Royal Palace of Madrid Small-Group Tour
From€54
1 hour
Madrid, Spain
About this activity
Experience the grandeur of Madrid's Royal Palace with a guided small-group tour, featuring skip-the-line access and expert insights into Spain's royal history.
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to the Royal Palace
- Guided tour with an expert historian
- Visit to the Royal Armoury and Throne Room
- Explore the Royal Palace's opulent halls
- Learn about Spain's royal history
Full description
Step into the opulent world of Spanish royalty with our Royal Palace of Madrid Small-Group Tour. Skip the lines and delve into the palace's rich history with an expert historian. Explore the lavish Throne Room, admire the intricate tapestries, and discover the Royal Armoury. This intimate tour offers a deep dive into Spain's royal heritage, making it a must-do for history enthusiasts and culture seekers alike. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the splendor of Madrid's most iconic landmark.
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to the Royal Palace
- Guided tour with an expert historian
- Visit to the Royal Armoury and Throne Room
- Food and beverages
Itinerary
1
The name of the plaza has changed over time. It has been known as "Plaza del Arrabal", "Plaza de la Constitución", "Plaza Real", "Plaza de la República" and now "Plaza Mayor". These names reflect events, history and reign in Spanish history. "Plaza del Arrabal" was the original name of the present day "Plaza Mayor". The "Plaza del Arrabal" was once the site of the most popular marketplace until the end of 15th century. Following the Constitution of 1812, all major plazas in Spain were renamed "Plaza de la Constitución". It also held this name 1820 to 1823, 1833 to 1835, 1840 to 1843, and 1876 to 1922. When the Borbón king was restored in 1814, it became known as the "Plaza Real". In 1873, the name changed to "Plaza de la República". At the end of the Spanish Civil War the plaza received its present name of "Plaza Mayor".
Duration: 10 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
Pass by: More than 100 years have gone by since the Mercado de San Miguel opened its doors as a wholesale food market. Today, this historical building stands out as one of the world’s main gastronomic markets. It allows visitors to experience the essence and most significant flavors of every corner of Spain. From the finest Iberian ham and freshest fish and shellfish brought in daily from Galicia, to Mediterranean rice dishes and the most exquisite cheeses from Castile, Asturias and the Basque Country – at the Mercado de San Miguel, you’ll find all the highlights of Spanish cuisine. Spread out over more than 20 stands, the common denominator here is a commitment to high-quality tapas and pub fare.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
3
Pass by: This small street is one of the two most charming squares in Madrid: Conde de Miranda and Villa. And it can boast of housing a space protected by the historical and artistic environment that surrounds it: on the corner of the Plaza de la Villa is the Torre de los Lujanes (belonging to the 15th century). In that same part of the street there are also the Royal Maritense Economic Society of Friends of the Country, the old Municipal Newspaper Library and the Church of Corpus Christi, where the Convent of Las Carboneras is located, since the congregation keeps an image of Immaculate Conception found in a charcoal kiln and to which various miracles are attributed.milagros.
Admission: NOT_APPLICABLE
4
It was one of the main medieval centers of Madrid, since three streets start from it, corresponding to the original layout of the city: Codo, Cordón and Madrid. On its outskirts are the main facades of three buildings of high historical-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 east side of the Plaza. This is now the office of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences.
Duration: 10 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
5
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain; However, the current kings do not live in it, but in the Zarzuela Palace, so it is used for state ceremonies and solemn acts. Now is when our visit really begins. Although Juvarra's original project 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 in it, it is still the place where they have their official residence. As we have commented previously, the building, whose works lasted until 1764 when Carlos III lived in it for the first time, is made up of 135,000 square meters and 3,418 rooms, also highlighting its 870 windows, 240 balconies or the 44 stairs it has. The comparisons are odious but, despite what many believe, the Palace of Versailles, near Paris, has 67,000 square meters, so that of Madrid surpasses it.
Duration: 1h 30mAdmission: YES
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; please ensure you understand the language.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- The Royal Palace is a working palace; access to certain areas may be restricted during official events.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking and standing.
- Bring a valid ID for entry into the Royal Palace.
- Photography is allowed in most areas; however, flash photography is prohibited.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Although the entrance to the Royal Palace is always reserved for our clients, sometimes the access control may be blocked due to capacity and security controls, delaying the entrance for a few minutes for reasons beyond the operator's control.
- To speed up entry, rucksacks and large bags are not permitted.
Traveler reviews
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You may need to be flexible with timing.
The tour itself was very good and our guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. We had received a call the day before changing our start time from 10am to 10:30am. When we arrived we were told we were changed again from 10:30am to 11:00am. This was explained as due to the "control of the Palace" - I guess they don't always know what time tickets they will get ahead of time. We were not the only ones in this situation. It was frustrating, but worked out ok. But it did leave us finishing 1 hour later than our original itinerary planned for and we had to push back something we had scheduled for later that day.
luigiD38058May 25, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Royal Palace Revealed!
Ander was a great tour guide. Lots of history learned. He was very easy to understand, funny and charming. I would highly recommend this tour.
Teresa_MMay 25, 2026VIATOR
The tour was very...
The tour was very informative. We enjoyed being in a very small group tour. The guide, Maria, was very knowledgeable in ‘all’ Madrid & Spain’s history. My husband & I truly enjoyed the tour. The only disappointing thing about the tour was we payed for ‘skip the line’ access…we waited on line for more than 20 minutes
Suzanne_MMay 24, 2026VIATOR
Impressive display of wealth
The tour guide was excellent. The supplied ear pieces aided in hearing the tour. Palace was an amazing to look at, though also a fine example of excess and gluttony.
Michael RMay 23, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Loved it
It was a very informative tour.
RahhieishaMay 20, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
Although the entrance to the Royal Palace is always reserved for our clients, sometimes the access control may be blocked due to capacity and security controls, delaying the entrance for a few minutes for reasons beyond the operator's control.