Madrid attractions listed by popularity
The most popular park in Madrid features a large lake, monuments and several museums, of which the Museo del Ejército (army museum) is the most notable.
Plaza Mayor is a grand, symmetrically designed square surrounded by elegant arcaded red brick buildings. It is one of Europe's most beautiful squares.
The Palacio Real or Royal Palace is one of Europe's grandest palaces. Modeled after the Versailles Palace, it is even larger than the original with an astounding 2,000 rooms.
The Plaza de Cibeles is best known for its famous fountain of goddess Cibele, one of Madrid's most important symbols. The square is bordered by the city's magnificent city hall.
The Puerta de Alcala was built in 1778 by the Italian architect Sabatini. The neoclassical gate is one of Madrid's best known symbols, featuring on many postcards.
Plaza de España is one of Madrid's most beautiful squares. At the center of this large square stands a monument to Spain's famous writer Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.
A surprisingly new building with a modern interior, Madrid's cathedral was only consecrated as recently as 1993 after a construction process that took more than 100 years.
The Prado Museum has an expansive collection with a variety of works including the largest collection of Spanish painting, with important works from Goya and Velázquez in particular.
The Puerta del Sol is a busy square at the very heart of Madrid and even all of Spain, as its '0 km mark' is situated here. The square is also the location of the statue of a bear, Madrid's symbol.
Originally built in 1850 as the Teatro de la Opera, the Royal Theater was in danger of collapsing by the mid 1920s. Fortunately, extensive renovations saved the building from demolition.
The Metropolis Building is one of the most photographed buildings in Madrid thanks to its prime location near the Gran Via and the magnificent Beaux-Arts architecture.
Madrid's Museum of Contemporary Art features works from famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. The museum is housed in a historic 18th century building.
One of Spain's most magnificent bullrings, Las Ventas was built in 1929 in the Mozarabic style, an architectural style used by craftsmen from the Moorish south.
The Arco de la Victoria (Victory Arch) is a 39-meter-high (128 ft.) triumphal arch built by dictator Franco in 1956 as a tribute to his army's victory in the civil war.
The Plaza de la Villa or Town Square is a small square in the heart of Madrid. The square is surrounded by several historic buildings, including Madrid's former town hall.
Plaza de Santa Ana is a square located in Madrid's literary quarter, bordered by a theater and several cafés, bars and restaurants. Monuments on the square honor some of Spain's most famous playwrights.
Madrid is one of just three cities outside Egypt with an intact authentic Egyptian temple, the Temple of Debod. The temple was donated to Spain by the Egyptian government in 1968.
This imposing Neoclassical building was erected in the early 19th century. It houses the Congreso de los Diputados, the lower house of the Cortes, the Spanish parliament.
The largest railway station in Madrid was built in 1892. An expansion in 1992 quadrupled the station in size and turned the old building into a tropical garden.
The Mercado de San Miguel is a historic covered market, built in 1916 near the Plaza Mayor. After years of languishing, the market reopened in 2009 with modern eateries and food stalls.
This excellent museum has a collection of paintings covering over 800 years of western art. Many of the world's most famous masters such as Rubens, Picasso and Titian are represented here.
Plaza de Oriente is a pleasant square located between the Royal Palace and the Royal Theater. It is laid out with formal gardens arranged around a monumental equestrian statue of king Philip IV.
This large complex was built in the early 18th century as a barracks for the Royal Guard. The building, now used by cultural and governmental institutions, is characterized by its Baroque portal.
Commissioned by Charles III in the late 18th century, this garden with its a large variety of trees, shrubs and medical herbs provides a lovely green respite in the middle of the city.
The Palacio de Santa Cruz was built in 1643 as a royal prison. It is one of the finest examples of Habsburg architecture in Madrid.
Just north of the Royal Palace lies the expansive Parque del Oeste (Western Park). Some noteworthy sights in the park include an authentic Egyptian temple, a rose garden and a large fountain.
This large square named after Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón in Spanish) boasts no less than two monuments dedicated to the famous explorer.
Madrid attractions listed alphabetically
The Puerta de Alcala was built in 1778 by the Italian architect Sabatini. The neoclassical gate is one of Madrid's best known symbols, featuring on many postcards.
A surprisingly new building with a modern interior, Madrid's cathedral was only consecrated as recently as 1993 after a construction process that took more than 100 years.
The Arco de la Victoria (Victory Arch) is a 39-meter-high (128 ft.) triumphal arch built by dictator Franco in 1956 as a tribute to his army's victory in the civil war.
The largest railway station in Madrid was built in 1892. An expansion in 1992 quadrupled the station in size and turned the old building into a tropical garden.
This large complex was built in the early 18th century as a barracks for the Royal Guard. The building, now used by cultural and governmental institutions, is characterized by its Baroque portal.
One of Spain's most magnificent bullrings, Las Ventas was built in 1929 in the Mozarabic style, an architectural style used by craftsmen from the Moorish south.
The Mercado de San Miguel is a historic covered market, built in 1916 near the Plaza Mayor. After years of languishing, the market reopened in 2009 with modern eateries and food stalls.
The Metropolis Building is one of the most photographed buildings in Madrid thanks to its prime location near the Gran Via and the magnificent Beaux-Arts architecture.
The Palacio de Santa Cruz was built in 1643 as a royal prison. It is one of the finest examples of Habsburg architecture in Madrid.
This imposing Neoclassical building was erected in the early 19th century. It houses the Congreso de los Diputados, the lower house of the Cortes, the Spanish parliament.
Just north of the Royal Palace lies the expansive Parque del Oeste (Western Park). Some noteworthy sights in the park include an authentic Egyptian temple, a rose garden and a large fountain.
Plaza Mayor is a grand, symmetrically designed square surrounded by elegant arcaded red brick buildings. It is one of Europe's most beautiful squares.
The Plaza de Cibeles is best known for its famous fountain of goddess Cibele, one of Madrid's most important symbols. The square is bordered by the city's magnificent city hall.
This large square named after Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón in Spanish) boasts no less than two monuments dedicated to the famous explorer.
Plaza de España is one of Madrid's most beautiful squares. At the center of this large square stands a monument to Spain's famous writer Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.
Plaza de Oriente is a pleasant square located between the Royal Palace and the Royal Theater. It is laid out with formal gardens arranged around a monumental equestrian statue of king Philip IV.
Plaza de Santa Ana is a square located in Madrid's literary quarter, bordered by a theater and several cafés, bars and restaurants. Monuments on the square honor some of Spain's most famous playwrights.
The Plaza de la Villa or Town Square is a small square in the heart of Madrid. The square is surrounded by several historic buildings, including Madrid's former town hall.
The Prado Museum has an expansive collection with a variety of works including the largest collection of Spanish painting, with important works from Goya and Velázquez in particular.
The Puerta del Sol is a busy square at the very heart of Madrid and even all of Spain, as its '0 km mark' is situated here. The square is also the location of the statue of a bear, Madrid's symbol.
Madrid's Museum of Contemporary Art features works from famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. The museum is housed in a historic 18th century building.
The most popular park in Madrid features a large lake, monuments and several museums, of which the Museo del Ejército (army museum) is the most notable.
Commissioned by Charles III in the late 18th century, this garden with its a large variety of trees, shrubs and medical herbs provides a lovely green respite in the middle of the city.
The Palacio Real or Royal Palace is one of Europe's grandest palaces. Modeled after the Versailles Palace, it is even larger than the original with an astounding 2,000 rooms.
Originally built in 1850 as the Teatro de la Opera, the Royal Theater was in danger of collapsing by the mid 1920s. Fortunately, extensive renovations saved the building from demolition.
Madrid is one of just three cities outside Egypt with an intact authentic Egyptian temple, the Temple of Debod. The temple was donated to Spain by the Egyptian government in 1968.
This excellent museum has a collection of paintings covering over 800 years of western art. Many of the world's most famous masters such as Rubens, Picasso and Titian are represented here.