Wondering what to see in Madrid? This guide fills you in on all the great views you can enjoy in the city!
There’s no Eiffel Tower, no Statue of Liberty, no Arab palace or Catholic church-cum-mosque. Sounds pretty boring, right? Wrong! The best thing about Madrid is that you don’t have a long checklist of sights and monuments to see. Not that there isn’t plenty to see/do in Spain’s capital city– there is enough going on here to last you weeks, months or even years! But you won’t feel that pressure upon your return, as people judge you ask you, “Didn’t you see X?” or “What a shame– I can’t believe you didn’t climb Y!”.
Yet despite the fact that Madrid doesn’t have some of these instantly recognizable views, our city is still pretty amazing and each year famous photographers visit to photograph its many corners. Here are five of our favorite views in Madrid, though there are many more so you’ll have to stick around for our part two!
Photo Credit: Fernando Garcia
1. Gran Vía from Above
Although Madrid has its lovely Calle Mayor (Main Street), the action really happens along the busy Gran Vía. To take in the view we recommend visiting the top floor of the Callao El Corte Inglés, where the Gourmet Experience offers an unobstructed look at all of the action. As a bonus, it’s free!
2. A look at Spain’s most important stadium, Santiago Bernabéu
For football fans it is an absolute must. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is one of the world’s most important, and with a capacity for over 81,000 fans, one of the world’s biggest too!
3. Templo de Debod – at sunset!
The fact that there is a legitimate Egyptian temple in Madrid seems strange enough, then once you finally make the trek out past the Royal Palace to see it, it’s actually quite small and (dare I say) disappointing. Unless you go at sunset. The dreamy pink and orange sunset seen from this Egyptian temple in the center of Madrid is unlike any other in the city.
4. Madrid’s Crystal Palace in Retiro Park
A walk through Madrid’s gorgeous Retiro Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the whole city, should be on everyone’s list anyway, but make sure not to leave without seeking out the slightly hidden Palacio de Cristal – a gorgeous glass palace that shimmers in the sunlight.
5. Madrid from Above
Another thing you can’t miss when visiting Madrid (a city with 300+ days of bright blue skies and sunshine per year!) is hanging out on one of the many amazing rooftop terraces in the city. Whether you climb to the top of the town hall (Palacio de Comunicaciones, pictured) or the rooftop bar and restaurant at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, you’ll be sure to observe Madrid in a whole new way.
Lauren’s love of food and Spain led her create Devour Tours, which has now expanded to 18 countries – and counting! She is also a trained chef and the creator behind Spanish Sabores, a food blog dedicated to Spanish recipes.
In Vallecas there’s a park colloquially known as “Parque de las Tetas” that’s pretty nice for a view of the whole city. Close to Metro Buenos Aires. It’s one of those places you usually wouldn’t go unless you live there.
These are all great but Templo de Debod at sunset is my favorite!