The Royal Armoury of Madrid
The Royal Armoury of Madrid
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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Address
Neighbourhood: Austrias
How to get there
- Ópera • 7 min walk
- Principe Pío • 10 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
105 reviews
Excellent
67
Very good
27
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
3
Julia G
Sheffield, UK450 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
It’s ok… it’s exactly what you’d expect from an armoury museum. Doesn’t take too long to walk around. Has quite a few floors though so it’s worth a visit- especially if you go in the evening where between certain times it’s free entry (about 1/2 hrs before they close).
Would have been better if they offered some exhibitions which were a bit more interactive. It’s not ideal for children/ families.
Would have been better if they offered some exhibitions which were a bit more interactive. It’s not ideal for children/ families.
Written September 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
T3341TSfrancesm
Coral Springs, FL42 contributions
Oct 2022
This was the main reason we wanted to visit the Royal Palace was to see The Royal Armoury. It was facinating, different, and something we had not seen at other locations in our travels. I would recommend stopping and visiting if you are in madrid. It took us about 40 mins or so to view everything at our own pace.
Written October 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK185,662 contributions
Jul 2019
The Royal Armoury of Madrid is a museum that contains the collection of the personal arms of the Kings of Spain, military weapons, armours and a small but eclectic mix of tapestries, paintings and other works of art and trophie that form part of the royal collection.
Among the most notable parts of the collection are the decorative full armour used by the Emperor Charles V and King Felipe II. Just as impressive are the collection of armour for the young royal princes.
Among the most notable parts of the collection are the decorative full armour used by the Emperor Charles V and King Felipe II. Just as impressive are the collection of armour for the young royal princes.
Written August 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gato188
Canberra, Australia439 contributions
Jan 2012 • Couples
We visited the Royal Armoury as a couple, during our visit to the Royal Palace. Entry is covered within the €20 per person entry to the palace, where the armoury is housed in part of the wing on the Río Manzanares side. The collection, housed mainly across two storeys, is amazing for its range of full suits of parade armour, tournament armour including horse armour, and early firearms and ancient edged weapons - all in the most extraordinary pristine condition, and very well displayed. My only criticism of the collection is that photography, even without flash, was not permitted during our visit in January 2012.
Arms and armour tend to be predominantly masculine interests. I would have liked to have spent more time in the Royal Armoury, but understandably that did not interest my spouse. Consequently we rushed through the collection more quickly than ideally I would have liked. With more time on a future visit I will go back to the Royal Armoury by myself - perhaps while my better half shops for shoes, or engages in some other rare and vitally feminine activity of comparable low interest to me as arms and armour are to her. I recommend this strategy to similar couples.
Arms and armour tend to be predominantly masculine interests. I would have liked to have spent more time in the Royal Armoury, but understandably that did not interest my spouse. Consequently we rushed through the collection more quickly than ideally I would have liked. With more time on a future visit I will go back to the Royal Armoury by myself - perhaps while my better half shops for shoes, or engages in some other rare and vitally feminine activity of comparable low interest to me as arms and armour are to her. I recommend this strategy to similar couples.
Written March 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan L
London, UK59 contributions
Aug 2016
The Royal Armoury is situated in the basement of the Palacio Real and can only be viewed as part of the entry to the Palacio Royal. However, it is certainly worth a visit.
Here you will find an impressive collection of beautifully polished armour dating from the 15th century onwards. The collection includes armour made for King Carlos 5th and King Felipe 2nd. Even more fascinating is the armour made for the horses going into battle or as protection in jousting tournaments.
Faced with such an array of restrictive yet protective armour you cannot help but wonder how the wearer could move, let alone fight, particularly whilst riding a horse. Another element of interest is the armour made for the royal children. Indeed this exhibition is certainly worth a visit.
Here you will find an impressive collection of beautifully polished armour dating from the 15th century onwards. The collection includes armour made for King Carlos 5th and King Felipe 2nd. Even more fascinating is the armour made for the horses going into battle or as protection in jousting tournaments.
Faced with such an array of restrictive yet protective armour you cannot help but wonder how the wearer could move, let alone fight, particularly whilst riding a horse. Another element of interest is the armour made for the royal children. Indeed this exhibition is certainly worth a visit.
Written August 16, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BennyMalaga
Malaga, Spain89,732 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
The Royal Armory is situated in a building beside the Royal Palace. This armory and the Imperial Armory in Vienna are considered to be the best in Europe because of the quality of its pieces. The building was constructed in 1897 by the architects J.S. de Lema and E. Repulles. The armory contains the personal armory of Carlos V and his son Felipe II. There are several models displayed of mounted men on horses with the armor of each. There are pieces of armor that date as early as the 13th century. There are armor and arms of other Spanish kings, as well as gifts of armor and arms made especially for them.
Much of the armor and arms were meant for gala displays, and not for war. The kings used to wear the armor for ceremonies and for official paintings. The armor was used to show the power of the Spanish Empire. In the Prado Museum there is a painting by Titian of Carlos V using armor, supposedly used in the Battle of Muhlberg. This armor is made of steel and embellished with gold and silver and was made by leading armorers from Milan and Ausburg. There is a beautiful shield, called the Apotheosis of Carlos V, with gold and silver, measuring 54 cm in diameter, and made in Italy around 1535. Another beautiful shield is the Medusa Shield of Carlos V made by Filippo and Francesco Negroli in Milan in 1541. It is made of damascened steel and has the image of Medusa on it. The collection has some of the most beautiful arms made in the Renaissance and the Baroque periods.
Much of the armor and arms were meant for gala displays, and not for war. The kings used to wear the armor for ceremonies and for official paintings. The armor was used to show the power of the Spanish Empire. In the Prado Museum there is a painting by Titian of Carlos V using armor, supposedly used in the Battle of Muhlberg. This armor is made of steel and embellished with gold and silver and was made by leading armorers from Milan and Ausburg. There is a beautiful shield, called the Apotheosis of Carlos V, with gold and silver, measuring 54 cm in diameter, and made in Italy around 1535. Another beautiful shield is the Medusa Shield of Carlos V made by Filippo and Francesco Negroli in Milan in 1541. It is made of damascened steel and has the image of Medusa on it. The collection has some of the most beautiful arms made in the Renaissance and the Baroque periods.
Written January 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
albranda
Houten, The Netherlands17 contributions
Sept 2019 • Solo
This is one of the most extensive medieval armories I’ve come across. It’s part of the Royal palace and I enjoyed it more than the rest of the palace. But of course that depends on your personal interests.
Written September 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nik R
Varna, Bulgaria6,654 contributions
Jun 2016 • Family
The Royal Armoury can be visited as a part of your visit to the Royal Palace and is included in its price. There are lots of protective armour and weapons that belonged to the Spanish Royal family throughout the centuries. There are even items that Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and Philip II used. Other works of art can be also seen in the Armoury like tapestries, paintings and trophies. Very interesting are the armours of kids and horses. After that I was thinking how somebody could fight wearing so many kilos of metal! We didn't like much the Palace but the Armoury is definitely worth a visit!
Written March 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China174,703 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
One of the impressive things to see at the Royal Palace is the Real Armeria (Royal Armoury) situated in the pavilion building at the front of Plaza de Armas on the opposite side of the ticket office and palace entrance. Entry into the armoury is included as part of your Palacio Real ticket purchase.
Here you will see a fine collection of armoury belonging to the Spanish Royal family, dating back many centuries. In particular, there are exceptional pieces that belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1519–1556) as well as King Philip II (1556–1598).
Throughout the collection, there are beautifully designed body suits, tools and weapons on display. The armour represents changing and prevailing styles over the centuries while many pieces are fashioned with intricate and artistic designs of remarkable quality.
Some of the Royal suits are very detailed, more ornamental than for the purpose of combat. Several pieces on display have been featured in masterpiece paintings that can be viewed at Prado.
Note: there are beautiful tapestries that have also been hung along the walls of the Armoury. These are easy to overlook while admiring the armour displays but are well worth viewing as well.
In the end, this is an exceptional armoury collection, perhaps as nice as you will find in Europe. Browsing the armoury can be comfortably done in 15-30 minutes depending on how interest. As such, it is well worth allowing the extra time for the Real Armeria as part of your visit to the Palacio Real.
Here you will see a fine collection of armoury belonging to the Spanish Royal family, dating back many centuries. In particular, there are exceptional pieces that belonged to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (1519–1556) as well as King Philip II (1556–1598).
Throughout the collection, there are beautifully designed body suits, tools and weapons on display. The armour represents changing and prevailing styles over the centuries while many pieces are fashioned with intricate and artistic designs of remarkable quality.
Some of the Royal suits are very detailed, more ornamental than for the purpose of combat. Several pieces on display have been featured in masterpiece paintings that can be viewed at Prado.
Note: there are beautiful tapestries that have also been hung along the walls of the Armoury. These are easy to overlook while admiring the armour displays but are well worth viewing as well.
In the end, this is an exceptional armoury collection, perhaps as nice as you will find in Europe. Browsing the armoury can be comfortably done in 15-30 minutes depending on how interest. As such, it is well worth allowing the extra time for the Real Armeria as part of your visit to the Palacio Real.
Written August 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gene
Broken Arrow, OK57 contributions
Jun 2014 • Solo
I visited the Royal Armoury of Madrid museum last Thursday. It has a superb collection of midieval armor including armor for horses. The items are not all mounted in cases or on walls, but are realistically presented on life-sized mannequins and whatever the horse equivalent of mannequins is. It is unfortunate that there are no brochures to be had, and the gift shop across the plaza in the Palace had next to nothing about this fine collection. And to top it off, they don't want you to take pictures of your own, even without flash. Still it is well worth the time for visiting by battle history buffs.
Written June 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
¿ Se pueden hacer fotos ?
Written March 30, 2021
Can I access the Royal Armoury of Madrid without being at the palace, as separate museum?
Written June 15, 2017
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