Royal Palace of Madrid tours

What should you expect from Cooltourspain's Royal Palace of Madrid tours?

To start with, you should expect an experienced art historian to offer you an exclusive guided visit. In this sense, our professional team members will not only provide historical insights into Spain's monarchy / dynasties, but they explain you insider information about the Throne Room, the Banquet Hall, and the Royal Gardens. Furthermore, we include skip-the-line access in our Royal Palace of Madrid tours. Taking into consideration that this is a National official building, you should also count that its governing body may close it without previous notice.

When was the Royal Palace of Madrid built?

The Royal Palace dates back to the XVIII century. It sits on the site of the old Alcázar of Madrid, a medieval fortress converted into a palace which Philip II made the official residence of the kings of Spain in 1561. The Alcazar, decorated with great works of art from the Spanish golden age, was destroyed by a fire on Christmas Eve 1734. Legend has it that members of the court of Philip V, of French origin, started the fire in order to build a French or Versailles-style palace. But it’s just that, a legend. The first stone was laid in 1738 and the construction was not completed until 1751, although the sculptural decoration of the surroundings continued until 1759 as well as the “exterior works”, always under the direction of Sacchetti, who scrupulously supervised the entire project from start to finish. However, the culmination of his project was altered by Francisco Sabatini, architect of Charles III, the first monarch to live in the Royal Palace where he settled in 1764.

How much does it cost to go to the Royal Palace of Madrid?

It will all depend on the type of experience chosen. For instance, a self-guided visit costs 14€/person + website fees. if you combine the Royal Palace tickets with the Royal Collections, you will get a promo for 24€/person + fees. If you have a valid EU Passport, then there is free entry from 4.00pm to 6.00pm during winter time, and 5.00pm to 7.00pm in summer season.

How long to visit Royal Palace Madrid?

Despite the fact that this is a very biased question, Royal Palace of Madrid tours shall mandatorily last between 90 minutes and 120 minutes. If you’re visiting it on your own, you can stay there as much as you wish, according to your level of interest.

What is Palacio Real?

It is a ceremonial and state functional building. Differently to what you’ll find on the internet, the Royal Palace is NOT the house of the current Spanish king and queen.

Where does the Spanish Royal family live?

The Spanish Royal family (Felipe, Leticia, Leonor & Sofia) lives at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, located on the outskirts of Madrid. It serves as their official residence for private life, while the Royal Palace is used for official events.

Meeting Point

At the entrance of a bar called El Anciano Rey de los Vinos (Calle de Bailén, 19).

Please note that they do not ahve any business relationship with our Royal Palace of Madrid tours. They won’t be able to assist you.

This is just a meeting point.

    
 
 
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   Brian B (Brian Gregory) 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 🚶‍♀️🎨 A Must-Do for Street Art Lovers in Madrid! We run Mural Ride Bike Tours in San Antonio, Texas, so believe us when we say—we live and breathe street art. This walking tour through Lavapiés and the surrounding neighborhoods was 🔥. The guide broke down the history of Madrid’s mural scene, gave us the inside scoop on local street art festivals, and even schooled us on the real difference between graffiti and street art (it’s more than just vibes and spray cans). You could feel the passion radiating from our guide—someone who’s clearly rooted in the culture and not just reciting from a script. The art? Stunning. The stories behind it? Even better. 💡 Pro tip: Bring water. We went in July and by noon it was already 32°C (aka “very toasty”). That said, the walking was totally manageable. We’re already plotting a return to see more neighborhoods. And yes—we’ll be sending our San Antonio guests this way when they land in Madrid. Can’t recommend it enough! 🖌️💥 #StreetArtMadrid #SupportLocalTours #MuralRideApproved

Owner's reply
Dear fellow street art friends. Thanks for your kind comments about our job. We look forward to continue collaborating with you in the near future. Best regards
  
 
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   Janice Walters 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our tour with Santiago was a highlight of our time in Madrid! He took us all through the neighborhoods and showed us such a creative side of the area. We would highly recommend and definitely come back. Thank you!

Owner's reply
Hola Janice, Thanks for your nice comment about Santi's job. We'd be glad on hosting you again. Cheers,
  
 
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   Anja Konter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fab Malasaña tour with guide Yago, discovering various pieces of street art and their meaning. This was followed by a workshop with Aida, where we learned about spray painting and made our own ‘art work’. Highly recommended.

Owner's reply
Hola Anja. On behalf of Yago and Aida, thanks for your review. We look forward to hosting your group next time you visit Madrid, or Barcelona. Best regards, Javier.
  
 
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   Alec 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Yago did a good job

Owner's reply
Thanks for your comment, Alec! We hope you enjoyed our street art tour in Madrid
  
 
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   Fer Gascón 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Encantados con Yago. Nos guió a mi y a mí hija de 13 años por la historia y los mensajes ocultos del arte urbano de Madrid. Llevándote a la reflexión a base de preguntas, hemos ido descubriendo un arte al que antes no prestábamos atención. Yago es súper amable, se nota que es un apasionado del tema, y conoce personalmente a los artistas para darte la mejor información. Muy, muy recomendable!!!!

Owner's reply
Buenos días, Fernando. ¿Cómo estás? Muchas gracias por escribir tu opinión publicamente. Yago, y el resto del equipo, estamos encantados de dirigir visitas guiadas como la que hicimos el otro día con vosotros. Somos unos apasionados del arte urbano, y de enseñar Madrid de un modo alternativo. Si a tu hija le gusta el graffiti, os esperamos en nuestros talleres para niñas y adolescentes. Un saludo,
  
 
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   maribel arciniegas 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Santi fue genial. Desde el primer momento mostró una energía súper cercana y auténtica, lo que hizo que nos sintiéramos cómodos enseguida. La manera en que cuenta las historias: mezcla datos curiosos, anécdotas divertidas y ese toque personal que hace que todo cobre vida. Santi muestra la ciudad desde su lado más cultural y multicultural, guiándonos a través de grafitis, pegatinas y stickers que cuentan historias, luchas y colores del barrio. 😊👌

Owner's reply
Buenas tardes, Maribel. Muchas gracias por tu opinión acerca del trabajo de nuestro compañero Santiago. Tal y como habrás podido comprobar, lideramos el tour de arte urbano por Madrid con pasión, y con simpatía. Esperamos verte nuevamente en nuestra visita guiada por el barrio de Malasaña. Un saludo,
  
 
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   Anabella 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Pasamos 2 horas estimulantes con Yago que tiene un conocimiento muy amplio del mundo del arte urbano de Lavapiés. Lo que vimos fue muy variado y provocador. Sin embargo, lo más impresionante del tour fue su estilo de comunicación muy interactivo que nos hizo pensar profundamente, no solo sobre las técnicas de los artistas que vimos sino también sobre sus mensajes y objetivos. El hecho de que disfrutamos tanto este tour a pesar de la lluvia torrencial que nos empapó totalmente habla de la calidad de la información y el arte, además de la capacidad de Yago de entretenernos por 2 horas. Recomendaría este tour a cualquier persona con curiosidad e interés en el arte en general. Muchas gracias Yago!

Owner's reply
Hola, Anabella. Que nos hayas dejado esta reseña, nos complace enormemente. Cuando hay lluvia, no podemos hacer otra cosa que dar todo lo mejor de nosotros, para entretener a quien se queda a escuchar nuestras historias sobre arte urbano, y graffiti. Esperamos verte nuevamente en una de nuestras visitas guiadas alternativas por Madrid. Un saludo,
  
 
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   Daniel Vega Ruiz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A pesar del mal tiempo que hizo, Santi nos alegró el tour y lo pasamos genial. Somos de Madrid y, aunque hemos pasado mil veces por Lavapies, siempre aprendes cosas nuevas. Gracias Santi por enseñarnos otra cara de Madrid, espectacular e interesante. Seguro que repetimos, esta vez en Malasaña.

Owner's reply
Daniel, muchas gracias por comentar sobre nuestro tour de arte urbano en Lavapiés, y más concretamente por escribir tu reseña sobre el trabajo de nuestro compañero Santi. Esperamos verte pronto en el tour de graffiti por Malasaña. Saludos!
  
 
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   Jose Villar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ha sido una experiencia entretenida, Santi y Yago nos lo han hecho entretenido y a sido divertido.

Owner's reply
Hola, Jose. Muchas gracias por evaluar el trabajo de Santiago y Yago. Esperamos que a partir de ahora, veas la ciudad desde otra perspectiva, y que continúes con la observación gracias al tour de arte urbano por Malasaña. Un saludo,
  
 
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   Matias Vazquez 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Estuvo bien la experiencia que nos dio Santi, la volvería a repetir y recomiendo hacer el tour

Owner's reply
Hola, Matias. Gracias por tu comentario. Esperamos que las explicaciones de Santi acerca del arte urbano en Malasaña, te hagan explorar un nuevo tipo de cultura contemporánea. Un saludo,