✅ 50 Places to Visit in MADRID (2025) – Classics & Hidden Gems 🇪🇸 #218

✅ 50 Places to Visit in MADRID (2025) – Classics & Hidden Gems 🇪🇸 #218

Welcome to the capital of Spain and welcome 
to our tour of 50 places in Madrid that we think are really worth visiting. If this is 
your first time in Madrid, we hope this list will give you lots of ideas for your stay 
in the city. If you are a Madrid veteran, we hope you will discover some places you 
didn’t know about and inspire you to visit them. Hola, ¿qué tal? Hello, welcome to the channel 
where we want you to be happier traveling around the Iberian Peninsula, with the help of our 
videos and of our self-guided walking tours. Let’s start with the list in alphabetical order. 
You will find links to all the places mentioned during the program in the first comment below 
the video. CaixaForum Madrid is the name of a cultural center owned by bank La Caixa. The 
building occupies a former abandoned power plant which was rebuilt and given a rusted metal cover. 
In the building next to the center there is a vertical garden consisting of 15,000 plants. The 
red of the building contrasts with the green of the plants. In addition to its permanent collection, 
CaixaForum hosts temporary exhibitions, which are usually of excellent quality. The metro station 
Estación del Arte, line one, is very close to CaixaForum. The center is open from Monday to Sunday 
and you have to pay to get in. The Casa de Campo, literally country house, is an extensive green area 
of more than 1,700 hectares that, in addition to being the largest public park in Madrid, is the 
real lung of the city. To give you an idea of its size, it is five times larger than Central Park 
in New York. Inside the park is the Lago de La Casa de Campo, a lake very popular among the locals, both 
for walking and relaxing and for practicing sports. There are also several leisure facilities, such 
as the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, the local amusement park, which we will talk about later, the zoo and the 
aquarium. To get to the lake of the Casa de Campo, travel to Lago Metro Station, line 10. Ro get to 
the amusement park, go to Batán station on the same line 10. The distance from the lake to the center 
of Madrid is not that big, so you could go by metro and walk back from the lake, it’s a very pleasant 
walk. Visiting the park is free. You have to buy tickets for the amusement park, the aquarium and 
the zoo. The Casa de la Moneda is a gigantic building that houses the Fabrica National de Moneda y Timbre, the Spanish Mint, a public institution in charge of printing coins and bank notes, as well as other materials. 
Inside is the Museu Casa de la Moneda,the mint museum, one of the most important in the world in this 
field. Its collection allows the visitor to retrace the history of currency from its origins to the 
present day. The museum also houses all the Spanish postage stamps printed since 1850, and the national 
lottery tickets. In addition to all this, followers of the television series Money Heist will already 
know that the Mint was the target of the gang’s first major robbery. The O’Donell station, metro 
line 6, is next to the Mint. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sunday. Admission to the museum 
is free but don’t forget to bring your ID or passport, you will need it to enter the museum. The 
Cathedral of Madrid, full name Catedral de Santa Maria Real de la Almudena, or simply Catedral de la 
Almudena, is a modern building. Construction began in 1883 and was not completed until 1993, when it was 
consecrated by Pope John Paul II. In addition to visiting the interior of the temple, you can go up 
to the terraces of the cathedral, with beautiful views of the surroundings. The cathedral is next 
to the royal palace of Madrid and the nearest metro station is Opera, lines 2 and 5. It opens from 
Monday to Sunday. The visit to the temple is free. You pay if you want to go to the museum and the 
terraces. Cuatro Torres, four towers, is the name of a business park in the north of Madrid. It has 
four skyscrapers, the tallest buildings not only in Madrid but in all of Spain. A fifth building was 
recently added to the complex, turning the Cuaro Torres into Cinco Torres, five towers. Tthe buildings 
house offices but also a hotel. For those who live in a city with many skyscrapers, the five 
towers may not be impressive. But in the context of Madrid they are a very striking presence on the 
skyline of the city, unacostumed to such heights. And it features skyscrapers designed by British 
architect Norman Foster and Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli. The Begoña metro station, line 10, is 
at the foot of the five towers. You can walk around the exterior of the buildings free of charge. The Círculo de Bellas Artes, the circle of fine arts, is a cultural institution. It appears on this list because of 
its rooftop, which offers some of the best views of Madrid, allowing you to contemplate the cityscape 
from an unusual perspective. Gran Vía on one side, Plaza de Cibeles on the other, and as far as the eye can 
see. In addition to the views, you can have lunch or dinner at the terrace restaurant. It is a very 
popular place to have a drink, although the prices are not inviting, as you pay for the drink and for 
the views. To go up the terrace you have to take an elevator in the hall that gives direct access to 
the top floor. Tickets to go up to the terrace must be purchased from a vending machine located on the 
first floor. The metro stations Banco de España and Sevilla, on line two, are very close by. The terrace 
is open from Monday to Sunday and you have to pay to go up. The Congreso de los Diputados, the Congress, is the 
seat of legislative power in Spain. It was built in the 19th century on the site of a former 
convent. The facade has a neoclassical design. The impressive lions guarding the entrance to 
the building were forged from cannons used in the Spanish wars in Africa during the 19th century. The 
large portico that frames the main door has a huge pediment at the top, depicting Spain accompanied 
by symbolic statues. This entrance is only used once a year, when the king of Spain inaugurates 
the parliamentary year. The metro stations Banco de España and Sevilla, on line two, are very close. The congress is not 
open to the public. The Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida, the chapel of St Anthony of the Florida, 
was built in the 18th century and has a very close relationship with painter Francisco de Goya, who 
not only painted the frescos that decorate the chapel but is also buried in it. Goya’s frescos 
constitute an artistic ensemble of great value that impresses those who contemplate them. In 1928, 
a twin chapel was built next to the original one. The original one contains the paintings and Goya’s 
tomb, while the second one is used for worship. Bus lines 41, 46 and 75 stop near the chapel. The 
museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Visits are free of charge. Inside the Telefónica building, 
the building that dominates the center of Madrid and is one of the first skyscrapers built in 
Europe, is the Espacio Fundación Telefónica, the Telefónica Foundation Space, a cultural center 
opened in 2012 where, in addition to a permanent collection related to telecommunications, you can 
see temporary exhibitions of very diverse themes, always interesting. The Gran Vía station, on 
metro lines 1 and 5, is almost at the door. The Espacio is open from Tuesday to Sunday and admission is 
free. Estación de Atocha, Atocha station, is the most important railway station, not only in Madrid, but in all of Spain. 
The original Atocha station, then known as Estación del Mediodía, was inaugurated in 1892. Its facade is 
considered a masterpiece of 19th century railway architecture. A collaborator of Eiffel directed 
the work. Throughout its history, the station has undergone several renovations and extensions, 
The most important was at the end of the 20th century, with the arrival of the high-speed train. 
As the dimensions of the station were insufficient for the circulation of the new type of train, 
it was necessary to carry out a major reform, directed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Two 
completely new stations were built: Puerta de Atocha for highspeed trains and Atocha-Cercanías for suburban 
trains. The old station has been preserved and inside, where the tracks and trains used to be, 
there is now a beautiful tropical garden with plants brought from different parts of the world. 
The Atocha Metro station, on line one, is inside the station itself. The Faro de Moncloa, the Moncloa 
lighthouse, is a modern observation tower that was designed with a sole purpose of being a viewpoint, 
one of the most spectacular in Madrid. It was erected in 1992 and can be climbed by a panoramic 
elevator to almost the top of its 92 meters high. The views of almost 360° of the city of Madrid 
are spectacular, as well as those of the mountains surrounding the capital. Several information panels 
located in front of the windows allow you to identify the main buildings and places of interest 
that can be seen from the top of the viewpoint. The nearest metro station is Moncloa, lines three 
and six, and you pay to go up to the viewpoint. The Galería de las Colecciones Reales, the royal collections gallery, is the most recent addition to the long list of extraordinary museums in Madrid. It is located 
between the cathedral and the royal palace. The vertical space it occupies is carved into the rock. 
It is one of those museums in which the content is as important as the impressive space that houses 
it. The museum has three floors connected by ramps and elevators. On each floor there is a gigantic 
room with huge ceilings, where valuable works of art from the collections of the Spanish monarchy 
are presented, including paintings, sculptures architecture, and many other objects, grouped 
by dynasties. On the first level you can see the remains of the Arab wall of Madrid. The museum 
also has several interactive resources of various kinds, that help to understand the history of the 
museum’s collections. The nearest metro station is Opera, lines 2 and 5. The Royal Collections 
Gallery is open from Monday to Sunday. Admission is paid but from Monday to Thursday, at the end 
of the day, Europeans and Latin Americans enter free of charge. Bring your ID or passport to 
benefit from this advantage. On the ninth floor of the El Corte Inglés department store in Callao is 
the Gourmet Experience, a section of the store with select products and several bars. And next to 
this section is a very interesting viewpoint with excellent views of Madrid, including much of the 
Madrid of the Austrias, the historic center of the city, and the hustle and bustle of Gran Vía, with 
the iconic Scheppes billboard. There is an enclosed observation deck and also an open air terrace. The 
Callao Metro is almost on the doorstep. The Gourmet Experience is open from Monday to Sunday. Access 
to the viewpoint is free. To get there enter the store and look for the elevators to the right of 
the entrance. Gran Vía Street, or simply Gran Vía, is one of the most important avenues in Madrid. It 
stretches from Alcala Street to Plaza de España. In the mid 19th century, Madrid’s urban planners decided 
to create a new grand avenue. Decades later work had not yet begun and the press ridiculed the 
project calling it “Gran Vía”, Great Avenue. Finally, the project was approved in 1904 and work began 
2 years later. The last section of the avenue was completed in 1929. The avenue is considered a 
showcase of 20th century architectural styles, such as Viennese Secession, Plateresque, Neo-Mudéjar and Art Deco. Gran Vía is famous for its stores and also for being the street that never sleeps, due 
to its legendary night life. Along the way you will see countless stores hotels and theaters. The 
tourist industry likes to call the final stretch of Gran Vía the “Spanish Broadway”. Along its 
extensions the Gran Vía has several metro stations served by different lines. A hotel terrace with a 
view has almost become a common place in Madrid. There are many scattered around the city. But none 
as spectacular and with such breathtaking views as the Rooftop Bar 360 of the hotel Riu in Plaza de España. 
The viewpoint is at the top of the classic Edificio España, one of the most impressive skyscrapers 
in Madrid, now partly occupied by the Hotel Riu. The viewpoint consists of several levels with 
terraces and bars scattered in several corners and stunning views wherever you look. The highlight is 
a transparent platform that juts out into the void and challenges the vertigo of anyone who climbs 
on it to take a picture. The hotel Riu is next to the Plaza de España subway station, lines three and 
ten. Access is paid and the price changes according to the time of the day. It is a very busy place 
and it is common to see long lines waiting to go up. In the neighborhood of Malasaña is one of the 
most unknown treasures of Madrid, the Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes, church of St Anthony 
of the Germans. It was built in the 17th century as part of a hospital that served Portuguese pilgrims 
in Madrid. With the loss of Portugal, the church was donated to the community of German Catholics who 
accompanied the wife of Charles II to Madrid. The church is oval in plan and its walls and dome are 
covered with fresco paintings by prominent artists of the time, including scenes from the life of St 
Anthony of Padua. to whom the church is dedicated. The nearest metro station is Callao, lines three and 
five. The church is open Monday through Saturday and closed in August. The entrance fee includes an 
audio guide. The Jardines de Sabatini, the Sabatini gardens, are located on the north side of the royal 
palace. The gardens follow a French neoclassical geometric design and feature well pruned hedges, 
geometric motifs, a pond, statues and fountains. The construction began in 1935 under the government of 
the Spanish Republic. Although they were designed by a Spanish architect, they bear the name of the 
Italian Francesco Sabatini, who designed the royal stables that previously occupied this space. 
The gardens were not open to the public until 1978. The Plaza de España metro station, lines 3 and 10, is 
the closest to the gardens. They are open Monday through Sunday and admission is free. The Jardines del 
Campo del Moro, the gardens of the Moorish camp, are so called because it is said that a Muslim warlord 
camped here with his troops in 1109, during an attempt to reconquer Madrid. The monarch Philip IV 
was the first to try to improve the area, building fountains and planting various types of vegetation. 
The lack of economic resources made improvements impossible until the reign of Isabel II, when work 
began in earnest. In accordance with the taste of the time, the park was designed in a romantic style. 
Fountains were brought from the royal palace of Aranjuez and curved paths were built. The gardens have 
two neocclassical fountains. During the regency of Maria Christina of Austria restoration work began 
to create the current 19th century English garden design. The closest metro station to the gardens 
is Príncipe Pío on lines 6 10 and R. The gardens have different opening hours depending on the time 
of the year, and admission is free. Madrid Río, Madrid River, is a gigantic linear park bordering 
Madrid’s main river, the Manzanares. In the 1970s the M30 ring road that followed the course of the 
Manzanares River was a major scar on the city. In 2000, the Madrid City Council presented a project 
to renovate the banks of the Manzanares: Madrid Río was born. To begin with, the council placed the M30 
25 m below the river. With the avenue underground, the city council prepared the ground for an 
international competition to urbanize the banks of the Manzanares. Along its 7 kilometers length, 
countless points of interest: historical buildings, monuments, sports and cultural facilities, and many 
places for children’s entertainment, including plenty of water in the hottest summer months. 
They all make Madrid Rio a meeting point for many locals during the 12 months of the year. Along 
the way you will find many signs with information about the history, plants and wildlife. There will 
still appear in the video some highlights worth visiting along the Madrid Río. On a day with good 
weather, Madrid Río is a sensational walk that can be completed in half a day, starting from Plaza de Legazpi 
metro station, lines three and six, and ending near Príncipe Pío station, lines 6 10 and R. Matadero 
Madrid is a former slaughter house converted into a cultural center. This lively and constantly 
changing space has an intense program in different artistic areas: fine arts, visual arts, theater, music, 
literature, new media, design and architecture. The slaughterhouse and cattle market was built 
between 1910 and 1926. It soon became one of the most unique industrial establishments of the 
20th century architecture in Madrid. The project was articulated around a set of pavilions 
characterized by functionality, constructive rationality and conceptual simplicity. The 
buildings were used as slaughter houses until 1996. In 2003, the Madrid City Council decided to convert 
this space into the cultural center you can visit today. The nearest metro station is Legazpi, lines 3 
and six. The Matadero is open from Monday to Sunday and the visit to the open and some enclosed spaces 
is free. The Mercado de San Miguel, the San Miguel market, is one of the few Art Nouveau iron structures 
that can still be seen in Madrid. It was a local market that opened its doors in 1916. After almost 
closing its doors in the last decade of the 20th century, it was bought by a group of investors. In 2009, privatized and refurbished, the market reopened as a gastronomic center. The market 
is occupied by bars serving drinks and tapas and has a small central seating area. The program 
in the market is to eat and almost all the bars and stalls serve food. As we have warned several 
times here on the channel, the market is a place to stroll and contemplate the architecture. Only tourists who are unaware of the prices of things end up eating at the market, which is not 
a good place to sample Madrid’s culinary delights due to the super inflated prices. Both the Opera 
station, on lines two and five, and the Sol station, on lines 1 2 and 3, can be used to reach the 
Mercado de San Miguel, which is open from Monday to Sunday. The Mirador de la Cornisa del Palacio Real, 
the viewpoint of the cornice of the royal palace, is one of the newest viewpoints in Madrid. Overlooking 
the Campo del Moro just below the Royal Palace, and the Casa de Campo, it has a very privileged 
location between the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Access is through a beautiful more than 
50 m long gate designed in the 19th century to surround the Royal Palace. The Opera metro station, 
lines two and five, is the closest to the viewpoint, which is free of charge and open from Monday to 
Sunday. In the Palacio de Cibeles, which is still going to appear on the video, today the headquarters of 
the Madrid city hall, you will find what is known as the Mirador Madrid. The viewpoint surrounds the 
main tower of the building and offers a complete panoramic view of Madrid, with information panels 
that will help you identify the places you can see from the viewpoint. Access to the viewpoint 
is paid and tickets are purchased at the counter located in the main lobby of the building. The 
number of people in the viewpoint is limited   and visitors go up in groups at pre-established 
times. Access is by elevator and several flights of stairs. The nearest metro station is Banco de España, line two, and the viewpoint is open from Tuesday to Sunday. We recommend you book your time 
slot in advance. The Museo Arqueológico Nacional, the National Archaeological Museum, also known by 
its acronym MAN, is one of the most fascinating museums in Madrid. The museum was founded in 
1867 by royal decree of Isabella II. The aim was to create a space to store the collections of 
coins, archaeology, ethnography and decorative arts that had been treasured by the Spanish monarchs. The building is shared by the National Library of Spain. Highlights include prehistoric 
pieces from all over Spain, Hispano Roman pieces and a small but very select collection 
of objects from ancient Egypt and the Near East. The most famous piece in the museum is the
Dama de Elche, an originally polychrome bust discovered by chance in 1897 in Elche. The museum is an 
ideal place to take children to have fun with educational experiences. The Serrano station on metro 
line 4 is close to the museum. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is paid but there 
are free opening hours. The Museo Nacional del Prado, or simply Museo del Prado, the Prado Museum, with more than 200 
years of history, is the most prominent museum in Madrid, the most important museum in Spain and one 
of the most important art galleries in the world. It would be impossible to list the most important 
works that can be seen in the museum, but it has a spectacular collection of works by Goya, Velasquez 
and El Bosco (Bosch), as well as many Spanish, Italian and Flemish artists. And do you know how the Prado is 
best appreciated? In small doses. The Estación del Arte metro station, line one, is the closest to the 
museum. The museum is open Monday through Sunday, admission is paid, but during the last two opening 
hours of each day admission is free. The Museo del Traje, the Museum of Costume, was created in 2004 from 
collections that already existed in the 20th century on other museums. It occupies a modern 20th 
century building and has been recently remodeled. The museum offers a journey throughout the history 
of Spain, from the 17th century to the present day, through its collections of clothing and 
accessories, with information panels that help to contextualize the era and its transformations. It 
is a beautiful museum, a must for anyone interested in history. Bus lines 46, 160 and 161 stop near the 
museum. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, access is paid but there are free opening hours. 
In the Chamberí neighborhood is the amazing Museo Geominero, the Geomining Museum, which occupies a listed building from 
the early 20th century with a magnificent central hall full of wooden showcases and covered with 
stained glass. The aim of the museum is to preserve and make known the rich Spanish geological and 
paleontological heritage. It is an excellent place to go with children and, in our opinion, is one of 
the most beautiful museums in Madrid, especially for the building that houses it. The metro station 
Ríos Rosas, line one, is close to the museum. It is open from Monday to Sunday and admission is free. 
The Museo Lázaro Galdiano is a museum that occupies a former palace in the Salamanca neighborhood, a very 
exclusive area of Madrid. The museum exhibits the incredible art collection of private collector 
José Lázaro Galdiano, consisting of 4,800 pieces displayed on the four floors of the palace. The 
museum was completely remodeled at the beginning of the 21st century. Its collection includes 
paintings as well as sculptures, ceramics, metals, weapons, jewelry and textiles. Among the highlights 
of the museum are works by El Bosco (Bosch), Goya, El Greco and Zurbarán. The Gregorio Marañón metro station, lines 
7 and 10, is the closest to the museum. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is charged but 
there are free hours from Tuesday to Friday. The Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, or just Reina Sofía, is 
one of the great museums of Madrid. It occupies a neocclassical building that was once a hospital.
It was inaugurated as the Reina Sofia Art Center in 1986. The three towers with glass elevators were 
added in 1988. At the beginning of the 21st century, French architect Jean Nouvel was responsible 
for the latest expansion of the museum. The Reina Sofía has an exceptional collection of modern and 
contemporary Spanish art, with masterpieces by Dalí, Miró, Gris and Picasso. The Reina Sofia houses 
one of the most important paintings in history, Picasso’s Guernica. The metro station Estación del Arte, line one, 
is the closest to the museum. The museum opens from Wednesdays to Mondays and closes on Tuesdays.  Admission is paid but there are free hours during the last two opening hours of each day. Along with 
the Reina Sofía and El Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza completes the trilogy of extraordinary museums in Madrid. The 
collection contains work assembled by Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, and which traveled to the Villahermosa Palace to be 
established as a museum in 1992, in collaboration with the Spanish government. It is a very rich 
and extensive collection, with works from many historical periods, with paintings ranging from 
the 13th to the 20th century. The nearest metro station is Banco de España, on line two. The museum 
is open from Monday to Sunday, admission is paid except on Mondays, when it is free. The Museo 
Sorolla, the Sorolla Museum, is very special because it occupies the home and a studio of the great Spanish 
painter Joaquín Sorolla. In addition to admiring the wonderful works of Sorolla, an artist with a unique 
sensibility, visitors can tour the artist’s house and the master’s everyday objects. The beautiful 
garden designed by Sorolla himself is an incredible oasis in the middle of Madrid. In addition 
to paintings, the museum houses sculptures, ceramics, jewelry and photographs. Currently the 
Sorolla Museum is closed for a major renovation scheduled for completion in 2026. The Gregorio 
Marañón metro station, on lines 7 and 10, is close to the museum. The most important building in the 
Plaza de Cibeles, a square we will visit later, is the Palacio de Cibeles, formerly the Telecommunications Palace and now the CentroCentro. The building, which looks like a cathedral , was built in 1909 to be the headquarters of the Spanish Post Office. The spectacular building 
housed the postal and telegraph museum until 2007, when it became the new headquarters of 
the Madrid city council. In addition to the part where civil servants work, CentroCentro has more 
than 5,000 square meters of exhibition spaces on several floors. These spaces host artistic projects 
and initiatives on urban culture that reflect the character of the city and its inhabitants. Visits 
to the exhibitions are free of charge. The nearest metro station is Banco de España, line two, and the 
center is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Visits are free of charge. The Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela, the Crystal Palace of Arganzuela, is a former warehouse that was part of the Arganzuela 
slaughterhouse. It was popularly known as the potato warehouse. In the decoration of the exterior 
metal structure can be seen several cow heads that recall the former use of the building. This palace 
should not be confused with a palace of the same name that can be seen in the Retiro park. Today, 
the building is a botanical garden and greenhouse, with more than 9,000 plants and 800 tropical and 
subtropical species. It has four enclosed sections that recreate four microclimates: two tropical, 
one subtropical and one desert full of cacti. The nearest metro station is Legazpi, lines three and six,
and it is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is free. The Palacio Real de Madrid, the Royal Palace 
of Madrid, is one of the largest in Europe and has 2,800 rooms, 50 of which are open to the public. 
Contrary to what many people imagine, the royal palace is not the residence of the Spanish royal 
family, who live in the Zarzuela Palace. However, the palace is still used for official banquets, state 
ceremonies and other important events. The present palace was built on the site of the Alcázar, which 
was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve 1734. King Philip V commissioned a palace for his dynasty 
and the work was completed in 1755. The royal palace would be the main residence of the kings 
of Spain until 1931, when King Alonso 13th went into exile after the triumph of the Republicans 
in the elections. The visit to the palace allows you to visit magnificent spaces of great beauty, as 
well as the royal armory, included in the entrance to the palace. The nearest metro station is Opera, 
lines two and five. The royal palace is open from Monday to Sunday. Access is paid but from Monday 
to Thursday at the end of the day, Europeans and Latin Americans enter for free. Bring your ID or 
passport with you to enjoy this advantage. El Panteón de España, the Pantheon of Spain, formerly known as the 
Pantheon of the Illustrous Men, was built in the late 19th century in a neo medieval style 
reminiscent of Bizantine art. It has a central courtyard and three naves that enclose it. The idea 
of building the Pantheon was inspired by other examples in Europe. In the Pantheon you can see 
mausoleums of politicians and military men who were very important in the history of Spain. Although 
their names may not ring a bell, the sculptures are magnificent. The Atocha station metro, line one, is 
the closest to the Pantheon. The Pantheon is open from Tuesday to Sunday and admission is free. We 
have already seen that the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, Madrid’s amusement park, is inside the Casa 
de Campo. The park is organized into four theme areas:one for children; other with several water 
rides as well as roller coasters; a third for those who shy away from strong emotions; and finally, 
the area of the park that concentrates the most radical attractions. If you are a park specialist, 
if you have been to countless parks in the USA and other parts of the world, the one in Madrid is 
probably not for you. The Madrid Park is a good plan for those with children or for those who have 
a day off in the city, perhaps on a hot day, and want to have a lot of fun, we certainly had so much 
fun in the park. The Batán metro station on Line 10 is 5 minutes from one of the parks gates. Hours 
and ticket prices depend on the time of the year. The Parque del Buen Retiro, or simply Parque del Retiro, the Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid and the most famous. The park belonged to the Spanish 
monarchy until the end of the 19th century, when it became a public park. This magnificent green area 
is full of beautiful sculptures, monuments, palaces and lakes. It is an ideal place for a leisurely 
stroll. Among the many highlights within the park is the Crystal Palace, a glass and steel structure, 
built in the late 19th century, which often hosts temporary exhibitions. And the large artificial 
lake, with the monument to Alfonso XIII. Renting a boat for a ride on the lake is a classic program 
in Madrid. There are several metro stations near the park, including Retiro on line two. The park is 
open from the beginning of the day until the end and admission is free. We now turn our attention 
to the Plaza de Cibeles, which we visited earlier in the video. In the center of the square is the Cibeles fountain.
The fountain is one of the most famous images of Madrid. It shows the goddess Cibeles sitting on a 
chariot pulled by two lions. It was built in the 19th century and it is a place where Real Madrid 
soccer fans celebrate the club’s achievements. Four important buildings surround the square. The most 
important is the Palacio de Cibeles, which we have   already seen. Opposite the Palacio de Cibeles is the 
Palacio de Buenavista, headquarters of the Spanish army. To one side is the Banco de España, the Bank of 
Spain, a colossal building where the gold of Spain is kept. And to the other side is the Palacio de 
Linares, today home to the Casa de América, a cultural and artistic center focused on Latin America. The 
Banco de España metro station, line two, is very close to the square. The Plaza de España. Spain Square, located 
at one end of the Gran Vía, is one of the largest squares in the city and a popular meeting 
point. The square has recently been remodeled and given a new look. The square is guarded by two 
of Madrid tallest buildings, the Torre de Madrid and the gigantic Edificio España. In the center of the 
square is a monument to the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. The tower of the monument includes a 
stone sculpture of Cervantes which looks down to bronze sculptures of Dom Quixote and Sancho Panza. The Plaza de España metro station, lines three and 10, is in the square itself. The Plaza de la Vila, the Villa square, 
is a small picturesque square surrounded on three sides by well preserved examples of typical Madrid 
Baroque style. It nicely combines brick, exposed stone and wrought iron. The largest building in the square 
was once a jail and Casa de la Villa, city hall. The building was the seat of the Madrid city hall from 
the middle ages until very recently, when the city hall moved to the grandiose Palacio de Cibeles which has 
already appeared on our list. In the center of the square is a statue of Admiral Álvaro de Bazán, one 
of the commanders of the Spanish Armada. The Ópera station of metro lines 2 and 5 is the closest to the 
square. The Plaza de Oriente, the eastern square, is on the east side of the royal palace, hence its name. 
This square is an oasis of peace and tranquility. The gardens follow a semicircular design with 
wide paths on the center. One of the paths is surrounded by 44 statues of Spanish kings, from 
the middle ages. It includes monarchs from the Gothic period to the 15th century. In the center 
of the square is a gigantic equestrian statue of King Philip IV. It follows a design by Velasquez. 
Opposite the Royal Palace, at the eastern end of the square, is the Teatro Real, Madrid’s opera house. 
There are many cafes around the square, the most famous is probably the Café de Oriente, which has 
a wonderful terrace to sit and contemplate the views of the square, with prices well above average, 
as you would expect. The Ópera metro station, lines two and five, is very close to the square. The 
Plaza Mayor, the main square, was built during the reign of Philip II. It is rectangular in shape 
and it is surrounded by three story residential buildings. The initial plan was a large square 
surrounded by wooden buildings of up to six stories. But several fires destroyed the buildings. 
The current appearance of the square corresponds to the most recent reconstruction. The Plaza Mayor 
has been the scene of many events: markets, bull fights, soccer matches, public executions. The most 
prominent building in the square is the Casa de la Panadería, the house of the bakery, whose facade 
is covered with frescos. On the opposite end of the Plaza Mayor is a similar building, also with two 
towers with spires, is the Casa de la Carnicería, the house of the butcher’s shop. In the center is 
an equestrian statue of Philip III that originally stood in the Casa de Campo. Both the Ópera station, 
lines two and five, and the Sol station, lines 1 two and three, serve to reach the Plaza Mayor. At 
the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the Madrid City Council commissioned the French 
architect Dominique Perrault to build an incredible work of art, a modern footbridge over the river, to 
link the neighborhoods of Arganzuela and Carabanchel. Designed for pedestrians and cyclists, the 
footbridge consists of two metal cylinders of spectacular dimensions. Each cylinder rests on 
two pillars at each end, giving the impression that the walkway floats in the air. Made of steel, the 
main structure has two spirals running diagonally across it. A silver band of metal mesh surrounds 
the structure and protects users from the sun and inclement weather. The base of the walkway 
has wooden slats and the area is lit at night. The nearest metro stations are Marqués de Vadillo and Pirámides on line five. In the middle of the Plaza de Independencia stands one of the best known 
images of Madrid, the Puerta de Alcalá, de Alcalá Gate. In 1764, king Charles III commissioned the Italian 
architect Francesco Sabatini to build a large gate to replace an earlier small Baroque gate. The 
king considered the Baroque gate to be too small considering the importance of the road leading 
to Aragón. Sabatini’s neocclassical design made of granite has three large arches and two smaller 
rectangular gates. Each of the gates is decorated with a lion’s head. The construction of the gate 
took 9 years and was finally completed in 1778. The Retiro metro station, red line 2, is next to the 
gate. Puerta del Sol is the perfect place to start any visit to Madrid. This square, located in the center 
of the city, is one of the busiest places in the capital. The name of the square is reminiscent 
of a gate that stood here in the 15th century. On the east side of the square is the statue 
of El Oso y el Madroño. It represents a large stone and bronze bear trying to eat the fruit of a madroño, 
a typical tree of Madrid. At the opposite end of the square there is an equestrian statue of King 
Charles III. The king was one of the most important monarchs in the history of Spain, responsible for a 
series of urban improvements in the city of Madrid. In the front of the statue of the king is a red 
brick building, the Casa de Correos, which today is the seat of the regional government of the community 
of Madrid. On top of the building is a famous clock used for New Year’s celebrations. And in front of 
the building, a large plaque on the ground marks the kilometer zero for roads in Spain. The Sol 
metro station, lines one, two and three, is in the square itself. El Rastro is one of the oldest flea 
markets in Europe. Its origins date back to 1740. In the area now occupied by the Rastro were 
the tanneries, the leather processing industry. In fact, the name Rastro comes from the trail of 
animal blood that was left on the ground. At El Rastro you will find a little bit of everything: 
antiques and decorative objects, footwear, costume jewelry, new and used clothing, handiccrafts, pet 
supplies, cosmetics, furniture, accessories, fabrics, toys, stationery. The goods are distributed in the 
3,500 stalls that occupies the extensive area of the Rastro. Two metro stations that will bring 
you close to the Rastro are La Latina and Puerta de Toledo, both on line 5. The Rastro is held every Sunday 
and public holidays. In the heart of Madrid is the smallish Real Jardín Botánico, the royal botanical 
garden of Madrid. It contains some 5,000 different species of trees and plants from all over the 
world. It is no coincidence that the garden is next to the Prado Museum. When the Prado Museum was 
created by Charles III, it was the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Monarch wanted to create 
in this space a complex dedicated to science. The garden has several green houses and themed trails, 
such as the one that visits 15 extraordinary trees. In addition, inside the garden there is always an 
interesting exhibition organized by the research institution. The nearest metro station is Estación del Arte, line one. The garden opens at 10:00 a.m and closes at the end of the day, depending on the 
month of the year. Admission is paid but there   are free opening hours. The Santiago Bernabéu is the 
stadium of Real Madrid, also known as Chamartín, which is the name of the district of Madrid where 
the stadium is located. The stadium was inaugurated in 1947. It has undergone several renovations, 
including the most recent, almost completely finished, which left it with a capacity for 81,000 
fans. The Santiago Bernabéu is one of Madrid’s most visited tourist attractions and, to satisfy the 
curiosity of fans, Real Madrid markets a tour known as a Bernabéu Tour. The Santiago Bernabéu metro 
station, line 10, is next to the stadium. The Bernabéu tour is offered Monday through Sunday, except when 
there is a match or other events at the stadium. The Teleférico de Madrid, the Madrid cable car, 
connects the urbanized part of the capital with the center of the Casa de Campo, flying over the 
river, the ring road and part of the green heart of the city. It is a fantastic ride with magnificent 
views of the city and the Casa de Campo from an unusual and changing perspective. The cable car 
has 80 cabins with capacity for six people each. It takes 11 minutes to travel the almost 2 
and 1/2 kilometers, 1 and 1/2 miles. At the final station of the Casa de Campo you can take 
a walk and contemplate the views and then get back on the cable car, or walk back to the center, 
as you prefer. The nearest metro station is Argüelles on lines 3 4 and 6. The cable car is paid. It 
is currently closed for a major refurbishment and is expected to be back in operation in early 
2026. The Temple of Debod is the only piece of Egyptian architecture that can be seen in 
Spain. It was originally built 15 km south of Aswan in southern Egypt, very close to the first 
waterfall of the Nile. In 1960, the threat posed to the archaeological heritage by the Asswan Dam 
construction project forced UNESCO to appeal to the countries of the world to help preserve the 
rich historical legacy of the region. In gratitude for the help received to save the Abu Simbel 
complex in 1968, the Egyptian government donated the temple of the Debod to Spain. In the park where 
the temple stands there is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Casa de Campo and other parts of 
Madrid. The nearest metro station is Plaza de España, lines 3 and 10. The exterior of the temple can be 
visited 24 hours a day. The interior, from Tuesday to Sunday. The visit is free but it is essential 
to book your ticket in advance online. To help you optimize your time in Madrid and make the most 
of your visit, we have published our very own Madrid walking tours. They are electronic guides 
of our own that will take you through the most important must-see parts of Madrid, including food 
stops along the way. No need to rack your brains on how to visit Madrid, we’ve done that work for 
you. Our series of Madrid walking tours are part of our collection of self-guided walking tours 
dedicated to the most important cities in Spain and published through our Travel Guides Spain and 
Portugal brand. After the tour around Madrid you may have some questions. Take advantage of the 
commentary box to ask. On the screen you will   see now our list of videos dedicated to the city 
of Madrid, a complete compilation of information to make your visit to the capital of Spain 
perfect. We are waiting for you, from now, in those videos.

✅ Our collection of MADRID videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWH9E2sQGItr9vAqqoZTXoslMhXfc9r-M
✳️ A review of 50 TOP attractions in the capital of Spain. With information on opening times, prices and transportation.
—————————————–
Welcome to Road trip Spain & Portugal, where we help you prepare the perfect road trip with lots of tips and information.
—————————————–
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 top Madrid attractions
00:58 CaixaForum
01:40 Casa de Campo
02:55 Casa de la Moneda
03:57 Catedral de la Almudena
04:39 Cuatro Torres
05:34 Círculo de Bellas Artes
06:34 Congreso de los Diputados
07:22 Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida
08:10 Espacio Fundación Telefónica
08:47 Estación de Atocha
10:00 Faro de Moncloa
10:52 Galería de las Colecciones Reales
12:12 Gourmet Experience Callao
12:57 Gran Vía
14:11 Hotel Riu Rooftop Bar
15:12 Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes
16:04 Jardines de Sabatini
16:52 Jardines del Campo del Moro
18:01 Madrid Río
19:30 Matadero Madrid
20:37 Mercado de San Miguel
21:47 Mirador de la Cornisa del Palacio Real
22:23 Mirador Madrid
23:11 Museo Arqueológico Nacional
24:19 Museo del Prado
25:08 Museo del Traje
25:56 Museo Geominero
26:38 Museo Lázaro Galdiano
27:31 Museo Reina Sofía
28:29 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
29:13 Museo Sorolla
29:57 Palacio de Cibeles
30:56 Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela
31:50 Palacio Real
33:15 Panteón de España
34:00 Parque de Atracciones
34:57 Parque del Retiro
35:55 Plaza de Cibeles
36:51 Plaza de España
37:30 Plaza de la Villa
38:16 Plaza de Oriente
39:15 Plaza Mayor
40:21 Puente Monumental de Arganzuela
41:19 Puerta de Alcalá
42:07 Puerta del Sol
43:15 El Rastro
44:12 Real Jardín Botánico
45:09 Santiago Bernabéu
45:54 Teleférico de Madrid
46:51 Templo de Debod
—————————————–
WEBSITES
CaixaForum Madrid https://caixaforum.org/es/madrid
Casa de Campo https://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/casa-de-campo
Casa de la Moneda https://www.museocasadelamoneda.es/
Catedral de la Almudena https://catedraldelaalmudena.es/
Círculo de Bellas Artes https://www.circulobellasartes.com/azotea/
Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/ermita-de-san-antonio-de-la-florida
Espacio Fundación Telefónica https://espacio.fundaciontelefonica.com/
Faro de Moncloa https://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/faro-de-moncloa
Galería de las Colecciones Reales https://www.patrimonionacional.es/actualidad/galeria-de-las-colecciones-reales
Gourmet Experience Callao https://www.elcorteingles.es/centroscomerciales/es/eci/centros/centro-comercial-preciados-callao
Hotel Riu

Home

Iglesia de San Antonio de los Alemanes https://realhermandaddelrefugio.org/iglesia/
Jardines del Campo del Moro https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/jardines-del-campo-del-moro
Matadero Madrid https://www.mataderomadrid.org/
Mercado de San Miguel https://mercadodesanmiguel.es/
Mirador Madrid https://www.centrocentro.org/centrocentro/espacios/mirador-madrid
Museo Arqueológico Nacional https://www.man.es/man/home.html
Museo Geominero https://www.igme.es/museo/
Museo del Prado https://www.museodelprado.es/
Museo del Traje https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/mtraje/inicio.html
Museo Lázaro Galdiano https://www.flg.es/
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía https://www.museoreinasofia.es
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza https://www.museothyssen.org
Museo Sorolla https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/msorolla/inicio.html
Palacio de Cibeles (CentroCentro) https://www.centrocentro.org/
Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela https://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/invernadero-del-palacio-de-cristal-de-arganzuela
Palacio Real de Madrid https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/palacio-real-de-madrid
Panteón de España https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/panteon-de-espana
Parque de Atracciones https://www.parquedeatracciones.es/
Parque de El Retiro https://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/parque-del-retiro
Rastro https://rastromadrid.com/
Real Jardín Botánico https://rjb.csic.es/
Santiago Bernabéu
https://www.civitatis.com/en/madrid/real-madrid-stadium-tour/?aid=2167&cmp=YTENG
Teleférico de Madrid https://teleferico.emtmadrid.es/
Templo de Debod https:/www.madrid.es/templodebod
—————————————–
🚅 we buy our train tickets here https://prf.hn/l/dlOx2lN
🏨 we book our hoteles here https://www.booking.com/?aid=359492
🎟️ we buy our tickets for Barcelona here https://bcnshop.barcelonaturisme.com/shopv3/en/?o=h&w=3876-1444
🚶🏻 we buy our tickets for attractions in Spain and Portugal here
📱 we book our eSIMs with a 15% discount here https://airalo.pxf.io/c/4791966/2015007/15608?p.code=15S20M24
—————————————–
CREDITS
We write, record and edit our own videos.
► Maps: ©2019 Google, Imágenes ©2019 TerraMetrics ©2019 Inst. Geogr. Nacional España.