Looking for the best option to book Royal Palace of Madrid tickets? Find out all about how much advance tickets cost, how to skip the line, who is eligible for discounts, what you will see inside, and more!
On this page, you will find a complete guide to getting tickets for the Royal Palace of Madrid, including:
Spread over 13 hectares with 44 staircases, 240 balconies, and 870 rooms, the palace was built between the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, select parts of the magnificent royal residence are open to the public. Nowadays the Spanish royal family uses the palace for state banquets and special ceremonies.
Ready to get a glimpse into the lives of Spain’s royal families? Don’t feel like reading ahead? Click on the following link if you wish to book Royal Palace of Madrid tickets right now.
How much do Royal Palace of Madrid tickets cost?
Fortunately, a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid is an informative day out that does not break the bank. You may find below the different types of tickets available.
Royal Palace of Madrid single ticket price:
- from January 1st to March 31st: full (€11) reduced (€6)
- from April 1st to September 1st: full (€13) reduced (€7)
- from September 2nd to December 31st: full (€12) reduced (€6)
Royal Palace of Madrid + Royal Kitchen combined ticket price:
- from January 1st to March 31st: full (€15) reduced (€10)
- from April 1st to September 1st: full (€17) reduced (€11)
- from September 2nd to December 31st: full (€16) reduced (€10)
Royal Kitchen single ticket price:
- from January 1st to March 31st: ticket costs €5.
- from April 1st to December 31st: ticket costs €6.
Who are eligible for discounts?
The following enjoy reduced admission prices on tickets to the Royal Palace of Madrid:
- Individual members of large families with accreditation by the Official Family Book.
- Children between 5 and 16 years of age. A valid identification card or passport required from 14 to 16 years of age.
- Persons over 65 years of age of the member states of the European Union or Latin American countries, with valid identification card, passport, driver’s license, work or residency permit.
- Accredited students up to 25 years of age with updated national or international student’s card.
How do you book Royal Palace of Madrid tickets in advance? How do you skip the line?
The Royal Palace is one of Madrid’s busiest tourist attractions, and the queue is often very long during the day – meaning that you may end up queueing up for hours before you get in.
If you wish to skip the line, you should purchase Royal Palace of Madrid skip the line tickets online in order to avoid having to wait a long time at the main gate.
You can either book your tickets online from the official website or from an online travel agency such as Getyourguide, Viator, Civitatis or Headout to name a few.
It is recommended that you compare prices, as they can vary between sites and discounts are often available and can save you some money.
Are there any combined tickets including Royal Palace of Madrid tickets and other attractions?
Combined tickets are a great way to save on time and money, as you can visit 2 or 3 attractions over 1 to 2 days. Here are the most popular tourist attractions in Madrid to consider:
- Royal Palace of Madrid + Prado Museum: it is no question that the Prado Museum is a must-visit in Madrid. Discover Spain’s most visited museum and admire the works of important artists such as Goya, Velázquez, Rubens, and Caravaggio amongst others.
- Royal Palace of Madrid + Retiro Park: explore the palace’s gilded interiors with a bilingual guide, and continue with a walking tour of Retiro Park.
- Royal Palace of Madrid + city bus tour: see Madrid’s most famous squares and monuments on a bus tour.
Are there any Royal Palace of Madrid guided tours? Are they worth it?
Absolutely! First of all, booking a guided tour lets you bypass waits in long lines while visiting what’s most important. Just walk straight past the crowds to go inside and enjoy the visit.
Your guide will expertly answer whatever questions you may have about the palace’s colorful history. A guided tour can be a great way of making sure you get to experience all of the important areas of the Royal Palace. For some specific tours, you will also see parts of the palace that are closed to most visitors, and enjoy good photo ops on the palace grounds.
There are different types of guided tours: small group tours, private tours, audioguided tours. Pick the one that fits best your needs and enjoy your time.
Is it possible to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid for free?
Admission to the palace is free for all on May 18th, which is International Museum Day.
In addition, children under 5 years old, professors on individual visits with valid identification, members of the International Museum Council, and visitors with disability accreditation receive free admission.
What will you see?
Known as Palacio Real in Spanish, the Royal Palace of Madrid was built upon the site of the medieval Alcazar, which burned to the ground on Christmas Eve in 1734. King Filipe V set out to build a new palace that would rival France’s Versailles, hiring architect Filippo Juvara from Italy for the task. The new palace was rebuilt in a Neoclassical style, in fireproof brick and stone.
Today, visitors are allowed into a handful of the 3000+ spectacular rooms. Don’t miss the dining room, the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury, and the Royal Pharmacy. Art enthusiasts are in for a treat with works by luminaries such as Caravaggio, Goya, Velazquez, as well as handpicked frescoes by Corrado Giaquinto, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, and Anton Raphael Mengs.
The Royal Armoury features armor and weapons used by Emperor Charles V in the Battle of Muhlberg. The Royal Pharmacy is filled with a collection of herbal medicines, bottles, jars, and glass cabinets, which were all used to supply the royal family.
Are Royal Palace of Madrid tickets included in any city attractions passes?
Yes! Fortunately, the Royal Palace of Madrid is included in the Madrid iVenture Card.
If you are planning on visiting a number of attractions in Madrid, an attraction pass can be a very good way to save a good amount of money and sometimes skip lines and save time spent in queues.
With the Madrid Iventure Card, you may choose from over 20 popular attractions including restaurants, museums, hop on hop off bus tours, and even a day trip to Toledo.
Choose from three packages: the 3, 5, or 7 attraction pass and get skip the line tickets to any of the included attractions in the pass.
What is the best time to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid? How can the crowds be avoided?
If you plan on visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid independently without a tour guide, early mornings or late afternoon are best to avoid the crowd and daytime heat; just make sure you allow enough time to see everything before closing. Weekends are the busiest days of the week.
Overall the best way to avoid the crowds is to book your ticket to the Royal Palace of Madrid in advance to make sure to skip the line.
What are the Royal Palace of Madrid’s opening hours?
From October to March, the palace is open daily between 10 am to 6 pm, and between 10 am to 8 pm daily from April to September.
Travel tips
- Line 2 and 5 of the Madrid subway serve Opera station, within walking distance to the palace. You can also take the commuter train to Principe Pio station.
- Plan for at least 90 minutes to fully explore the palace and its surroundings.
- Disability access is available, with wheelchairs provided on request.
- The Changing of the Guard takes place every first Wednesday of the month.
- There are frequent art exhibitions at the palace, which may be included in your ticket price.
- Consider paying for the audio guide, which is €3. You can also download the Royal Palace of Madrid app through the App Store and Google Play.