Everything You Need to Know About the Royal Palace of Madrid Entrances
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 Entrances Explained | Location and Getting There
Online Reservations
If you have an online reservation, you can enter through the door on the left, if you’re facing the palace. This is the entry for online ticket holders. All you have to do is display your ticket and enter through this door.
How to reach? The easiest way to get here is to take a bus or metro. The closest bus stop is Santo Domingo and the closest metro station is Opera station. Walk a few meters until you see the main gate of the palace and enter through here.
Entrance timing: From Monday to Saturday, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The final entry is at 5:00 PM. On Sundays and public holidays, the palace is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Average wait time: Your tickets will have a time slot mentioned on them. Make sure you reach the entrance at least 5 to 10 minutes before your slot and you can enter within a few minutes.
On-the-Spot Tickets
The door on the right is for visitors who need to purchase tickets. This is a relatively longer queue than the online reservations queue. You will need to stand in line and get your ticket for the available time slot.
How to reach? The easiest way to get here is to take a bus or metro. The closest bus stop is Santo Domingo and the closest metro station is Opera station. Walk a few meters until you see the main gate of the palace and enter through here.
Entrance timing: From Monday to Saturday, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The final entry is at 5:00 PM. On Sundays and public holidays, the palace is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Average wait time: Considering the visits to the palace take place based on time slots, the waiting time is not that long. However, if you’re visiting during peak time or on weekends and public holidays, you might have to wait anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes.
Which Royal Palace of Madrid Entrance to Choose?
The Royal Palace of Madrid has two 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.
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.
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 MadridRoyal Palace of Madrid Tickets & Tours
Frequently Asked Questions About the Royal Palace of Madrid Entrances
A. The Royal Palace of Madrid is situated in the western part of central Madrid on Bailén Street.
A. The Royal Palace of Madrid's main entrance is opposite the cathedral.
A. There are two main Royal Palace of Madrid entrances.
A. The entrance on the left for online reservations has a shorter and fast-moving line.
A. 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.
A. If you’ve booked Royal Palace of Madrid skip the line tickets, you can use the entrance on the left.
A. 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.
A. 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.
A. 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.
A. 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.
A. 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.
A. The Royal Palace of Madrid is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on public holidays and Sundays.
A. You can book your tickets online and visit the Royal Palace of Madrid at any time during the day. However, the crowds are generally less on weekdays during the early morning hours and in the afternoon.
