Royal Palace of Aranjuez in Toledo

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 dont 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 dont 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 labyrinthcontinue 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 friendsyou 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. Dont 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!!!!

Have a wonderful place to visit, so antique being preserved for how many years. Dont forget to visit when you are going to have tourist here en Madrid Spain.

I took a guided tour and it was the best decision ever. They had tablets and audioguides but you cannot access some rooms without the guide. Some parts of the garden were not maintained. I went there from Madrid by riding a Cercanías train (around 5 eur ticket). It took me like 45 mins to get there from Atocha and other 20 minutes walk from Aranjuez train station to the Palace. There are some cafes around to have breakfast or lunch.

The palace is nice well keept i door, but the Gardens need maintanance. Aranjuez nice city.

I didnt 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.

Loved it. The gardens were vast and the various fountains have a story, long shaded avenues give welcome relief from the heat. The Palace itself is worth a tour for the decor and art. Check for deals beforehand as certain times entry is free for EU and American citizens. Reduced prices for seniors, students and children.

I visited Aranjuez because it is such a historical place due to its Royal Palace.The palace contains a beautiful exposition of portraits, furniture and different objects belonging to kings and queens of Spain. I didnt have to pay since Im a teacher.The palace is nice but sober, the surroundings are charming with so enchanted and colourful gardens.We had lunch in a bar next to the palace and it was quite affordable.38€ two people.Anyway, there were other more stylish and expensive restaurants in the area.I really liked this town and recommend it.

Gorgious palace with some truly marvelous paintings in the inside. Well worth a visit!

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 wasnt inside but there must be a possibility of entering. Definitely worth a visit. Recommended

Fun palace to visit that’s 45mins from Madrid center. It was hot in July - but the audio guide tour was great!

Beautiful place, clean and entertaining. Dont miss the gardens!

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.

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!

A beautiful place for a day trip from Madrid. Stroll the grounds, see the fountains, hike along the river, have a meal. It’s a nice leisurely change of pace.

What an amazing place, a must must see if you around.

This place is amazingly full of beauty and culture. It takes a while to surround it. Its worth every single step. Architecture, gardens and fountains combine to make a beautiful scenery where the kings use to go on vacation back in time. Very nice place!

Absolutely an amazing experience!! Go here and have a great afternoon in Aranguez. Such a beautiful town.

Massive palace in the middle of beautiful gardens. Well kept also. There are many things to see.

Far from the biggest or the best palace I’ve ever seen.The palace has small gardens that need quite a bit of maintenance and uplifting. There are scattered hours in which the fountains are on which would be nicer, I guess, but the gardens aren’t much to write home about.As for the interiors, there are some lovely rooms inside the palace — the most extraordinary being the Moorish-influenced one, which really is stunning. However, there are not many rooms that are accessible to the public via the route given. You can be done with the interiors of the palace within 45 minutes. At a push, you could spend 1.5 hours. The staff are nice enough but this is also yet another palace/museum in the wider Madrid area that does not allow photography inside. Bizarre considering other palaces in Europe allow photography and this palace was quite a bit quieter than others I’ve been to.Facilities inside are also limited. I would suggest to visit if you’re a completist but you’d be better off going to the Royal Seat of San Lorenzo for a day trip.

Quite boring museum, to be honest. Only small part is open to the public. Moreover, some parts are accessible only with a tour, so you have to pay more.

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

Majestic palace about an hour south of Madrids center, thats well worth a day trip. I didnt manage to get to inside, but it is just a pleasure to wander around its courtyards and alcoves, under its many arches and through its adjacent gardens. The town itself is beautifully situated along a river and well worth a stroll through.

Summer palace of the Spanish Royal family, rooms all furnished and info boards in each room.

Absolutely worth a visit! What a beautiful place.

Nice palace, definitely come visit it for free if you can. Its a bit small though, and one would expect the garden to be more well maintained.There are around 10-12 rooms accessible by the public where the Spanish monarchs used to spend their time surrounded by luxury.

Very intesting architecture, gardens and the tour is well worth doing (€9). If you dont take the audio headsets there are Spanish and English information boards in each room. Parking nearby with local shopping in tree lined streets.

Such a beautiful place. Its the second time im visiting this place and i would gladly visit it again. Definitely worth to visit its a beautiful place to escape in Madrid and pass a wonderful day. Also there are plenty of restaurants and bars in the area.

Very fine castle and great gardens. Nicely restored rooms. Nowadays taking photos inside is not allowed.

We were the only ones inside when we went on a weekday. Each room has its own "theme". Its not allowed to take photos inside. You can buy the audio guide online then you can listen from the app. I think physical audio devices were not available on site when we visited.

Beautiful royal palace, just a short train ride from Madrid.

Very pretty Palace. We didnt go inside but rather walked around the gardens and the surrounding area, also visited some shops around town.

Excellent for relaxing moments; The Royal Palace and the garden are amazing! all the surroundings offer you beautiful places.

Wow, we have the best room , looking at the Palace, staff , location and breakfast was super, a great way to finish a 3 x week holiday ,traveling around northern Spain.

Hidden treasure. Very historic. After almost 8 years living in Spain, today by fate, I was Aranjuez. Very beautiful neighbourhood of Madrid. Just off Motorway to Córdoba/Valencia, South of Madrid. Beautiful streets, local market, houses, gardens, Royal Palace and the restaurants plus bars serve typical Spanish tapas/Cuisine. Prices very friendly

Beautiful palace! Compares well with that of La Granja de San Ildefonso, and to a lesser extent with the royal palace in Madrid. Fully recommended for a 1h visit before strolling through the gardens in the evening. The arabesque room and the Chinese room are highlights. Pity that no pictures are allowed - this should change. Otherwise, 5 star experience.

We were a bit palaced out before we came here. We came straight from El Escorial. This Palace, like the others is incredible - some of the rooms and artwork are just stunning.The audio guide is a bit dry but worth listening too.There appeared to be far to many security staff - and they were bored out of their minds - loads on their phones or just chatting in groups. Sort of let the place down a bit. In sons of these kinds of places the security people sometimes tell you a bit about the rooms - not here. Room for improvement.Real shame you cannot take photos.Not cheapPlease ‘like’ if you like 😀

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 1600s + 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 youre anywhere near it. 10 star quality!!

My second visit, but its always delightful to come back here. Its incredible how Spain maintain all these wonderful parks. The dedication and hard work to maintain this palace and enormous garden. Their love for nature its 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.

We visited this Palace on the 2nd day of our Spain Tour. It was a delightful surprise. Built through the centuries by several Spanish Kings, this Former Royal Residence is in various Architectural Styles. The most Eye-catching factor of this Palace is its red and white facade which is impressively beautiful. The Palace Gardens are fabulous too. No Photography was allowed inside the Palace. However with just 50 km from Madrid, this Palace shouldnt be missed from your visiting lists. A few photos here.

Nice place thats not too crowded. There are two floors to visit and you are not allowed take a picture in the room. The restroom is clean and free.

The Palace of Aranjuez is very nice, just 45 minuteson the train from Atocha train Station, you will need a whole day to visit the Palace and the surrounding gardens.

A visit to Madrid isn’t complete without this insight in the life of the royals, a walk around its surrounding gardens is also in order.The entrances aren’t expensive, as of 2018 it’s free for children, teachers and senior citizens.

Aranjuez is a very small town, you can see the whole thing in half a day. The most interesting things are the royal palace and some gardens around the city. Food is cheap and you can buy a ticket for a train that gives you a tour through the city. It’s a cool place

Stunning Baroque palace and 18th century Versailles-style gardens. Worth paying to go inside where the royal family used to stay. The gardens are free. No photos allowed inside.

Beautiful and huge Palace with lush green gardens and a river streaming through the palace.

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.

The location of the King of Spains summer palace. Particularly quiet and beautiful small town. The distance from Madrid is only 40 minutes and it is very convenient. The palaces park is small, but the garden landscape is great.

It is great for a day trip. There isn’t much to do. So if you have nothing else to do in Madrid then it is a nice walk around the beautiful Royal Palace and the enchanting Royal Garden. A quick look around the square and Plaza de Torro. That’s it.

There are definitely better palaces to see throughout Europe but Aranjuez has an enormous green space that makes this a worthwhile trip from Madrid. Many of the rooms are simply staged to what they would have looked like. No photos are allowed inside even though 90 percent of the finishes are faux finishes. Marble walls and wood ceilings that are simply painted finishes really distract from what the palace could be.

An absolutely beautiful place to visit especially in the Autumn. A good day trip from Cercanías line going to Aranjuez.