Madrid is a big capital with many things to do, a lot of spots to discover and a fantastic atmosphere to live! But there are a few places that stand above the rest and we feel you must certainly see during their first visit to Madrid!
This is why we have made up this short list for you to have a quick look of the Spanish capital and not miss the absolute basics.
If you’ve already been in Madrid, keep reading because we will also tell you some interesting facts about these iconic places maybe you didn’t know.
We also recommend you visit some of the best 10 hidden gems in Madrid.
See also our posts of these beautiful destinations around Madrid:
- Monastery of El Paular, art and history in Madrid’s mountains
- Castle of Manzanares el Real, the gem of Madrid’s fortifications
- The fountain show at the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, which still works with the original hydraulic system from the 18th century. The fountains only work between June and August.
#1 - Plaza Mayor
Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is probably its most famous landmark, and one of the best examples of the Spanish Habsburgs’ (Austrias) architecture in the city.
Madrid’s Plaza Mayor was planned to transform an old market square when the capital of Castile was established in Madrid in 1561.
The square, measures 129 x 94 m, it has nine gates and its archicture is remarkably uniform and beautiful, making it one of the most beautiful plazas mayores in Spain, along with those in Salamanca and Valladolid, but unlike those, Madrid’s Plaza Mayor is not in the intersection of the main streets, but tucked within narrow alleys.
Construction of the Plaza Mayor was finished in 1619, but it had a long history of fires and swift reconstructions since then – the first one happened only 12 years later, so the same architect who finished the works, Juan Gómez de Mora had the chance to rebuild it!
To understand how important the Plaza Mayor was, imagine all the events that took place here: markets, but also bullfighting, public trials and executions!
In the centre of the Plaza Mayor you will see a building with frescoes. These are the last addition to the square, many people don’t realise they were painted so recently, in 1992!
Every Sunday, there is a numismatic market in the Plaza Mayor. In December, there is a Christmas market where you can buy traditional decorations and other stuff.
#2 - Royal Palace
Did you know that Madrid’s Royal Palace is the largest in Europe? With nearly 200,000 m2 built it is nearly double the size of Buckingham Palace or Versailles!
It was built after a fire in 1734 burnt the old 14th century Alcázar – some say, to the delight of Philip V, the first Bourbon King in Spain, who wanted a new grandiose palace following his grandfather Louis XIV of France. It was finished by his son Charles III who was King of Naples before and brought the latest Italian taste.
Don’t just look at its façade and parade ground, we really recommend you to visit it inside! Its rooms are beautiful Baroque, full of works of art – don’t miss its Porcelain Cabinet, a small but very original room. There is a similar but much larger one in the Palace of Aranjuez, 40 km South of Madrid.
Palacio Real has two gardens, although they are smaller than those of many other royal palaces, but provide beautiful views of the palace.
You will easily find the entrance to French-style Jardines de Sabatini, but to reach the less crowded (and nicer) English gardens Campo del Moro you will have to go down to river Manzanares (metro: Príncipe Pío – lines 6, 10 and R).
You may notice many statues of old kings lined between the Royal Palace and the Opera (Teatro Real). These were meant to top the palace façade. They represent all Christian rulers of the different Spanish kingdoms since the Visigoths.
Philip V had become King of Spain after the War of Succession (1700-14) With these statues topping his palace, Philip V attempted to re-write history to assert the legimitacy of his rule, claiming a continuous inheritance line extending many centuries back.
The legend says that Philip V had nightmares in which the palace collapsed under the weight of the statues. More probably, his architects calculated it was risky to put them there, so they only installed a few of them and used many others to decorate the square.
You will find more in the Sabatini Gardens, in Retiro and even in other Spanish cities.
#3 - Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is the very centre of Madrid, one could say its “real plaza mayor”, the place where the main streets of the city centre start. Since it was created, it has been the most bustling square of the city, where people used to gather to know the latest news and gossip.
This is the first place most tourists visit in Madrid, especially people from other cities in Spain. They are basically 2 things that make it so famous and important for Spaniards:
First, its clock and bell tower. Every 31st December at 23:59 most people in Spain have it on their TVs. As the bell strikes twelve marking the beginning of the new year, Spaniards eat a grape each time they hear “dong”.
Roughly below the clock, you will probably see some people looking at the floor… they’re taking pictures at the kilometre zero.
It signals the starting point of the 6 radial roads of Spain and it’s one of the most photographed things in the city!
You should also know that in any street in Madrid, the numbers of all the streets in the city point towards here (no. 1 and 2 are the closest to Puerta del Sol). This is something quite useful for orientation.
On the left side of the square (looking at the clock tower), you will see a statue of the coat of arms of Madrid: the bear and strawberry tree (despite its name, it has nothing to do with the strawberry plant and fruit).
Nowadays tourists and locals like it to meet and take pictures much more than the monument to King Charles III, “the best mayor of Madrid” in the middle of the square.
Behind it is another of the main attractions of Puerta del Sol: the Tío Pepe advertisement. This neon sign of a famous Sherry wine has been here since the 1960s. Although it used to be on the Western side of the square and was relocated in 2012.
If you know some Spanish you may wonder why a square is called Gate (Puerta).
The reason is that this square was actually opened just across the Gate of the Sun (Puerta del Sol), which was the Eastern entrance of the primitive Moorish city. There has been no gate there for centuries and many inhabitants of Madrid don’t know it existed, but the square still bears its name.
#4 - Gran Vía
Gran Vía is a modern avenue that opens its way through an old city. It was built between 1910 and 1936 demolishing all houses, churches or even whole streets that existed there, in order to modernise a city of narrow and irregular streets.
When you walk its 1.3 km from Edificio Grassy at no.1 to Plaza de España, you will see how the architecture tastes evolved in those 26 years: Neo-classical and Eclectic palaces give way to American-style 1920s skyscrapers.
Plaza de España
Gran Vía ends in Plaza de España, which has two iconic buildings: Edificio España, an American-style brick huge building finished in 1953 and uglier Torre de Madrid which was the tallest building in the city until the 1980s.
In the middle of the square you will find the monument to Spain’s most famous novelist, Miguel de Cervantes, with the main characters of his masterpiece: Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
The square is being thoroughly renovated, and we are looking forward to seeing how it will look.
Gran Vía used to be full of cinemas… now they have turned into musical theatres, the new trend – there are people who come to Madrid just to watch The Lion King! There are shops, including flagship stores of multinational fashion brands.
This avenue provides a beautiful contrast with the surrounding old narrow streets, just one of the many contradictions of Madrid. And certainly, if you want to go for a drink or some fine food, you shoudn’t stay in Gran Vía, but explore the neighbourhoods on either side.
Edificio Metrópolis
Even if Metrópolis is not strictly in the Gran Vía, it is one of the most iconic building of early 20th century monumental architecture in Madrid.
It is very close to Gran Vía, in calle Alcalá. We highly recommend you to go through this street all the way down to Puerta del Sol, because it has some beautiful monumental neo-classical and eclectic architecture.
#5 - Cibeles
Cibeles is probably the most monumental square in Madrid. It takes its name from the fountain of old classical goddess Cibeles (Kybele), famous as the place where Real Madrid fans celebrate their mighty club’s victories, but its four corners have beautiful buildings.
You will be impressed by Palacio de Comunicaciones, built as central post office and now used as city hall. No wonder it was dubbed Our Lady of Communications.
This is a masterpiece of Spanish architect Antonio Palacios, who designed more beautiful buildings in the city. It is a real Gesamtkunstwerk (“total work of art”) with noticeable plateresque influences (the Gothic-Renaissance style typical in late 15th c. Spain), but also of Austrian Secession.
We really recommend you to go inside the building, it’s free, and you will be surprised by its interior where every detail was thought of. Don’t miss its tile-decorated stairways.
On the right of Palacio de Comunicaciones, across Paseo del Prado, you will find the eclectic building of the Central Bank of Spain (Banco de España), from 1891. It is said that the Cibeles fountain is connected to its gold reserves vault, flooding it in case of theft.
Palacio de Linares sits on another corner. This 19th c. neo-Baroque palace is dwarfed by the monumental size of the previous too, but it’s certainly elegant and it was remarkably included as the reserve image of the last 10.000 pesetas note – maybe because it’s what you see from the largest window of the Bank of Spain?
Finally, Palacio de Buenavista is on the fourth corner of the square. This 18th century palace hosts the Army Headquarters so it usually cannot be visited and one can barely catch a glimpse of it as it stands behind many trees.
#6 - Paseo del Prado: Museo del Prado – Museo Thyssen – Museo Reina Sofía
Paseo del Prado was the first tree-lined boulevard in Europe. It was re-ordered and embellished in the mid-18th c. during Charles III reign. Then, several cultural and scientific institutions opened their doors in the Paseo.
It served as inspiration to other European cities and especially to several Spanish American capitals. This is why it is a candidate to UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Retiro.
The most important of these is Museo del Prado, one of the most renowned art museums in the world. But there are actually three impressive collections in a boulevard section of less than 1 km – this is why it is now dubbed the Arts Boulevard.
Museo del Prado is the largest one of the three. It was created from the private collection of the Spanish monarchs, who attracted some of the best painters from Spain, Flanders and Italy to their court.
Here you can enjoy the best collections of Velázquez, Rubens, Hyeronimus Bosch and even Titian… along with all the periods of Goya’s ingenuity – ending in his crazy black paintings, which would fit in a modern art museum. Prado’s collection ends in the early 20th century… giving way to Reina Sofía
Tip: You can enter for free during the last 2 opening hours: Mon-Sat 6-8 pm (Sundays 3-5 pm).
Reina Sofía is the most important Modern Art Museum in Spain. Its collection spans all modern art (from the beginning of the 20th century) and features world-famous Picasso’s Guernica. You will certainly be impressed by its size!
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is across the road from Prado. It is a private collection of art spanning from mediaeval painting to modern art, including one of Dalí’s most famous paintings: Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate a Second before Waking.
Tip: If you are planning to visit all three art museums, you can buy a combined ticket with a 20% discount.
And even if you are not visiting any museums you should walk the boulevard, Paseo del Prado, and enjoy its fountains, statues and beautiful buildings on both sides, including the fountain of Neptune (where Atlético de Madrid fans gather whenever they win something).
#7 - El Retiro
Jardines del Buen Retiro is the most iconic park of Madrid and just a short walk from Prado Museum.
Retiro were actually the gardens of a royal palace (Palacio del Buen Retiro) built in what was then just outside the city limits – a place for leisure or retirement (in Spanish, “retiro”) for the royal family.
The palace and other buildings were heavily damaged during the Napoleonic Wars and most of them were demolished some decades later. Later, the park was embellished with the artificial lake and iconic monument to Alphonse XII, and the Crystal Palace.
Look out for the beautiful sculptures and fountains of Retiro, like The Fallen Angel or the Galapagos Fountain.
#8 - Puerta de Alcalá
Puerta de Alcalá is to Madrid what Brandenburger Tor is to Berlin – once a city gate and now the city’s symbol.
Indeed, this was one of the entrance gates to the city, which was enclosed by a brick wall until the 19th century. The gate was commissioned by King Charles III, “the best mayor of Madrid” in 1769 and designed by his favourite architect Sabatini (who also finished the royal palace).
An interesting feature of the wall that many overlook is that the design is different on each side – columns are rounded on one side and right-angled on the other. Legend says that, after discarding other designs, the King couldn’t choose between these two, so in the end it was decided to build both!
#9 - Plaza de la Villa
Plaza de la Villa may not be the most monumental square in Madrid but it is pure history, real Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg’s Madrid).
Here you can see three different centuries of architecture:
- The late Gothic House and Tower of Lujanes, which is the oldest secular building still existing in Madrid. It is said that King Francis I of France stayed as a prisoner in this tower after losing the Battle of Pavia in 1525!
- The plateresque (Renaissance) Palacio de Cisneros
- The 17th century Baroque Casa de la Villa, Madrid’s city hall until it was recently moved to the Communications Palace at Cibeles.
#10 - Temple of Debod
This is the oldest building in Madrid by far, as it dates from the Egyptian Ptolemaic dynasty!
Maybe you are wondering what this Egyptian temple is doing in Spain’s capital. Well, when the Aswan dam was built, there was an international call to save the Abu Simbel temples from the Nile river.
When the mission was completed, Egypt gave each of the 4 countries who participated actively an ancient temple as a sign of gratitude, and Spain was one of them. Temple of Debod is the only of the 4 to be in a public park, instead of in a museum.
There are plans to cover it in order to protect it from the elements, so hurry up and don’t miss the chance to enjoy a piece of Egypt in a beautiful location with a view of the large green parks and forests that cover the West of Madrid.
#11 - Santiago Bernabéu
Santiago Bernabéu stadium is the home of Real Madrid, the most successful football club in history and most followed team in a city that loves football, along with rivals Atlético.
Some people travel to Madrid just to visit Santiago Bernabéu – we think this is a mistake, as the city has so much to offer, but it is certainly a place to visit.
If you have the chance to go to a game, you will have a great experience… And go some time before the game to live the atmosphere!
Otherwise, you can take the Bernabéu Tour, where you will be able to see the Real Madrid trophy room with 13 European Cups / Champions Leagues and 10 basketball Euroleagues, apart from several other national and international trophies, before visiting the stands, dressing rooms and press conference room.
This stadium built in 1947 is being renovated and will have a completely different look. Let’s see how it ends up being!
Tip: If you want to go to a game, buy your tickets in the official website www.realmadrid.com and not through agents, which will overcharge you 50% or more!
#12 - Las Ventas bullring
Before football came to existence, bullfighting was the closest thing to a professional sport, and the favourite show (along with theatre) in Spain.
Las Ventas was opened in 1929, as a new monumental bullring that would replace an older one, that was not good enough for the city. It was built in a neo-mudéjar style, vaguely resembling famous Plaza de España in Seville.
Las Ventas is considered the “bullfighting cathedral” in Spain and with a capacity of nearly 24 000, it is the largest bullring in Spain and 3rd largest in the world.
Tip: If you want to attend a bullfight, visit Madrid between the 15th May (city festival) and the first week of June – then, there are real bullfights every day, during Feria de San Isidro.
Tickets are cheap (you can find them for less than 10 €), just make sure you know where you are going because the show is not for everyone (though it is much easier to watch live than on TV).
When you are done with these places, check out these beautiful 10 hidden gems in Madrid!
Or maybe you would like to visit some other places in the region – the mountains of Madrid will definitely surprise you! Check out these posts about two beautiful destinations near Madrid, great for a one-day trip:
... And enjoy the food and atmosphere!
Madrid is not only about history, architecture and museums – it is famous for its bustling and friendly atmosphere at any time of the day and night is, and good food is certainly one of its highlights.
You can choose from a wide variety of traditional and modern restaurants, regional cuisine from all over Spain, great international restaurants… and of course tapas, a great and inexpensive way to taste different Spanish flavours and celebrate social life.
Apart from ubiquitous tortilla, patatas bravas and huevos rotos, in Madrid there are some local tapas that are more delicious than may seem: callos a la madrileña (a slightly spicy stew of lamb tripe) and oreja a la plancha (grilled pork ear).
But the most traditional local dish is cocido madrileño, a slow stew based on chickpeas served with chorizo, morcilla and cabbage. It’s perfect for the winter, but maybe a bit too much for summer.
Stay tuned for our recommendations of the best places to eat good and local in Madrid! For now, the no.1 recommendation is: don’t go to a place with huge signs of paella = tourist trap, probably frozen food. By the way, paella is a regional dish from Valencia.
What a great post on a beautiful city! El Retiro was my favorite place in Madrid when I visited. I need to go back soon and see the Royal Palace, it looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Sarah! I’m glad that you enjoyed it in Madrid and you want to come again! Hopefully you can make it soon and enjoy the city’s atmosphere and get to know better some places.
The pity of Royal Palaces (and other things related to the crown) in Spain is that they don’t let you take pictures in the visits, so we didn’t have more to show but it’s certainly beautiful and a place we always recommend to visit inside 🙂
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