Royal Palace Madrid Tickets & Tours

Just seeing the exteriors of the Royal Palace is already impressive enough but there is also so much to see inside that it is an opportunity that you should not miss. The elegant iron fencing conceals a vast courtyard, and to the side of the courtyard is a stunning view of the countryside beyond. Come on a clear day and you will see a breathtakingly panoramic view.

The Royal Palace housed the kings and queens of Spain from the mid 1700s to the 1900s. Although it is no longer the residence of the Royal Family now, it is still considered as so. You can expect to be wowed by the luxuriousness and the grandeur of the palace. However, the long lines is something which people constantly complain about. So, the best thing you can do is go there early, or better yet, get skip-the-line tickets.

Once you are inside the Royal Palace, you have the option of purchasing either a ticket for a guided tour, or a regular ticket which allows you to walk at your own pace. The guided tour is ideal for those who would like an in-depth lesson about the palace which takes almost an hour. If you decide to get the regular ticket, there are information points throughout which explain more about the rooms and their different functions.

Getting a regular ticket gives you access to lavish halls, residential areas, the throne room, banquet rooms, the Royal Armoury, and the Royal Pharmacy. Several significant events have taken place in the palace including the signing of the treaty of Spain which granted them acceptance into the European Union in 1985. There are also art exhibits which are available for viewing at no extra charge.

• The Royal Palace is open in October to March, from 10 am until 6pm and in April to September, from 10 am to 8 pm.
• It will be closed in January 1, January 6, May 1, October 12, December 24, December 25 and December 31.

The Royal Palace in Madrid is a 5-minute walk from the Opera metro station. From the Airport, take Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios and then change to line 10 and get off Plaza de Espana station. You will see the Royal Palace after 5 minutes.

Alternatively, people coming from the centre, around the Plaza Mayor, can follow Calle Mayor directly to the palace and you they will find themselves at its doors in less than fifteen minutes.

Calle de Bailen, s/n 28071 Madrid, Spain

Filippo Juvarra was the architect who took inspiration from Gian Lorenzo Bernini, as well as French Baroque palaces. He died in 1736 and architect Giambattista Sacchetti took the over the reins of the design process. Francesco Sabatini was summoned to expand the building in 1760.

Ground Floor

 

Grand staircase
A staircase that lives up to its name, the Grand Staircase at Palacio Real is made of San Agustin marble. One of the most beautiful in the world, it has more than 70 steps and has ceilings with frescoes portraying “Religion protected by Spain.” The Grand Staircase was built by Sabatini in 1789 and the Sabatini Gardens behind the palace was named after it. On the ground floor is the statue of Charles III wearing a Roman toga. On the landing are two lions made by two different sculptors, Robert Michel and Felipe de Castro.

Royal Library
The Royal Library was moved to the lower floor during the reign of Maria Christina. Some of the bookshelves date as far back as the period of Charles III, Isabel II, and Alfonso XII. Some of the highlights of the library collection are Book of Hours of Isabella I of Castile, a bible of Doṅa Maria de Molina, and a codex belonging to the time of Alfonso XI of Castile.

Royal Armory
The armory in Spain is considered as one of the best in the world during that time, after the Imperial Armory of Vienna. It consists of pieces as early as the 13th century and among its most remarkable pieces are the full tools that Emperor Charles V used in the Battle of Muhlberg, that has also been portrayed by Titian in the renowned equestrian portrait of the Museo del Prado.

First Floor

 

King Charles III's Apartment
The Antechamber of Charles III is also known as the Conversation Room. It contains a 1774 ceiling frescoe called Apotheosis of Trajan by A.R. Mengs, as well as four royal family portraits made by Goya.

The Queen's Apartments and Banqueting Hall
Formerly the apartments of the queen during Charles III, the three rooms were converted into a banquet hall in 1879 by Alfonso XII. Work was completed in 1885 and the three ceiling frescoes were kept intact.

Apartments of Infante Luis
Named such because they were once occupied by Infante Luis, the Count of Chinchon before he was exiled, it is now known as the Stradivarian room because it contains a viola, two violincello and two violins made by Stradivarius. The ceiling frescoe is by A.G. Velasquez.

Royal Chapel
The Hall of Columns is known for its frescoe representing The Sun before Which All the Forces of Nature Awaken and Rejoice, made by Giaquinto. There is also an 1878 statue of Charles V Vanquishing Fury by Ferdinand Barbedienne. The bronze chandeliers were made in 1846 in Paris and installed under the instructions of Isabella II for her balls.

The Crown Room
This is the largest and is often considered as the most spectacular room in the palace due to the superb mirrors and rich furnishings used to decorate it. It has warmth and ease and has a decoration which has been kept intact since the reign of King Charles III.

Exterior

 

Plaza de la Armeria
The square was laid out in 1892 according to a plan by architect Enrique Maria Repulles, but its history dates back to 1553, when King Philip II ordered a building to house the royal stables. Narciso Pascual Coloer, the same architect who designed the Plaza de Oriente also designed the layout of the plaza in 1879. However, it was not realized. The site now occupied by the plaza was once used as anteplaza de armas.

Plaza de Oriente
Located just outside the palace, Plaza de Oriente is a gorgeous rectangular park with an equestrian statue of Philips IV. The pathways divide the plaza into three sections; namely, the Central Gardens, the Cabo Noval Gardens, and the Lepanto Gardens.

The Sabatini Gardens
The Sabatini Gardens is in the neoclassical style and it follows the symmetrical French design. Work on the gardens began in 1933 under the Republican government. One of the garden's outstanding features is the large rectangular pond surrounded by four fountains and statues of Spanish kings, which were originally supposed to crown the Royal Palace.

Campo del Moro Gardens
Also known as the Palace Gardens, the Campo del Moro Gardens started sometime in the reign of King Philip II. The gardens got their name from the Muslim leader Ali Ben Yusuf who allegedly camped there with his troops in 1109 when they attempted to conquer Madrid.