Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, though it's used only for state ceremonies today since the current king lives elsewhere; that makes most of its lavishly decorated rooms accessible to visitors year-round. With around 3,400 rooms it's one of the largest royal palaces in Europe, and the public route covers a fraction of that, still enough for an hour or more of ornate throne rooms, a royal armory, and a pharmacy.
The changing of the guard takes place periodically outside the palace (a full ceremonial version on the first Wednesday of the month, with a shorter version more frequently), a free spectacle that's popular with visitors regardless of whether they're touring the interior. The palace also occasionally closes for state functions, so it's worth checking ahead if a specific date matters.
Royal Palace of Madrid FAQs
No, the current royal family resides at the smaller Zarzuela Palace outside the city; the Royal Palace is used only for official state ceremonies.
A curated public route through a portion of the palace's roughly 3,400 rooms, including throne rooms, the armory, and other state apartments.
A full ceremonial changing of the guard happens on the first Wednesday of most months; a shorter version runs more frequently, both free to watch.
Yes, it occasionally closes for state functions or ceremonies, so it's worth checking the current schedule before visiting on a specific day.
About 1.5-2 hours for the main interior route.
Reviews/Comments
No comments yet — be the first.