The most spectacular sights in Madrid – with map
Madrid is a vibrant and diverse metropolis known for its rich culture, vibrant nightlife, excellent cuisine and hospitality. The Spanish capital is not only home to some of the best art museums in the world, but Madrid's rich history is also reflected in huge squares and many impressive buildings and monuments throughout the city.
With so many attractions, it's not easy to get an overview. We'll tell you which sights you definitely shouldn't miss if you want to get to know this vibrant metropolis.
The Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous squares in the city and, according to the tourist office, is the "ideal starting point" to discover " authentic Madrid ". The lively square is considered one of the city's landmarks and scores points with numerous photo spots.
Spain's main national roads extend from the Puerta del Sol in a star shape across the entire mainland. A zero-kilometer stone in the ground in front of the entrance to the headquarters of Madrid's city administration, the Casa de Correos (in English: post office), marks the starting point of the six roads. Distances in Spain are measured from this stone. At the post office itself, the clock is one of the attractions of the square. It is the focus of public attention, especially on New Year's Eve, when it officially rings in the new year and can be seen on Spanish television.
One of the highlights of the square is the statue "El Oso y el Madroño" (English: "The Bear and the Strawberry Tree"). Both figures are symbols of Madrid and are also depicted in the city's coat of arms. Incidentally, the liqueur made from strawberry trees is one of the regional specialties . You can try it in some bars and shops or buy it and give it away as a souvenir.
In addition to the statue "El Oso y el Madroño", the zero kilometre stone and the post office, the female statue of Mariblanca and the larger-than-life neon sign for sherry called Tío Pepe ( Uncle Pepe ) with a hat and a guitar are among the top photo spots in the square . From the Puerta del Sol it is only an eight-minute walk to the next attraction, the Plaza Mayor.
The bear and the strawberry tree are symbols of the city. On the left in the background is the magnificent Royal Post Office - la Real Casa de Correos.
Source: imago images/Panthermedia
Another landmark of Madrid is the Fuente de Cibeles fountain. It was built at the end of the 18th century at the behest of King Charles III. The marble ensemble was designed by the architect Ventura Rodríguez.
The fountain, eight metres high and 32 metres wide, shows the goddess Cybele on a throne on a chariot pulled by lions. In one hand she holds a sceptre and in the other the keys to the city. Today, the big victory celebrations of the Real Madrid football club take place around the fountain.
It used to be located at the beginning of Paseo de Recoletos, but in 1895 the city administration decided to move it to its current location.
The Plaza Mayor is considered to be one of the most charming parts of the city. The central square forms "the heart of the historic district of Madrid de los Austrias" and is surrounded by typical Spanish colonnades, some of which house restaurants and shops. The former bakery, Casa de la Panadería , which has served as the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the Academy of History, is now home to the Madrid Tourist Office.
In the middle of the square stands an equestrian statue of Philip III from 1616. The design was created by the Flemish-Italian sculptor Giovanni da Bologna, also known as Giambologna. The statue is considered one of the most valuable works on the streets of Madrid.
The Plaza Mayor is the place to be to capture the Spanish flair.
Source: imago images/Panthermedia
At Plaza de Oriente you will find two attractions: the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) and the Almudena Cathedral. The Palacio Real of Madrid is a breathtaking architectural masterpiece. It is considered the largest palace in Western Europe and one of the largest royal residences in the world . The building covers 135,000 square meters and has 3,418 rooms.
Philip V had the building constructed on the ruins of the Antiguo Alcázar fortress, which burned down in 1734. Although monarchs no longer live in the New Royal Palace, the building is still the official residence of the kings and is one of the few official residences of heads of state that is open to the public. Around two million people visit the palace every year.
You can admire magnificent rooms such as the Throne Room, the Hall of Columns or the Salon de Gasparini and take a look into the royal kitchen . Another attraction in the palace is the Royal Arms Collection . According to the tourism authority, it is one of the most important collections of its kind and displays weapons and armor of the Spanish kings and other family members since the 13th century. The Gallery of the Royal Collections is also located in the palace. It houses masterpieces from the Spanish royal collections such as paintings, sculptures and tapestries.
Anyone who wants to take a break from all the impressions can relax in the Jardines de la Plaza de Oriente gardens in front of the Royal Palace. They are located in the centre of an important monumental complex, which includes not only the palace but also the Monastery of La Encarnacion belongs.
Important tourist highlights: The Palacio Real of Madrid with equestrian monument to Philip IV in the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente.
Source: imago images/Miguel Martín
The Catedral de la Almudena , along with the neighboring Royal Palace, is one of the most visited sights in Madrid. Its foundation stone was laid in 1883, and 100 years later the building could be considered completed.
The neo-Romanesque crypt and the dome are worth seeing. From here you have a breathtaking view over the roofs of the city. The cathedral also has a museum that houses the relics of the city's patron saints: the Virgen de la Almudena and San Isidro Labrador.
The view from the cathedral is spectacular.
Source: imago images/Panthermedia
Right next to the cathedral you can also discover the remains of the former Arab city walls. Madrid's history goes back to the year 865. The city, called "Mayrit" in Arabic (German: "watery rivers"), was under Islamic rule until it was conquered by Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083. If you want to get to know medieval Madrid, you should visit the National Archaeological Museum .
The spectacular view over the ledge of the Royal Palace from the Mirador de la Cornisa del Palacio Real is free, but not for nothing. The viewpoint only opened in summer 2021. You will find it on the Plaza de la Armería , between the palace and the cathedral. You get to the mirador (viewpoint) through one of the five gates that were once the passage for the original fence of the palace. According to the tourism authority, access to the viewpoint is possible from Monday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 10 p.m.
The view from there extends to the peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama. When you look at the city, you might be surprised at how green Madrid is. Among other things, you can see the Moorish gardens and even part of the city park La Casa de Campo . At 1535.52 hectares, it is the largest urban park in Spain and is home to an amusement park and the Teleférico, which is popular with tourists. The Madrid cable car connects the Casa de Campo with the Parque del Oeste on the other bank of the Manzanares River.
Speaking of parks: If you're going on a sightseeing tour in Madrid, Retiro Park should not be missing from your bucket list. It is considered the green lung of Madrid's city center and is perfect for strolls past monuments, pavilions and gardens. You can take boat trips on the Estanque Grande pond, picnic under centuries-old trees and take breaks in terrace cafés with a bohemian flair.
In 2021, the park and the Paseo del Prado boulevard were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list as a cultural landscape.
El Retiro Park is a wonderful place to relax. From the boat you can admire the monument of Alfonso XII in peace and quiet.
Source: imago images/Zoonar
In Madrid, art lovers will find some of the best museums in the world, including the Prado Museum , the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum .
The Museo National del Prado in Madrid is one of the most important art museums in the world. The Pinacoteca was opened in 1819. Today, with three million visitors per year, it is one of the most popular and well-known places in the art world.
The museum houses various collections and works of art that are closely linked to the history of Spain. These include a comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings from the eleventh to the eighteenth century. You will also come across masterpieces by important artists such as Goya, El Greco, Velázquez, Hieronymus Bosch, Titian and Rembrandt.
The Spanish Baroque painter Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) guards the main entrance to the Prado Museum.
Source: imago images/Panthermedia
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is housed in a special location, namely the Palacio de Villahermosa in Madrid. It is only 450 meters (five minutes' walk) from the Prado. The permanent collection takes you over two floors through the history of European painting from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Italian Renaissance around Caravaggio and modern classics are particularly impressive.
In the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía you will find a comprehensive collection of modern and contemporary Spanish art. One of the highlights of the art gallery is Pablo Picasso's famous painting " El Guernica ". It depicts the horror, death and destruction of the city of the same name during the Spanish Civil War.
According to a ranking from the beginning of 2024, Madrid is one of the most luxurious cities in Europe . As the portal Holidu summarized in its evaluation, the Salamanca district is one of the most exclusive shopping areas in all of Spain and is known worldwide as the "Golden Mile". According to the city's tourist office, you will find the most international luxury brands there.
Since March 2024, according to an Instagram post, "Visita Madrid" has counted Plaza de Canalejas as part of the city's "new Golden Mile". The relatively small but idyllic square is a ten-minute walk from Plaza del Sol. The five-star hotels "Four Seasons" and "JW Marriott" as well as the exclusive Galleria Canalejas, with luxury brand boutiques from Jimmy Choo, Hermès, Cartier and Louis Vuitton, are located in just a few square meters.
Another must-see is Gran Vía, known as the Broadway of Madrid. According to the Tourist Office, it is the city's main artery and one of its most symbolic streets.
The approximately 1.3-kilometer-long shopping mile begins at the intersection with Calle Alcalá and leads to Plaza de España. The Gran Vía ("grand street") was built between 1910 and 1931. The first skyscrapers in Spain rose on it, and architectural styles from the USA began to shape the new "Broadway."
The Gran Vía is the Broadway of Madrid. The Torre de Madrid rises in the background.
Source: imago images/Felix González
The most striking buildings today are the skyscrapers Edificio España (117 meters) and the Torre de Madrid, which flank the Plaza de España. At 142 meters, the Torre de Madrid is practically the city's mini Empire State Building (381 meters).
Other impressive buildings include the skyscraper Edificio Telefónica (88 meters) and the Metrópolis building at the intersection of Calle de Alcalá. There is now a cycle path from Plaza de Callao to Plaza de España. If you want to walk along the boulevard, which is home to numerous shops, bars and theaters such as the Teatro Lope de Vega, it will take you about 20 minutes.
A special attraction at the Plaza de España, in addition to the high-rise buildings Edificio España and the Torre de Madrid, is the imposing Cervantes monument . King Alfonso XIII had the fountain built in honor of the famous Spanish writer in 1915. The occasion was the three hundredth anniversary of the publication of the second part of his famous work "Don Quixote".
The Cervantes monument features, among others, the figures of Don Quixote and his companion Sancho Panza (right). Behind the fountain stands the Edificio España.
Source: imago images/imagebroker
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