UltimateCity Guide Madrid
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The Metrópolis building, its dome crowned by a winged Victory, where the Gran Vía meets Calle de Alcalá The Metrópolis building, its dome crowned by a winged Victory, where the Gran Vía meets Calle de Alcalá The south façade of the Royal Palace across the Plaza de la Armería, under a clear blue sky The glass-and-iron Palacio de Cristal in the Retiro, beside its pond The Cibeles fountain, the goddess in her lion-drawn chariot, before the Palacio de Comunicaciones

The city guide to Madrid, Spain

Best of Madrid

The Prado and the Retiro, a royal palace above the river, cocido simmering since 1870 and DiverXO’s three stars: Madrid, checked place by place.

Where to eatWhat to see
A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resort

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Madrid

Madrid runs from the Habsburg lanes around the Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace, through the museums of the Paseo del Prado and the gardens of El Retiro, to the grand streets of Salamanca and Chamberí and the towers of the Castellana. Here are the grand hotels and the 2026 MICHELIN stars, the old taverns and their cocido, the museums, markets and rooftops, and day trips to five UNESCO World Heritage sites. We’ve checked every listing against the venue’s own website or an official source, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Museo Sorolla: the new annexe

New this autumn

Sorolla’s new annexe

Chamberí·Art museum

While the painter’s house is closed for renovation, the Museo Sorolla’s new annexe on Calle de Zurbano opened on 15 October 2026 with the exhibition Tras la casa del artista, until 10 January 2027.

Plan your visit

Madrid by neighbourhood

From Salamanca to La Latina: each area has its own guide.

The Puerta de Alcalá, the granite gateway at the edge of Salamanca and the RetiroNeighbourhood guideSalamancaSerrano and the grand streetsThe glass-and-iron Palacio de Cristal in the Retiro, beside its pondNeighbourhood guideLos Jerónimos & El RetiroMuseums and the royal parkFountains among the trees of the Plaza de ChamberíNeighbourhood guideChamberíAlmagro, Olavide and MICHELIN tablesThe painted façade and arcades of the Casa de la Panadería on the Plaza MayorNeighbourhood guideCentro & La LatinaThe Plaza Mayor, the palace and the Cava BajaThe Metrópolis building at the start of the Gran VíaNeighbourhood guideMalasaña & ChuecaCafés and cocktail barsThe renovated Santiago Bernabéu, wrapped in its steel skinNeighbourhood guideChamartín & the CastellanaThe Bernabéu and DiverXO

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go.

The tiled street sign of the Puerta del Sol on a stone wallBefore you goMadrid essentialsEntry, money, etiquette and getting aroundThe iron-and-glass gable of the old Atocha station, crowned with griffinsGetting aroundGetting aroundMetro, trains and the airportThe Metrópolis building, its dome crowned by a winged Victory, where the Gran Vía meets Calle de AlcaláItineraryThree days in MadridThe classic first visitThe Cibeles fountain, the goddess in her lion-drawn chariot, before the Palacio de ComunicacionesLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addresses

Beyond Madrid

Five UNESCO towns and the mountains, all within reach for the day.

The Tagus below Toledo, with the Alcántara bridge and the Alcázar on the hillBeyond MadridToledoThe city above the TagusThe Alcázar of Segovia on its rock at dusk, with the cathedral tower beyondBeyond MadridSegoviaThe aqueduct and the AlcázarThe painted vaults and bookcases of the library at El EscorialBeyond MadridEl EscorialThe royal monasteryA tower of Ávila’s medieval walls beside a cobbled laneBeyond MadridÁvilaMedieval walls on the plateauThe brick-and-stone front of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez across its forecourtBeyond MadridAranjuezA royal palace on the TagusSnow on Peñalara, the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama, above bare winter woodsBeyond MadridSierra de GuadarramaPine forests and granite peaks

In depth: Madrid’s back stories

The Paseo del Prado, the grand hotels, the MICHELIN year, day trips by train and where to buy.

The Cibeles fountain, the goddess in her lion-drawn chariot, before the Palacio de ComunicacionesThe back storyThe Paseo del PradoA UNESCO landscape of arts and sciencesThe front of Gran Hotel Inglés on Calle de Echegaray, garlanded with lightsThe back storyThe grand hotelsFrom the Ritz to the CastellanaThe red-and-gold Salón Isabelino dining room at Lhardy, laid for lunchThe back storyEating in MadridThe 2026 MICHELIN year and cocidoThe iron-and-glass gable of the old Atocha station, crowned with griffinsThe back storyDay trips by trainWhich station, which trainThe Puerta de Alcalá, the granite gateway at the edge of Salamanca and the RetiroThe back storyBuying in MadridNeighbourhoods and rulesThe gateways and temple of Debod lit at dusk, under a violet skyFun factsMadrid fun factsThings you might not know

More of Spain from the ULTIMATE guides

South by high-speed train, east to the coast and up into the mountains.

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ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Alhambra in Granada in the evening lightSpainULTIMATE AndalusiaSeville, Granada and the Alhambra, Córdoba, Málaga, Cádiz and Jerez, Ronda and the white villages, Doñana and Cabo de Gata.Visit the guide The floodlit Acropolis and Parthenon at dusk, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The road winding out to the lighthouse on Cap de Formentor, Mallorca, above the open seaSpainULTIMATE Balearic IslandsMallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera side by side, and how to hop between them by ferry.Visit the guide The Sagrada Família lit up at nightSpainULTIMATE BarcelonaGaudí and the Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, four Three-Star MICHELIN kitchens, the beaches and day trips to Montserrat and Girona.Visit the guide Belgrade's old town and the spire of the Cathedral Church of St Michael above the Sava at sunsetSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide A cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, Montenegroships & regions)ULTIMATE Cruises (linesThe world’s cruise lines for every budget, from family resort ships to yachts, expedition ships and river boats, with the cruising regions port by port.Visit the guide Aerial view of the white sand spit of Ses Illetes and Llevant, the salt pans and, across the strait, Ibiza and Es VedràSpainULTIMATE FormenteraThe white sands of Ses Illetes, the lighthouses of La Mola and Barbaria, the craft markets and an island made for bikes.Visit the guide The Baie des Anges, NiceFranceULTIMATE French RivieraNice, Cannes, Antibes, Cap Ferrat, Èze, Menton, Saint-Tropez and Cassis: palace hotels, three-star tables, beach clubs, the Festival de Cannes and the painters’ coast.Visit the guide Blue domes of Oia above the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide Helsinki Cathedral above the South HarbourFinlandULTIMATE HelsinkiSuomenlinna and the South Harbour, saunas by the sea, Aalto and the Design District, two-starred Palace and day trips to Porvoo and Tallinn.Visit the guide The walls of Dalt Vila and the cathedral above the harbour of Ibiza Town, in late sunSpainULTIMATE IbizaDalt Vila’s UNESCO walls, Es Vedrà, three MICHELIN-starred kitchens, the beach clubs and the quiet north, 30 minutes from Formentera.Visit the guide Hagia Sophia and its minarets in golden evening lightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide Congress Square, Ljubljana, with the castle on its hill behindSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth Tower lit at dusk across the ThamesUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, great museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide La Seu, Palma’s Gothic cathedral, and the Almudaina above the old sea wall, seen from the Parc de la MarSpainULTIMATE MallorcaPalma’s cathedral and palace hotels, the UNESCO Tramuntana, Deià and Sóller, nine MICHELIN-starred kitchens, and Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Turquoise water below the pine-topped cliffs at Cala Macarella, MenorcaSpainULTIMATE MenorcaA UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: the coves of Macarella and Turqueta, World Heritage Talayotic sites, Ciutadella and Maó’s great harbour.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Matterhorn in winter above ZermattOur sister guideULTIMATE Ski Resorts (Europe & North America)Ski resorts in Europe and North America, country by country, for every budget: season dates, hotels, mountain restaurants, après, ski schools and getting there.Visit the guide The Warrior on a Horse fountain in Macedonia Square, Skopje, lit at nightNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, under a pink evening skyBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide The restored Pyramid of Tirana under a blue skyAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide Rolling green hills and a farmhouse near Pienza in the Val d’OrciaItalyULTIMATE TuscanyFlorence, Chianti, Siena, the Val d’Orcia, Pisa and Lucca, Versilia, Bolgheri, the Maremma, Arezzo and Elba.Visit the guide Calatrava’s Hemisfèric lit at twilight, reflected in its poolSpainULTIMATE ValenciaCalatrava’s City of Arts and Sciences, the Gothic Lonja, paella by the sea, Las Fallas and the nine-kilometre Turia Garden.Visit the guide St Mark's Church and its tiled roof on St Mark's Square, Zagreb's Upper TownCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.Visit the guide A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The New York City skyline from Top of the RockNew YorkULTIMATE New YorkManhattan’s grand hotels and MICHELIN dining, Broadway and the Met, Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park and the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO.Visit the guide The Golden Gate Bridge seen from Battery SpencerCaliforniaULTIMATE San FranciscoCable cars over Nob Hill, North Beach cafés, the murals of the Mission, three-star tables and the Golden Gate Bridge.Visit the guide The pink sand beach of Harbour Island, the BahamasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesOur sister guideULTIMATE BarbadosThe Platinum West Coast and Sandy Lane, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins and the wild Atlantic east.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide The Grand Palace reflected at dawnThailandULTIMATE BangkokThe Grand Palace and Wat Arun on the river, the grand hotels of Charoen Krung, MICHELIN stars from street food to tasting menus, rooftop bars and the Thai islands.Visit the guide Hong Kong Island and the harbour at night from Victoria PeakOur sister guideULTIMATE Hong KongThe harbour from the Peak, the Star Ferry, Cantonese dining rooms with MICHELIN stars, dim sum in the lanes of Central and the museums of West Kowloon.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The Taj Mahal Palace and the Gateway of India from the harbourIndiaULTIMATE MumbaiThe Taj and the Gateway of India, Marine Drive’s Queen’s Necklace, three UNESCO sites, modern Indian restaurants and day trips to Elephanta and the Ghats.Visit the guide The Lujiazui skyline lit up at night across the Huangpu RiverChinaULTIMATE ShanghaiThe grand hotels of the Bund facing the towers of Pudong, every MICHELIN star, Yu Garden, the two Shanghai Museums and day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou.Visit the guide A caparisoned elephant in the Esala Perahera procession, KandyOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide Burj Khalifa and Business Bay at blue hourUnited Arab EmiratesULTIMATE DubaiBurj Khalifa and the Fountain, abras on the Creek, resorts on the Palm, every MICHELIN star of 2026 and day trips to Abu Dhabi and Hatta.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Madrid, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Teatro Real

    This week's pick

    Teatro Real

    Ópera·Opera house

    Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro opens at the Teatro Real on 10 November and runs until 27 November 2026 (the theatre’s own programme). Book on teatroreal.es.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The Metrópolis building, its dome crowned by a winged Victory, where the Gran Vía meets Calle de AlcaláItineraryThree days in MadridThree daysThe bronze statue of Murillo before the columns of the Prado’s Murillo gateItineraryThe Paseo del Arte in a dayOne day, on footThe painted façade and arcades of the Casa de la Panadería on the Plaza MayorItineraryA taste of old MadridOne day, on footThe Puerta de Alcalá, the granite gateway at the edge of Salamanca and the RetiroItineraryA property viewing day: Salamanca, Chamberí and Los JerónimosOne dayThe Tagus below Toledo, with the Alcántara bridge and the Alcázar on the hillItineraryA day trip by train: Toledo or SegoviaOne day, by train

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Eating in Madrid: the back storyCentro · In depth
    2. 2DiverXOChamartín · Creative
    3. 3DeessaPaseo del Prado · Creative
    See all 37

    Cafés

    1. 1Chocolatería San GinésSol · Chocolate and churros
    2. 2La MallorquinaPuerta del Sol · Pâtisserie
    3. 3Gran Café GijónPaseo de Recoletos · Literary café
    See all 5

    Bars

    1. 1Salmon GuruBarrio de las Letras · Cocktail bar
    2. 2Museo ChicoteGran Vía · Cocktail bar
    3. 3Bar CockChueca · Cocktail bar
    See all 5

    Hotels

    1. 1The grand hotels of Madrid: the back storyPaseo del Prado · In depth
    2. 2Mandarin Oriental Ritz, MadridPaseo del Prado · Grand hotel
    3. 3Four Seasons Hotel MadridCanalejas · Grand hotel
    See all 13

    Sights

    1. 1The Paseo del Prado: the back storyPaseo del Prado · In depth
    2. 2Palacio Real de MadridPalacio · Royal palace
    3. 3Galería de las Colecciones RealesPalacio · Museum
    See all 9

    Art & Culture

    1. 1Museo Nacional del PradoPaseo del Prado · Art museum
    2. 2Museo Reina SofíaAtocha · Modern art museum
    3. 3Museo Nacional Thyssen-BornemiszaPaseo del Prado · Art museum
    See all 7

    Parks

    1. 1El RetiroRetiro · Royal park
    2. 2Real Jardín BotánicoPaseo del Prado · Botanic garden
    3. 3Campo del MoroPalacio · Palace gardens
    See all 6

    Walks

    1. 1The Paseo del Prado and El RetiroPaseo del Prado · Town walk
    2. 2Habsburg Madrid: the Plaza Mayor to the Royal PalaceCentro · Town walk
    3. 3La Latina and El Rastro on a SundayLa Latina · Town walk
    See all 5

    Shopping

    1. 1Galería CanalejasCanalejas · Luxury galleria
    2. 2Calle de Serrano and the Golden MileSalamanca · Shopping street
    3. 3Capas SeseñaSol · Capes
    See all 8

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 112Madrid · Emergency number
    2. 2Hospital General Universitario Gregorio MarañónRetiro · Public hospital
    3. 3Hospital Ruber InternacionalChamartín · Private hospital
    See all 6

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Madrid: the back storySalamanca · In depth
    2. 2Knight Frank SpainMadrid · Estate agent
    3. 3Savills SpainMadrid · Estate agent
    See all 7

    Developments

    1. 1Madrid Nuevo NorteChamartín · Urban regeneration
    2. 2Puerta de Atocha – Almudena GrandesAtocha · Railway station
    3. 3Chamartín – Clara CampoamorChamartín · Railway station
    See all 6

    Motoring

    1. 1Madrid taxisMadrid · Taxis
    2. 2Airport flat fare: €33Barajas · Taxi fare
    3. 3MADRING circuitIFEMA · Motor-racing circuit
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Day trips by train from Madrid: the back storyMadrid · In depth
    2. 2Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)Barajas · Airport
    3. 3Metro de MadridMadrid · Metro
    See all 7

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