# Royal Palace of Madrid > The Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of Spain and one of Europe's largest working palaces, built in the 18th century on a bluff above the Manzanares river. Visitors see state rooms with Tiepolo frescoes, the Throne Room, the opulent Gasparini Room, the old Royal Pharmacy and a set of Stradivarius instruments. Entry is ticketed; allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/royal-palace-madrid - City: [Madrid](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid), Spain - YesGo score: 53/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h 45 min - Opening hours: Daily; closed for state occasions - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Paid, book online - Closed: On days of state ceremonies - Highlights: Throne Room, Gasparini Room, pharmacy, Stradivarius - Time needed: 1.5–2 hours - Gardens: Sabatini and Campo del Moro, free - Location: Plaza de Oriente, Ópera metro (L2, L5) - Coordinates: 40.41795, -3.71431 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1738** — construction began (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 3,400** — rooms in the palace (source: English Wikipedia) - **Residence** — official residence of the King of Spain (source: English Wikipedia) - **Stradivarius** — a quartet of instruments in the collection (source: English Wikipedia) ## About the Royal Palace The palace was built in the **18th century**, with work starting in **1738** on the site of an old Moorish-era fortress. The architects Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Sacchetti designed a vast late-Baroque building in pale stone, and Charles III was the first king to live here. Today it's the **official residence of the King of Spain**, though the royal family actually lives in another palace outside the city. With some **3,400 rooms**, it's one of the largest working royal palaces in Europe by floor area. State receptions and ceremonies are held here, so the museum closes on those days. The rest of the time, visitors can tour a suite of about fifty state rooms. ## What to see inside The visit begins with the **grand staircase**, with marble lions and a painted ceiling. Then come rooms with **Tiepolo** frescoes, tapestries, chandeliers and clocks, of which the king had a huge collection. The grandest is the **Throne Room**, all red velvet and gilded lions by the throne beneath a Tiepolo ceiling glorifying Spain. Don't miss the **Gasparini Room**, Charles III's dressing room, its walls, ceiling and furniture covered in silk and stucco flowers, or the **Porcelain Cabinet**, lined with hundreds of white and green panels. In the courtyard is the **Royal Pharmacy**, with hundreds of old medicine jars, and one gallery holds a quartet of instruments by **Stradivarius**. ## What to see at the Royal Palace - **The grand staircase** — marble lions and a painted ceiling. - **The Throne Room** — red velvet and a Tiepolo fresco. - **The Gasparini Room** — silk and floral stucco. - **The Porcelain Cabinet** — walls of porcelain. - **The Royal Pharmacy** — old jars and bottles. - **The Stradivarius quartet** — violins, viola and cello. > **Buying tickets** Tickets are sold on the royal palaces' official site for a set time and at the desks on Plaza de la Armería. The morning queue can be long, so book online. Check the calendar: the palace closes to visitors on days of official ceremonies. ## Gardens and squares around it In front of the main façade is the broad **Plaza de la Armería**, with views over Madrid's western hills, and opposite stands [Almudena Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/almudena-cathedral). To the east is **Plaza de Oriente**, with gardens, statues of kings and a view of the Teatro Real. North of the palace lie the formal **Sabatini Gardens**, with fountains and clipped hedges, and below, by the river, the English-style **Campo del Moro**, the best spot to see the whole palace from below. They're cool in summer and a good place to rest after the tour. ## How to get to the palace 1. Metro: **Ópera** station on lines L2 and L5, a 5-minute walk across Plaza de Oriente. 2. From [Puerta del Sol](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/puerta-del-sol), 10 to 15 minutes along Calle del Arenal. 3. From [Plaza Mayor](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-mayor-madrid), about 10 minutes on foot. 4. The visitor entrance is on Plaza de la Armería, facing the cathedral. ## Tips for your visit Come at opening time or after lunch, as tour groups arrive midday. Photography is banned in most rooms except the grand staircase and some galleries. Bags are checked at the entrance, and large backpacks go to the cloakroom. The palace pairs well with Almudena Cathedral, the Sabatini Gardens and sunset at the [Temple of Debod](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/temple-of-debod), 15 minutes' walk north. For lunch, head to La Latina or Plaza Mayor, though prices on the square itself are higher. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Check there's no state ceremony - [ ] Book a ticket online - [ ] Find the Throne Room and Gasparini Room - [ ] Look into the Royal Pharmacy - [ ] Stroll in the Sabatini Gardens ## Places in Madrid: compare and choose Places in Madrid rated by YesGo. - [Royal Palace of Madrid](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/royal-palace-madrid) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 45 min · Paid - [Prado Museum](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/prado-museum) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h 30 min · Paid - [Segovia](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/segovia) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Town free - [El Escorial](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/el-escorial) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 5 h · Paid ## Don't mix it up The Royal Palace of Madrid and the Zarzuela Palace are different places. The Zarzuela, outside the city, is where the royal family lives and is closed to visitors. ## Tips - Check the ceremony calendar. - Book online. - Photos are banned in most rooms. - The cathedral and Sabatini Gardens are next door. ## Questions ### How long do you need at the Royal Palace? 1.5 to 2 hours for the rooms and gardens. ### What is there to see in the Royal Palace of Madrid? The grand staircase, the Throne Room, the Gasparini Room, the Porcelain Cabinet, the pharmacy and the Stradivarius quartet. ### Does the king live in the palace? No, it's the official residence for ceremonies; the family lives at the Zarzuela Palace. ### How do I get to the palace? By metro to Ópera, then a 5-minute walk. ### Can you take photos in the palace? Not in most rooms, except the staircase and some galleries. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Hours, prices and closing days weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Royal Palace of Madrid - Patrimonio Nacional, patrimonionacional.es --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.