Madrid’s Teatro Real: a surprising visit

From the outside, Madrid’s Teatro Real is a rather austere-looking building, nothing like the one in Paris, for example. On my own, I probably wouldn’t have gone to visit the Teatro Real, also known as the Madrid opera house. With my language school, we went on a ‘school’ visit. And it was with great surprise that I discovered this amazing place, a real architectural feat!L’histoire du Teatro Real (Opéra de Madrid)

Let’s go back to the origins of this building. It was designed during the reign of Isabel II in 1850, hence the name « Royal ». Today it is one of the most important stages in Spain and the world (voted best opera house in the world in 2021).

It was built by the architects Antonio Lopez Aguado and Custodio Moreno. The Teatro Real enjoyed years of glory until it was forced to close its doors due to damage caused to the building by the construction of the Madrid metro.

After extensive restoration work, it reopened its doors in 1966 and hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1969. Major works in the 1990s enabled it to once again achieve excellence in opera.

How to visit the Teatro Real ?

This building in the heart of Madrid is located directly opposite the Palacio Real. This tour can therefore be easily integrated into your visit to the capital. You can visit the Teatro Real either individually with an audio-guide or with an official guide.

We recommend that you visit with a guide, as you’ll learn a lot of anecdotes and the visit is more fun.

A visit to the Teatro Real

As you enter the reception hall, the tone is set. The majestic staircases provide access to the different levels. You can see the luxurious rooms on the 2nd floor, the various rehearsal rooms, the stage, the spacious cloakrooms and the Royal Box.

The real attraction of this tour is the stage. A true technical feat, the most advanced in Europe, the 1,470 m2 stage is completely removable. Thanks to 18 removable platforms, the set can change from one evening to the next in record time. The Teatro Real is therefore capable of staging several plays at the same time.

A model is available during the visit to help you understand the mechanism. It’s hard to imagine that there are some 30 storeys deep beneath our feet!

A removable pit can also be used to accommodate the Madrid Symphony Orchestra.

The tour continues through the various rooms decorated with National Heritage objects. A single floor takes you all the way round the Opera House. During your visit to the Madrid Opera House, you will also have access to the terrace, which offers an excellent view of the Palacio Real.

Programme and booking

• With an audio-guide: from 7 euros (free for children under 5). You can discover the different areas at your own pace, listening to the history of the site from your own mobile phone. Available in Spanish and English. Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find out more about the audio-guide tour.

If you would like to visit the Teatro Real with a guide, there are a number of different tours available. With different themes and in different languages.

• For the general visit, you can choose a guided tour in Spanish, English or French. Dates and times of visit according to language here. Reduced rate €8, otherwise €10. You will discover the structure of the building, the decoration of the spaces, how it works and other curiosities.

For other themes, the tour is only available in Spanish.

• Technical Visit: You will discover the technical aspects of the construction of the Teatro Real, such as the movements of the platforms and posts, the assembly and construction of the sets, the process of preparing an opera stage (installation and dismantling), and the installation of the acoustic shell. Monday to Sunday at 10.00 am. Prices and booking.
• Artistic visit: the guide will explain how an opera show is put together from an artistic point of view: how rehearsals are organised, how the entrance to the stage is organised, the role of each person, what the dressing rooms look like inside…Monday to Sunday, 9.30 am. Prices and booking.

If you’d like to take advantage of your visit to Madrid to see an opera, dance show or concert, you can find the entire year’s programme on the Teatro Real’s official website.

I hope this article will inspire you to visit the Teatro Real. It’s not too touristy, but it’s a really interesting visit, and we recommend it 200%.

For a flamenco atmosphere, don’t hesitate to read our article Where to see a flamenco show in Madrid.

Emilie.