Royal Palace of Madrid Tickets

Yes, but only during select hours from Monday to Thursday. You can enjoy a free tickets for Royal Palace of Madrid and take a self-guided tour at the following times:

October-March: Monday-Thursday, from 16:00-18:00

April to September: Monday-Thursday, from 17:00-19:00

Please note, free entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid is only possible for the following:

• Citizens of the European Union
• Residents and holders of work permits in the EU
• Latin American citizens holding proof of nationality (national identification card, passport or driving license); or a residence or work permit

Yes! You can book a Royal Palace of Madrid tour and enjoy skip-the-line entry to avoid any long queues (perfect if you’re trying to dodge the Spanish sun).

During a guided tour, you’ll walk through the majestic throne room, up the marble staircases (built from a single slab), wander through the portrait gallery that’s packed with Spain’s greatest artists, and visit the weaponry in the armories. On top of all that, you’ll gain greater insight into Spain’s royal history thanks to the knowledge of an expert guide.

If you don’t want to take a Royal Palace of Madrid tour, you can always add an audio guide and gain more information on your own.

If you’re wondering if it's worth paying a visit to the home of Spanish royalty during your time in Madrid, then the answer is a resounding yes.

With Royal Palace of Madrid tickets, the largest palace in Europe is your oyster. Well, the best of its 3,000 rooms are. As you explore sections of the lavish 135,000 square meter space, you’ll step inside the Crown Room – which contains Charles III's throne, scepter and crown – the Royal Armory, and the Throne Hall.

The weapons armory is especially interesting. It’s often considered one of the finest in the world, with pieces dating back as far as the 13th century. There's also a full suit of 16th-century armor worn by Emperor Charles V at the Battle of Mühlberg inside – if you’re a fan of feudalism, this display is for you.

Along with adornments that showcase the pure luxury of Spain’s royal past, the Royal Palace of Madrid is also home to a word-class art collection. Keep your eyes peeled for paintings by Caravaggio, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez.

It used to be a fortress:

If you went back in time to before the Royal Palace of Madrid was built, you’d find a Moorish fortress in the same location! In the 9th century, it was the site of the Alcázar of Madrid. By the 15th century, Spanish royalty had called it their own. In fact, Velázquez’s Las Meninas (1656) depicts the main chamber in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid during the reign of King Philip IV of Spain.

It burnt down

You can’t expect to find that same room from Velázquez’s Las Meninas today. In 1734 the Alcázar of Marid burnt down. The fire was so intense that it melted a number of silver objects (no easy feat, silver has a melting point of 961.8°C) and some precious stones had to be discarded.

Four years after the fire, Philip V ordered the construction of the current Royal Palace of Madrid in the same place. Construction spanned three decades with the first resident royal of the new palace – Charles III – in 1764.

It’s home to a rare collection of instruments

The name Stradivarius is synonymous with the highest quality and the Royal Palace of Madrid is home to the only string quintet of the ultra-rare musical instruments created by Italian geniuses, the Stradivari family.

The grand staircase is a single slab of marble

Sicilian architect Francesco Sabatini installed the grand staircase from one piece of San Agustin marble.

It has its own pharmacy

Why bother leaving home to pick up your medicine when you can build a pharmacy in the house? An in-house pharmacy was a luxury only royalty could afford.