Madrid Travel Guide - Complete Tour & City Guide to Spain's Capital
302K views · 34 min · 2024
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Royal Palace of Madrid
Palace · Palacio
Book tickets in advance to skip the long ticket office queue; the exterior and courtyard views are free.
Almudena Cathedral
Temple · Palacio
Free to enter and worth about half an hour; don't miss the ceiling details.
Temple of Debod
Temple · Príncipe Pío
Entry is free, but only 10 people are let in at a time, so expect a long queue in the sun.
Palacio de Liria
Palace · Argüelles
The tour is part guided and part audio, with Baroque music playing; book in advance.
Basilica of San Francisco el Grande
Temple · La Latina
Can be closed, so check opening times before making the detour.
Puerta de Toledo
Historic site · La Latina · brief mention
The gate now sits in the middle of a big roundabout.
Teatro Real
Landmark · Palacio
Performances are highly recommended but very pricey; tours run on select days and times.
Plaza Mayor
Historic site · Centro
Turrón is made on site here, and it is worth buying some to take home.
Puerta del Sol
Landmark · Sol
Use Sol as your reference point: most sights lie to its west, and the museums and parks to its east.
Mercado de San Miguel
Market · Centro
Tapas from €2, but it gets very crowded; other markets offer similar food at similar prices.
Chocolatería San Ginés
Cafe · Sol
Expect to wait for a table, but the churros are rated among the best ever.
Gourmet Experience El Corte Inglés Callao
Bar · Centro
Take the elevator to the top floor for cocktails and one of the best views of central Madrid.
Tablao Flamenco 1911
Activity · Barrio de las Letras
Tickets include one free drink; pay for front-row seats by the stage rather than the cheap ones.
Puerta de Alcalá
Landmark · Retiro
For safe photos, use the vantage point with two benches on the north side.
Cibeles Fountain
Landmark · Centro
Palacio de Cibeles
Landmark · Centro
The art is so-so, but the paid rooftop terrace costs only a few euros and is worth it.
National Archaeological Museum
Museum · Salamanca
Entry is €4, rated the best-value museum in the city.
Museo del Prado
Museum · Paseo del Prado
It's huge and easy to get lost in, so pick up a map and take your time.
San Jerónimo el Real
Temple · Retiro · brief mention
Pretty from the outside; easy to see on the way out of the Prado.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museum · Paseo del Prado
Photos are allowed, staff are friendly, and it's rated the best of the three big museums.
Museo Reina Sofía
Museum · Atocha
Photography is forbidden and the layout is confusing; worth it only for modern art fans.
CaixaForum Madrid
Museum · Paseo del Prado
A cheaper alternative to the Reina Sofía, and rated the more enjoyable of the two.
Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid
Park · Paseo del Prado
Little grows in December, so visit in spring or summer; the bonsai garden alone justifies the entry fee.
Retiro Park
Park · Retiro
A laid-back spot for a sunny afternoon; the park's art gallery is not worth a visit.
Estanque Grande del Retiro
Activity · Retiro · brief mention
La Rosaleda del Retiro
Park · Retiro · brief mention
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
Historic site · Salamanca
For a tour, skip the long fight-ticket queue and go straight to the purple desk at the front.
Faro de Moncloa
Landmark · Moncloa
Costs a few euros and takes about 30 minutes, but is still worth the price.
Museo de América
Museum · Moncloa · brief mention
Torrespaña
Landmark · Salamanca · brief mention
Not open to visitors inside, but impressive to see from below.
Casa de Campo
Park · Moncloa-Aravaca
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
Activity · Casa de Campo · brief mention
Right next to the zoo and aquarium, handy for entertaining kids.
Estadio Metropolitano
Activity · San Blas-Canillejas · brief mention
The budget-friendly choice for catching a football game.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Activity · Chamartín
Go for a Real Madrid game if you have a big budget; take the stadium tour off-season.
