While visiting Zaragoza this is a must see! It's definitely no Alhambra but it's still a beautiful…read moresight to see. It is only 5 euros to enter and there are lots of great things to see. My favorite aspect were the white pillars. They reminded me of the ones at the Mezquita in Cordoba. Some rooms felt empty and unmemorable but overall I didn't regret coming here. Be sure to reserve your spot online before you arrive.

Aljaferia Palace was my favorite stop in Zaragoza, Spain! And, after research it came to no…read moresurprise! I uncovered the structure's roots, including four specific aspects that totally align with my interests. Aljaferia Palace is an (1) 11th Century/Moorish (2) fortified (3) medieval (4) Islamic palace! I want ALL of its detail in my own home!! Absolutely stunning! We might be able to design by computer, build fast & efficient, and sustain costs with alternative materials these days, but for what?? Obviously not for charm. I'd take this ANY DAY over today's buildings! For those interested in visiting the palace, note that it is a bit off the beaten track in comparison to the Basilica, but definitely worth a visit. You buy tickets at the entrance, cross the mote, and head for the front door where you're greeted by a security guard. One of the only manned, security detectors in the city's attractions we visited. You have the option of exploring the space on your own, or taking a group tour to navigate the interior. We loved exploring on our own. There are many rooms/spaces inside the structure - all of which are designed in breathtaking detail (and history)! I honestly could spend countless hours at the palace taking the most random pictures. I loved the interior garden/courtyard the most! It's a must see people!!

Here's something you don't see every day - it's a vertical garden. Not flat like the botanical…read moregardens nearby. This garden is a dramatic four-story (78 feet!) tall green wall near the CaixaForum building. Facing south, the garden gets near constant sunlight as it moves across the sky. And yes, it sure gets hot in Madrid. But you'll find yourself much cooler with a visit to the garden. Worth admiring the 250 different species of plants that survive and thrive without soil. It is an ever-changing, living piece of art. [Review 12542 overall, 2332 of 2019.]

Meanwhile, the companion in some ways of the other review I just wrote, of the Palace of the Stock…read moreExchange in Portugal, this tour is definitely of a gaudy palace built by royalty with a whole *lot* of stolen gold and jewels, so I was glad to learn that it isn't *still* owned by the royal family, it's owned by the state and mostly used for state functions, other than its purpose as far as tourists are concerned, being a museum of a fraction of the riches Spain owns (and not a coincidence, presumably, that they also built a museum of *more* of the riches owned by Spain, on display right next door, for a combined, reduced price.) The self-guided tour is worth it if you like seeing a bunch of super ornate architecture, furniture, artwork, etc. We got snippets of the actual tour as we passed each other at various points - I was happier being able to walk through the route at our own pace, which took about an hour. I felt sorry for the people whose tickets were for any time the following day, though, as it was randomly closed all day the next day we were in Madrid a few months ago, which I gather isn't an altogether rare thing to happen, that they take reservations and then close last minute. We got in in the nick of time, it seemed. By the way, if you have bags, you do have to leave your bags downstairs in a locker at a small additional fee. It was small enough I do remember exactly how much it even was, though, so it clearly wasn't a big deal.

Palacio Real de Madrid is probably my favorite palaces we've seen on our travels…read more I loved that they had these massive air purifiers so it didn't smell stale or dusty (it was incredibly comfortable), but I also adored the absolutely gorgeous purple wallpaper and how much care had been taken in the decor inside the building. Absolutely do a tour if you have a chance as ours gave such a clear impression of the space and added such a nice depth to our visit. It was one of my favorite things we did while in Madrid, and I can't recommend visiting Palacio Real de Madrid enough.

I have visited Madrid several times and did not realize that you can a) go into the Palacio de…read moreCibeles and b) that it is free. My bf made this discovery when he was exploring while I was at work. Great discovery! After entering through a security/bag check, you walk upstairs onto the 2nd floor. There is a tourist office as well as a large relaxing/working space. An exhibit offers an overview of the commitment to green spaces in English and Spanish. The floors above house the history of the building, including the architecture and design. There are also special exhibits featuring different artists. If you are visiting before early May 2026, I highly recommend Ana Juan's "Wunderkammer" exhibition. Beautiful and thought provoking! There is an observation deck that can be accessed for €4. It was closed in mid-Feb for technical repairs without a confirmed reopening date. Hopefully it will be available to the public again soon! A bit farther away but you can always venture to the top of the Riu hotel for incredible views.

So I was sad because I bought a ticket to go on the rooftop, but it was raining, so I couldn't. But…read morethey refunded me automatically, so that was good. So instead I meandered between floors looking at all the art waiting for the rain to dissipate a bit. Some was cool, some I didn't get, to each their own. It's a gorgeous building and worth a visit if you have the time. I'll have to come back for the rooftop next time!