Things to do in Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, however, it is currently used exclusively for receptions, ceremonies, and official acts. Today the King and Queen of Spain reside in the Zarzuela Palace, located on the outskirts of the Spanish capital.
The Royal Palace is located on the site of the old Alcazar of Madrid, a medieval fortress converted into a luxurious palace by John II, Charles V and Philip II. The Alcazar was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve in 1734.
The construction of the Royal Palace began in 1738 and was completed in 1764, the year in which Charles III decide to reside there. Also known as the Palacio de Oriente, it is surrounded by the Campo del Moro Gardens and the Sabatini Gardens. The building is inspired by the sketches made by Bernini for the construction of the Louvre in Paris and is articulated around a square courtyard. It has a gallery and a Plaza de Armas, where the main facade of the palace is located.
Featuring 3,400 lavish rooms, visiting the largest royal palace in Europe is an experience in itself. The Throne Room preserves the original decoration from the reign of Charles III, including the impressive vault fresco by Tiepolo to show the grandeur of the monarchy. The chandelier and the Shepherd's Clock are two of the main attractions of the Gasparini Room (the room where the king dressed), and the Royal Armory is one of the most complete on the continent. Other unmissable rooms are the Hall of Columns, the Royal Kitchen, the Halberdiers' Hall and the Royal Chapel.
Every Wednesday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, from mid-September to mid-July, the changing of the Royal Palace guard takes place. During the summer months, the hours are from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The building can be visited practically all year round, as it is closed only during official ceremonies and festivities.
Our recommendations in Royal Palace of Madrid

Madrid Royal Palace skip-the-line tickets and tour with an expert guide
Discover the Royal Palace of Madrid, admire the artworks by Goya and Velázquez and visit the gardens booking this 2-hour guided tour.
en, fr

Royal Palace of Madrid Entrance Ticket and In-App Audio Tour
Discover the regal atmosphere of Spanish Court life with an in-app audio tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Uncover its history and explore the royal gardens.
en

Royal Collections Gallery and Royal Palace Guided Tour in Spanish
Enjoy a guided tour in Spanish of the Royal Collections Gallery combined with the Royal Palace and learn more about the country's history with an expert guide.
es

Royal Collections Gallery Tickets and Guided Tour in English
Enjoy a Spanish guided tour of the Royal Collections Gallery, Spain's most important museum project, to learn more about its past thanks to an expert guide.
en

Madrid Royal Palace skip-the-line tickets and tour with an expert guide
Discover the Royal Palace of Madrid, admire the artworks by Goya and Velázquez and visit the gardens booking this 2-hour guided tour.
en, fr

Royal Palace of Madrid Entrance Ticket and In-App Audio Tour
Discover the regal atmosphere of Spanish Court life with an in-app audio tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid. Uncover its history and explore the royal gardens.
en

Royal Collections Gallery and Royal Palace Guided Tour in Spanish
Enjoy a guided tour in Spanish of the Royal Collections Gallery combined with the Royal Palace and learn more about the country's history with an expert guide.
es

Royal Collections Gallery Tickets and Guided Tour in English
Enjoy a Spanish guided tour of the Royal Collections Gallery, Spain's most important museum project, to learn more about its past thanks to an expert guide.
en

Monumental Madrid tour with Prado Museum and Royal Palace tickets
Explore Madrid with an expert guide and enter the Royal Palace and Prado Museu on this tour with tickets included.
en, es

Royal Palace of Madrid skip-the-line tickets and guided tour
Discover the Royal Palace of Madrid booking this guided tour with skip-the-line tickets.
en, es

Madrid highlights with entrance and guided tour to the Royal Palace
Discover Madrid and the Royal Palace booking this 4-hour guided tour with skip-the-line tickets
en, es

Express Madrid self-balancing scooter tour
Discover Madrid in just 1 hour on a self-balancing scooter. Learn interesting facts and fascinating stories about the monuments from an experienced guide.
en, es

Get all the best information for this Madrid half-day tour and book your tickets, skipping the line, at official rates. Get informed, plan your trip and book tickets and tours in Madrid.
en, es

Madrid Highlights with Prado Museum Ticket
Buy your Madrid sightseeing tour of the Prado Museum. Get informed, plan and book your amazing activities in Madrid today.
en, es

Guided tour of Madrid's mysteries
Discover the mysteries of Madrid during this guided tour.
es

Almudena Cathedral and Royal Palace walking guided tour
Learn about Madrid's rich history and architectural heritage, enjoy a guided walking tour of the iconic landmarks, discover the grandeur of stunning monuments.
en, es
How to get there

Royal Palace of Madrid
Madrid
Spain
Reviews Royal Palace of Madrid
“Genial, estado muy bien”
“Nuestra guía Irene fue excelente, muy profesional, mu7estra conocimiento. Su actitud amable me hizo sentir cómoda. Estaba atenta a responder a todos.”
“Tout s est très bien passé pour achat billets pour le Palais Royal de Madrid sur le site Musement”
