The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) towers over Calle de Bailén, between the Plaza de Oriente and Almudena Cathedral, a ten-minute walk from the Puerta del Sol. From October to March it opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sundays from 10am to 4pm (last entry one hour before closing); a full-price ticket costs €18, and entry is free from Monday to Thursday in the late afternoon for citizens of the European Union and Latin America. Built from 1738 on the site of the old Alcázar, which burned down on Christmas Eve 1734, the palace was first lived in by Charles III in 1764. It remains the official residence of the King of Spain and is used for state ceremonies, which sometimes means it closes at short notice. Allow at least 1h30 for the state rooms and the Royal Armoury.
Highlights
The south façade and the Plaza de la Armería
The visitor entrance is at the corner of Calle de Bailén, on the Almudena esplanade. The vast paved courtyard of the Plaza de la Armería opens between the palace's main façade and the cathedral; its arcades look west over the Casa de Campo.
The Throne Room
Red velvet, mirrors, bronze lions and crystal chandeliers surround the two thrones. The ceiling, painted by Giambattista Tiepolo in 1764, depicts the greatness of the Spanish monarchy and the territories of the Crown.
The Sabatini Gardens and the Campo del Moro
To the north, the Sabatini Gardens give the best view of the north façade, beyond their ponds and clipped hedges. To the west, below the palace, the Campo del Moro gardens, laid out under Philip II, are free to enter from Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, from 10am to 6pm between October and March.
The main staircase and the state rooms
The route climbs the great marble staircase, then crosses the Hall of Columns, where Spain's treaty of accession to the European Communities was signed in 1985, the Gasparini Room with its embroidered silk walls, and the Royal Chapel.
The Royal Armoury
In the wing lining the Plaza de la Armería, it brings together the armour and weapons of the kings of Spain since the 15th century, including those of Charles V and Philip II. It is included in the palace ticket.
Opening hours and prices
Basic ticket: €18, reduced €9 (ages 5 to 16, over-65s, students up to 25), free for under-5s. Combined ticket with the neighbouring Gallery of Royal Collections: €24, reduced €12. Audio guide €5, guided tour supplement €8. The Royal Kitchens require a separate ticket. Free entry for EU and Latin American citizens and EU residents, with proof, Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 6pm between October and March (last admission 5pm) and from 5pm to 7pm between April and September (last admission 6pm). Also free, with proof, for members of large families, teachers, official tour guides, ICOM members, people with disabilities and jobseekers, as well as on 18 May (International Museum Day) and, for everyone, on 12 October (national holiday).
Infos pratiques
Tips
Visitor numbers are capped: buy your ticket online from the official Patrimonio Nacional box office, as sales at the ticket desk are limited (prices checked in October 2026). For the free late-afternoon slot, arrive early with your ID: the queue forms well before 4pm. Avoid large bags and backpacks, which are discouraged during the current works; photos without flash are allowed, but no tripods or selfie sticks. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 11am to 2pm, the Changing of the Royal Guard takes place free of charge at the Puerta del Príncipe, and the Solemn Changing of the Guard is held at 12 noon on the Plaza de la Armería on the first Wednesday of the month (7 October 2026), except in January, August and September.
How to get there
Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28013 Madrid; visitor entrance via the Almudena esplanade, at the corner of Calle de Bailén. Metro Ópera (lines 2 and 5), a 5-minute walk across the Plaza de Oriente. For a full day in the area, see [what to do in Madrid in one day](/fr/articles/que-faire-a-madrid-en-un-jour).
Opening hours
Nearby
Comments
No comments yet.