The Royal Palace of Madrid ( Palacio Real , in Spanish) is the official residence of the King of Spain, Felipe VI, even though he no longer lives here. The Palace is primarily used for state ceremonies today, however there has been royal residence of some kind at this location for a thousand years. The current building dates from the 18th century.
Next to the Royal Palace is the Madrid Cathedral. While the Palace is quite old, the construction of the cathedral was only completed in 1994. And no, that’s not a typo! Surprisingly, Madrid didn’t really have a complete cathedral until less than two decades ago.
Classic Spanish art in all its glory
The Royal Palace houses a large collection of classical Spanish art by luminaries such as Goya and Velázquez; If you have visited other great museums in Madrid such as the Prado and the Thyssen, this should be next on your list if you are a good art fan.
Much of the residential area is open to the public, as well as the throne room, the hall of mirrors and the royal dining room. If you ever wanted to see how 0.01% live, this is your chance.
Enter the palace
The cost of entry to the Royal Palace depends on the part you want to visit, with prices ranging from € 2 to € 14. For the frugal, there are some extremely complicated ways to get in cheaper, but better check the official Royal Palace website for all current ticket prices and inquiries. That said, the Royal Palace has free admission on Wednesdays, so definitely take advantage of that offer if you’re in Madrid midweek. You can also get free entry to the Royal Palace by purchasing the Madrid Card .
In fact, there are many free things to do in Spain if you know where to look! Check out our article for a list of activities for the budget traveler.
For even more, take a guided tour
If you pay full price to enter the Palace, a guided tour is included in your entrance fee.
If you plan to take a more extensive tour of all of Madrid, it is possible to take a tour that combines entry and a guided tour of the Royal Palace with a bus tour of the city, like this one . You can also take a small group tour of the city that includes entrance to the Palace , if you want to wander around the capital.
Make the most of your trip to Madrid
As grand and amazing as the Royal Palace is, it is only a small portion of what Madrid has to offer! If you are lucky enough to stay in the city, you should see as many places as you can, you will never get bored. Read about how to plan your trip to Madrid , and you can find a list of affordable accommodations here .
