Visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid: Tickets, Free Entry and Guard

A basic ticket to the Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) costs €18, or €9 reduced, as of November 2026. EU citizens, EU residents and Ibero-American nationals get in free Monday to Thursday from 16:00 to 18:00 between October and March, and from 17:00 to 19:00 between April and September.

How much are Royal Palace tickets?

The palace is run by Patrimonio Nacional, the state agency that manages royal sites. Tickets are sold on its official website and at the ticket office on Calle de Bailén. Prices per person, as of November 2026:

The combined Galería ticket lets you visit the gallery up to seven days before or after the palace. The Royal Kitchen is not part of the basic ticket. Buy from patrimonionacional.es or its linked ticket site only; resellers often add fees for the same ticket.

Who gets in free, and when?

Free entry is for EU citizens, foreigners who live or hold a work permit in the EU, and citizens of Ibero-American countries. The free slots are:

• October to March: Monday to Thursday, 16:00 to 18:00
• April to September: Monday to Thursday, 17:00 to 19:00

Free tickets are handed out at the ticket office on the day, first come, first served; you cannot book them online. Bring a passport, national ID card or residence document that proves your nationality or residence. For non-EU residents of Spain, the TIE card is the usual proof; our guide to the TIE card in Madrid explains how to get one. EU citizens living here can show their EU registration certificate with their passport or ID.

Queues for the free slot start well before 16:00, especially in school holidays. Arriving 30 to 45 minutes early is sensible.

What are the opening hours?

The palace is closed all day on Jan. 1, Jan. 6, May 1 and Dec. 25, and closes at 15:00 on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. It is still used for state ceremonies, such as receptions for visiting heads of state and the presentation of ambassadors’ credentials, so it can close at short notice. Patrimonio Nacional lists announced closures on its ticket site; check it on the morning of your visit.

When is the Changing of the Guard?

The Royal Guard (Guardia Real) holds two ceremonies at the palace, both free and outdoors:

• Ordinary Changing of the Guard: Wednesdays and Saturdays, at the Puerta del Príncipe gate on the Plaza de la Armería side. Guards change every 30 minutes, usually from 11:00 to 14:00. It is not held in July, August or September, on days of official events or in bad weather.
• Relevo Solemne (Solemn Changing of the Guard): once a month, normally the first Wednesday at 12:00 in the Plaza de la Armería, with mounted troops, a band and hundreds of soldiers in historical uniform. It is not held in January, August or September, and it is cancelled for official events, rain or strong wind.

The Relevo Solemne is the one worth planning a morning around. Arrive by 11:15 for a place near the front, and check the Royal Guard’s calendar the week before, since dates move when official events clash.

What else is inside the palace complex?

• The state rooms. The visit covers the main staircase, the Throne Room, the Gasparini Room and the Royal Chapel, among others.
• Royal Armoury (Real Armería). One of the main collections of arms and armour in Europe, on the Plaza de la Armería side of the palace. Check on the day which rooms are open.
• Royal Kitchen (Real Cocina). The restored palace kitchens, with a separate or combined ticket. In winter it opens 10:15 to 17:00.
• Galería de las Colecciones Reales. The newer museum next to the palace that shows paintings, tapestries, carriages and other royal collections. It has its own free slot, Monday to Thursday from 18:00 to 20:00, separate from the palace’s. Free hours at the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen are compared in our guide to free museum hours in Madrid.
• Gardens. The Campo del Moro below the west facade and the Sabatini Gardens on the north side are free to walk.

What is next door?

Almudena Cathedral, Madrid’s cathedral, faces the palace across the Plaza de la Armería. It was consecrated only in 1993, and its neo-Romanesque crypt and colorful modern interior are a contrast to the palace. Entry to the main church is free outside services; the museum and dome have their own ticket. Nov. 9, the feast of La Almudena, is a city holiday, with a procession that can affect access to the area.

The Plaza de Oriente, on the east side of the palace, links the palace to the Teatro Real and the Ópera Metro station.

How do you get there?

The palace is at Calle de Bailén s/n. The nearest Metro stations are Ópera (lines 2 and 5, plus the Ramal shuttle to Príncipe Pío) and Plaza de España (lines 2, 3 and 10). Cercanías trains stop at Sol and Príncipe Pío, both a walk of about 10 to 15 minutes.

Bottom line

If you qualify for free entry, avoid school holidays and the days around long weekends, when the free queue is at its longest, and be at the ticket office half an hour before the slot opens. If you are paying anyway, the €24 combined ticket with the Galería is better value than two separate visits, and the Galería can be seen on a different day within the week.

FAQ

Is the Royal Palace of Madrid free?

It is free for EU citizens, EU residents and Ibero-American nationals on Monday to Thursday afternoons, with tickets from the ticket office on the day. Everyone else pays €18, or €9 reduced, as of November 2026.

How long does a Royal Palace visit take?

Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours for the state rooms and the Armoury, plus an hour if you add the Royal Kitchen or the Galería.

Can you take photos inside the Royal Palace?

Photography rules differ by room, and staff will tell you where it is not allowed. The courtyards, the Plaza de la Armería and the gardens have no restrictions.

Is the Royal Palace still a royal residence?

No. The royal family lives at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. The Royal Palace is the official residence used for state ceremonies.