Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid to Witness True Splendour

Highlights at the Royal Palace

With its decadent silver-lined, red velvet walls, the Throne Room is a true highlight of the Royal Palace, housing the thrones of the present monarchs - King Felipe and Queen Letizia. Its a magnificently frescoed ceiling, painted by Tiepolo, is rather impressive and well worth craning your neck for.
Other rooms worth exploring are the Porcelain Room and the private apartment of King Carlos III, built in the oriental style. The largest room in the palace is the Banquet Hall, with capacity for 140 guests.
The outbuildings of the Royal Palace of Madrid include the Royal Armoury, which houses an astounding display of swords, guns and armour dating from as far back as the XV century. Especially noteworthy is the original armour used by King Charles V during the Battle of Mühlberg.
Furnished with an alchemist’s corner, a laboratory and labelled medicine jars dating back to the XVIII century, the Royal Pharmacy is particularly worth visiting.
When it is time for some fresh air, after marvelling at the grandeur inside, why not look around the beautiful gardens?

To the west of the palace lies the square, Plaza de Oriente. This is divided into three quadrant gardens - the Cabo Noval Gardens, the Lepanto Gardens and the Central Gardens. Box hedges, cypresses, magnolias and temporary plants adorn the gardens, bordered by rows of limestone sculptures.
To the north of the palace, you can find the picturesque Jardines de Sabatini, a perfect natural haven at the foot of a hill, offering welcome shade from cypresses and pine trees. Once the site of the royal stables, these French-style gardens are the venue for many magical summer concerts.
To the rear of the palace, you can find the more visually appealing Campo del Moro. This English-style garden is lined with boulevards and ornate fountains. It is also a recommended spot for taking in the palace’s western façade. Note, that this garden can only be accessed from the far west, off Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto.
Art lovers will be delighted by the palace’s impressive collection housed in the Galería de Pinturas. Works by masters such as Goya, Velázquez and Caravaggio feature, among many others. Well curated temporary exhibitions are also held on an ongoing basis.

Visiting the Royal Palace

The palace is open 7 days a week, from 10:00 to 20:00 in the summer months and 10:00 to 18:00 in the winter months. However, bear in mind when planning a visit that the palace closes for official state functions. So it is best to check online or call in advance to avoid disappointment.
Full price admission to the palace is €10 for adults and €5 concessions, including people aged 65 and over and children aged between 5 and 16 years. Free entry is available in a number of cases, including for children under the age of 5, visitors with disabilities and qualified teachers. Note that entry is free for everyone on the 18th May, which is International Museum Day, and for residents of the European Union and Latin America during certain hours. Check the palace's website for the exact times.
Guided tours in various languages are offered, lasting for a couple of hours. If you would prefer to explore the palace at your own pace, the ideal way to do so is to rent an informative audio guide for €4. Specially designed audio tours for children are also available, ensuring the little ones will be kept entertained.

Note that flash photography is not allowed anywhere inside the palace, so best to take the flash setting off your camera before heading in.
Since the palace is such a great attraction, it draws high numbers. To avoid the queues and to have ample space within the palace, consider visiting early, just as the palace opens. Around midday also tends to be a good time to arrive.
The entrance to the Royal Palace of Madrid is on Bailén street, with the nearest Metro station being Opera.

Planning your trip to Madrid? Check out our best city center hotels in Madrid.

Authors: Carlos Manso and Rubén Olmedo del Peral

Carlos Manso is General Manager at NH Collection Madrid Gran Vía and Rubén Olmedo is General Manager at NH Collection Madrid Suecia

Description of Carlos Manso:
Madrid lover since was born in the 80s in spanish capital city. Felt in love with the food, traditions, way of live, and history of with this centenary Kingdom. Nothing like drinking a caña with friends in Barrio de Las Letras or Chamberi; having a walk through the Madrid de los Austrias or Calle Serrano; and nothing like immerse yourself in the recently appointed word heritage by UNESCO, “Landscape of Light. Paseo del Prado and El Retiro Park”. Feeling Spain from a Madrid perspective is the best way to involve as resident or tourist in the city with the best lifestyle in the word. As General Manager in NH Collection Gran Via, I do my best daily in order to show nationals and foreigners how much can Madrid offer to the world because “when you arrive Madrid, you are already from Madrid

Description of Rubén Olmedio:
I began my professional career at the Hotel Palace in Madrid, which was one of the finest hotels in the city at the time. I worked as a bellboy, balancing my job with my studies. After completing my studies, I decided to go to Dublin to improve my English. While there, in addition to developing a taste for Guinness beer, I worked as a concierge at another iconic hotel in the city, The Westin Dublin. Both of these early positions led me to the necessity of getting to know the cities where I lived. I had to explore the local sites in order to recommend them to our guests.
Upon returning to Spain, I progressed through various roles in different hotel companies, eventually reaching positions such as Commercial Director, Operations Director, and General Manager. During my time in sales, I loved the opportunity to travel around the world for work, gaining insights into different cultures. In my current role, I take pleasure in collaborating with my team to make every guest’s stay a little more special, ensuring they leave with fond memories of both the hotel and Madrid.
What do I love about Madrid? Its vibrant life, constant movement, and the fact that you can always find someone willing to share a pleasant moment over a drink—it’s a city that truly comes alive.