Royal Palace of Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain

5Jill 5:00 PM Feb 7, 2023

Don't skip this!
One of the best things to do in Madrid! Strongly recommend buying tickets in advance, but if you are unable to do so and must wait in line, do know that it moves pretty fast! We waited for only a total of 20-25 mins. The palace is truly astounding. We did not pay for a guide or any audio equipment, but found the Rick Steves Madrid book to have everything we needed to learn! Make sure you check out the view of the gardens on your way out. I would plan for approx 2 hours here.

5PerpetualTraveller90 5:00 PM Nov 13, 2021

A must-do when you visit Madrid – visit on a Wednesday or Saturday.
Firstly, I recommend visiting the Royal Palace after watching the Changing of the Guard ceremony which is located at the Prince’s Gate (opposite Plaza de Oriente). This ceremony takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 11am and lasts about 15 minutes. Afterwards you can walk to the palace’s south side entrance to begin the tour. It’s worth getting tickets in advance as the ticketless queue was considerably longer. Now to the tour. It’s definitely worth doing, and you can spend as much or as little time as you like within the palace grounds and rooms. Overall, we did everything in about an hour. The grandeur and palatial splendour are breath-taking. The artwork and interiors are impressive. It is a one-way system so you can enjoy the tour without being bombarded by a sea of people. My personal highlights were the palace foyer, the music room, the crown jewels, and of course the throne room. Behind the enclosed Spanish crown and sceptre, you can find King Juan Carlos I’s Instrument of Abdication, and the fountain pen he used to sign it. Also, don’t miss the Royal Armoury of Madrid room which is located outside of the main palace. It has the personal arms of the Spanish King and houses military weapons, armours, as well as warfare-inspired tapestries and artworks to gaze at. The only downside is that in most of the rooms, especially the Throne Room, you cannot take photos. But you can try, and multiple people did.