Top 10 Things to See in Madrid

Wide, three-lane boulevards. Huge green parks with incredible fountains, cosy little cafés and bookshops. Vast, magnificent buildings with façades finished down to the tiniest detail. Museums housing some of the most famous works of art in the world. Lively squares with street musicians and performers who whisk you back to the 1920s. Buzzing nightlife, packed and noisy bars. Heavenly food. Yes, that’s Madrid in a nutshell.

The sunny Spanish capital is one of my favourite cities in Europe – it’s no accident I’ve been there four or five times (I’ve lost count). The first time I was in Madrid, I was on a stopover on my way to Tenerife, and even though I had a whole day there, I didn’t manage to see everything. So I’m going to tell you about my second trip instead. My friends and I had already been to Barcelona, so we had something to compare Spain’s two biggest cities against. Lots of people ask me which of the two is better. Well, there’s no answer to that, simply because there’s absolutely no basis for comparison. Madrid is an elegant yet modern, cosmopolitan city. Here it’s the way of life and the sheer variety of people that draw you in, whereas Barcelona captivates you with its beautiful, exquisitely crafted buildings, unlike anything else in the world, and its Mediterranean atmosphere.

Every neighbourhood in Madrid is so different that it feels like jumping from one film to another, with a whole new cast. The scenery changes abruptly and without warning, leaping from low, old buildings in bright colours, a little faded and peeling with age, to tall, aristocratic buildings with a McDonald’s and a cinema with an enormous queue (that’s because they don’t have Zamunda). Next comes a huge, well-kept park with beautiful avenues and the Crystal Palace.  Then you find yourself on the street of designer boutiques – the people here are refined, elegant and untouchable in their glossy shells. And just when you think Madrid has nothing left to surprise you with, you end up in a neighbourhood of narrow streets, with rubbish everywhere and little streams of liquids of dubious origin trickling down the street. Madrid is a city of many faces.

We spent 5 days in Madrid, and on one of them we visited Toledo – Spain’s old capital, about an hour’s drive away. There’s always something new to see in Madrid, but in this post I’ve rounded up the ten most interesting places (to me, at least) to see on your first trip there.

When should you visit Madrid?

When it comes to the weather, Madrid is definitely a city of contrasts. I can now safely say I’ve been in all four seasons, and the Spanish capital has cold, usually rainy winters and dry but seriously hot summers. My last trip there was just before Christmas, and the temperatures were no different from those in Sofia at the same time of year. My advice is to go either in spring – April/May – or in autumn – September/October. December is a good time too, because you get to see a completely different Madrid, wrapped in Christmas lights, with an amazing festive atmosphere and decorations like few other places in Europe.

How do you get there?

Madrid is incredibly easy to get to. As well as Bulgaria Air, you can fly there from Sofia with both of the low-cost airlines, WizzAir and RyanAir, and if you plan your trip early, you can bag some really good ticket prices. The flight from Sofia takes about three and a half hours. Madrid’s Barajas Airport is the largest in the country and one of the largest in Europe. Getting into the centre is a breeze. As well as a direct shuttle, you can take the metro, and if there are a few of you (3–4), Uber is the most convenient option.

Where should you stay?

Hotel prices in most popular European destinations have shot up since the pandemic, and Madrid is no exception, especially in the centre. Personally, I’d recommend renting an Airbnb – we rented a huge flat a 10-minute walk from Puerta del Sol (in the heart of the city). Compared with the hotels nearby, the flat worked out about 200 euros per person cheaper for the five nights.

What is there to see in Madrid?

The Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

We’re kicking off our tour of Madrid with one of its most iconic landmarks – the Royal Palace. It’s the official residence of the royal family, although they no longer live there; it’s only used to receive official guests. The palace, nicknamed “the Spanish Versailles”, is open to visitors for a modest fee of €10. It’s undoubtedly the largest and grandest building in Madrid and well worth your time and attention. The palace has more than 3,400 rooms, decorated with precious antiques and works of art from all over the world. You can only see a few of the main rooms, including the throne room, the ballroom and the royal bedroom. It’s the largest palace in Western Europe. I highly recommend a stroll through the palace gardens too – they offer a wonderful view of the palace, and entry is free. You can buy your palace tickets in advance HERE to skip the queues.

Almudena Cathedral (Santa María la Real de La Almudena)

Directly opposite the Royal Palace stands Almudena – Madrid’s largest and most important cathedral. It was officially completed in 1990. Its design is pretty striking, combining neoclassical style with modernist touches. The interior is exquisite and opulent, painted in vivid colours, and there are always people sitting on the steps outside, sheltering from the sun or simply soaking up the lively atmosphere. What’s interesting about Madrid’s cathedral is that, unlike other cathedrals, which face east–west, Almudena runs north–south, because it was conceived as an integral part of the Royal Palace.

Puerta del Sol

“All roads lead to Sol” – or so they say in Madrid. This is one of the best-known squares in the Spanish capital, also known as Kilometre Zero, as it marks the geographical centre of Spain. Puerta del Sol is one of the busiest places in the city. All the main streets meet here, which makes the square the perfect starting point for your tour of the city. It’s also where the shopping streets, lined with lots of world-famous brands, come together. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés and patisseries. I’d recommend trying the paella if you haven’t already, as well as one of the desserts. Personally, whenever I travel, I fall off the diet wagon several times over.

Retiro Park

The Temple of Debod

Did you know there’s an ancient Egyptian temple more than 2,200 years old right in the centre of Madrid? No, I didn’t think so! The temple was actually a gift to Spain from the Egyptian government and was brought to Madrid stone by stone, unbelievable as that sounds. When the Aswan Dam was being built, the temple came within a whisker of being submerged, but with the help of UNESCO and the then government of Egypt, it ended up in the Spanish capital. Today it’s one of the most beautiful and romantic spots in the city. You can enjoy it at any time, but its hilltop setting in Parque del Cuartel de la Montaña makes it especially lovely at sunset.

Plaza Mayor

Madrid’s main square, or Plaza Mayor, is one of the city’s top sights, famous for the beautiful red façades of the historic buildings around it. It was built in the 17th century by King Philip III, whose statue takes pride of place in the middle of the square. Today Plaza Mayor is a social hub where people tend to arrange to meet, outdoor events are held and street performers entertain the crowds. The square is hugely popular on social media, so if you want to take photos here, my advice is to come early in the morning before anyone else is around, because after that the tourists pour in. It’s also home to Madrid’s biggest Christmas market. There are lots of cafés and restaurants where you can sit down and rest after a tiring tour of the capital. One of the most popular places in the area is Chocolateria San Gines, where you can try Spain’s signature churros, made to an old traditional recipe.

The Prado Museum

The Prado Museum is one of the most important and famous museums in the whole of Spain, bringing together the most impressive collection of Spanish painting under one roof – more than 8,000 paintings and 1,000 sculptures. Thanks to this rich collection, the Prado has become a true treasure trove of European art. Among the masterpieces on display are paintings by Goya, Velázquez, El Greco, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and many other artistic geniuses. Whether you’re an art lover or not, you’ll find it hard not to be impressed by the masterpieces gathered here. It’s practically impossible to see the whole collection in one day, especially if you’re really passionate about art, so I’d recommend reading up beforehand on the works you want to see. The museum’s website has a map with different routes – 1-, 2- and 3-hour tours that take you past the most famous works on display. You can buy tickets HERE – they cost 18 euros.

Plaza de España

Close to the Royal Palace, on Gran Vía, you’ll find Plaza de España, home to the famous monument to the great Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes and his characters Don Quixote, Sancho Panza and Dulcinea. It’s one of the largest and most visited squares in Spain. We stumbled upon it completely by chance, but of course we couldn’t resist taking a few photos as souvenirs. The square is flanked by  two imposing buildings – one 142 m tall, the other 117 m. They were built in the early 1960s. It’s fascinating to see how European capitals developed and what they achieved, while we couldn’t manage to build a single motorway under Communism.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

For Real Madrid fans, this will probably be the first stop in the Spanish capital. Built in 1947, with room for 81,000 seated spectators, it’s the second-largest stadium in Spain. It’s not far from the centre of Madrid, and you can easily get there by public transport or Uber. You can book a stadium tour and see the dressing rooms, the tunnel, the club’s trophy collection and the VIP boxes. Buy your stadium tour tickets HERE.

The Warner Bros theme park

Parque Warner is a theme park about 30 km south of Madrid, in the small town of San Martín de la Vega. It’s certainly much less famous than Disneyland Paris, but it has far more rides suitable for adults, especially thrill-seekers. The park also has a separate section with water rides and a water park, open only in summer. If I had to compare the two, I’d say Disney had been my dream since I was a child and the atmosphere there is far more magical, but I liked the rides at the Warner Bros park much more. Parque Warner is especially good if you’re on a family holiday with children, because you’re guaranteed to make amazing memories together, with plenty of laughter and adrenaline from the dozens of rollercoasters. Warner Park is open from 12 noon to 10pm, and you can get there by public transport (metro and then bus) or by Uber or taxi. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance, as the park’s capacity is limited. You can do so directly HERE.