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

This is one of the most beautiful palaces I've ever seen and strongly recommend checking this place out if you're visiting Madrid! Every room is so finely detailed and extravagant, it's clear this is high royalty. The porcelain room and the dining rooms were my favorites. Book your ticket online and come early to avoid annoying throngs of people. read more

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I was hesitant to visit the royal palace at first due to some very biased reasons - I knew it was not known to be as grand or as large as Versailles and to be honest, I haven't seen many pictures of it from the inside to entice me. And to the latter point for good reason, the palace employees are pretty strict about enforcing a no photo rule like the landmark museums the Reina and the Prado do and for the better - you pay attention more to the gorgeous Baroque interiors and you deal with less rude guests. I underestimated how much value 12 euro per ticket visit of the palace provides as well as how much rich history there is too. In addition, the royal armory is a MUST VISIT feature of the royal palace - I thought the one at the castle in Segovia was impressive but this really dwarfs it in size and eloquence. read more

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Majestic. Glowing with charm at night and apple to the eye in the daytime. Worthy to drop by for a look. read more

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

The audio tour was good but the views inside and out were spectacular. You aren't allowed to take photos in certain spots within the palace but sometimes that's a good thing. I suggest buying tickets prior to arriving to avoid the long line of those trying to buy tickets. If you have tickets then bypass and go to the shorter line. read more

The royal palace is regal indeed. My favorite parts of the palace besides the grand exterior were the main staircase and the throne room. I would say that everything was "fit for a king" here. I haven't seen anything like this before so it left a strong impression on me. We booked a tour through Viator which gave us early access to the palace at 8:30 am (the private group tour was $68/two people but I think its only 10 euro if you buy tickets at the palace). We had a bilingual tour guide who started outside the palace talking about the history and then led us through each room, providing information for us. I kind of wanted to move at my own pace so honestly if I come back I'd nix the tour guide and do one of the audio self-guided tours. I will say that when I came here I was absolutely exhausted and that I probably didn't get the most out of this experience that I could have. You do have to be in the mood for history and information and walking which I was not. Be prepared and fresh when you come here to make the most of it! read more

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

The Royal Palace of Madrid was closed due to government officials being present. However, the palace is beautiful from the outside. We got to see the changing of the guards and take photos ouatide read more

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

The Palacio Real de Madrid has beautiful grounds and amazing architecture. It's very impressive to see it in person. Although we didn't tour the inside, it was still a lot of fun to visit to see the gardens, fountains, and the church located in front of the entrance. read more

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Beautiful palace and historical place to visit. Get your tickets online and have a tour guide. read more

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

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Palacio Real is truly impressive for the opulence of the interiors. First, be aware that they don't allow photos inside the state rooms (so any you see are from naughty tourists!) and they're pretty serious about it, something that seems to be a common thing in Spain. Although the palace is HUGE, you don't see a ton of rooms - it's a nicely curated experience and not as overwhelming as something like Versailles. That said, most of the rooms are literally jaw-dropping. From high relief hand embroidered silk wall coverings to the most magnificent throne room I've ever seen (Louis XIV would be jealous!) you know that Spain was a world power in its heyday. One of the MANY ceiling murals shows indigenous people from all corners over the world being subjugated by Conquistadors. Personal faves were the incredible Gasparini room, the royal chapel and the Porcelain room. Just incredible workmanship! Our tickets included admission to the armory which is one of the best I've seen in Europe (mostly focused on sets of armor vs weapons) as well as any special exhibits. During our visit, it was on the world of Charles II and well worth a view. As a bonus, there are fabulous views from the courtyard, and a lovely church right next door with an interesting crypt! read more

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Something you MUST do if visiting Madrid. I actually liked it better than visiting Versailles (which I did in the same trip). They also have lockers which is extremely worth it to not drag around a heavy camera and bag for a few hours. You cant take photos inside so might as well leave it in the locker and give your shoulder and back a rest for a few hours. It's best to rent the audio guide for 3 euro and learn a little background. I'll be honest my European History sucks since I haven't reviewed anything since high school, so the audio guided helped me re-learn some old knowledge and provided me with new facts. Beautiful rooms and styles throughout the Palace. read more

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Really amazing! The Palace is worth the time and money. The armory is a must see! Armor for the King's kids and dog! Crazy scary weapons of painful destruction. In some of the areas like the armory they don't allow photographs and there are staff posted to make sure. I guess if everyone posted photos you wouldn't need to go? I still would. Walking around the giant courtyard with the views... Seeing crazy fancy fixtures and furniture... Reading about what each room was used for and who used it... So cool to be transported to a slower, more extravagant era! read more

Spain's Royal Palace...its also known as 3rd best palace in Europe. Not bad! Versailles in France and Schoenbrunn in Austria are numbers 1 and 2 respectively. Despite being 3rd Place, the Royal Palace is very impressive and majestic. It might not be as large, and lacks massive gardens, but the rooms are as grand and regal as anything in Versailles or Schoenbrunn. Be prepared to spend 60-90 minutes going through all the gorgeous rooms. €10 to get in and well worth it! For local Spaniards, the last 2 hours are free. So visit before hand to avoid crowds. read more

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A beautiful Palace worth visiting if you are in Madrid. The rooms are grand and beautiful. We bought the extra ticket for the kitchen tour I highly suggest doing this tour. It is a good 2 hour tour read more

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Beautiful structure and lovely to look at, but it was closed for the day (and the next day) for a private event. Kind of a bummer. Still a great thing to see and take . The history of the structure is impressive, constructed over nearly two decades from 1738 to 1755. First occupied by Charles III in 1764. Over 135,000 square meters (1,450,000 square feet) of floor space with 3418 rooms. And while it is the largest royal palace in Europe, I'm going to show my bias and say that I think Buckingham is a little nicer. Check the web site to ensure that they're open and see the schedule for the changing of the guard so that you can plan accordingly. read more

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This is a beautiful national treasure - one which I think outshines the famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona in the country. There's a lot of exhibits - from paintings of important Spanish royal figures - some of them being queens who went on to be nuns, for example. The lineage including a lot of mention of the Hasburg/Austrian dynasty, is really fascinating and can be confusing considering that the royal family is rather quite a large one with many descendants. They do a good job of trying to include everyone, in my opinion. I also love the Armory - the room is smaller than what I thought it would be, and not all of the pieces in the guidebook were available (in fact many were stored away out of sight) - but they still had impressive pieces with interesting background stories (I do still highly recommend the guide). The royal palace itself is the shiny star - beautiful rooms, pretty much almost all of them having vaulted and painted ceilings. You even get to see the throne room. Only thing is that this part of the royal palace, no pictures can be taken. I'd come back just to bask in such magnificence again, anytime! Great for history buffs and for the so-so history buffs! read more

Definitely worth the 11 euros to check out this amazing palace. All of the rooms are so majestic and the way that they are each decorated is just so magnificent. Each room has a different theme and color to it and the ceiling is a painting. The palace has such great detail to it. When I first walked in, there were areas where it said restricted access. I was disappointed at first because I thought all I could see was the outside of the palace and the courtyard. You actually have to go on the right side and enter the palace from there. Then you can enter the rooms. You can also enter the section where the letters are stored on the left side of the palace ** pro tip: order your tickets online!!! There will be a long line but if you order your tickets online, you can enter the line to the left which there was no one at that line at all! read more

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Beautiful art, horrible staff. Don't try to take pictures of the art or architecture, that's a big no no for the staff apparently. Nearly got kicked out. Never understood why places do that. Anyway, it's really interesting and beautiful inside. There's a lot of neat history to be learnt if you aren't big into European history already. They have a student, senior and disabled discount as well. I think my mum and I ended up getting in free. read more

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

If you visit Madrid you really need to make a little time to see this palace. Thankfully, we had an extra day in Madrid to do stuff we wanted to do and a few friends wanted to go to the Palacio Real before lunch. I was got a little apprehensive when they mentioned this because I had my heart set on going to the Prado Museum and I didn't think we would have time to go to both in one day. The great thing about Old Town Madrid is that it's not that big and you can walk from one side to the other. The palace is really gorgeous. I felt like I was in St. Peters Basillica because of all the beautiful frescoes on the ceiling. I guess that can be attributed to the fact that a few of the architects were Italian so you see that influence in the design. Each room is decorated with it's own theme too which makes it interesting. Here are some of the highlights for me: - The chandeliers - There are so many and all of them are absolutely amazing. - The Grand Banqueting Hall - It is hard to describe how gorgeous this hall is from the long table to the numerous chandeliers, drapes, vases and artwork on the walls and ceilings. - The Stradivarius Room - These violins were gorgeous and priceless I'm sure. I used to play the cello and my sister played the violin, so I've always loved these instruments. I wish I still knew how to play. - The Throne Room - The chairs on the throne , red walls, frescoes, sculptures and chandeliers are beautiful. The Royal Palace is still the official residence of the King and Queen of Spain. Someone told me that the Queen is often seen going to see films at the theatre over by Plaza Mayor so they probably do live in Madrid most of the time. read more

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Heard it was free on Wednesdays so we headed over to the Palacio Real or Royal Palace. Turns out it's only free to those tourists with a European passport or a passport from a Latin American country, so USA doesn't count. Lame. The cost is €10 per person. My cousin and I, decidedly bitter, took photos from outside and headed elsewhere. The palace is gorgeous and apparently has plenty of rooms filled with Spanish art. All I can say is that it's impressive from the outside. If you're interested in seeing it and going inside, it is probably worth a gander. Otherwise it's just another empty palace. The current king of Spain resides in a much smaller palace. read more

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

The Royal Palace of Madrid is simply stunning from all angles, and is a great way to spend an hour or two here in Spain's capital city. I was immediately attracted to the large courtyard inside full of tourists wanting to snag that photo in front of its exterior design. At first approach, it seemed like the queue was never ending. However, I only stood in line for 20 minutes, and enjoyed some free entertainment by random artists performing for some loose euro. The interior of the palace was magnificent. You can see the level of attention to detail right from the beginning. Each room has been restored to give you a look into Spain's colonial past. Throughout the walk through, tours were passing by, and you may be lucky to straddle behind one that speaks your native language. I certainly got some insight from an English lady that was speaking quite loudly in such small spaces. The views of suburban Madrid can also be seen from the palace. While the palace is not as elaborate as Versailles or other major castles in Europe, it is still a marvel especially to Americans like myself who don't have this kind of architecture back in the States. Be careful of gypsies and pickpockets. I had no trouble at all coming in late Winter and keeping all my valuables in my jacket. read more

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Superlative. I recommend the Palacio Real first among all Madrid attractions, including the Prado. The edifice and grounds are impressive, but the interior rooms are utterly magnificent. Each is furnished in a different decorative style and/or era, and symbolic or allegorical artwork abounds. Sadly, photography is prohibited indoors, so it's impossible to refer to any worth-a-thousand-words examples (except for the couple that I sneaked in the entry staircase). Unfortunately, such a gorgeous variety of lavish opulence exceeds my power of description. Find some pictures online or take my word for it--do not miss a trip through the Palacio Real on any sightseeing trip to Madrid. We spent five hours--FIVE!--during our visit, possibly the most time I've ever spent at a single attraction on any vacation. I cannot recommend strenuously enough the excellent, excellent audio guide. The text was well written (and/or translated) and extremely informative. Downstairs in the Armory, it became painfully lengthy, but as a completist and military history buff, I had to listen to every word. By the time you get down to the Armory, you will have seen, heard, and learned so much already that we can forgive you for skipping those audio guide sections. But the arms and armor collection itself may be the most impressive part of the palace. Even the gift shop is superior. I found Christmas gifts for several family and friends there, ranging from tasteful and cool Palacio-specific souvenirs to handsome regional handicrafts. There were tough choices to be made. Whether or not to tour the Palacio is an easy choice, though--definitely do it! read more

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Enjoyed seeing the palace and surrounding areas. There was a park in close proximity that had a carousel and various street performers sharing their talents. There is a huge cathedral just across from the palace also. read more

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

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Just amazing. I have been to many royal palaces in Europe and this was my favorite. The armory alone is worth a visit! Some things that I really enjoyed: The audio tour with tablet was outstanding 5/5. Paying extra for the kitchen tour was worth it. This palace is still in use which is super cool and not normal for most royal palaces. The kings rooms were really stunning. The gardens are beautiful and worth a roam. The price is really reasonable to get in. The armory is fantastic! You really have to go here if you come to Madrid. read more

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Naked bicyclists! Yup, you read that right. The day my students and I went to visit the Royal Palace in Madrid, we were standing outside admiring the exterior before our tour. All of the sudden we hear music and hundreds (no exaggeration) of completely naked bicyclists start riding past the Royal Palace just feet away from us. They were protesting something (someone said something about bike lanes). It definitely made our visit to the Royal Palace memorable. We had a local guide who walked our group through the Royal Palace and explained each room. The Royal Palace is definitely worth a trip. Each room was so unique. I really enjoyed the Porcelain room and the Gasparini Room. The decorations were so incredibly ornate and over the top! One of the pieces of information I found interesting was that the Spanish were very interested in Chinese porcelain. They purchased a lot of porcelain from them and then tried to imitate it. There is one room where the walls are covered in amateurish porcelain with childlike animals and figures drawn on the porcelain. It was interesting to see the Spanish interpretation of the Asian style of art. There is a huge open square between the palace and a church. There is also an area that looks out onto a park. There are lots of opportunities to take photos outside, as they do not allow photos to be taken inside. If you go, make a reservation or get tickets in advance. Also, get a guide. You learn so much more when you have a guide. I saw some people just wandering around on their own and it just isn't as informative as the rooms don't have information posted. read more

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

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Gorgeous palace! We came here twice, once to just look around the outside and again to tour the inside. The grounds are beautiful with lots of gardens to walk through. Although you can purchase tickets online, we got them there. Line wasnt too long and moved quickly. It's 10 euros per person. There is a reduced admission fee for over 65 but that only applies to E.U. or Latin American citizens. We toured it ourself without any audio guides, which we did regret. There is some information posted room to room, but would've been more helpful to have the guide. Plan on 1-2 hrs here. We spent 2 hrs walking around at a leisurely pace. The palace is well maintained and architecture and artwork are breathtaking. Only downside is that you can't take photos on most of the rooms. read more

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Amazing, elegant and historical. The price per person was only 10 Euros and they have discounts for seniors, students, etc. We came on a Monday vs. the weekend to avoid the crowds. A definite must if you are in Madrid. read more

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Do not skip the Palace! We were so museum-ed out, and wanted to skip, but it was worth the visit - lush, richly decorated, it shows you what kind of power Spain once had. Everything is meticulously restored, and with an audio guide you can explore at your own pace. Tips: - Skip the huge ticket line - buy your tickets online with your phone, and go right in with no line. - There are umbrellas conveniently located by the doors, for you to use when crossing the courtyard. They are good in both sun and rain, and let you enjoy the classic courtyard square in comfort. - Do use the restrooms, they are clean and no lines. read more

I can't add anything to the superlatives others have offered, but be warned: GET TICKETS IN ADVANCE!!!! Otherwise you will join the blocks long line of those poor souls who did not undertake this very easy step that should be done before traveling. Actually, this advice applies to any frequently visited venue in any city. I really don't understand why, in these days of online booking, I continue to see long lines of people wasting valuable sightseeing time. I would also suggest going to the adjacent Cathedral de la Almudena, especially the crypt. read more

Mi lugar favorito en Madrid. Yes it's touristy and yes, I had to visit three times until we could finally go in, but it was so worth it. Even if you can't make it within the interior tour time frame, go to bask in the glorious, ornate exterior. My favorite past time includes sitting on these steps at sunset, when everyone starts leaving, but the sky is amazing. The inside is stunning. Simply unreal. It's a self-guided tour and there are signs in every room describing what each room was used for. There's a massive, grand room with a table that fits maybe 200 people and is covered in gold. There's a thrown room, a music room, bedrooms, a room made completely out of ceramic, and so. much. more. The entire palace can be experienced between 1-2 hours and is completely worth the entrance price. read more

Get tickets on line Wear walking shoes Many many rooms to see No photographs allowed in most rooms They have a cafeteria too read more

This is a palace. A "real palace"- that's the direct translation fyi. If you aren't awestruck from looking at it's enormity and grandeur, all you have to do is walk inside. THEY DON'T MAKE PLACES LIKE THIS IS NYC?! No, they don't. So if you're a New Yorker in Spain like I was, take it all in. Also- take pictures. read more

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

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Buying the audio and switching to detailed mode will expand your experience for very little money. This is the only way to get descriptions of the tapestries and other details. Don't forget to include a stop at the armory. Well worth a trip, duh it's a castle, and you can make it a pretty quick trip (2 hours) if time is short. read more

Palacio Real de Madrid - Don't forget to look up. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Madrid, M

Wow! The palace and the grounds at absolutely stunning! You can purchase tickets very easily online and in advance just to ensure your admission on the day that you want to visit. The tickets are inexpensive, and worth the amount you paid. All of the rooms are as if you were inside a museum- a royal museum in fact. Your journey begins with the marble grand staircase that takes you right into the state rooms. From there you will go through ever rooms and eventually into the state dining room and private royal chapel. The outside grounds are beautifully done. Great views of the river and Madrid. Note- pictures are forbidden (I had to covertly take these pictures). They want you to purchase the official palace book instead of taking your pictures. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into the royal Household! If you find this review useful, please let me know! read more

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The palace is quite an amazing place. Best audio tour ever - it's not just audio, but very visual as well, on a 7" Samsung tablet, with tons of close up details that you could never see without jumping the ropes. Video material is excellent, including VR style full 360 views. Narration is lively and interesting - none of that nasal boring delivery seen elsewhere (Hey Thyssen, you need to get out more). You can buy the electronic tour as an Android or iPad app for 1.99. Great souvenir. PS Sometimes the palace is closed for official use, not on the website. That happened to me, but I had no problem going the next day. Phone ahead to make sure. read more

This is a truly amazing place. What a fantastic treat it must be to come here as a dignitary and eat here at a state dinner. We opted to pay the extra euro and have a real guide- I recommend that! We had only 6 people in our party, and our guide was fantastic!!!!! I have had audio tours so many times, but you don't always know where to look and it takes longer to move through places on your own- I prefer a knowledgeable guide. Patricia, our guide, was superb. She obviously loves the palace, and Madrid, and she communicated that to us. She gave is details that were historical and interesting. I loved every minute of the tour- and what a tour it is! From the details about the carpets and tapestries, to the clocks, porcelain and chandeliers, this is an amazing palace- all the more so because it is still a working palace for formal occasions. My husband very much enjoyed the armory. We were going to do the special exhibit, as well, but we ran out of time. Do not miss this superb attraction- but also, do yourself a favor, and get a guide- I think it greatly enhances the experience. Pictures are only allowed in the outer part of the palace. In the inner rooms they are not allowed- which is sad. I would have loved a picture of the chain with the golden fleece that all the kings of Spain wear- or the crown, which is HUGE. (Spanish kings do not wear it on their head- at least that's what our guide said.) read more

Everything you would expect in a Royal Palace. Over the top architecture, and big crowds of tours. Can't take photos in many areas, so that sucked. And buy tickets online first to avoid the annoying line. Not sure why everyone doesn't do this. read more

A must see when in Madrid. Beautiful palace across from the Cathedral. Get tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines.

- Please verify if they are open. We went at 10am, only to find that they were closed until 2:30. - Changing of the guard is cool - You can get in line around 10am to get a good psoition for changing of the guard (first wednesday of the month at noon) - Changing of the guard lasts more than an hour, it's cool that its free tho) - They really enforce the no camera rule - we went thru in about 2.5 hours read more