Where is the Royal Palace of Madrid entrance?

The Royal Palace of Madrid's main entrance is opposite the cathedral.

Which is the best Royal Palace of Madrid entrance?

The entrance on the left for online reservations has a shorter and fast-moving line.

What is the average wait time at the Royal Palace of Madrid entrance?

Given that all visitors have a time slot mentioned on their tickets, the waiting time to enter is not too long. However, the entry line for online reservations is much shorter than the one for visitors who need to purchase tickets. The waiting time could be anywhere from 15 minutes to about 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays. Weekdays are not as crowded.

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance do skip the line ticket holders use?

If you’ve booked Royal Palace of Madrid skip the line tickets, you can use the entrance on the left.

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance is used for guided tours?

If you’ve opted for a Royal Palace of Madrid guided tour and have booked your tickets in advance, you will need to use the entrance on the left.

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance do visitors with disabilities use?

Visitors with disabilities can enter the attraction through either of the two entrances. However, we recommend entering through the online reservations entrance. Mobility scooters are available at both the entrances.

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance do I use if I have already purchased tickets?

If you have booked your Royal Palace of Madrid tickets online, you need to use the main entrance on the left side opposite the Cathedral.

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance do I use if I don't have tickets?

If you haven’t booked your tickets in advance, you can book them at the ticket office at the entrance on the right side of the palace.

How can I avoid waiting in line at the Royal Palace of Madrid entrance for a long time?

To avoid waiting in line, we suggest you book your Royal Palace of Madrid tickets online. Another good option is to book skip the line tickets or guided tour tickets.

Royal Palace of Madrid Entrance | Location, Tips, & More

The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the most visited attractions in the city. If this is your first visit to the palace, you might find this guide on the Royal Palace of Madrid entrances helpful. Keep reading to find out more about how to enter this iconic attraction.

Where is the Royal Palace of Madrid?

The Royal Palace of Madrid is located in the western part of the city, on Bailén Street in downtown Madrid. It is situated on the east side of the Manzanares River, close to the Opera metro station. You can easily access the attraction via public transport. It is close to other famous attractions like the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great and the Plaza de Oriente.

Address: Royal Palace of Madrid is in C. de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain | Find on maps

Royal Palace of Madrid entrances

There are two main Royal Palace of Madrid entrances. Once you walk into the premises through the main gate, you will see a few doors as you face the palace. If you have an online ticket, you can enter through the left door, and if you need to purchase your ticket, you must enter through the door on the right.

Royal Palace of Madrid Gardens

Royal Palace of Madrid entrances explained

Puerta del Príncipe (Prince's Gate)

Location: East side, facing Plaza de la Armería.

Use: Main entrance for state occasions and visitors with skip-the-line tickets. It features a grand staircase and is wheelchair accessible with an elevator nearby.

Puerta de la Armería

Location: South side, adjacent to Puerta de Santiago

Use: Access to the Royal Armoury and the Changing of Guards ceremony. This entrance is not typically used for general visitor access.

Puerta de Felipe IV

Location: South side.

Use: Serves groups and visitors with disabilities, providing an accessible route into the palace.

Puerta de Santiago

Location: South side.

Use: Primarily for group tours and guided visits. This entrance allows access to the palace's courtyard and is also wheelchair accessible

Which Royal Palace of Madrid entrance to choose?

The Royal Palace of Madrid has 4 entry doors opposite the Cathedral. If you’re facing the cathedral, you will see the two doors on opposite ends of the entrance. The left door is for visitors who have bought their tickets online, while the right door is for visitors who don't have any tickets and need to purchase them. Choose the entrance based on if you have online tickets or not.

Queues at the Royal Palace of Madrid

Since there are two entry doors, each door has one line. The queues are as follows:

Queue at the left door: This queue is for people who have bought their tickets online and is also the door for guided tours.
Queue at the right door: The queue at the right entrance has a ticket counter and is for people who haven't booked tickets in advance and need to purchase them at the counter.
Other entrances: The Puerta de la Armería and Puerta de Felipe IV are less frequently mentioned in terms of queues, but they may also experience delays depending on events or the number of visitors.

Directions to the Royal Palace of Madrid

Royal Palace of Madrid disability access

The Royal Palace of Madrid can be easily accessed by people who have disabilities. A mobility scooter facility is available at the main entrance to ensure all visitors are safe and comfortable. Visitors can request a mobility scooter at the main entrance. Furthermore, the palace is completely accessible by wheelchair with the presence of lifts, ramps, and elevators to increase mobility.

Royal Palace of Madrid interior

How to enter the Royal Palace of Madrid?

The first thing we recommend is to book your tickets online. This will save you any waiting time at the palace entrance.

Once you get to the Royal Palace of Madrid, you will see a large gate. Walk through this gate and towards the cathedral entrance. You’ll notice two entrances - one on the left and one on the right. For online reservations, the entry is through the left door, and for visitors who need to purchase tickets, the entry is through the right door. If you’ve booked a guided tour, you can use the left door to enter the palace.

Plan Your Visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid