It would be almost impossible to boil down all of the amazing sights you can see in Madrid to just 11 locations. But if you are just passing through Madrid, maybe on a business trip, or waiting a day to catch a connecting flight, I wanted to put together a quick list of 11 places you can visit all within a day with none of the sights being too far from one another.
These sights are great to see in any season whether you are alone, with a friend, or with family. They will make a great addition to your scrapbook, you can get some amazing photos and keep some amazing memories with you forever
1. Puerta del Sol, Km 0
Puerta del Sol is one of the most famous landmarks in Madrid. It has some of the prettiest and most recognized landmarks like the Kilometer Zero plaque where all roads in Spain start from, the clock of the “Casa De Correos” which is the clock all of Spain watches live on tv to bring in the new year, and the famous bear and tree statue that is the symbol of Madrid.
Day or Night, Puerta Del Sol is always vibrant and full of life. Many people sit by the fountains after grabbing an ice cream from Palazzo, one one of the best Gelato shops in Madrid, or a pastry from La Mallorquina which is one of the oldest in Madrid, and perhaps the best, located on the corner of Puerta del Sol with Calle Mayor.
But seeing as all roads start here, this is where I would suggest starting your day.
One word of caution though, when the square is really bust, be aware of pick pockets. There are always police in the square and they do their best to stop this from happening, but just be sure to keep your belongings safe.
2. Palacio Real – Madrid’s Royal Palace
Just a few minutes walk from Puerta Del Sol, you find the largest building in Madrid, and debatably the most beautiful building in Madrid as well. The Royal Palace!
This is the largest Palace in all of western Europe boasting 3,418 rooms built over 135,000 square meters and there is beauty in every inch. The Palacio Real is built on the site of the old Alcazar that was destroyed by fire way back in 1734. You can still see some of the old city walls around the area to this day.
You can take a tour of the Palace, it is full of tapestries, furniture, and ceramics, and hanging on the walls you will find works by Goya, Velazquez, Giordano, and other world-famous artists alike which makes the Palace simultaneously one of Europe’s most important museums.
If you have the time, do take a tour of the palace, the prices are reasonable, and you will earn a lot about the history of the Palace, it is well worth it.
3. Plaza Mayor – Madrid
Plaza Mayor is located in the heart of Madrid a short walk from Puerta Del Sol. Another of the most beautiful places to visit when in Madrid.
The square is quite large measuring 129 by 94 meters, and there is a piece of history in every corner.
At one end, you will find the historic Casa de la Panadería which has been there since 1590 and served as the town’s main bakery, but now it is actually the Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre.
Then you have the Arco de Cuchilleros, which is the most well-known of the nine arches on the square, and also the Statue of Philip III.
While you are here, you can grab a bite to eat and a drink at one of the many terraces, buy a souvenir from one of the many gift shops, see one of the many talented street artists, and depending on the time of the year, there could even be a market set up for you to see in the square.
If you are ever here around Christmas, the festive market is really great and there are also outdoor concerts here from time to time so keep an eye out.
4. The San Miguel Market
A convenient next location on the list, as the Mercado De San Miguel is just off of the Plaza Mayor.
In The San Miguel market, you will find all types of foods from all corners of Spain. Fresh seafood arrives every day from the coasts of Galicia, and the best Iberian Hams, and cheeses from Asturias, Castile, and the Basque country up north.
Whatever your tastes, there is something in this food market for you from any of the vendors that have been serving up delicious foods for over a hundred years.
There are even a few modern additions like artisanal pizza’s and ice creams, so be sure to grab yourself a snack and take in the history and architecture of this historic market.
5. Plaza de la Villa
Plaza de la Villa is one of the few squares of the city that still retains its medieval features, a remnant of the Austrias, and is right next to Plaza Mayor.
The square has three historic buildings it well known for all from different centuries.
The oldest being the Casa y Torre de los Lujanes dating back to the 15th century, Casa y Torre de los Lujanes from the 16th century and the Casa de la Villa erected in the 17th century.
Its really cool to stand in this square that has history going back to the middle ages and just imagine all the different types of people that have passed through, and all that has happened through the ages.
A great photo opportunity is the statue in the center of the square that was erected in 1892 and has a verse on the back written by Lope de Vega.
6. The Almudena Cathedral
I wanted to make sure you are not going too far out of your way to fit all of these sights in, and thankfully, Madrid is so full of history and monuments, you never have to travel too far.
So carrying on our walk along Calle Mayor, you will find possible the most important religious landmark in the whole of Madrid, the Almudena Cathedral.
The cathedral is built on the remains of an even older mosque, and in 1993 it was the first cathedral to be consecrated outside of Rome by pope John Paul II
Almudena Cathedral also has a museum and internally is made up of twelve halls. Its is a small museum, but you will be amazed at how so little can impress so much, and the stained windows add really vivid colors to the ambience.
If you are going to pay to enter the museum, you also get to see the crypt and although you don’t get the best views, you can go up to the dome and grab a photo from the platform up there as well.
7. Templo de Debod (The Debod Temple)
When I was told there was a real Egyptian temple in Madrid, at first I was thinking “the Egyptians didn’t build stuff in Europe did they?”, then I thought it must be a replica, but no, there really is an Egyptian temple that was actually built by the Egyptians right here in Madrid, like literally down the road from the royal palace.
The temple is 2,200 hundred years old, and was a gift to Spain from Egypt thanks to Spain’s contributions to help rescue the temples of Nubia. It is located just next to the Parque del Oeste west of Plaza de Espana.
It took two years to reconstruct once it got here to Madrid, and was inaugurated in 1972 on the 20th of July. Sadly, during the dismantling and transporting, some of the stones were lost.
The best time I like to visit the Templo de Debod is at sunset. The sun catches the stones perfectly on the way down, and this makes for some really pretty and memorable photos.
There are two floors on the inside of the temple with some artefacts you can also see and you get a pretty cool feeling whilst in there, so all said, the temple is a must see when you are in Madrid
8. Plaza de Espana
Plaza de Espana is located at the start of Gran Via where it meets Calle Princessa. It is one of the largest squares in the whole of Spain with an area of 36,900m2 and most definitely the largest square in Madrid.
In the center of the square there is a monumental fountain dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes, most well know as being the author of Don Quijote.
Surrounding the square are some of the tallest buildings of Madrid. The tower of Madrid that is 142 meters high (162m if you include the antenna) and is a mixed use building serving as both a hotel and private homes. It was even one of the tallest concrete buildings in the world for a few years until it was surpassed by the Tour du Mindi at 150 meters high.
Overlooking the square you will also see the Edificio Espana at 117 meters in height, and it seems it is just as wide and is characterized by its silhouette that is staggered in 4 heights. The building was not in use for quite some time, but it is now home to the four star “Hotel Riu Plaza España” opened in August of 2019.
One more building of note on the square is the Casa Gallardo. This was dreamt up by Federico Arias Rey and is recognized as an outstanding example of modernist architecture the world over. You can stand across and just look at this building for quite some time trying to take in all of the detail in contains.
9. Gran Via
Without a doubt, the most famous street in all of Madrid. I’m sure you have seen the pictures with the Neon Schweppes sign or the metropolitan building here in Madrid, well these are the two ends of Gran Via, and essential walk for those who visit the city of Madrid, and it starts right on the corner of Plaza de Espana so this is where you will continue your journey.
Gran Via runs down the middle of the entire shopping district, and many roads leading off Gran Via are also pretty well know for their variety of shops like Fuencarral and Calle Hortaleza. It is also famous for all of the large theatres along the road where all the well know theatre productions have taken place including The Lion King, Les Miserables, Magicians, Comedians etc…
Don’t forget the largest Primark in Europe is also on Gran Via, and we always need a pair of new socks so pop in and take a look a how ridiculously large this place is!
A little insider knowledge here, that if you want to get the best possible picture of Gran Via with both the Schweppes sign and the Torre Madrid building in the background is to go up to the café/bar on the top floor of El Corte Ingles de Callao.
10. Malasana, the most alternative neighborhood in Madrid
There is so much to say about this little area of Madrid, and I will do a stand alone post of all the things you can see and do here, but I will give you a little overview of the area.
Malasana brings together times of past and the most modern. An area associated with the cultural explosion of the 80’s and names after the Heroine Manuela Malasana, a 17 year old who died at the hands of the french troops back in 1808 whilst collaborating to defend the city.
Other than all the bars, cafe’s, cool shops and artisans you can find here, my favorite thing about Malasana are the squares and open spaces that are always full of life.
The most popular square is Plaza Dos De Mayo, which historically was home to the Moteleon Barracks and also the scene of a very bloody battle back when the war of independence took place.
Nowadays though its just a vibrant square surrounded by bars and always full of people having a great time until early hours of the morning.
Then there is “Plaza de la Luna”, well this is what the locals call it, but it is actually called “Santa María Soledad Torres Acosta”.
And the other main square is the “Plaza de San Ildefonso” which has been around since the times of Bonaparte and there are a mix of bars here with terraces out on the square year round.
There is so much culture in this area to see, and whilst walking around, you may also come across some of the urban sculptures of Malasana placed right there in the middle of pavements that you may mistake for just another person walking down the street.
11. Chueca
A stone throw away from Malasana you will find the Chueca neighborhood. A well known LGBT friendly neighborhood in Madrid that is known throughout Europe and an essential place to visit here in Madrid.
It’s a pretty tranquil place in the day, then when the sun starts to go down the fun begins.
With an endless offering of bars, restaurants, art galleries, tattoo parlors, adult shops, Chueca attracts all types of people young and old, it is impossible to get bored here.
Just like Malasana, Chueca is littered with squares all bordered with bars and terraces, and if you are to stop and take a breather at any, make it the Plaza del Rey where you will find the House of the seven chimneys.
12. Circulo de Bellas Artes
This is a photo opportunity of a lifetime. This is one of mine, and probably everyone who has seen it´s favorite view of Madrid.
You are allowed in the building and can go up to the terrace, relax a little, grab a drink and be sure to get yourself a picture before you leave.
You can see the iconic Metropolitan building from up above, a section of Gran Via, the buildings we visited earlier in Plaza de Espana, and on a clear day you will even capture the mountains in the background.
13. Plaza de Ciebeles
So now we have walked the length of Gran via, took a walk through a couple cool neighborhoods on the way, at the end of Gran Via you will come to Plaze de Ciebeles.
In the center, there is a beautiful fountain (Funte de las Ciebeles), and in the middle is a large sculpture of the goddess Ciebeles being pulled on a chariot by Lions.
Surrounding the Plaza are landmarks like the Bank of Spain, Buenavista Palace, the Linares Palace and the ever imposing Ciebeles Palace that is home to the town hall. The palace, like most tall buildings has a terrace on the top floor that offers unmatched views over the Retiro Park.
14. Puerta de Alcala
Just up the road from Plaza de Ciebeles is yet another iconic landmark of Madrid. There were five old royal gates that gave access to the city, but Puerta de Alcala is the most famous of them all and one of the most beautiful sights you can see in Madrid.
The gate stands over Plaza de la Independencia, and as pretty as it is in the daytime, at night the gates are illuminated by strong floodlights and it really is a sight to see.
The gate was inaugurated in 1778 and is right next to the gates of Retiro Park. It brings together some of the most famous streets of Madrid such as Serrano, Alfonso XII and Calle Alcala.
It was given its name as it is located on the road that led to Alcala de Henares.
14. Retiro Park
Retiro Park is somewhere you can spend your entire day, but as we are only here for a short period, its nice to take a walk through, and see the main sites.
You will see the huge pond in the middle of the park that is more like a small lake, and the Crystal palace that you are sure to fall in love with as soon as you see it.
If I have an hour or four, whenever I am close to Retiro, I will more often than not take a walk through the park sit on the grass for a minute, go take a look at one of the many monuments around the park, there is always something new to see.
If you are around in the autumn, be sure to visit the rose garden as this it when it is at its best, and do your best to avoid the hotspots on a Sunday as a lot of the city flock here on a warm sunny Sunday.
15. Prado Museum
I know I keep saying this, but this is another must see landmark in Madrid. The Prado is one of the most important museums in the world.
Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Mantegna, Titian, Caravaggio , Goya, Velazquez, I mean it just goes on and on. With over 700 sculptures an 8600 paintings by some of the most renowned artists, you will find the most complete collection of Spanish paintings in all of the world.
The Prado was opened to the public in 1819 on the 19th of November and has been a main pull for locals and tourist for close to a century. It is not possible to see everything in one visit, but if you make it here, be sure to see the masterpiece “Las Meninas” by Velazquez, the Sculpture Room that has 50+ sculptures with examples from the Egyptian Period, Greco-Roman, Renaissance, Baroque and more.
16. Barrio de las Letras
Barrio de las Letras is an areas of Madrid where some of the most famous writers lived during the golden ages, and to this day you can still visit some of their houses as they were at the time. Writers like Lope de Vega, Cervantes, Quevedo.
17. La Latina
If you need a few more ideas on things you can do in Madrid, these other posts may interest you: