There are many places to visit near Madrid apart from Toledo and Segovia. One example is the Royal Palace of El Pardo, one of several located in the surroundings of the Spanish capital.
One Saturday we decided to take a short trip to visit the Royal Palace of El Pardo.
El Pardo is a small town about 15 kilometers from Madrid, home to one of the six Royal Palaces under Spain’s National Heritage: the Royal Site of El Pardo, which includes the palace itself, a Royal Chapel, and small but beautiful gardens.
The palace began as a castle in 1405. Over time, due to fires and the changing tastes of its royal residents, it underwent several modifications. The location was originally chosen because it was an ideal hunting ground.
How to visit the Royal Palace of El Pardo?
The Royal Palace of El Pardo is usually one of the last royal palaces visited by Spaniards. This is likely because its most recent resident during his years in power was Franco. Many of the rooms and furnishings were used by him.
There is a free-access area, but if you want to visit the interior, you’ll need to pay for a ticket. Inside the Royal Palace of El Pardo photography is not allowed.
1) The gardens of the Royal Palace of El Pardo
The gardens of the Royal Palace of El Pardo are free to visit. It’s common to see newlyweds taking wedding photos here, and for good reason—the setting is ideal.
Although not as extensive as other palace gardens in Europe, their sculptures and fountains give the place a special charm.
2) Inside the Royal Palace of El Pardo
The visit to the Royal Palace of El Pardo was structured as follows:
- First, we toured a large number of royal halls, many of which were in excellent condition thanks to recent restoration. One hall, unaffected by a past fire, still had restored frescoes depicting pagan themes rather than religious ones.
- Next, we visited the quarters where Franco lived with his family during his 40 years in power.
- Finally, we saw the presidential suite, covered reception halls for royal events, and the royal chapel.
Tapestries in the Royal Palace of El Pardo
As soon as you enter the royal halls, you’ll notice the impressive tapestries covering the walls.
While some are Flemish (Belgian), most come from the Royal Tapestry Factory of Madrid, where Francisco de Goya worked for many years, designing the patterns woven into them. Creating just 1 m² of tapestry could take 3–4 months and cost around €12,000.
You can also see the differences between Belgian and Spanish tapestries: the Belgian ones are very elaborate but sober, while the Spanish ones are simpler yet more colorful.
The Royal Tapestry Factory still operates today, preserving the traditional manual techniques.
Franco’s quarters in the Royal Palace of El Pardo
It was once said that Franco’s quarters were closed to the public at the request of the Historical Memory Commission, but they are open today. Highlights include:
- Franco’s office, where countless decisions about Spain were made. It includes an impressive globe, a gift from the Cartographic Institute of Spain.
- The grand dining room, where Franco held his official banquets.
- Franco’s bedroom and that of his wife, Carmen Polo.
- A room with a display of Franco’s uniforms and medals.
- The royal chapel, where Franco’s daughter was married in 1950.
3) Current use of the Royal Palace of El Pardo
Today, the palace is used to host foreign heads of state visiting Spain, along with their delegations. On such occasions, and during special events, the palace is closed to the public.
As a curiosity, Eva Perón was the first Argentine to stay at the palace, and since President Alfonsín, all democratic presidents of Argentina have also stayed here.
📝 General admission price for visiting the Royal Palace of El Pardo in 2025: €9 (with discounts and free entry available). The ticket includes a guided tour at set times, and we were also escorted by a security guard.
📷 Another nearby site that often sparks controversy is the Valle de los Caídos, where Franco’s remains are still located, although their exhumation is imminent. Book a tour of the Monastery of El Escorial and the Valle de los Caídos here.
Practical information for visiting the Royal Palace of El Pardo
How to get to the Royal Palace of El Pardo from Madrid?
To get from Madrid to El Pardo by public transport, we took the intercity bus 602, which departs from behind the Hospital de la Paz. It runs less frequently than bus 601, which departs from Moncloa.
Each bus ticket cost €1.50 per person, so in total we spent €6 for the round trip.
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