Royal Palace of Madrid

Royal Palace of Madrid
Come and take a walk around one of the largest palaces in Western Europe...and try not to get lost!

Madrid’s Royal Palace is no longer where the Spanish royal family resides but one peek inside is enough to tell you that this place has seen its share of royalty over the ages. The enormous palace was built in 1738 after its predecessor was destroyed by fire in 1734. It boasts some 3,400 rooms and is packed with extravagant ornamentation and an impressive collection of furniture, paintings, musical instruments, books and weapons.Whether you choose to join a guided tour or go it alone, you’ll probably start by climbing the 70 steps that make up the appropriately named Grand Staircase. This will take you through to the palace's banquet halls and residential quarters. King Carlos III gave the orders as to how these rooms were to be fitted, and he certainly knew how to impress. His own quarters are open to the public too so you'll get a chance to savour his own unrestrained choice of luxurious furniture and artworks.The Throne Room successfully attempts to dazzle guests with chandeliers and mirrors, while the tapestries here are pretty impressive too. The ceiling is adorned with a Giambattista Tiépolo fresco, “The Glory of Spain”, which can only be described as a masterpiece.If that's not enough, you'll find another work by Tiépolo in the Hall of Halberdiers. Continue into the Royal Chapel and admire the beautiful marble-work and gold trimmings. The Royal Library is an interesting stop on the tour of the palace, displaying rare books and documents alongside drawings and maps and an assortment of Stradivarius violins.Art lovers will be impressed by the collection in the Painting Gallery. You’ll see works by Velázquez, El Greco, Goya and Caravaggio to name but a few. If you carry on into the Royal Armouries, you'll be able to see some of the weapons and armour that members of the royal family have worn and fought in over the centuries. The Royal Pharmacy, meanwhile, will transport you into a world of old medicine bottles, cabinets and ancient medical gear.The Royal Palace is located in central Madrid and is accessible via Ópera metro station. It's open seven days a week except on public holidays.

Reviews of Royal Palace of Madrid

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
242
" "5 - Excellent 52.26781857451404%
4 - Good
196
" "4 - Good 42.33261339092873%
3 - Okay
24
" "3 - Okay 5.183585313174946%
2 - Disappointing
1
" "2 - Disappointing 0.2159827213822894%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
20 Jan 2020

Check it is open on the day you want to visit.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
30 Aug 2019

Book tickets on line to save queuing, we actually did this while we were at the back of the queue, it was a great feeling moving to the fun, particularly in 30* + heat.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
18 Jun 2019

Good value at €13 each. You are not rushed about. Get there early before it opens at 10am if you do not have a ticket. The que is smaller. It has one of the best Armoury I have seen. Better than the Tower of London! The audio guide is worth having too.

4/5 - Good

William
12 Jun 2019

There is an extra charge if you want to tour the kitchens

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
1 Jun 2019

Go eRly or late although queues go down very quickly. Use audio guide & visit the kitchens

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
14 May 2019

If the queues are long, go away and try again a bit later (there is a significant difference throughout the day).

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