The complete guide to Madrid's Royal Palace
Madrid’s Royal Palace is one of Spain’s most visited monuments. We recommend that you visit it with a tour guide during your stay in Madrid. Here’s a guide with some practical tips for a unique and unforgettable experience in this magnificent palace.
Organize your stay in Madrid and plan a visit to the Royal Palace
Rich in history, it will surprise you with its magnificent rooms and rich decorations. To live a unique experience we suggest you to take a guided tour of the Royal Palace, where you’ll discover an impressive collection of clocks, canvases by famous painters, tapestries, royal jewels, the royal crown and even a rare collection of Stradivarius violins unique in the world.
The history of Madrid's Royal Palace
The history of the Royal Palace of Madrid begins during the reign of Emir Mohamed Iᵉʳ (9ᵉ century) and continues with the kings of Spain.
The latter chose to build a fortress in the city of Madrid to protect the ancient Spanish capital Toledo from the advancing Christians. It wasn’t until the 14ᵉ century that the kings of Castile built the first Alcázar, bearing the name Antiguo Alcázar, and it was Charles Iᵉʳ of Spain and his son Philip II who completed this transformation, turning the ruins into the residence of kings.
In 1734, a fire destroyed the Alcázar, and it was Philip V who oversaw the construction of a new palace on the ruins of the previous two. He appointed Filippo Juvara to build it, but the latter died shortly after construction began, and it was his disciple Juan Bautista Sachetti who completed the work in 1738, seven years after work had begun.
The first king to reside in the royal palace was Charles III, and he was also the first to decorate it. The greatest decorative changes were made by his successor Charles IV, who fitted out the Hall of Mirrors. Studies have shown that the Royal Palace of Madrid was inspired by the organization of Bernini’s Louvre in Paris. Both structures feature a square courtyard, a gallery and a main palace facade overlooking the Plaza de la Armería.
The Royal Palace of Madrid boasts some 3,000 rooms and reception areas, a staircase designed by Sabatini with over 70 steps, a throne room featuring a magnificent fresco by Tiepolo, a guard room (formerly a ballroom), a royal chapel and a room dedicated to Stradivarius stringed instruments.
What to do at the Royal Palace of Madrid ?
To give you a foretaste of a visit to Madrid’s Royal Palace, here’s a detailed look at the most important things to see at the official residence of the Spanish kings.
How many rooms does the Royal Palace of Madrid have ?
Madrid’s Royal Palace has 3,418 rooms. However, only 50 of these are open to the public. It is the largest working royal palace in Europe. Some rooms are only open to the public on special occasions.
Where is the Royal Palace of Madrid located ?
The Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the historic center of Madrid, in the west of the city. It is located on Calle de Bailén, near the Plaza de Oriente. It is one of Madrid’s main monuments, and stands opposite the Almudena Cathedral. The palace is surrounded by magnificent gardens, including the Jardines de Sabatini and the Campo del Moro.
Palace address: Calle de Bailén, you can get there by metro by getting off at the Opera station on lines 5 and 2.
The metro ticket will cost you no more than 2€, and if you take a card it’s cheaper.
If you’d like to take a stroll around the Plaza Espana before coming to the Royal Palace, we recommend getting off at the Plaza de Espana station on lines 10 and 3.
The armory square
The armory square separates the Royal Palace from the Almuneda cathedral, and is an ideal spot for taking photos of the Royal Palace, as well as for entering the palace and starting your tour. For military graduations and other events, the Armory Square is not accessible, to ensure the smooth running of the event. If you’re visiting Madrid’s Royal Palace, we recommend that you start your visit in this square, to soak up the sublime royal decor.
The main staircase of Madrid's Royal Palace
Designed to have a graceful, harmonious step, this is made possible by the small spacing between each step, making it very easy and pleasant to use. Each step is carved from a single 5-metre-long piece of Spanish marble. As you pass through, take time to look at the magnificent vault and its paintings depicting the Spanish monarchy of the 18ᵉ century. You’ll find numerous sculptures representing royalty, including two lions symbolizing power and Spain.
Room of Charles III or Mattia Gasparini
Charles III’s bedroom is decorated in Rococo style from floor to ceiling. Very much in vogue at the time of Charles III, this cheerful style represents the beauty of nature and oriental art. The decoration, very difficult to put in place, was completed almost 50 years after the request. The floor is decorated with marble marquetry depicting plants, as are the seats and walls. Charles III’s room is one of the most prestigious in the Royal Palace, with a richly decorated interior and one of the most important clocks in the palace (the shepherd’s clock).
The Royal Chapel of Madrid's Royal Palace
The chapel of Madrid’s Royal Palace is one of the most impressive rooms in the palace, a veritable jewel of a chapel full of luxurious detail and meaning. To make the most of this room, we recommend spending several minutes observing the details of the magnificent dome.
The Stradivarius Hall
This is one of the most eagerly awaited rooms in Madrid’s Royal Palace. Stadivarius instruments are on display: 2 violins, a viola and a cello. Acquired by the court in 1775, these four instruments were regularly used for concerts, and are still used for exclusive events in Madrid’s Royal Palace. This hall is much loved by music lovers the world over, both for its decoration and the instruments on display.
The throne room of Madrid's Royal Palace
The King’s throne is housed in a large, sumptuously decorated hall with red velvet walls. The room was completed in 1772, and the decoration has remained intact to this day. Each decorative element is an allegory symbolizing the Spanish monarchy. It’s worth taking a guide with you to learn about the significance of each element in this masterpiece.
The armory and the royal kitchen
It’s not possible to visit the palace in its entirety (over 3,000 rooms), but you can visit the impressive royal armory and the royal palace kitchen. The armory is located at the far right (looking towards the Almuneda cathedral) of the main courtyard of the Royal Palace. For the kitchens, we advise you to ask the royal palace staff whether or not they are open on the day of your visit.
The palace gardens, Campo del Moro and Sabatini garden
Madrid’s Royal Palace has two gardens that we recommend you visit: the campo del moro and the Sabatini garden. This is where the king used to come to rest, and where he also liked to go to Retiro Park.
Visit Madrid's Royal Palace with a specialist art history guide
The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, and one of the palaces that has seen the most kings and cultures live within its walls. Visiting it with a historian-guide will help you understand the works of art and the significance of the palace’s allegories. One of the great advantages of visiting Madrid’s Royal Palace with an English-speaking guide is that you can spend more time in the rooms, enjoying them. You’ll learn how the king used painters and artists to demonstrate his superiority and power. A tour of the palace with a guide lasts almost two hours, and with its wealth of explanations, it’s an unbeatable experience.
Watch the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid
The Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid takes place on Wednesday and Saturday of each week (except for official ceremonies or inclement weather). The ceremonial changing of the guard takes place every first Wednesday of the month (except January, August and September).
| Type of Guard Change | Day | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly Change | Wednesday and Saturday | 11am to 2pm (10am to 12pm in July and August) | In front of the Puerta del Príncipe (Bailén Street) |
| Solemn Change | First Wednesday of every month (except January, August, and September) | Noon | Plaza de la Armería, access via Puerta de Santiago (Bailén Street) |
Additional details to attend the Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace in Madrid
- Weekly changeover: Guards rotate every thirty minutes, accompanied by the beat of a drum.
- Solemn changeover: Preceded by a concert by the Music Unit, this ceremony involves around 400 soldiers and 100 horses, and lasts around 50 minutes.
We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the ceremony to guarantee a good seat. To complete this activity, we recommend a visit to Almudena Cathedral and its crypt.
Visit Madrid's Royal Palace with your company or on a school trip
If you’re planning to visit Madrid with your company for a seminar, team-building event or corporate trip, we can offer you a “complete package” to visit Madrid.
We work with top-quality partners offering top-of-the-range services to meet your requirements and provide you with an experience to match. We regularly welcome school groups on trips to Madrid, and are delighted to organize visits to the Royal Palace.
Our guides’ explanations reflect the educational goals of our teaching staff. We have developed tours to capture the attention of students and provide them with real added value to make their stay as beneficial as possible.
Royal Palace of Madrid tickets
Ticket price for admission to the Royal Palace in Madrid (ticket valid for one day)
- Adult price: 14€.
- Reduced rate (for under-16s, large families, over-65s and students): 8€.
- Free for children under 5.
Royal Palace Madrid entrance fee
Madrid’s Royal Palace is free from Monday to Thursday, from 5pm to 7pm from October to March, and from 6pm to 8pm from April to September. Children under 5 and disabled people with an accompanying adult also benefit from free admission. Other specific cases of free admission may apply on certain dates and special events, so please contact the Royal Palace of Madrid directly for the most precise information.
Royal Palace of Madrid opening hours
Opening hours of the Royal Palace of Madrid
- Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, October to March.
- Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., April to September.
- On public holidays, the palace closes at 3pm.