Hotels near Royal Palace of Madrid

The Palacio Real is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe by floor area - 135,000 sq m and 3,418 rooms over 5 floors, designed in 1735 by Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Sacchetti for King Felipe V. The Spanish royal family no longer lives here (they reside at Zarzuela), but the palace is still used for state ceremonies. The Throne Room, the Royal Armoury, and the Royal Pharmacy are the highlights.

Entry is EUR 14 (free Mon-Thu 4-6pm Oct-Mar / 6-8pm Apr-Sep for EU residents). The first Wednesday of the month at noon brings the Changing of the Guard at Plaza de la Armeria - free, 1 hour, mounted lancers. The adjacent Sabatini Gardens and Almudena Cathedral are also free.

Pro Tip: Book online 48 hours ahead in summer to skip the queue. Allow 2 hours inside; the Royal Armoury alone takes 30 minutes. Walk down to the Plaza de Oriente for the best palace facade photo, then continue 5 min east to Plaza Mayor for lunch.