The 9 Best Royal Palace of Madrid Tours & Tickets

1.Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 13,856 reviews · 1 day · from $26Our pick

Enter Madrid’s Royal Palace through an express security check and explore its grand salons at your own pace. See the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, paintings by Goya, Velázquez, Caravaggio, and the Royal Armory. The ticket is valid for one day, wheelchair accessible, and does not include a guide or luggage storage.

“Having a prepaid ticket is convenient as we did not have to queue.”

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2.Royal Palace Expert Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,986 reviews · from $40

Meet your guide outside Opera Metro Station for a short walk through Plaza de Oriente before entering Madrid’s Royal Palace through a priority entrance. Over two hours, you’ll see the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, Private Royal Apartments, Goya and Giordano works, armor, swords, and tapestries. Garden access may vary.

“Enjoyed all the funny comments, the details on the history and humanity of the royal family.”

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3.Madrid Essential: Historic Center, Plaza Mayor & Royal Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,416 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) Top rated

Walk Madrid’s historic core with guides such as Javier, David, Christian, and Miguel. In about 2.5 hours, you’ll connect Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, old city walls, flamenco, Almudena Cathedral, and the Royal Palace through stories, maps, and visual aids. Palace entry is not included.

“Very informative tour about Madrid’s history. JP is an amazing guide - well-prepared, engaging, and great at keeping the group involved.”

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4.Royal Palace Skip-the-line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,146 reviews · 2 hours · from $42

Meet your Golden Tour Guide host near Plaza de Oriente, then enter Madrid’s Royal Palace through a priority entrance. In two hours, you’ll see the Throne Room, Banquet Hall, Private Royal Apartments, royal art, armor, and furniture while your English or Spanish guide explains the monarchy. Headsets help you follow along in crowded rooms.

“We had a great tour with Beatrice today who is a totally gifted tour guide and teacher. She helped us learn not just about the Palace but many generations of Spanish history. She has a vibrancy and enthusiasm that is unmatched. I felt fortunate to be in her tour because she is knowledgeable but also can explain things to people in a way they understand and remember.”

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5.Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,140 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Meet at 43 Mayor Street for a 30-minute walk through Madrid’s Old Town, Plaza Mayor, San Miguel market, Plaza de la Villa, and Plaza de Oriente. Then enter the Royal Palace through a separate reserved entrance for a 90-minute guided visit. English and Spanish tours are available, with headsets provided.

“The guide was great but getting on the tour was a bit chaotic. We were there on time and were left twice. Then had to pay a rebooking fee.”

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6.Madrid Old Town & Royal Palace Walking Tour Skip the Line Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,829 reviews · 2 hours 10 minutes (approx.) · from $40

Start on Calle Mayor, walk through Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel, Calle del Codo, and Plaza de la Villa, then enter the Royal Palace with reserved admission. The tour lasts about 2 hours 10 minutes, uses radio headphones, and runs in English at several start times. Guides such as Jesús, Federico, Rodrigo, Rosa, and Ander have received especially strong praise.

“A great way to start out our stay in Madrid. The Royal Palace is a beautiful museum to experience. And a great way to get the history of the Spanish Monarchy. Our tour guide Rosa was wonderfully knowledgeable and was easy to understand. She was conscientious about her group and ensured we were with her. Also, she was very receptive to questions.”

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7.Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,583 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $43

Meet near the palace at Madrid Souvenirs and walk inside with a certified English-speaking guide. Expect grand state rooms, royal stories, headsets, and skip-the-line admission. Guides such as Beatriz, Enrique, Rocio, and Elizabeth are praised for clear, lively explanations, though the group can reach 30 people.

“Ask for Enrique as your guide! He was very knowledgeable and entertaining! We were running a little late and the tour company accommodated us. The Royal Palace definitely was more enjoyable with a guided tour!”

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8.Royal Palace & Prado Museum Skip the Line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,347 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $82

Spend about five hours seeing Madrid’s Royal Palace, Prado Museum, and old-town landmarks with an English-speaking guide. Skip-the-line tickets, headsets, and guides such as Miguel, Marta, Eva, and Andrea help you cover major sights without planning every detail. Expect a 1.6-mile walk between the palace and museum.

“This tour gives a good look at how the royals lived when that palace was in use. Very ornate from different periods. Beautiful frescoes. Lots of walking in the palace. The Prado museum is a long walk from the Palace, a cab is less than 10 Euro. The Prado museum is expansive, many different art periods and artists. No photography allowed inside the museum.”

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9.Guided Tour of the Royal Palace with Fast Access

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,133 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28

Meet your English-speaking guide beneath a blue umbrella at the Álvaro de Bazán statue near Plaza de la Villa. In a group of up to eight, you’ll enter Madrid’s Royal Palace with fast access and spend 90 minutes exploring grand rooms, royal art, and Spanish history. Guides such as Rubén, Federico, and Deyvis add useful context, humor, and local tips. The admission ticket costs extra.

“Ruben was great! He was a few minutes early and has an amazing knowledge of Spanish history and royal palace. His enthusiasm was infectious and the pacing was excellent allowing time to view rooms and learn various details about the rooms and historic events that may have occurred there. Well worth it!!!!”

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