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Royal Palace Madrid Tickets

Experience the best of Royal Palace of Madrid

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Tickets

Official Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Tickets

Explore Western Europe's largest palace at your own pace with timed entry for a seamless visit.

  • Everything you get: Entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid with a timed entry ticket, allowing you to choose a time slot and explore it at your own pace.
  • Why choose this: Skip the hassle of waiting in long lines and visit one of Madrid's most iconic landmarks, exploring it at your own pace.
  • Upgrades: Choose tickets with skip-the-line access and entry to the Royal Kitchen, English or Spanish guided tours, or audio-guided tours in 5 or 16 languages to suit your visit style.


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Audio guide

Guided Tours

Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

What to bring

  • Bring a valid photo ID to match the name on your booking if requested at the entrance.
  • Bring your own headphones if you plan to use the digital audio guide, as headphones are not provided.

What’s not allowed

  • Pets are not allowed, except for registered service animals.
  • Food and drinks are not permitted inside the Royal Palace.

Accessibility

  • The Royal Palace of Madrid is wheelchair accessible, with facilities available for visitors with mobility needs.

Additional information

  • Reserve your spot now and pay later to keep your travel plans flexible.
  • Guided tours are available in English, Spanish, French, and Italian—check your ticket for language details.
  • The experience includes skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid.
  • The palace features 3,478 rooms and covers 199,000 square meters, with collections of musical instruments, artworks, and historical artifacts.
  • Note: Free Royal Palace of Madrid entry Mon–Thu for EU & Ibero-American citizens with valid ID: Oct–Mar: 4pm–6pm | Apr–Sep: 6pm–8pm.
  • Free entry is available for children under 5, ICOM/ICOMOS members, official tour guides, teachers, unemployed individuals (with proof), and people with disabilities (33%+), along with one essential companion if stated on their certificate.


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1 hr 30 mins - 5 hrs

Tickets

Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audioguide

Fast-track your way into Madrid's grandest palace with an audio guide in 5 languages.

  • Everything you get: Enjoy skip-the-line access to Madrid's Royal Palace and discover its lavish interiors with a multilingual digital audio guide. Learn about the palace's history, architecture, and royal collections as you explore independently.
  • Why choose this: The Royal Palace is one of Madrid's busiest attractions, and ticket lines can eat into your visit. Skip the wait and let the audio guide reveal the stories behind Spain's grandest royal residence.


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Audio guide

Tickets

Skip-the-Line Tickets to the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Royal Kitchen

  • Enjoy quick access to the plush Royal Palace with fast-track entry, and explore its equally sumptuous Royal Kitchens with an expert Spanish-speaking guide.
  • Bask in stunning views of the Spanish countryside and the city of Madrid from the palace courtyard.
  • Delight in a range of amazing art exhibits and admire the French architecture of the Royal Kitchen.
  • Visit the opulent royal halls, Royal Armory, throne room, other residential areas, and the Royal Pharmacy.
  • Check out any special art exhibitions in the palace on the day of your visit for free.


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Guided tour

Combos

Combo (Save 8%): Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Tickets + Museo del Prado Entry

Save time and money with seamless access to Madrid’s top art museum and royal residence.

  • Everything you get at Royal Palace of Madrid: Enjoy skip-the-line entry into Spain’s official royal residence and explore grand staircases, lavish ceremonial rooms, frescoed halls, and historic treasures like the Armory and Crown Room with complete freedom.
  • Everything you get at Museo del Prado: Access the Prado’s world-class collection at your own pace with flexible entry. Discover masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, Titian, and Rubens with extended validity giving you freedom to enter any time during operating hours.
  • Why choose this combo: Cover Madrid’s two cultural icons in one cost-effective, time-saving package with complete flexibility.


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Tickets

Royal Palace of Madrid + Royal Collections Gallery Tickets

Two royal wonders, one ticket! Save big and turn your Madrid afternoon into royal envy.

  • Everything you get at the Royal Palace of Madrid: Entry to Spain’s grandest palace. See the Throne Room, Sabatini’s marble staircase, the Royal Armory, Pharmacy, and Baroque chapel.
  • Everything you get at the Royal Collections Gallery: Direct access to 650+ masterpieces by legends like Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. Explore interactive exhibits, immersive projections, and rotating displays.
  • Why choose this combo: Unlock two of Madrid’s most prestigious sites with one ticket and see priceless royal art, experience innovative multimedia, and skip the long lines at both venues.
  • Upgrades: Choose a guided tour in English or Spanish for expert insights, or opt for entry to just the Royal Collections Gallery if you prefer a shorter visit.


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Combos

Combo (Save 11%): Flamenco Show + Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Tickets

Royal Palace of Madrid

  • Keep your camera tucked away – photography and videography are strictly not allowed. Mobile phones must remain in silent mode.
  • Keep in mind food & beverages are not allowed in the venue. Pack wisely!
  • Please keep in mind that your visits to certain sections of the palace may be timed.
  • The palace may be closed on special occasions for the celebration of official acts.
  • This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Flamenco show

  • Keep in mind food & beverages are not allowed in the venue. Pack wisely!
  • It is recommended that guests wear formal attire
  • This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.


Explore at your pace

Guided Tours

Royal Palace of Madrid Private Guided Tour

Skip the ticket lines and explore Madrid’s Royal Palace on a private tour with your own expert guide.

  • Everything you get: Enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Royal Palace of Madrid and a private guided tour through its grand interiors and royal collections, with an expert guide offering context and insights throughout.
  • Why choose this: Explore the palace's most significant rooms and collections with expert insights you might otherwise miss.
  • Options: Choose a private guided tour in a choice of four languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian, for a completely personalized experience.

Combos

Combo (Save 6%): Royal Palace of Madrid Skip-the-Line Tickets + 2-hour Welcome Tuk-Tuk Tour

Skip the lines at Europe's largest royal residence & tour Madrid's top spots on a private tour.

  • Everything you get at the Royal Palace of Madrid: Skip the 2-hour lines and step straight into the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, and Hall of Mirrors. Marvel at masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and Caravaggio, stroll through lavish royal apartments, and explore the Royal Armory.
  • Everything you get on your tuk-tuk tour: Enjoy a 2-hour tour of Madrid’s most well-known landmarks on a private, 100% electric tuk-tuk. Your English and Spanish-speaking guide offers fascinating insights and recommendations for your stay in the city.
  • Why choose this: Enjoy seamless access to Madrid's most popular symbol of royalty, along with a tour of the city's key landmarks, all with a single, money-saving combo.


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Guided tour

Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Liria Palace + Skip-the-Line Royal Collections Gallery Tickets

Liria Palace

  • Food & beverages, sharp metallic tools or objects, weapons, large travel bags, backpacks, suitcases, and umbrellas are not allowed on this experience.
  • Note that you cannot touch restricted artworks and furniture, sit on chairs, on the palace floors, or obstruct the passage. Also, running around the rooms, smoking in patios, gardens, or indoor rooms is strictly not allowed.
  • Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
  • Photography is strictly prohibited at the venue.
  • The ground and first floors are accessible. However, the gardens are not adapted for people with reduced mobility or wheelchairs.
  • Your guide dogs are welcome at the venue.
  • Children under 14 years must always be accompanied by an adult.
  • You can visit the on-site store only if you have Liria Palace tickets.
  • Joana Vasconcelos’ temporary exhibition is open till July 31, 2025.
  • The tour follows a free circular route, allowing visitors to admire both Vasconcelos' works and the palace's art collection, along with its gardens.
  • The digital audio guide can be downloaded at the start of the tour using a simple QR code. It features insights from Joana Vasconcelos herself.
  • Available facilities: cloak room/storage space.

Royal Collections Gallery

  • This experience is accessible to wheelchair and pram/stroller users.
  • The venue may occasionally be closed to visitors due to internal reasons.


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Audio guide

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Quick overview

  • Ways to explore: Choose from timed entry tickets to the palace, skip-the-line tickets, a skip-the-line guided tour, or combos with the Prado Museum, the Royal Collections Gallery, a 2-hour tuk-tuk tour, or the Liria Palace, among others.
  • Additional access: Some tickets add the Royal Collections Gallery next door or the Royal Palace Kitchens, which are not included in standard entry tickets.
  • Queues & access: Prebooked tickets skip the ticket purchase line; security checks still apply, and can take anywhere between 10-20 minutes.
  • When to book: Weekend, summer, and late-morning slots fill first. Book a weekday opening slot early if you want quieter rooms.
  • Good to know: A visit to the palace takes anywhere between 45-90 minuets, depending on how much time you intend to spend exploring its grand halls and gardens.
  • Best upgrade: Choose a combo with the Prado Museum to get access to two key art and culture-centric landmarks in the heart of the city.

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What to expect at the Royal Palace of Madrid

Overview image of Royal Palace entrance
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Enter through Plaza de la Armería

Your visit begins on the Almudena Cathedral side, facing Plaza de la Armería and the long palace façade. From the esplanade, you enter via a grand entrance and the formal mood sets in immediately, with the palace feeling less like a museum than a still-official state residence.

Climb the Grand Staircase

Inside, the Grand Staircase sets the ceremonial tone before the route carries you into the Hall of Halberdiers and the adjoining state rooms. Even on a self-guided visit, the path is uni-directional, so your tour through the grand halls unfolds in a clear sequence.

Move through the state rooms

The Throne Room, Hall of Mirrors, and Gasparini Room form the richest decorative stretch, with velvet, mirrors, and dense ornament pulling the pace slower. This is where late-morning crowds compress most, while opening hour and late paid afternoon usually feel easier.

Add a guide for context

With a guided palace tour (Included on guided tickets), the same public rooms gain stories, court rituals, and faster routing through the busiest spaces. Self-guided visits usually take about 90 minutes at an easy pace, while guided circuits tend to move quicker and offer much deeper context.

Finish with the armory and sacristy

Later rooms shift the mood from the ceremonial to daily court life, especially in the Royal Pharmacy, Royal Armory, and Sacristy. The armory often becomes the final high point, then the route winds back out toward Plaza de la Armería.

Extend into adjacent spaces

Beyond your visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid, you can also combine your tickets to the Prado Museum, the Royal Collections Gallery, or even the Liria Palace, among several other attractions and experiences. In fact, if you want to spot the city's best landmarks while zipping through its bustling streets, you can even choose the combo with the 2-hour tuk-tuk tour.

Things to know before booking your Royal Palace of Madrid tickets

  • Late-morning slots, weekends, guided tours, and tickets with access to the Royal Kitchens are usually the first to sell out. Book your tickets at least a few days in advance, preferably for a morning slot, so you can enjoy a quieter, more immersive visit.
  • Does the palace have a free entry window? EU citizens enjoy free entry to the palace from Mondays to Thursdays between 4pm and 6pm in the winter and 5pm and 7pm in the summer. Make sure to carry all relevant identification to avail of this benefit.
  • Where should I enter from? Your meeting point will be mentioned on your ticket. Keep in mind that if you've chosen a skip-the-line ticket, you will still need to pass through the palace's mandatory security check.
  • Explore more of Madrid's cultural heritage. The Royal Palace & Prado Museum combo is perfect for anyone who wants to experience more of Madrid's art and history. The best part is that both landmarks are a mere 2km apart, making it easy to go from one to the other.

Must-see features at Royal Palace of Madrid

Gallery image of Grand Staircase at the palace

Grand Staircase

Sabatini’s monumental marble staircase frames your entrance into royal ceremony. Look up at the scale and symmetry before the state rooms begin.

Pro tip: Pause halfway up for the best upward view.

Gallery image showing the Hall of Halberdiers
Gallery image of the Throne Room at the palace
Gallery image of the Hall of Mirrors at the palace
Gallery image of the Gasparini Room

Plan your visit to Royal Palace of Madrid

  • From October to March (winter), the palace is open from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.
  • From April to September (summer), the palace is open from 10am to 7pm, with last entry at 6pm.
  • On Sundays, the palace is open from 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm.
  • Reduced hours: On September 13 and 16, the palace remains open until 4pm, with last entry at 3pm.
  • Closed days: The palace remains closed on September 14 and 17.

Free entry:

  • From October to March, EU citizens enjoy free entry to the museum between Mondays and Thursdays from 4pm to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm.
  • Between April and September, free entry is between 5pm to 7pm from Mondays to Thursdays. Last entry is at 6pm.
  • Note: The Royal Kitchen is closed during free entry hours.

**** The best time to visit the Madrid Palace is during the off-season, between October to March. However, the site can get a little crowded towards the end of December due to the Christmas holidays.

Pro tip: Regardless of the season, booking a morning slot as soon as the palace opens is the best way to enjoy a quieter visit.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the heart of Madrid, Spain, in the historic Centro district. It stands beside the Almudena Cathedral and overlooks the Plaza de Oriente, close to major landmarks like the Teatro Real and Madrid’s historic city center.

Address: C. de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain | Find on Google Maps.

Getting there:

  • By bus: Use bus routes 133, 146, 147, 148, 3, 65, or 74 to reach the Royal Palace of Madrid. Santo Domingo is the closest bus stop
  • By train: If you’re taking the train, alight at Principe Pio Station
  • By metro:  if you’re using the underground metro, you can use Lines 5 and 2, and alight at the Opera Station.
  • Lockers: You can store large bags and luggage at the storage facility at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
  • Cafeteria: The café at the Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the Salones Génova (Genoa Halls), which are temporary exhibition rooms on the palace grounds.
  • Information desk: The information desk is ideal for anyone who wants guidance on alternate routs, quieter rest areas, and the various accessibility options available.
  • Gift shop: Offering a selection of souvenirs, books, and royal-themed merchandise. It's a great opportunity to find unique gifts and mementos to commemorate your visit.
  • Restrooms: Restroom facilities are available for visitors' convenience, situated at various locations within the palace complex. They are well-maintained and easily accessible throughout the visit.

Accessibility

  • Approach: Wheelchair users can use the current public access route via the Almudena Cathedral esplanade.
  • Interiors: The palace is fully wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators for wheelchair users to get around.
  • Wheelchair loans: Wheelchairs are available on-site for visitors who need them.
  • Restrooms: The palace also has accessible restrooms for those who need them.

Rules

  • Security: All visitors pass airport-style security screening before entry.
  • Bag policy: Large backpacks, suitcases, and bulky packages are discouraged because current works may complicate entry.
  • Sharp items: Knives and other sharp objects are not allowed.
  • Photography: Personal photography is allowed without flash, except where staff restrict it. Keep an eye out for any signage indicating restrictions.
  • Tripods: Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted.
  • Food and drinks: Food and drinks are not permitted inside the palace.
  • Behavior: Follow staff instructions and stay on the marked visitor route.
  • Re-entry: You cannot leave and re-enter the palace with the same ticket - if you need to, you'll have to purchase a new ticket.

Insider secrets & tips | Royal Palace of Madrid

  • Try to visit before 11am or after 3pm to avoid the tour group rush. The Throne Room and Royal Armory are the first to get crowded.
  • Skip heels or loud shoes—the palace has marble floors that echo, and some rooms require a lot of walking or standing.
  • If you're planning to visit during the free entry hours (Mon–Thurs, late afternoons), arrive at least 45–60 minutes early. The queue can wrap around Plaza de Oriente, and entry is not guaranteed if capacity is reached.
  • Photography is not allowed inside. Guards will remind you firmly. You can take photos in the courtyards, the grand staircase, and the outside gardens.
  • The Royal Kitchen is only accessible with select tickets. If you want to see it, make sure your ticket explicitly mentions access—most general entries don’t include it.
  • There’s no café inside the palace. The nearest options are along Calle de Bailén and Plaza de Oriente. If you want a quiet sit-down, head to Café de Oriente across the square.
  • The Changing of the Guard happens on Wednesdays and Saturdays (around 11am) at the Plaza de la Armería. It lasts about 30 minutes and draws a crowd. Get there 15–20 minutes early if you want front-row views.
  • Restrooms are limited inside. Use the facilities near the main entrance before starting your tour.
  • If you're doing a combo tour with Prado Museum or Royal Collections Gallery, plan for a full day. All three are walking distance, but it’s too much to rush in under 3–4 hours.
  • The palace has multiple entry gates. Most visitors enter through Calle de Bailén. Look for the security line even if you’ve pre-booked—timed entry doesn’t mean instant access.

Frequently asked questions about Royal Palace of Madrid tickets

Yes. Advance booking is strongly recommended because ticket-office availability is limited and walk-up lines can reach about 60–120 minutes on busy dates. Prebooked entry removes the purchase queue, which matters most in summer, Saturdays, and late mornings.