Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
Parque del Retiro
Nature · Retiro
Madrid's grand royal park with a boating lake, rose garden and the glass Palacio de Cristal.
Local tip: Sunday afternoons fill with drummers and picnics by the lake; the Crystal Palace hosts free contemporary art.
Museo del Prado
Culture · Paseo del Arte
One of the world's greatest art museums — Velázquez, Goya and the Spanish masters.
Local tip: Entry is free the last two hours each day; go then but queue early, and pair it with the nearby Reina Sofía for Guernica.
La Latina & El Rastro
Food · La Latina
The tapas heartland, and on Sundays the sprawling El Rastro flea market.
Local tip: Skip the touristy Mercado de San Miguel for the bars on Cava Baja; Sunday is tapas-and-vermouth day after El Rastro.
Malasaña
Nightlife · Malasaña
The bohemian, hip district of indie bars, vintage shops and the spirit of la movida.
Local tip: It doesn't get going until midnight — start with a rooftop drink and follow the crowd from there.
Gran Vía & Plaza Mayor
Landmark · Centro
The grand early-1900s avenue and the historic arcaded main square at the city's heart.
Local tip: Walk Gran Vía at dusk when the facades light up, then get churros con chocolate at the century-old San Ginés.
Templo de Debod
Hidden gemCulture · Parque del Oeste
A genuine ancient Egyptian temple, gifted to Spain and reassembled on a hill west of the centre.
Local tip: It's Madrid's best free sunset spot — arrive 30 minutes early, the crowds and the light are worth it.
Explore 103 places across Madrid
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(33)
MuseumMuseo del Prado
Spanish national art museum in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Palace of Madrid
Official residence of the Spanish Royal Family
MuseumMuseo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
National museum of art in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Spanish Academy
Official regulator for the Spanish language
MuseumThyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Art museum in Madrid, Spain
Museum
MuseumRoyal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando
Spanish art school, museum and gallery in Madrid, Spain
MuseumReal Botanic Garden of Madrid
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
Museum
MuseumMuseum of the Americas
Museum in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences
Academy of sciences of Spain
MuseumMadrid History Museum
Museum in Madrid, Spain
MuseumLázaro Galdiano Museum
Art museum in Madrid, Spain
MuseumNational Museum of Natural Sciences
Museum of Natural History of Spain, in Madrid
MuseumLiria Palace
Palace in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
Museum
MuseumMuseum of Romanticism
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MuseumMuseo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica
Aviation museum in Madrid
MuseumCasón del Buen Retiro
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
Museum
MuseumRoyal Observatory of Madrid
Observatory in Madrid, Spain
MuseumNational Museum of Decorative Arts
Decorative arts museum in Madrid, Spain
MuseumRoyal Collections Gallery
Spanish royal art museum in Madrid
MuseumPalace of Villahermosa
Building in Madrid, Spain
MuseumPalacio de Velázquez
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MuseumMuseo de Arte Contemporáneo
Art museum in Madrid, Spain
Museum
MuseumMadrid Wax Museum
Wax museum in Madrid, Spain
Museo Casa de la Moneda
Goya
Museum in Goya.
Museo del Ferrocarril de Madrid
Delicias
Museum in Delicias.
Andén Cero - Estación de Chamberí
Museum.
Landmarks & architecture
(16)
Landmark
LandmarkPalace of Moncloa
Residence of the Prime Minister of Spain
Landmark
LandmarkPlaza de Cibeles
Square in Madrid, Spain
LandmarkPlaza de Colón
Square in Madrid, Spain
Landmark
LandmarkPalacio de las Cortes
Home of the Congress of Deputies of Spain
Landmark
LandmarkSanta Cruz Palace
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
LandmarkPlaza del Callao
Square in Madrid
LandmarkPlaza de Santa Ana
Square in Madrid, Spain
LandmarkPlaza de Castilla
Square in Madrid, Spain
LandmarkPalace of the Senate
16th-century building housing the Senate of Spain
LandmarkPalacio de Buenavista
Landmark in Madrid.
Landmark
LandmarkPlaza del Emperador Carlos V
Square in Madrid
Monuments & memorials
(23)
MonumentNational Museum of Archaeology
Archaeological museum in Madrid, Spain
Monument
MonumentForest of Remembrance
Remembrance of the 2004 Madrid train bombing
MonumentPalace of Linares
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MonumentPalacio de Cibeles
Palace, Headquarters of the Municipality of Madrid and cultural property, Spain
MonumentTeatro de la Zarzuela
Spanish theater and arts center
Monument
MonumentPontifical Basilica of St. Michael
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MonumentResidencia de Estudiantes
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MonumentMandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid
Hotel located in Madrid, Spain
MonumentHouse-Museum of Lope de Vega
Museum
Monument
MonumentMarket of San Miguel
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
Monument
MonumentMuslim Walls of Madrid
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MonumentChurch of San José
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
MonumentChurch of San Marcos
Catholic church located in Madrid, Spain
Monument
MonumentChurch of Saint Anthony of the Germans
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
SelfieWallFiction
Public artwork.
San Francisco Javier
Public artwork by Pablo Serrano.
Homenaje a las víctimas españolas que murieron en el campo de concentración nazi de Mauthausen-Gusen
Memorial.
Nuestra Señora de Valverde
Historic monument.
Places of worship
(14)
ReligiousConvent of Las Descalzas Reales
Monastery in Madrid, Spain
ReligiousMadrid Central Mosque
Mosque in Spain
ReligiousRoyal Convent of La Encarnación
Baroque monastery in Madrid (Spain)
ReligiousBeth Yaacov Synagogue
Main synagogue in Madrid, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Saint Jerome the Royal
Church building in Madrid, Spain
ReligiousChurch of Saint Manuel and Saint Benedict
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Ginés de Arlés
One of the oldest churches in Madrid
ReligiousChurch of las Calatravas
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
ReligiousChurch of San Francisco de Sales
Church in Madrid
ReligiousChurch of San Fermín de los Navarros
Cultural property in Madrid, Spain
Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Carmen
Place of worship.
Santo Domingo de la Calzada
Place of worship.
Iglesia de San Lorenzo
Place of worship.
Iglesia de Dios (Verbo de Dios)
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(4)Ruinas del Ábside de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Almudena
Historic ruins.
Puente
Historic ruins.
La Casa de Vacas
Historic ruins.
Ruinas de la Fuente del Príncipe
Historic ruins.
Parks & nature
(10)
Park
ParkCasa de Campo Park
Cultural property in Madrid y Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
ParkParque del Oeste
Public park in Madrid, Spain
Park
Park
Park
Park
ParkDehesa de la Villa Park
Park in Spain
ParkPark of Saint Isidore
San Isidro park (Madrid, Spain)
ParkMore to explore
(3)Mirador de Tierno Galván
Viewpoint.
Mirador Este Parque Enrique Tierno Galván
Viewpoint.
Castillos de los Marqueses de Valderas
Visitor attraction.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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