Discover why the Royal Palace of Madrid is historically acclaimed as the largest functioning palace in Europe, surpassing even Versailles in size. This 2-hour premium experience is meticulously designed for travelers who want to make the most of their time in the Spanish capital. By combining a historical tour of the Old Town with priority access, you’ll skip the long lines at the ticket office and step right into the heart of Spanish royal history.
The Historical Walking Tour
The experience begins in the historic center of Madrid. As you walk through the cobblestone streets of the famous Madrid de los Austrias (the Habsburg Quarter), your certified local guide will reveal the fascinating legends, court intrigues, and architectural secrets that made the city the capital of a global empire. You’ll pass by iconic landmarks such as the Plaza Mayor, the Calle del Codo, and the Plaza de la Villa before heading to the monument grounds.
Skip the lines and explore the rooms
Once inside the monument, forget about the exhausting lines. Your group will enter directly through the fast-track entrance (Arco de Santiago). Once inside, you’ll tour a carefully curated selection of the 20 most spectacular rooms in the palace, out of a total of 3,418 rooms. With the free wireless audio guide system, you’ll be able to appreciate every detail with crystal-clear audio as you admire the monumental Grand Staircase, the luxurious royal apartments decorated with priceless tapestries, and the impressive Throne Room, with its iconic golden lions, historic chandeliers, and velvet curtains that survived the Alcázar fire.
Included
Guided tour of Madrid’s Old Town
Official Bilingual Guide
Skip-the-line access
Advance admission and official guided tour of the Royal Palace
Excluded
Tips
Free Cancellation
Free! You can cancel without penalty up to 24 hours before the activity. If you cancel later than that, arrive late, or don't show up, no refund will be issued.
Please note
- Wheelchair accessible
- No pets allowed
- Our guide will be waiting for you at the entrance to the Fun and Tickets main office, located at Calle Mayor 43, 10 minutes before the tour begins.
- To ensure a smooth experience at the Prado Museum, please avoid bringing backpacks or large bags during the visit.
- Although entry to the Royal Palace is always reserved for our customers, access control may sometimes be blocked due to capacity and security checks, delaying entry by a few minutes for reasons beyond this operator’s control
Itinerary Timeline
Paso 1: Encuentro en Calle Mayor 43
Nos vemos en nuestro punto de encuentro oficial, estratégicamente ubicado entre la Plaza Mayor y la Puerta del Sol. ¿Llegas temprano? Disfruta de nuestro exclusivo servicio de consigna. Deja tus maletas en un lugar seguro y explora el centro de la ciudad con las manos libres antes o después del tour. Preséntate 10 minutos antes de la salida.
Step 2: Plaza Mayor
Madrid’s grand central square is located in the heart of the city’s oldest district, Madrid de los Austrias. Steeped in history, this bustling square is the perfect place to begin your stroll through one of Madrid’s most charming neighborhoods. Grab a bite to eat or have a coffee at one of the sunny terraces, buy a souvenir at one of the old-fashioned shops, watch the magic of the street musicians and artists, and soak up the city’s rich history. The square also hosts events such as the Holy Week drum parade, outdoor concerts, and the city’s Christmas market in December, so be sure to check the calendar when you’re here. Before Madrid became the city we see today, with its grand avenues and boulevards, it was made up of small streets and alleys that today evoke images of swordsmen and rogues.
Step 3: San Miguel Market
More than 100 years have passed since the San Miguel Market first opened as a food market. Today, this historic building is one of the world’s leading food markets, offering visitors a journey through the essence and flavors of every corner of Spain. From the finest Iberian ham or the freshest seafood, brought in daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes or the most special cheeses from Castile, Asturias, or the Basque Country. At the San Miguel Market, you’ll find the best of Spanish cuisine at more than 20 stalls that share a common commitment to quality tapas.
Step 4: Calle del Codo
Calle del Codo starts at Plaza de la Villa and ends at Plaza del Conde Miranda. On the right-hand corner of the street, next to the Plaza de la Villa, stands the sole gate of the Torre de los Lujanes, featuring Gothic ornamentation, a pointed horseshoe arch, and stone inscriptions on the voussoirs, which formerly connected to the outskirts of the city.
Step 5: Plaza de la Villa
Plaza de la Villa is one of the best-preserved historic complexes in Madrid. It is located in the historic center, near Puerta del Sol, and has served as the seat of the city government. It was one of the main centers of medieval Madrid, as it is the origin of three small streets that correspond to the city’s original layout: El Codo, Cordón, and Madrid. It is surrounded by the main façades of three buildings of great historical and artistic value, built in different centuries. The oldest is the Casa y Torre de los Lujanes (15th century), in the Gothic-Mudejar style, located on the eastern side of the square and now the headquarters of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences. Next are the Casa de Cisneros (16th century), a Plateresque palace that closes off the southern side of the square, and the Casa de la Villa (17th century), in the Baroque style, one of the seats of the Madrid City Council, located on the western side of the square.
Step 6: Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain; however, the current monarchs do not live there, but rather at the Zarzuela Palace, so it is used for state ceremonies and formal events. This is where our tour really begins. Although Juvarra’s original design was never carried out, the Royal Palace of Madrid can boast of being the largest inhabited palace in Europe. And we say “inhabited” because, although the Spanish Royal Family does not reside there, it remains the place where they have their official residence. As we mentioned earlier, the building, whose construction lasted until 1764 when Charles III first took up residence there, covers 135,000 square meters and contains 3,418 rooms, with its 870 windows, 240 balconies and 44 staircases. Comparisons are odious, but despite what many believe, the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, covers 67,000 square meters, meaning the one in Madrid is larger. During the tour, visitors do not tour all of the nearly 3,500 rooms, but rather some of the most notable ones—about twenty. During a tour of the interior of the Royal Palace, visitors take a true journey back in time to the golden age of the Spanish Court in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the most impressive moments is entering the Throne Room, a true symbol of the Crown’s power. The two thrones flanked by golden lions, which were spared from the destruction of the Royal Alcázar, the rich tapestries, curtains, and rugs, the luxurious mirrors, and the chandeliers.
Step 7: Almudena Cathedral
Next to the Royal Palace, you will visit the Almudena Cathedral, built on the site of the former Church of Santa María de la Almudena, which in turn was built on top of a mosque and dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, patron saint of Madrid. The name of this Virgin and of the cathedral derives from the Arabic word al-mudayna, which means “citadel.” The cathedral is located in the historic center of Madrid; its main façade faces the Royal Palace, while the transept façade overlooks Calle de Bailén, and the entrance to the crypt is via Cuesta de la Vega, at the end of Calle Mayor. Unlike most Christian churches, which are oriented east-west, the cathedral is oriented north-south, a result of its design as an integral part of the Royal Palace complex.
What do I need to bring?
Sunscreen
Cap or hat
When to book?
Hasta Cut off: 1 hour antes de la actividadOfficial Meeting Point
Calle Mayor, 4328013 Madrid
Located between Plaza Mayor & Puerta del Sol
Public Transport
Sol Station: Sol Station:
Ópera Station: Lines 2, R (4 min walk
Arrival Time
Please arrive at our hub 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time to check in with our team.
