Madrid Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Madrid
Madrid
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid
Madrid
A city of cool shaded alleys, and wide sunny parks, grand palaces and even grander plazas, this is a place that lives up to its motto of 'Madrid never sleeps'.

In the 18th century, a new dynasty – the Bourbons – were on the Spanish throne, and they didn't like the shabby look of their capital and decided to make a few changes. You can see their efforts in the splendour of Madrid's parks, monuments and palaces – and in the curious contrast between old Madrid's tight-packed streets, and its many beautiful open parks. You can thank the royal connection for those – the Casa de Campo, a huge tract of parkland in the west, was once a royal hunting ground. Now it has an amusement park, boating lake and zoo.To the east is the more formal park of El Retiro, actually the gardens of the old Habsburg palace. Its 121 hectares of tree-lined avenues, waterways, Romanesque gardens are the perfect 'back lawn' for Madrid's best-known museum – the Prado Museum, which houses a world-class collection of European Renaissance and Classical paintings. Close by are two other art galleries – the Reina Sofia Museum, with its famed Dali's and Picasso's and the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. Taken together, they form Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art.Starting at the old town's gateway of Puerta De Alcala, follow a string of beautiful plaza's, from the famous fountains of the Plaza De Cibeles, to the vibrant Puerta Del Sol and finally the Plaza Mayor – Madrid's jaw-dropping square. A perfect contrast to that plaza's wide open skies is nearby El Rastro, Madrid's infamous and ancient flea-market of a thousand stalls.But if you keep going along the Calle Mayor, and you'll find yourself at the Royal Palace, where Spain's kings moved to in the 19th century, and which still hosts royal events. Next-door is the grandeur of the Almudena Cathedral, the elegance of the Royal Theatre, and the beauty of the Sabatini Gardens. To the north, the gardens lead you onto one last 'must-see' plaza – the Plaza De Espana. This is where you'll find a fabulous monument to Spain's greatest author – Cervantes, the 16th century creator of Don Quixote. This monument to past glories sits beneath two enormous, yet stylish, post-war tower blocks. Incongruous, quirky but done with style – you could say that's Madrid all over.

Where to stay in Madrid

Default Image

Madrid Centro

4.5/5(135 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in Madrid Centro. Check out top attractions like Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, and jump on the metro at Sol Station or Gran Via Station to see more of the city.

Madrid Centro
Default Image

Salamanca

4.5/5(14 area reviews)

Salamanca is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like El Corte Inglés and Golden Mile. See more of Madrid by jumping on the metro at Serrano Station or Velazquez Station.

Salamanca
Default Image

Sol

If you're spending time in Sol, check out sights like Puerta del Sol or Plaza Mayor and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Sol Station or Callao Station.

Sol
Chueca featuring café lifestyle and a city as well as a large group of people

Chueca

5/5(8 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Chueca, you might enjoy attractions like Gran Via and Plaza de Chueca. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at Chueca Station to see more of the city.

Chueca
Default Image

Ibiza

During your stop in Ibiza, check out the parks, and jump on the metro at Ibiza Station to see more of the surrounding area.

Ibiza
Madrid showing railway items

Atocha

4.5/5(16 area reviews)

If you're spending time in Atocha, you might enjoy attractions like Atocha Station Memorial and Paseo del Arte. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's fascinating museums before hopping on the metro at Mendez alvaro Station to see more of the city.

Atocha
Barceló Torre de Madrid
Barceló Torre de Madrid
5 out of 5
Plaza de España, 18, Madrid
The price is NZ$284 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
NZ$284
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Madrid. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,913 reviews)
"AMAZING"

Reviewed on 10 Jul. 2025

Barceló Torre de Madrid
Hotel Princesa Plaza Madrid
Hotel Princesa Plaza Madrid
4 out of 5
Calle Serrano Jover 3, Madrid, Madrid
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Madrid. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,349 reviews)
"The hotel was wonderful. Everything new and clean. The rooms were clean and comfortable and spacious. Loved the place"

Reviewed on 10 Jul. 2025

Hotel Princesa Plaza Madrid
Zleep Hotel Madrid Airport
Zleep Hotel Madrid Airport
3 out of 5
Avenida de Aragón 402, Madrid
The price is NZ$107 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
NZ$107
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Madrid. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,136 reviews)
"It was very good but our room was very small"

Reviewed on 11 Jul. 2025

Zleep Hotel Madrid Airport
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Gran View Apartments
Gran View Apartments
4 out of 5
C/ Gran Vía 48, Madrid, Madrid
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Madrid. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,171 reviews)
Perfect located apartment in the center
"Perfect located apartment in the center"

Reviewed on 7 Jul. 2025

Gran View Apartments
Compostela Suites Apartments
Compostela Suites Apartments
3 out of 5
C/ Zambrana, 4, Madrid, Madrid
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Madrid. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (620 reviews)
"Property has some factories around, but it was ok."

Reviewed on 8 Jul. 2025

Compostela Suites Apartments
Smartr Madrid Gran Vía 47
Smartr Madrid Gran Vía 47
3.5 out of 5
Calle Gran Vía 47, Madrid, Madrid
Stay at this 3.5-star aparthotel in Madrid. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
7.4/10 Good! (367 reviews)
"Thanks for making check in so easy. Thanks for a great stay in a central part of Madrid. I really wanted a room with a mural but maybe next time!"

Reviewed on 4 Jul. 2025

Smartr Madrid Gran Vía 47
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Madrid

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
134
5 - Excellent 59%
4 - Good
79
4 - Good 35%
3 - Okay
14
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Even with constant crowds it is fairly easy to move about. Festivals in the major plazas are offered daily. GPS though is sometimes unreliable in narrow streets.

5/5 - Excellent

Chris

Enjoyed every single part of Madrid, all the places, Food, culture, streets, shopping and people.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

We spent 4 nights 3 days in Madrid. We could have easily condensed this into 2 days which would have left us more time to spend in Segovia and Zaragoza which we loved.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I definetly will recommend to my friends and relatives to visit Madrid, it is a safe place to travell and to visit and the people are very friendly and helpful.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Vibrant city with lots to see and do. I loved walking around the city, it felt safe and had a great atmosphere. Retiro Park, the Prada museum, the palace and the hospitality were all very good.

5/5 - Excellent

dee

Amazin :)

Cities near Madrid