Madrid is the capital city of Spain and is full of treasures to explore. It is central to the entire country and is the seat of the central government. It is filled with grand boulevards full of shopping and restaurants. There are world famous parks like El Retiro, where you can relax and watch people enjoying themselves away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Madrid has world famous museums filled with European art, like the Reina Sofía and the Prado Museum showcasing works by Goya and Velázquez, just to name a few. Last, but not least, I can’t forget about the Royal Palace and the many famous city plazas filled with art and street performers. Madrid is just bustling with activity at all times, during the day and especially at night. Take a look at the top 14 places to visit in Madrid.
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s most famous squares and it is in the central part of the city so it’s a great place to start your visit. It is also a great place to meet up with your friends and catch up while relaxing in the square as you people watch. It’s also ideally located in the central part of Madrid so there are many other sites and locations that you can visit that are close in proximity to this plaza. Read about the history of this square and the top six things to see and do in and around this famous Spanish square!
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is another great place to start your visit of Madrid as it is one of the crossroads of Madrid. Puerta del Sol actually means “Gate of the Sun” and got its name from being one of the gates of the city walls that surrounded the old city of Madrid during the 5th century. Every morning the rising sun would shine brightly on and through the east gate of the square and hence having been given the name Gate of the Sun or Puerta del Sol. An image of the sun was also showcased on the gate inself, helping to solidify Puerta del Sol as the name of the square. Read about the history of this square and the top six things to see and do in this famous Spanish square!
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid should be on the top of your list of things to see while in Madrid. In Spanish, it’s known as Palacio Real de Madrid. It is the official residence of the Royal Family, but they don’t actually live here. Today, this 18th-century palace is mostly used for state ceremonies, and as a museum for tourists to view the royal rooms that are full of art and antiques. Read about the history of this Royal Palace and what to see while visiting this Spanish treasure.
Madrid’s Cathedral
Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena is a Baroque Catholic cathedral known for its colorful chapels, plus a Romanesque crypt and museum. It is located in Madrid, right next to the Royal Palace, separated only by the Plaza de la Armería.
The Neptune Fountain
The Neptune Fountain is one of the most beautiful in Madrid. The Fuente de Neptuno is where Atlético Madrid, one of Madrid’s famous football clubs celebrates its victories. This fountain occupies the center of the square Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo. The sculpture represents Neptune, which was the Greek mythological god of the sea, with his trident upon a chariot pulled by two seahorses.
Cibeles Palace
The most prominent of the buildings at the Plaza de Cibeles is the Cibeles Palace. It was formerly named Palace of Communication and was Madrid’s main Post Office, but is now Madrid’s City Hall and cultural center and houses the seat of the Madrid City Council.
Puerta de Alcalá.
This large gate was once the main entrance to the city of Madrid. It was commissioned by King Charles III and built in 1778 by Italian architect Francesco Sabatini. It is located in the center of Plaza de la Independencia, next to El Retiro Park. It is a major junction for three of Madrid’s most well known streets: Calle de Serrano, Madrid’s most glamorous thoroughfare, Calle de Alfonso XII, which leads to Atocha train station, and Calle de Alcalá, the city’s longest road.
El Retiro Park
El Retiro Park is to Madrid as what Central Park is to New York City. This famous park is the giant green lung of Madrid. The park was commissioned by King Phillip IV and has been open to the public since the nineteenth century. There is a multitude of different types of gardens with different types of foliage and plants. It is a fantastic place to exercise or relax, depending on what you are into. The park is always full of people, mostly Madrilleños, locals out jogging, bicycling, rollerblading, rowing, visiting one of the exhibitions or having a drink in one of the outdoor cafe. It is a fantastic park to visit and not to be missed on any trip to Madrid. This is the Estanque Grande del Retiro and the Monument to Alfonso XII located in the center of El Retiro Park.
Temple of Debod
Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple & museum that was moved from Aswan & rebuilt in Parque de la Montaña in downtown Madrid.
Monumento Cervantes
Monumento Cervantes is a mixture of sculptures and fountains dedicated to Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote.” It is located in Plaza de España, in Madrid.
Madrid Atocha Railway Station. Estación de Madrid Atocha.
Madrid Atocha (Spanish: Estación de Madrid Atocha, also named Madrid Puerta de Atocha) is the largest railway station in Madrid. It is the primary station serving commuter trains (Cercanías), intercity and regional trains from the south, and the high speed trains from Barcelona (Catalonia), Zaragoza (Aragon), Seville (Andalusia) and Valencia (Levante Region). These train services are run by the Spanish national rail company, Renfe. The train station is filled with plants. It feels like you are in a tropical rainforest while waiting for your train. It’s definitely a unique place to visit while visiting Madrid.
Museo del Jamon
This is one of those places that makes you feel like you are in Spain. I’d recommend this place to anyone who wants authentic cuts of jamon. It has amazing value sandwiches and drinks and is always very busy. Museo del Jamón is an institution in Madrid with all types of hams, cheeses and tapas, quickly paired with good and affordable sangria, wine, beer or a beverage of your choice. It’s a great location near the very heart of the city, perfect for a quick break off your feet to enjoy a variety of tapas and drinks. Seeing all the ham hanging from the ceiling is something that meat lovers out there might like as a cultural tradition, but some animal lovers might find this offensive. If seeing ham thighs hanging above your head is not your cup of tea, then just skip this restaurant.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial
The centerpiece of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a huge monastery named El Escorial. It’s a large religious and palace complex that was the country home for Spanish royalty for hundreds of years. In 1984, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of Spain’s most visited landmarks. Read about the history of this Spanish treasure and why it’s considered one of the treasures of traveling in the capital region of Spain.
Valle de los Caídos
Valle de los Caídos is Spain’s Civil War Memorial located just outside of Madrid. There are over 45,000 civil war soldiers buried there. The Valley of the Fallen is surrounded by multiple controversies, such as the unequal number of victims buried in the valley. Read more about some of the other controversies and why it isn’t considered one of the treasures of traveling in Spain.
There are many treasures of traveling throughout the capital city of Spain to discover. Madrid has many things to offer any tourist and is a wonderful place to start your visit to Spain! Madrid is just the entryway into exploring all the treasures that Spain has to offer. There are also many other wonderful southern Spanish cities to discover like Granada and Seville.
— Luke Keeler
Check out the map below to see where Madrid is located at!
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