Descalzas Reales tours & tickets: four ways to visit the monastery
€9 direct or €39 guided: honest comparison
Entry to the Descalzas Reales is guided-only, in small groups. There is no wandering freely. You book a time slot, follow a guide through the rooms, and that is the visit. The question is whether you pay €9 direct from Patrimonio Nacional for a guide mostly in Spanish, or €39 through GetYourGuide for an English-language guide and a slot someone else booked for you.
The honest answer: if you speak conversational Spanish and just want to see the place, pay €9. If you want the story in English or you want someone else to handle the booking, the €39 tour adds value. Reviewers are split. Nicolaas said the €39 is expensive and you’re better off booking direct. But reviewers praise the quality of the English-speaking guide, the skip-the-line convenience, and the way a trained art historian walks you through the Rubens tapestries and the Giordano fresco. Choose on what you actually want to do.
The Descalzas Reales monastery: what you are actually visiting
A working enclosed convent in a plain brick-and-granite building on a small square two minutes from Sol. Founded 1559 by Juana de Austria (daughter of Charles V, sister of Philip II). You see the parts that were the royal quarters: the grand staircase with Antonio Rizi’s fresco ceiling, the Brussels tapestries from Rubens cartoons, paintings by Titian and Luca Giordano, the relicario of royal gifts, and the tombs of Juana and María de Austria in the church. Photography and video are not allowed inside. Allow roughly 60–90 minutes.
Every option on this site
The monastery itself (€9 or €39), the Habsburg royal circuit (Royal Palace, Royal Collections Gallery), and the great picture galleries (Prado). The Royal Palace and the Prado are the sites most visitors add to their day. Below: the six tours and tickets, grouped by what makes sense together.
Enters the monasteryRoyal Monastery of the Barefoot nuns: Guided Tour + Tickets
Best guided tourMadrid: Royal Palace Skip-the-line Guided Tour
Most bookedMadrid: Royal Palace Fast-Access Admission Ticket
Habsburg treasuresMadrid: Royal Collections Gallery Entry Ticket
The great paintingsMadrid: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Highest ratedMadrid: Welcome to Madrid Guided Walking Tour
Which combination is right for you?
A morning at the Descalzas (90 minutes), then either the Royal Palace with a guide (2 hours), or the Prado (90 minutes, highlights tour). The Royal Collections Gallery (5 centuries of Spanish royal art, 650 pieces) takes roughly two hours. Three full days to see all four properly; pick what fits your time.
| Royal Monastery of the Barefoot nuns: Guided Tour + Tickets | Top pickMadrid: Royal Palace Skip-the-line Guided Tour | Madrid: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | from €39 | from €34 | from €43 |
| What you see | Rubens, Rizi, Giordano | Velázquez, Goya, four royal rooms | Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, Titian |
| Duration | 60–90 min | 2 hours guided | ~90 min highlights |
| Best for | Habsburg monarchy history | Royal Palace architecture | Paintings |
| View → | Book this → | View → |
Book the morning slot for the Descalzas if you can. The light is better in the staircase, and the free Wednesday/Thursday afternoons mean afternoon visits are busier.
Read the reviews first
Each tour has a detailed review page. Start with the Descalzas guided tour review, or browse all six.
Still deciding? Read the ticket comparison (€9 vs €39) or what a Madrid day actually costs.
Can’t make these dates?
Browse more available Descalzas Reales monastery and find one that fits your schedule — all with instant confirmation and free cancellation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Descalzas Reales guided-only entry?
Yes. You cannot wander freely. Entry is timed, guided-only, in small groups, with an official guide. €9 directly from Patrimonio Nacional or €39 through GetYourGuide for an English guide.
Is the €9 or €39 tour better?
Read the honest comparison. The €9 is cheaper; most guides speak Spanish. The €39 adds English-language explanations and booking convenience. Nicolaas paid €39 and said booking direct is better. Other reviewers praise the English guide. Choose based on language and convenience.
What else should I pair with Descalzas?
The Royal Palace is ten minutes away (book the €34 guided tour or €22 ticket-only). The Prado is a twenty-minute walk or one Metro stop. The Welcome to Madrid walking tour is an easy first-day orientation.
When should I visit?
Morning (when light is best in the staircase and crowds are lighter). Avoid Wednesday/Thursday 16:00–18:30, when the monastery is free for EU citizens and Ibero-American visitors — expect it fully booked by locals.
Is it open on Mondays?
No. Closed every Monday all year. Open Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–18:30; Sunday/holidays 10:00–15:00.
Can I photograph inside?
No. No photography or video inside the monastery. You can shoot the facade on the square outside.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Not recommended. The staircase, the upper cloister, and the galleries are not suitable for wheelchair users. This is why the guided tour notes say so.