The Royal Palace of Madrid, a must-see: what to see and how to plan your visit

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real) is the official residence of the Spanish Crown, one of the largest palaces in Western Europe and one of the city's must-see sights. Although the King and Queen live at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the great state ceremonies are held here, and the rest of the time you can tour its historic rooms, the Royal Armoury (Real Armería) and the Royal Pharmacy (Real Farmacia). It stands in the centre, between the plaza de Oriente and the Almudena cathedral, and is managed by Patrimonio Nacional (the Spanish royal heritage agency).

The site of the palace was first occupied by a Muslim fortress and later by the Real Alcázar of the Habsburgs. On Christmas Eve 1734 a fire destroyed the Alcázar, and Philip V decided to build in its place a palace worthy of the great European courts. The project was entrusted to the Italian architect Filippo Juvarra; on his death it was continued by his pupil Giovanni Battista Sacchetti, and Francesco Sabatini, architect to Charles III, took charge of the decoration and several extensions.

Charles III was the first king to live in it, and to decorate its ceilings he brought in the finest painters of the age, such as Giambattista Tiepolo, Corrado Giaquinto and Anton Raphael Mengs. Alfonso XIII was the last monarch to live there. If you would like to place the palace within the history of the city, we tell that story in historic Madrid: a journey back in time.

The palace also holds a collection of Stradivarius instruments, the Royal Chapel and numerous works of art. Next to the building is the Galería de las Colecciones Reales (Gallery of the Royal Collections), the museum that displays pieces from the Crown's collections; we include it in our round-up of Madrid's great museums.

• Plaza de la Armería: the great esplanade between the palace and the cathedral, with views over the Casa de Campo. This is where the formal changing of the Royal Guard takes place on the dates published by Patrimonio Nacional.
• Almudena Cathedral: Madrid's cathedral, opposite the south façade of the palace, consecrated at the end of the twentieth century after centuries of plans.
• Plaza de Oriente: with its statues of kings and the equestrian statue of Philip IV, opposite the Teatro Real.
• Jardines de Sabatini: a French-style garden beside the north façade, open to the public.
• Campo del Moro: the large garden that slopes down from the west façade towards the Manzanares, with the best view of the palace.

Both gardens also feature in our selection of Madrid's most beautiful parks and gardens.

1. Buy your ticket online on the Patrimonio Nacional website and check opening times, prices and free slots there, as they are updated.
2. Check the calendar before you go. As a working palace, it may close fully or partly for official events.
3. Allow a couple of hours for the rooms and the Royal Armoury, and a little more if you want to add the gardens.
4. Go first thing to avoid the large groups, especially in high season.
5. Combine it with the surroundings: the Plaza Mayor, the Templo de Debod and the Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg Madrid) are a short walk away. Ideas in our guide to what to see in Madrid.

If you arrive in Madrid by plane, a taxi from any Barajas terminal to the area around the Royal Palace, or to your hotel in Ópera, Sol or La Latina, costs €33 with the inside the M-30 fixed fare, luggage included. During your stay, any taxi can drop you on calle Bailén, next to the entrance, or on the plaza de Oriente; the taxi in central Madrid page explains how to order one. If you are travelling as a large group, a 7-seater taxi lets you all travel together from the airport.