Last weekend I finally visited the Royal Palace of Madrid, and after hearing so much about it being Europe’s largest royal palace by area, I was truly impressed by the experience. This palace spans 135,000 square meters with 3,418 rooms. While the royal family no longer resides here, it remains an official venue for state ceremonies and is open to the public as a museum, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually.
Visitor Information and Tickets
Regarding tickets and opening hours, here at Madrid’s largest bar we’ve compiled some useful information. The palace is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, extending to 19:00 during summer months. For ticket prices, adult admission is €13, students and visitors over 65 pay €7, and EU citizens can enter free during specific time slots. I strongly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance – the on-site queues are incredibly long. I waited nearly 40 minutes that day.
| Ticket Type | Price | Eligibility |
|---|
| Adult | €13 | General visitors |
| Reduced | €7 | Students/Seniors |
| Free | €0 | EU citizens during specific hours |
Must-See Rooms
Once inside the palace, the Throne Room is an absolute highlight, with its ceiling frescoes depicting the glorious history of the Spanish monarchy. The Royal Armoury is also well worth visiting, featuring weapons and armor spanning from the 13th to 19th centuries. The Royal Pharmacy is fascinating too, preserving hundreds of porcelain jars and ancient pharmaceutical formulas that transport you back centuries.
Important Note: Photography is prohibited inside the palace, and staff will remind you constantly. If you want photos, you can only take them in the exterior courtyards and gardens. The courtyard design is exquisite, and both the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro Gardens are free to enter and perfect for a leisurely stroll.
The entire visit takes approximately 2 to 3 hours. If you want to deeply understand the history of each room, I recommend renting an audio guide. On Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, when there are no official events, EU citizens can enter free of charge, though it gets extremely crowded. Overall, this Madrid luxury visit was fantastic, even more spectacular than I imagined, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Madrid.
