Palacio Real de Madrid is probably my favorite palaces we've seen on our travels. 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. read more

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It was interesting, lavish, gaudy, historic and decadent. Went in early May so it wasn't peak tourist season, and still fairly busy. Official tickets for the week was sold out, however was able to book with a tour company that wasn't that much more than regular prices. That actually seemed to have worked out better than I planned as it allowed you to skip the line. Plan for a couple of hours, and don't forget the armory on your way out. read more

We had pre booked our tickets online for the first entry of the day. We got there before hand and lined up in the pre booked line. They ended up opening the doors an hour after the website said, and because that was after our reservation they wouldn't honor our tickets. They said we had to buy new ones and request a refund for the tickets we had purchased already. Now two weeks later and I have yet to hear back from their team regarding my request. The visit was cool and it's a really great experience. Just be careful with your reservation, I'd recommend a few hours into their opening time to be safe. read more

This is a beautiful place and the rest of the reviews talk about that, so I'm not going to go into those details. We just had a really frustrating experience though! We booked a tour for 3:15 PM and that is the time on our email confirmation. But when we went to print the tickets, said 1:00, but we didn't realize that. When we showed the tour tickets at 3:15, they wouldn't take them! We bought directly from the official website of the palace, so I'm not sure what the issue was. It took us about 15 minutes, but finally someone at the information desk (which was difficult to find) helped us and got us on a tour. They also made me move my backpack to the front of me because of pickpockets. I appreciate the warning, but I don't need someone to tell me what I have to do with my backpack. read more

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If your in town we really enjoyed the palace and cathedral were worth the visit. We were there rather late in the day. There is usually a fee but they gave us the tickets at no cost which was appreciated ... possibly since the time. We didn't take a tour or want to hear the history .. just look around. We would have totally missed out if someone from our tour hadn't said it was spectacular so we hopped in a taxi and took a quick look. It was lovely as most palaces are but never visited one with no fee. read more

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The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) is one of the city's most iconic landmarks, known for its grand Baroque‑and‑Classical architecture and its impressive scale. It sits in the heart of Madrid and serves as the official residence of the Spanish royal family, though it's mainly used today for state ceremonies. With more than 135,000 square metres and over 3,000 rooms, it's the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Inside, the palace showcases lavish state rooms, historic art collections, and beautifully preserved details that reflect centuries of Spanish history. Nearly two million visitors come each year to explore its halls, admire its architecture, and enjoy views of the surrounding gardens and city. It remains one of the few official royal residences in the world that is open to the public. You can purchase guided tours in different languages in advance. read more

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I had a tour of the Royal Palace on my list of to-dos since buying tickets to Madrid. If you have the time, the Royal Palace is truly impressive. I had booked an English guide and our tour lasted an hour and a half. You were welcome to return in and explore on your own if you wanted. We didn't, as we saw everything during our tour. The Palace was huge, but easy to navigate and never seemed overly crowded or difficult to get around and see things. I would highly recommend if you are visiting Madrid. read more

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If there's a royal palace, I'm booking a tour. I've visited several across Europe, but none compare to the magnificence of the one in Madrid. As the largest royal palace in Europe--and one of the largest in the world--it's truly awe-inspiring. Given the palace's incredible size and countless rooms, I highly recommend booking a guided tour through a third party. With a guide, not only do they provide insight on the history of the palace and the royal family, but they also have exclusive access to areas not open to the general public. It's easy to lose yourself in the richness of the space since every inch of the palace is intricately designed. read more

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A must visit in Madrid! I've been to many palaces across Europe and the world and the Royal Palace of Madrid is one of my favorites. There are many elaborately decorated rooms and almost all of the palace is open to the guest which I appreciated. Google maps does not lead you to the front entrance, instead it leads you to the gates by the back which you cannot enter through. Double check your navigation if you're worried about running late for a tour like we were. Thankfully we were able to go with the next tour group. The Royal Palace of Madrid is grander than all the palaces in Portugal and Budapest and Austria etc. There were so many themed rooms and I highly recommend taking a tour with a museum docent. If you are lucky you may happen to visit the palace when the Royal family visits. We missed them by just a few days! read more

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Palacio Real de Madrid is a MUST visit site when in Madrid. I was able to purchase tickets the day before for a reasonable price, ~64€ for 4 people, through the Headout app. Came with audio guide. Truly beautiful inside and it's ginormous! What was once the home to the Kings of Spain from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, it's currently still the biggest palace in Western Europe & I'd say it's definitely worth spending 1-2 hrs here to admire the architecture. read more

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Stepping into the Royal Palace of Madrid is like crossing the threshold into another world one defined by grandeur, splendor, and the undeniable weight of history. The palace definitely stands as a striking symbol of national pride and regal power. From the very first glance, the scale of the palace is awe inspiring. With over 3,400 rooms, it is one of the largest palaces in Europe, and each space seems to outdo the last in elegance and extravagance. The white stone façade gleams in the Spanish sun, and the sweeping views over the Campo del Moro Gardens and the distant mountains set the scene for what awaits inside. Inside, opulence reigns. Rich tapestries, gilded moldings, crystal chandeliers, and ceilings painted by masters such as Giaquinto and Tiepolo make it clear that this is not merely a residence; it is a declaration of monarchy, power, and refined taste. Every room tells a story, from the Throne Room's velvet-draped walls to the astonishing banquet hall and the lavish Royal Chapel. What truly sets the palace apart, however, is its attention to detail and the preservation of artistry. Even the palace's lesser-known corners are a masterclass in craftsmanship and style. Visiting the Royal Palace is not just a walk through Spanish history it's a deep immersion into an era where architecture, politics, and art converged to form an enduring legacy of imperial brilliance. It's a rare place where every inch whispers majesty, and where opulence is not simply decoration but identity. In a world increasingly defined by minimalism, the Royal Palace of Madrid unapologetically reminds us of the power of magnificence. We were somehow not able to visit the royal armory section which we would definitely make up for in our next visit. Definite recommendation!! read more

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It's pretty impressive, the museum and interior of the palace are not as important as the Golden Triangle of great Madrid Art Museums but the palace will only take an hour or two. It's right across a big plaza from the big cathedral so you can hit both late in the afternoon, time it to see the sunset from the western part of the plaza. read more

Palacio Real de Madrid - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Madrid, M

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If you are visiting Madrid, the Royal Palace is an absolute must-see. It is an amazing space that feels less like a museum and more like a living testament to Spanish grandeur. The palace is very interesting and full of history, sitting on the site of an old 9th-century fortress and reborn in the 18th century after a massive fire.  The scale of the building is almost hard to wrap your head around. It actually has 3,400 rooms (3,418 to be exact!), making it the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Thankfully, the visitor route is easy to follow, and we made it through about 35 rooms, which was just enough to see the highlights without feeling completely overwhelmed. Each room is more jaw-dropping than the last--from the velvet-draped Throne Room to the stunning frescoes on the ceilings.  I highly recommend visiting with a tour guide. Not only do they provide the context that brings the tapestries and armor to life, but it's the best way to avoid the long lines that wrap around the Plaza de la Armería. Having a pro lead the way made the entrance seamless and ensured we didn't miss the "hidden" stories behind the Royal Pharmacy and the Grand Staircase. Whether you are a history buff or just want to see some of the most beautiful interiors in the world, don't skip this. It was easily the highlight of our time in the city! read more

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I mean, what's not to like? It's opulent. It's lavish. Yada yada yada I started my morning with a tour here. Having a guide is the way to go. I wouldn't want to just walk the property not getting the back story of every room. Our tour started at the meeting point - the tour guide office. We walked to Plaza Mayor then we made our way to the palace. I oohed and ahhed at every room I walked into. Lucky for us, the property is open to the public. I say this because the Spanish royal family still uses it. The collection of all the things previous royal members have collected is truly impressive. The artworks. The jewelry. The rugs. I suggest signing up for an early morning tour. My group entered after 10am. There was definitely a much bigger group tours as we made our way out I was stressed for the staff that had to watch families who let their kids free and stress out the staff as they would try to cross the barricades between the artwork. read more

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Beautiful treasure that Madrid, and Spain have to share with the world. If you have the opportunity, DO NOT miss. How often do you have the chance to walk through a functioning palace... this place is huge. The audio guide has a recommended agenda for you that pretty much hits the high points, but the visit to the palace can be so much more if you allow it. The guards were not intrusive, but the palace museum goes through waves of crowds, and you could go with it, but I actually enjoyed listening to the various tour guides that each had their takes on the rooms and the history. The place is great for people watching as thousands of folks visit this place daily. Our later time slot at 1600 was fine, and I did not feel that the guards were pushing us through... until, it was closer to the closing time of 1800 (6 p.m.). I also got the kids an audio guide, and surprisingly they used it to understand what they were looking at. It might have been better only if it was age appropriate, but it was in English, and I listened, walked, and spoke with them about what they saw, what they liked, and how it connected to Spain's history and future. My favorite room was the porcelain room, but there were other rooms that were just as amazing, like the dining room and the crowning room... the royal chapel...amazing. There is so much history here, both classical and contemporary. We got a combo tour that the Palacio Real site has, that allows us to visit the Royal Gallery within 7 days of purchase and visit to the Palacio Real. We did not have to wait for the folks that showed up on a whim. Worth the wait, but with an advanced and timed ticket... you don't have to. read more

Palacio Real de Madrid - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Madrid, M

Opulent to the nth degree! Every trip to Madrid has to include a tour of the palace. It's huge and beautiful! We loved reading about the historic significance of this majestic palace and our self guided tour took about an hour. Tons of gold, marble, brocade, and crystal! It does get a little tedious... I mean... big room, chandelier- big room chandelier- big room chandelier... etc. okay we get it... but still worth a gander! read more

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Madrid's Royal Palace, Europe's largest and one of its most spectacular, is a sprawling exercise in over-the-top regal opulence, with galleries and ballrooms that seem to go on forever -- whenever you think it's topped itself, there's another room around the corner that outdoes the last. Started in 1735 by King Philip V following the destruction by fire of Spain's Royal Alcázar (which stood on the same spot), the design was modeled after the Palace of Versailles, where Philip had spent his childhood. With more than 3,400 rooms, it remains the official residence of the Spanish royal family, although it's presently used only for official state ceremonies. Visitors can tour the most impressive rooms in the palace, from the Grand Staircase at the entryway to the stunning royal apartments of King Charles III, who redecorated the palace with its current Baroque-Rococo interior, a design that gives the impression of bring inside a giant Italian painting. No room is a better expression of this style than the mind-blowing Gasparini Room, which features a frescoed ceiling by Tiepolo, silk walls, painted stucco figures and a multicolored marble floor. It takes your breath away, and seems like grandest room in the palace -- until you reach the impossibly large Dining Room a bit later in the tour. By far the grandest space you'll see is the mind-blowing Royal Chapel, which looks like a miniature cathedral in the heart of the palace. It's still used for royal funerals, and a prominently displayed glass coffin contains the body of St. Felix, which the Vatican gifted to the Spanish King in the 1800s. Beyond that, you'll see a room housing a collection of rare Stradivarius violins, another that displays the Spanish crown jewels, and finally, the Throne Room, still used by the king and queen for official state functions. Buy a timed admission ticket ahead of time through the official palace website, particularly if you're visiting on a weekend. Instead of paying extra for a third-party tour, consider using the guide provided by the palace or (even better) navigate the rooms using Rick Steves' highly informative Madrid guidebook. The whole tour takes between 60 and 90 minutes, but leave time to navigate the security line and the entrance queue. After you leave the palace, you can also visit the Royal Armory on the other side of the main courtyard, but this was closed during our recent visit. Nothing can prepare you for the scale and grandeur of the Palacio Royal. Whether you're a student of history, art or architecture, a visit here is a MUST if you're visiting Madrid. read more

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I definitely recommend to buy tickets in advance. When I left, I saw a 70 m long line on the no ticket side. The side with reservation had nobody. The check in/ticket/scanning lady was rude though. She scanned my pass and I pulled out another pass because I have two people. And she said "I already said two people!" telling me she didn't need to scan the other one. How am I supposed to know if she scanned one ticket, it'd say two people on her interface? Mind you, the tickets (included with the gallery) were both needed to be scanned at the gallery. The tour was a quick trip with a gift shop at the end. Everyone else was friendly. Overall it is only worth going if you bought tickets in advance read more

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We really enjoyed our visit and found the self-guided audio tour both informative and convenient. It was great to be able to go at our own pace and take it all in. We were able to walk up and buy tickets the same day, but it's generally a good idea to book ahead if you can. You get to see a lot of the castle, and it's fascinating to watch old architecture blend with more modern elements. A great stop for history lovers. read more

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Took a tour here and really came away impressed. This palace is gorgeous and the variety of the rooms and their styles and decor left me speechless every time I turned the corner. The guide we had shared with us a lot of the history of Madrid (a fairly young city compared to others in Europe) and the genealogy of the royal family over the centuries which provided interesting context for some of the artwork and sculptures we saw. I think we saw about 16 different rooms and although they were all amazing with intricate detail, a couple stood out: 1) the porcelain room blew my mind. It was so beautiful I can't really describe it other than to say the artistry on display is overwhelming. 2) the room before the crown and scepter. There was a beautiful textured wallpaper in a magnificent shade of blue that really took my breath away. I could have stared at that blue for hours. Other rooms such as the dining room and the throne room are also impressive. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did....it's a real gem and everyone on my tour was suitably impressed. read more

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Beautiful royal palace. Make sure to buy the tickets ahead on the official website. I recommend going to the earliest time slot at 10 so that it's not too crowded. The guards will telling people to move faster when it get congested. My favorite room is the throne room, very majestic. I recommend visiting Royal armory and gallery of royal collections. read more

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Wow wow wow wow. Royal Palace of Madrid is masterpiece on masterpiece, so many stories, it could probably be haunted too. We came here after booking a walking tour from Viator, which included a "Skip the line" ticket which was truly helpful, after our 1.5 hour tour was over and we were leaving the premise we saw a crazy long general admission line in the hot summer sun, looked miserable. And there's no AC inside the palace so it's not like they'd get a cool break inside the building. Lots of art history, the royal family no longer lives there but the crazy history of Spain is all over the property. Very cool to visit. read more

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Mom wanted to visit the colonizers home...I mean the Royal Palace LOL Bought our tickets from a 3rd party website but I recommend purchasing it directly on their website which was $20 cheaper! There are different types of tours. I wanted to do the kitchen tour but that was sold out because we bought our tickets the day of so it was sold out. I recommend getting your tickets at least 2 weeks before or more depends if it's a weekend or a holiday. We took an Uber and got there 15 minutes early and there was already a long line to get in. When we got in we waited in another line to get the tablet for the self guided tour. It was beautiful in there...see pics! read more

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An amazing site, totally worth seeing it for its historical value and visual delight. Tip: Buy the tickets online in advance, as they sell out. There is a much shorter line for visitors with tickets than there is one for people that are buying them. Be prepared to be in the sun. Bring a hat and water. Lines are long but the flow is not bad. Just make sure you are in the right lane! read more

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A beautiful royal palace! Buy your tickets in advance online for a timed entry because the no ticket line looked blocks long at 4pm on a weekday. IF you have tickets already, just go in the door, to the left of all the people lined up. It was not clearly marked, which was confusing, and took much longer to figure things out because there wasn't anyone to ask and no one in line seemed to know what was going on. Inside there are free lockers to store backpacks and jackets. The lady working there was super sweet and helpful (so appreciated!). I took the self- guided tour and the only drawback was getting stuck behind big groups of people due to the crowds. There are some rooms where you have to just move through in a huge line, it was quick stuffy, and unfortunately there is no way to sidestep people who are taking a long time and not moving forward. read more

One of the essentials visits in Madrid and not far from Centro. It's grand, royal, an architectural beauty all in one. Basically you don't want to miss out on this. You'll want the audio guide (which come free with the general admission ) as I believe it will be easier to understand what you are seeing and just in case for those that can't read Spanish. I lacked the patience to do it and I probably should have. However, it did not dampen my experience. I spent about under an hour, but I can imagine people spending about 1-2 here. Getting tickets in advance saves a lot of hassle while there. It's also worth noting that they aren't as strict with entering early per se. That's what I did without issue. Anyway, don't miss out on this while in Madrid! read more

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Palacio Real de Madrid (Madrid's Royal Palace) is a magnificent building with a lot of history and serves as the official residence of the Spanish royal family. You can explore the building for a small fee ($10 Euros per person), but be prepared to do a big line to go in. Once inside, you are welcome by a large courtyard, which offer a great opportunity to admire the great architecture of the palace. As you make your way through the palace, you go from room to room, admiring the large variety of decors, painting, sculptures, and ceiling. The route is well organized, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to see the entire palace. The staff was friendly and helpful. We had a great time at Palacio Real de Madrid. If you are visiting the city, it should definitely be in your short list of things to do in Madrid. read more

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The guided tour went much too fast, so we ended up abandoning it to stroll through at our own pace. It is truly a palace; very extravagant. It seemed the chandeliers got larger and more ornate with each new room. I enjoyed the details on the walls and ceilings almost more than the artifacts. Seeing genuine Stradivarius instruments was also quite a highlight for me. read more

Visitar el Palacio Real de Madrid con mi hija fue algo muy especial. El lugar es impresionante, lleno de historia y detalles que te dejan con la boca abierta. Caminamos por los salones, tomamos muchas fotos y terminamos en los jardines disfrutando la vista. Un día que siempre vamos a recordar read more

The Royal Palace of Madrid began during the reign of Emir Mohamed I I the 9th century. He built a fortress in the city to protect the ancient Spanish capital Toledo from the advance of the Christians. In the 14th century the kings of Castile built the first Alcázar, bearing the name of Antiguo Alcázar. It was Charles I of Spain who turned the ruins into the residence of the kings. Construction was complete in 1738, after 7 years. The first king to reside in the royal palace was Charles III, who was also the first to decorate it. The greatest changes in decoration were made by his successor Charles IV, who decorated the Hall of Mirrors. The Royal Palace has almost 3000 rooms, a staircase designed by Sabatini with more than 70 steps, a throne room with a magnificent fresco by Tiepolo, a guard room formerly a ballroom, a royal chapel &a room dedicated to Stradivarius instruments. We followed the arrows & read information going through ornate rooms of kings. We went downstairs into 2 huge armor rooms followed with weapons & sparkling armor for men, children & horses. With our advanced time tickets we spent :15 on line & 2 hours inside. There wasn't any seating. read more

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TL;DR - Great site to visit, but queues can be long and tiring. We came here many years ago and saw some of the sites, but on a return visit to Madrid decided to see the palace proper. How things have changed in the interim! Last time we pretty much walked in but this time the queues were insanely long... we probably had to queue for over an hour, being constantly harassed by people trying to sell us souvenirs and bottles of water. There's no shade either, so it was tough in the hot weather. Once inside though, it's worth the wait. The palace is impressively grand and the rooms - in particularly the throne room and dining room - are sights to behold. Tickets aren't exactly cheap, but they're certainly not a rip off either. We also tried the cafe which was nice, but not particularly big - I could imagine it gets very busy at popular times. read more

It is a beautiful place in Madrid and very interesting to visit. We enjoyed our time here and loved all the different rooms to see. The rooms were gorgeous, even down to the walls and ceilings. I especially loved the chandeliers; they were all breathtaking. We would come back with our family if we returned to Madrid again to this beautiful building. I especially loved the gorgeous, exquisite rooms, chandeliers, big poster boards of the Princess of Spain (with descriptions listed below), the soccer team, and various other pictures in the outer hallways. It is a beautiful place we will never forget. We highly recommend you come to see it. read more

Overall 4.5. I wish they would let us take some pictures of some of the more extravagant looking rooms but I understand. Some of the other tourists make it look so painfully obvious they're taking pictures, they should learn to turn off the sound. I would definitely recommend this place at least a one time thing. It's cheap to get in. It's worth seeing all of that embellished detail. read more

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We had reservations, but still had to wait in the line over an hour in 92 degree weather. Why buy tickets in advance with a reservation time and not be allowed in because they sold too many tickets and were at full capacity. Let the reservations in first and then let in non reservation. NEVER AGAIN. read more

I always wanted to see the Palacio Real. I have seen pictures since I was a kid and the chance to visit was just exciting. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the city of Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has 1,450,000 sq ft of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the largest functioning royal palace and the largest by floor area in Europe. The palace is open to the public, except during state functions, although it is so large that only a selection of rooms are visible to visitors. The admission fee is €13 is charged, but me being born in Latin America, I got to go in for free (any citizen of Latin America gets this perk). The line to get in was really long....I think I spent about 30-40 min to get to the entrance, so patience is needed in these really popular places. The palace is owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional, a public agency of the Ministry of the Presidency. The palace is on Calle de Bailén ("Bailén Street") in the western part of downtown Madrid, east of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station. Felipe VI and the royal family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the Palace of Zarzuela in El Pardo. The palace is on the site of an old Muslim fortress constructed by Emir Muhammad I of Córdoba in the 9th century. The palace was built from scratch on the same site on behalf of the Bourbon dynasty. Construction spanned the years 1738 to 1755 and followed a Berniniesque design by Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Sacchetti in cooperation with Ventura Rodríguez, Francesco Sabatini, and Martín Sarmiento. During the Second Spanish Republic the building was known as "Palacio Nacional". The interior of the palace is full of beautiful pieces of art. Including paintings by Caravaggio, Juan de Flandes, Francisco de Goya, and Velázquez, and frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Corrado Giaquinto, and Anton Raphael Mengs. It's really worth a visit. Enjoy walking around the area as well, where you can see other beautiful buildings and open areas. read more

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This is a beautiful setting for the royal seat of Spain. I learned quite a lot of interesting information about the palace, the royal family, and the history of Spain. For instance, it is actually the largest in Europe. And because I'm an American and we learn paltry history about the rest of the world, I didn't realize how recently Spain had endured a civil war, or that it was under totalitarian regime until just a few years before I was born. If you're in Madrid, even for one day, you should definitely consider visiting. The royal family no longer lives in this palace; it's only used for occasions of state. The Spanish royal family is, I believe, the last remaining monarchs of the House of Bourbon, and this palace is as opulent as I would imagine for perhaps the greatest European dynasty in history--it has over 3,400 rooms! Each one is decorated with beautiful items and and artifacts not only important to the royal family, but to Spain. And the rooms that are available for people to tour change, so if you've been before you may find yourself sauntering through different areas than you've been previously. The visitor route is changed every few months. Ensure you have enough time to explore here. The cost wasn't bad; it was I think €13 in 2017. I don't remember where I found the hours of operation, but I don't think it was the official site; at any rate, I arrived with under an hour until closing. Because of that, I was not permitted to rent an audioguide. The app I bought to guide me through the museum didn't work, which sucks because I think I twas an official app for the site. Having said that, I still enjoyed my visit. I just really love history, and like to have a great deal of context about the history of a place, what I'm seeing whilst there, and to understand the significance of the artifacts rather than simply looking at pretty items on display. Stroll through the courtyard prior to leaving, too. The vista of Madrid is simply breathtaking. Review #637 - January 23, 2022 18/2022 read more

Insanely gorgeous must stop and check it out, so glad i went one of our family's favorites.

MADRID SPAIN - I can only judge this building from the outside as we weren't able to get tickets while we were here. This is a truly impressive piece of architecture "The Royal Palace" use to be home to the King Of Spain & his family. Now it's used primarily for ceremonial events & as a tourist attraction. Tourists are allowed into the palace in certain areas The construction started in 1735. The palace is a baroque & classical style of architecture. The first architect Filippo Juvarra (was the first of many). read more

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I mean... what is there to say here... ITS A PALACE. How can you not give it 5 stars. Ok, well there are a few cons, which I'll get to, but overall, this is an amazing symbol of Spanish architecture. The palace itself is within walking distance from many of the other major attractions in the city, which is great. There are also other neighboring cathedrals, sculptures, parks... a lot to see & a lot to do! I came here around May and the heat was picking up. Luckily the line for the ticket booth moved fast. The check-in process was smooth and the security was friendly. The inside of the palace is marvelous. If you've ever been to Versailles, outside of Paris, then you can imagine just how grand this place is. I think Versailles still holds the upper hand in terms of overall opulence, but this place is just as beautiful. Ok, so the unfortunate part is that you can't take pictures.. some will sneak and grab a few shots, but the guards will always tell you to put your phone down. On the plus side, you're more immersed in the moment and less focused on capturing everything on your phone. A must see for anyone in Madrid. read more

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We two passed two hours from the 10am opening time, with tickets purchased in advance. It was worthwhile to visit along with the Royal Gallery, and a temporary Joaquin Sorolla exhibition, during the half-day we spent at the Royal Palace. We enjoyed the Sorolla exhibition the most, and then the Royal Palace. read more