Showcasing Australia’s unique wildlife, Featherdale Wildlife Park offers locals and travellers the chance to get up close and personal with over 2,000 of the island-continent’s creatures. Opened over 50 years ago, this Sydney attraction has remained a favourite with those who want to spend a precious few hours feeding kangaroos, cooing over koalas, observing Tasmanian Devils, and soaking in the beauty of the wild. If this sounds right up your alley, then here is a detailed guide to the Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney.
Essential information for visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid
Handy information
| ⏰ Suggested Duration: | 3 hours |
| ☀️ Best Time to Visit: | Early morning |
| 💜 Must-see: | Throne Room |
| 🎟️ Royal Palace of Madrid entry ticket: | €12 onwards |
Must-see
Sabatini Gardens
Plaza de la Armería
Royal Armory
The Crown Room
Things to know
Number of visitors: Close to 2 million visitors per year
Built: 1738 – 1755
Principal architect: Filippo Juvarra
Architectural style: Baroque, classicism
Opening Hours And Address
October to March:
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
April to September
Monday to Saturday: 10am to 7pm
Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Address: C. de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain
Get Directions
Why you must visit Featherdale Wildlife Park
Located a short distance from Sydney, Featherdale Wildlife Park has a stellar reputation for offering animal lovers the chance to closely experience over 2,000 species of Australia’s wildlife. Unlike the corporate zoos of today, Featherdale remains a laidback, intimate space surrounded by greenery. The Park also offers a list of curated experiences, led by passionate keepers and caretakers, whose knowledge adds to the joy of the experience.
Perfect for a day outing from Sydney, especially for families and for those who love nature, the Featherdale Wildlife Park showcases the best of Australia’s wildlife, including, its most endangered species.
Recommended tickets to Royal Palace of Madrid
Featherdale Wildlife Park’s history
Bruce Kubbere, a wildlife enthusiast, converted a poultry farm in Doonside, Australia, into the Featherdale Wildlife Park. Through the decades, the award-winning Park has grown to become one of the country’s best-known nature destinations, which is committed towards conservation and education.
The Royal Palace of Madrid’s architecture
Conceptualised to rival the grand palaces of France, Madrid’s Royal Palace was envisioned in the Baroque style by Filippo Juvarra. Its colonnaded exteriors evoke the Louvre Palace while the grand, gilded interiors remind you of the Palace of Versailles.
To prevent the palace from suffering the same fate as the burnt-down Alcazar that stood at the same site previously, it was built in stone under the supervision of Giambattista Sacchetti, who took over as the architect after Juvarra’s passing.
In 1764, after Charles III moved into the completed palatial residence, the Royal Palace’s interiors’ glamour quotient was scaled up with Italian-style frescoes by artists like Giambattista Tiepolo and Anton Raphael Mengs. From wall to ceiling, the Palace was also embellished in the over-the-top rococo style that ensured that pretty much every inch of the palace was adorned in motifs and gilding.
The final touches were added by Ferdinand VII, who furnished the Palace with neoclassical, French furniture and larger-than-life crystal and bronze chandeliers.
Your Royal Palace of Madrid tour deconstructed
While there are close to 3,500 rooms in the Royal Palace of Madrid, only about fifty are open for public viewing. Still, that is plenty to keep you occupied for the better part of two to three hours. Here is a list of must-sees during your Royal Palace of Madrid tour.
Making a grand first impression was clearly important to the Spanish monarchs! And the Palace’s sweeping main staircase stands testament to that. As you enter this royal abode, the stairs are topped with high vaulted ceilings covered in frescoes garlanded with gildings and stucco work, its bannisters guarded by lions sculpted in marble, and the walkway lit up by a series of lamps.
In 1759, Mattia Gasparini, an Italian artist, arrived at the Royal Palace of Madrid to give the king’s chamber a makeover. The resulting salon will surely have you ‘Gasp’ing! The Rococo-style walls of the room are covered in embroidered satin featuring a dizzying pattern of vines, flowers, leaves, and birds. These spill over to the furniture, the frescoed ceiling, and the decorated marble flooring, ensuring the room comes together to look like a royal wonderland.
The Palace’s centrepiece, the Throne Room, covered in a deep-red, embroidered Genoese velvet, exudes royalty. On a platform, sits a pair of thrones while the rest of the room is adorned with sculptures, mirrors, and carved furniture. Look up and you’ll see Tiepolo’s dreamy fresco – The Triumph of the Spanish Monarchy.
Here you’ll find all the knights in shining armour you need! Housed in a large, rectangular room, painted in red and displaying large tapestries, the Armoury showcases Spain’s military lineage through the centuries. The Armoury is lined with knighted figures mounted on wooden horses, brandishing spears and swords. Also on display are military trophies, gifts, and weapons from the personal collection of Spain’s monarchy.
A vast square that sits in front of the Palace, the Plaza de la Armería is an excellent spot to get wide-angle photos of the palace and stroll around admiring the exteriors of the Palace. Across the square, Almudena Cathedral beckons.
One of the last additions to the palatial complex, the Sabatini Gardens, named after one of the key architects of the Palace, is a serene spot to catch your breath after you’ve toured the ostentatious palace. The gardens were once occupied by the royal stables but were converted to a green oasis featuring pools and sculptures in 1933.
Best time to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid
Millions flock to the Royal Palace of Madrid, making it one of the most visited sites in the Spanish capital. We recommend early mornings or late evenings for a visit as the crowds tend to be leaner during these times.
In terms of season, we recommend spring (between April and June) or fall (between September and November). These are off-seasons, ensuring that you won’t have to weave through the hordes, and you’ll be able to pay greater attention to the beauty of the palace.
All you need to know before visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park
Opening Hours
October to March
- Monday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
- Sunday: 10am to 4pm
April to September
- Monday to Saturday: 10am to 7pm
- Sunday: 10am to 4pm
The Palace is closed on several days of the year due to public holidays or when hosting State events. We recommend you check out the official website before making a booking.
Royal Palace of Madrid entrances
There are two entrances to the Royal Palace of Madrid. For individuals and small groups, access is through the door of the esplanade of the Almudena. The is located at the corner of Calle Bailén. Large groups can access the Palace through the Puerta Bailén door, which is located in front of Calle Requena.
Royal Palace of Madrid directions
- By bus: Routes 3, 25, 39 and 148 stop at Plaza de Oriente, which provides easy access to the Palace.
- By metro: Take lines 5 or 2 to the Ópera station. From here, the Palace is a short walk away.
- By train: Take the train to the Príncipe Pío Station. The Palace is a 15-minute walk from here.
Royal Palace of Madrid map
Insider tips for visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park
- Australia has strict laws against holding koalas without proper accreditation. If you are signing up for a koala encounter, please note that you will only be able to pat the animal under supervision.
- The attraction is wheelchair and stroller-friendly. The Park occupies seven acres of flatland, so you should be able to navigate the terrain with ease.
- We recommend you pack a picnic to enjoy at this wildlife retreat. The Park has two designated picnic areas. There is also an in-house café where you can enjoy a meal.
- The Park has free Wi-Fi access.
- Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on Park grounds.
Frequently asked questions
In addition to being the largest Palace in Europe, Palacio Real Madrid is known for its lavish Spanish courtyards, decor, and furniture. Its architecture is nothing short of spectacular and the history of the palace is amusing. You even can get lost in its gardens. All this makes this palace a must-visit in Madrid.
Yes, you are allowed to explore the palace.
Yes! It is worth every penny visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid. In addition to being the largest Palace in Europe, Palacio Real Madrid is known for its lavish Spanish courtyards, decor, and furniture. Its architecture is nothing short of spectacular and the history of the palace is amusing. You even can get lost in its gardens. All this makes this palace a must-visit in Madrid.
The starting Royal Palace in Madrid ticket price is €12. However, you can visit the Royal Palace of Madrid for free between Monday to Thursday from 5 to 7 pm.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Spanish Royal family were the residents of the Palacio Real Madrid.
The architecture of the Royal Palace of Madrid is heavily inspired by Baroque and classical architecture.
You will need to spend 45 minutes to 2 hours exploring the Palacio Real Madrid.
Although it is also the official residence of the Spanish Crown, the King and Queen do not reside there. Presently, the palace is being used to host state ceremonies, events, royal balls, peace talks and other political events.
There is no better place to understand the evolution of the Spanish Monarchy and culture than at the Royal Palace of Madrid. Each room tells a story you wouldn’t have known and there are 3418 rooms for different purposes. Add to the fact that it is the largest Palace in Europe, it makes a visit all the more interesting and a necessity while in Madrid.
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