Royal Palace of Aranjuez

This palace was so beautiful. Sadly, they don't let you take pictures of the inside rooms, but it is worth the trip the gardens are impressive and accessible too.

Beautiful, well preserved palace with many original furnishings and breathtaking paintings on the walls and ceilings. Each room is described in both Spanish and English. Well worth the visit. Free visit on Sundays. Note: photography is not permitted once you enter the palace rooms.

Renaissance, French-influenced Royal Palace has an elaborate facade and a lavishly decorated interior, including a porcelain room. Recommended for a visit

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is situated not too far from Madrid, an easy train ride away. Just head to the Cercanias station in Atocha early in the morning and get a round-trip ticket. There are several trains in each direction every day. Aranjuez can be done in a single day, assuming that you start early. You can visit the palace, then the gardens. There are also several choices for lunch in town. They're a little pricier than many places in Madrid because they cater mostly to tourists. They're still affordable. The Royal Palace is mostly about architectural perspectives. So your enjoyment will improve if you take a long walk around it. The rooms of the palace are richly decorated, but won't add much to your experience if you've visited similar palaces in Spain. Focus on the gardens which are inspiring, even if they need to be maintained better.

Very beautiful and breathtaking place! The castle is big and well preserved. Inside there are many royal rooms you can see and they look amazing! Totally worth the travel to the city. Also there are big gardens with many fountains and a river, that are great for a small walk under the shadows 😀 We did one day trip from Madrid and where not disappointed!

Beautiful place to visit near Madrid! You can take a Renfe straight from Atocha to Aranjuez.

I didn't get to explore inside the palace, but I really enjoyed wandering through the gardens at the palace. These gardens are not so much flower or vegetable gardens, but well manicured mazes of shrubs, some flowers, and small grassy fields. The lanes are all lined with beautiful full canopy trees.

There are a couple of rivers bordering the gardens and a passing waterfall. In the centers of the intersections of the walking paths or lanes there statues, gazebos, and fountains. On the street sides of the gardens there are hotels, shops, and restaurants and bars.

I recommend visiting in the fall or spring when the temperatures are not so not. Luckily, there is plenty of parking available, some of which is free.

Nice place to visit over the weekend just make sure to book restaurant before going. Chances to find anything without reservation is close to zero. Beautiful parks and a little train to go around the town with a bit of insight about it.

A beautiful palace with impressive interior decoration and full of art. The surrounding gardens are lovely and add to the overall experience when visiting the palace. The museum of royal barges in the Prince's Garden is also well worth a visit and admission is included in the palace ticket price.

Wow! Unlike anything I expected! The Porcelain Room and Moorish Room are worth the visit alone.
The gardens in January were beautiful. Would love to see them in summer.

My second visit, but it's always delightful to come back here. It's incredible how Spain maintain all these wonderful parks. The dedication and hard work to maintain this palace and enormous garden. Their love for nature it's truly impeccable. They have a great culture, history, castles and parks. Just walking around the area was relaxing, entertaining, educational and energizing. A lot of trees that probably a hundred year old.

Great place to visit for a day. Aranjuez is the last stop if u r travelling by train from Atocha in madrid.

The Royal Palace in Aranjuez is quite the treat. Several reasons that this Palace is among my favorite to visit in Spain. Parking is the best, right before you cross the river there is a small parking lot to your left as you enter the city. It is safe in that area to park and lock your car. Once uou get out of the car you stroll down the sidewalk which leads you right over the river where ducks and swans can be seen. Keep in mind this is no more than 20 meters from your car. As soon as you cross the bridge you will see the entrance to the Palace. Now don't get distracted and cross the street where there are a variety of restaurants, save that for later because there are other amazing distractions that will get you off schedule (spoiler alert - Parque del Principe). Enter the Royal Palace which are the gardens and you will find a multitude of Magnolia trees, if it summer time they will be blooming and they are enormous. Make your way through the garden and the landscaped gardens will continue to impress, if you stay to the right side of the gardens you will see the river and a variety of aviary creatures. If you continue along the garden path parallel to the river, you will come in proximity to a bridge which takes you yet to another amazing garden but don't veer off to that section yet since it will be loaded with at least another 20 minutes to your agenda. From that bridge you are already adjacent to the rear of the Palace, I suggest you follow the length of the Palace until it ends (visual marker - small private garden labyrinth) continue you should come across a doorway to a hallway. Upon entering hang a right and follow through the century old path full of arches that leads directly to the tourist entrance of the Palace (the main entrance of the Palace is rese6fpr festivities and royalty (I did not qualify for the latter). They have a good list of qualifications for free and reduced entrance fees. Check out their website for the full details. Once you pay at the ticket counter you will exit the area which leads to a foyer where you can safely lock your belongings and take a bathroom break ("water closet" for my friend you know who you are). You then walk onto the main plaza of the Palace where it is a picture taking moment. Make your way to the guard at the across the plaza and enter. Show your ticket so it may be scanned and then u will be instructed to go upstairs. You have the choice of going directly to the giftshop or (watch out my male friends) you can view the original dresses of the king and queen. Once you make your way up the Palace stairs you are on autopilot. Upon entering the first room you have security that will kindly suggest for you to move forward and not go backwards. You can view the areas for as long as uou want but keep in mind there are no benches or seats to rest on. Don't do what my father in law did and that was jump the velvety rope by the stagecoach to sit on the century old luggage! They rooms are palacial and that will not cease one moment until you are done touring. Palace staff went out of there way to help my in-laws who had limited mobility by providing them access of their private elevators. It was clear that this was not the norm and I have not seen it publicized for obvious reasons. Both my inlaws and an escort was permitted for them to go to the elevator. Enjoy your visit more to Aranjuez by boarding the tourist train near the front of the Palace. It will take you for a great ride through important areas of town and most importantly the Parque del Principe which reminded me of a much smaller version of Central Park. Oh and if you wonder what those rooms are on the 2nd floor adjacent to the Palace...well they are apartments that go for around 600 euros!!!!

Well worth a visit for anyone interested in the Spanish Royals. An extravagant example of historical over indulgence.Lovely water gardens. This summer Palace is often overlooked by tourists but is easily reached by commuter train from Central Madrid and excellent value for money

Very beautiful place for a daytrip from Madrid. I got on a wrong train in Atocha and was kicked out here and later I was thankful for it. The palacio looks like the palacio real in Madrid and has a beautiful garden with a lot of green. I wasn't inside but there must be a possibility of entering. Definitely worth a visit. Recommended

Well! What can you say about this place . . . Stunning? Spectacular? Historical? Unbelievable? ALL of the above + more. There are very few words to adequately describe the stunning beauty of this palace. Dates back to the late 1600's + it shows in every inch of the interior. Most of the interior is still as it was back then. No photos allowed to preserve the garments, drapes, tapestries and artifacts. Has been maintained to the highest standards + is an absolute MUST SEE if you're anywhere near it. 10 star quality!!

Very intesting architecture, gardens and the tour is well worth doing (€9). If you don't take the audio headsets there are Spanish and English information boards in each room. Parking nearby with local shopping in tree lined streets.

Have a wonderful place to visit, so antique being preserved for how many years. Don't forget to visit when you are going to have tourist here en Madrid Spain.

A great looking royal palace which is well worth a visit. We did a self guided tour but would have benefited from the electronic audio handset - these unfortunately are only available on certain days which seems odd.

Excellent day trip from Madrid center. Lots of shopping and food options near by. The palace gardens are magnificent and are such a lovely place to spend a spring day at. There is a lot to see but definitely doable in a day. Great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.