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Royal Palace & Gardens, Madrid

Calle de Bailén, Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid

Description

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the Spanish royal family in the city; but since they stay in the Palace of Zarzuela in the outskirts of Madrid, the palace is mainly used for state ceremonies and for visits by the public the rest of the times, alongside the gardens. The origins of the site go back to the 9th century as a Moorish Alcázar with the court only moving to Madrid in 1561. The palace as it stands today dates from the mid-18th century (the previous one having burned down) and is built in Baroque and Classic styles with over 3,400 rooms and 135,000m2 of floor space, making it the largest functioning royal palace in Europe. The interior is lavishly decorated with paintings and frescoes by artists such as Goya and Caravaggio. Highlights include the Grand Staircase, the Royal Armory and the Throne Room. There are two gardens adjoining the Palace: the Campo del Moro and the more recent Sabatini Gardens.

Access & Transport

Visitor's access is from the esplanade of the Almudena, at the corner of Calle Bailén. The best way to get there is by metro until Ópera station (2, 5), a 5mins walk away past the Monument to Felipe IV. Príncipe Pío station (C1, C7, C10) is also nearby, just to the north of Campo del Moro. By bus, the Palacio Real station is on Calle Bailén, next to the Catedral de la Almudena.

Instructions & Recommendations

This activity is well combined with the Catedral of the Almudena, the Plaza Mayor, the Temple of Debod, and Plaza de España.

Meta review

Visitors to the Royal Palace are extremely complimentary about the quality of the rooms and decoration, often stating that it is one of the most opulent yet tasteful palaces they have visited. The main drawbacks are the lack of English tours and the waiting line if you have not booked your tickets online ahead of time. As for the gardens, both get excellent reviews and reviewers who have been to the two of them note the difference in atmosphere with the Sabatini Gardens being very tidy and formally designed whereas the Campo del Moro is much less crowded, more "casual" and provides great views over the Palace.

Environmental & Social

Marginally negative from an environmental perspective (heating/lighting) even if some improvements have been carried out (e.g. LED lighting). Part of the country's architectural and artistic heritage.

Conclusion

The Royal Palace of Madrid sheer size and magnificent facade is matched by lavishly decorated interiors and perfectly complemented by well-designed gardens. An excellent alternative to the more traditional museum settings, urban sightseeing and other commercial activities.

Key positive

Beautifully decorated rooms

An opportunity to learn more about the Spanish Royalty history

Key negative

Few rooms open for public visit

Lack of guided tours in foreign languages

Suitability

Suitable for all ages. Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

June 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Access until 1h before closing. Closed on 25 Dec. and other days by official act

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:2h 15m

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Oct, 01

Season 1

MONDAY10:00 - 18:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 18:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 18:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 18:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 18:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 18:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 16:00

Start of Season 2:Apr, 01

Season 2

MONDAY10:00 - 19:00

TUESDAY10:00 - 19:00

WEDNESDAY10:00 - 19:00

THURSDAY10:00 - 19:00

FRIDAY10:00 - 19:00

SATURDAY10:00 - 19:00

SUNDAY10:00 - 16:00

Pricing
Access to the garden is free of charge
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
€7
Adult
17 - 64
€14
Child
5 - 16
€7
Infant
0 - 4
€0
Student price up to 25yrs old is 7 €. Free entrance for the last 2h of the day Mon-Sat.

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