About the Royal Palace of Madrid
What the Royal Palace actually is, why it's still an official royal residence, and what's worth knowing before you go.
Europe's Largest Working Royal Palace
The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) was built on the orders of King Philip V after a fire destroyed the old Alcázar fortress in 1734. Construction ran from 1738 to 1755, and the result is the largest functioning royal palace in Western Europe by floor area — over 3,400 rooms, though only a fraction are open to visitors on a Royal Palace of Madrid ticket. It's still the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, who use it for state ceremonies even though they live elsewhere.
Inside the State Rooms
This is the paid section, and it's where nearly everything you've seen in photos of the Royal Palace actually is: the Throne Room with its Tiepolo ceiling frescoes, the Gasparini Room's chinoiserie decoration, and the Royal Chapel. A Royal Palace guided tour is worth it here if you want the history and symbolism explained rather than just the photo stops.
The Royal Armoury & Royal Pharmacy
Two smaller collections are included with general admission: the Royal Armoury, one of the finest collections of historic royal armor and weaponry in the world, and the Royal Pharmacy, stocked with the same ceramic jars and apothecary equipment used to treat the royal household for centuries.
What's Actually Free
Sabatini Gardens and Plaza de Oriente, both bordering the Palace, cost nothing to walk through and offer some of the best exterior photo angles. EU citizens and residents of Ibero-America can also enter the State Rooms free Monday–Thursday, 5pm–7pm, though this window is first-come, first-served rather than pre-bookable.