Comunidad de Madrid · Spain
Madrid
A capital on a plateau with three of the world's great picture galleries within a ten-minute walk of each other, a park that was once a royal private garden, and an eating culture that runs later than anywhere else in Europe.
Madrid keeps the latest hours in Europe and means it — lunch at 2:30pm, dinner from 9:30pm, and a Saturday night that starts when other cities are finishing. Arriving at a restaurant at 7pm means eating alone in an empty room, and it is read as a tourist's mistake rather than an early start.
Plan your trip
Madrid Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Madrid Photo Spots
Entry A small rooftop entry fee, around €5, separate from anything you order at the bar
Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes
- Best timeThe hour before sunset, when the light turns gold on the Metrópolis dome and runs the length of Gran Vía below
- ColorsWhiteCamelRust
Entry Free
Gran Vía
- Best timeDusk into the blue hour, when the Schweppes sign and the cinema marquees light up while the sky is still blue rather than black
- ColorsCharcoalCamelDeep red
Entry Free to enter; you pay by the stall for what you eat
Mercado de San Miguel
- Best timeLate morning, soon after it opens, before the evening crush fills the hall and the ironwork disappears behind the crowd
- ColorsCamelCharcoalDeep red
High crowdEntry Around €15, and free for the last two hours of each day
Museo del Prado
- Best timeOutside only — the Velázquez door on the north façade in the morning, when the sun is off the stone
- ColorsCharcoalCamelDeep red
Medium crowdEntry Around €14; free in the last couple of hours for EU citizens
Palacio Real
- Best timeLate afternoon from the Plaza de Oriente, with the west light full on the façade
- ColorsNavyWhiteBurgundy
Medium crowdEntry Free
Parque del Retiro
- Best timeEarly morning at the Palacio de Cristal, when the light comes through the glass rather than off it
- ColorsWhiteSageBlush
For the feed
Trending Wear in Madrid
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Madrid Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Madrid
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Madrid
Questions
Madrid — FAQ
What is Madrid famous for?
Three of the world's great picture galleries within a ten-minute walk of each other — the Prado among them — plus Gran Vía, the Retiro park and the Egyptian temple at Debod, moved stone by stone to the city in 1968.
How many days are enough for Madrid?
Three: the Prado and the gallery triangle, the old city — Plaza Mayor and the San Miguel market — and the Retiro, then Debod and the rooftops at dusk.
What is the best time to visit Madrid?
April to early June, and late September to November.
How do I get around Madrid?
A capital on a plateau — spread out but flat, with a metro under the long boulevards. The gallery triangle, the Plaza Mayor and the Retiro are all short walks apart.
Where is the best view of Madrid?
The rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, on Calle de Alcalá — seven floors up with an open view down Gran Vía. Time it for sunset and stay for the blue hour.