing Royal Chapel, which looks like a miniature cathedral in the heart of the palace. It's still used for royal funerals, and a prominently displayed glass coffin contains the body of St. Felix, which the Vatican gifted to the Spanish King in the 1800s. Beyond that, you'll see a room housing a collection of rare Stradivarius violins, another that displays the Spanish crown jewels, and finally, the Throne Room, still used by the king and queen for official state functions. Buy a timed admission ticket ahead of time through the official palace website, particularly if you're visiting on a weekend. Instead of paying extra for a third-party tour, consider using the guide provided by the palace or (even better) navigate the rooms using Rick Steves' highly informative Madrid guidebook. The whole tour takes between 60 and 90 minutes, but leave time to navigate the security line and the entrance queue. After you leave the palace, you can also visit the Royal Armory on the other side of the main courtyard, but this was closed during our recent visit. Nothing can prepare you for the scale and grandeur of the Palacio Royal. Whether you're a student of history, art or architecture, a visit here is a MUST if you're visiting Madrid.

    Trinny T.

    I definitely recommend to buy tickets in advance. When I left, I saw a 70 m long line on the no ticket side. The side with reservation had nobody. The check in/ticket/scanning lady was rude though. She scanned my pass and I pulled out another pass because I have two people. And she said "I already said two people!" telling me she didn't need to scan the other one. How am I supposed to know if she scanned one ticket, it'd say two people on her interface? Mind you, the tickets (included with the gallery) were both needed to be scanned at the gallery. The tour was a quick trip with a gift shop at the end. Everyone else was friendly. Overall it is only worth going if you bought tickets in advance

    Throne room
    Olivia C.

    We really enjoyed our visit and found the self-guided audio tour both informative and convenient. It was great to be able to go at our own pace and take it all in. We were able to walk up and buy tickets the same day, but it's generally a good idea to book ahead if you can. You get to see a lot of the castle, and it's fascinating to watch old architecture blend with more modern elements. A great stop for history lovers.

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    Palacio Real de Madrid Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Palacio Real de Madrid

    There are many elaborately decorated rooms and almost all of the palace is open to the guest which I appreciated.

    Mentioned in 95 reviews

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    Palacio de Cibeles - Night time beauty

    Palacio de Cibeles

    4.0(45 reviews)
    1.9 kmRetiro

    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!

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    Palacio de Cibeles - Palacio de Cibeles

    Palacio de Cibeles

    Palacio de Cibeles - Stairwell

    Stairwell

    Palacio de Cibeles

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    Palacio Real de Madrid - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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