If there is one thing I would highlight about Madrid, it is the endless number of routes you can plan, whether through its streets, museums, parks or surroundings. But if for now you only have a few hours to see the city and you want to get the most out of its most emblematic spots, this is the place for you. We present the 10 must-see places in Madrid. And if you already know all of them, you can always stay and explore the rest of our posts about Madrid.
Retiro
You cannot leave Madrid without having strolled through one of the city's lungs (it has nothing to envy Central Park in New York). Once inside, you can get lost along its paths, sunbathe on the grass, take a rowing boat out on the pond or try to find the Crystal Palace. If you go in spring, you cannot miss the rose garden either. Those with more time take advantage of the wide, well-paved paths to cycle or ride scooters.
Gran Vía
This is the main axis of Madrid. You probably do not even need to put it on your list, since it is easy to find and you can pass along it on your way to other places. It is the shopping street par excellence, with musicals, cinemas and restaurants. It also connects the centre of the capital almost from one end to the other, so getting off at one of its many metro stops (Callao, Santo Domingo, Gran Vía..) is a good option as a starting point to keep exploring the city.
Templo de Debod
Although the name refers only to the Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC, the truth is that most people come here to stroll through the Cuartel de la Montaña park, where it is located. It is best to go at sunset, known as one of the best in Madrid, which bathes the trees and ponds in an orange glow.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor, a few metres from the Puerta del Sol, is the heart of the area of Madrid known as ‘El Madrid de los Austrias’. At almost 130 metres wide, the square owes its charm to the many arcades and buildings with painted façades that characterise it. The square is also full of cafés, bars and restaurants where the city's most typical food is never missing. Likewise, if you head down one of the exits hidden in the corners of the square, you will find other, more casual taverns where you can even try one of the famous squid sandwiches, for example at ‘La campana’.
Puerta del Sol
The country's kilometre zero can also become your starting point for a route around the city. The famous building of the New Year's Eve chimes is a meeting point for many, as it is right in the heart of the city and whichever street you choose, it will always take you somewhere of interest. Montera, Callao, Ópera, the Plaza Mayor… Without a doubt another of Madrid's 10 must-sees.
Paseo del Prado-Recoletos
This is one of the most impressive avenues in Madrid and, without a doubt, my favourite. The breadth of the promenade, the enormous buildings and the central gardens make this route special. It runs from the Plaza de Colón to Atocha. If you get the chance, you can visit one of its many museums, such as the famous Prado Museum or the Reina Sofía, although if you prefer the outdoors you cannot miss the Botanical Garden. This way you will also get the chance to see other emblematic monuments such as the Plaza de Cibeles or the Plaza de Neptuno.
Rastro
If it is your first time in the city and you are lucky enough for it to fall on a Sunday… you cannot miss this event that takes place every week in the centre of Madrid. The Rastro is made up of dozens and dozens of street stalls where you can find everything: from the greatest relics you can imagine to posters of your favourite films. It is located in the areas between Lavapiés and La Latina, generally near those metro stations or Tirso de Molina. As you walk through this neighbourhood, you will easily come across street musicians who liven up the streets on this Sunday morning.
Malasaña
In recent years Malasaña has become one of the trendiest and most alternative neighbourhoods in the city. By day: cafés and vintage shops. By night: the best venues and pubs for a drink (from the youngest crowds to those who are not quite so young). Walking through the streets of this small neighbourhood is also like travelling back a few years in time, and you can even easily find one of the hubs of the area: the Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
Madrid's markets
Madrid has always been a commercial hub, and many of its food markets have turned into genuine tourist spots well worth visiting. Many of them are in the city's historic centre. The San Miguelmarket, a few metres from the Plaza Mayor, is one of the best known because of its size and its architecture of glass walls. Many of the products you can find there are the work of several Michelin-starred chefs. Another market worth highlighting is the San Antónmarket, right in the Chueca neighbourhood. It stands out for the number of floors with different types of food and for its terrace on the top floor, one of the most modern places in the city for a drink at its bar with views over the neighbourhood's rooftops.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning the San Fernandomarket, somewhat less well known but equally worth a visit. Located in Embajadores, the San Fernando market offers typical Madrid food and more at a very reasonable price.
Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
Both are the most emblematic buildings of the Madrid de los Austrias. You can visit them both inside and out. The opening hours vary by season, but there is always a slot so that nobody misses them. It is also worth making an evening visit to see both buildings and the main square lit up. A few metres away you can reach the Sabatini Gardens, neoclassical in style and full of fountains, sculptures and geometric shrubs.
