What to see in Madrid: the 20 must-sees
The top 3 according to 113 votes from people: Royal Palace of Madrid · El Retiro Park · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. (Updated Jun 24, 2025.)
The places that come up most in travel guides and visitor reviews: museums, palaces, squares, parks and neighbourhoods for a first visit to the Spanish capital.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 20
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1
Royal Palace of Madrid
Official residence of the Spanish Crown, built in the 18th century with over 3,000 rooms; the largest royal palace in Western Europe.
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2
El Retiro Park
Former royal garden of 125 hectares with its boating lake, the Crystal Palace and the rose garden; a World Heritage Site since 2021 together with the Paseo del Prado.
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3
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
A private collection turned national museum that covers eight centuries of European painting, from Gothic to Pop Art.
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4
Monastery of the Descalzas Reales
16th-century convent founded by Joanna of Austria, with tapestries based on Rubens cartoons; guided visits by Patrimonio Nacional.
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5
Madrid Río
Riverside park of about 10 km along the Manzanares, built over the buried M-30 ring road, near the Toledo Bridge and Matadero.
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6
Puerta del Sol
Kilometre zero of Spain's radial roads, with the clock that rings in the New Year and the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue.
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7
Prado Museum
Art museum opened in 1819, home to Velázquez's Las Meninas, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and Goya's Black Paintings.
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8
Plaza Mayor
Arcaded 17th-century square with 237 balconies and the equestrian statue of Philip III in the middle.
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9
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Real Madrid's stadium, renovated with a retractable roof; the tour covers the dressing rooms, presidential box and trophy room.
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10
El Rastro
Open-air flea market held every Sunday and public holiday on Ribera de Curtidores for more than 250 years.
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11
Gran Vía
Avenue begun in 1910, lined with landmarks such as the Metrópolis and Telefónica buildings, musical theatres and shops.
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12
Malasaña
The neighbourhood of the 1980s Movida madrileña, now full of vintage shops, cafés and bars around Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
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13
Reina Sofía Museum
Modern and contemporary art museum that houses Picasso's Guernica, plus works by Dalí and Miró.
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14
Plaza de Cibeles
Square with the Cybele fountain (1782) and the Cibeles Palace, the city hall, which has a rooftop viewpoint.
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15
La Latina
Traditional neighbourhood known for tapas on Cava Baja, packed on Sundays after El Rastro.
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16
Círculo de Bellas Artes
Cultural centre on Calle de Alcalá whose rooftop offers one of the best views over Madrid and the Gran Vía.
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17
Temple of Debod
Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC given by Egypt to Spain in 1968; one of the city's most famous sunset spots.
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18
Puerta de Alcalá
Neoclassical monumental gate commissioned by Charles III and completed in 1778, next to the Retiro.
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19
San Miguel Market
Iron market hall from 1916 next to Plaza Mayor, now a gourmet tapas market.
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20
Liria Palace
18th-century palace of the House of Alba, open to visitors since 2019, with works by Goya, Titian and Rubens.
Candidates
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21
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid's cathedral, facing the Royal Palace, consecrated by John Paul II in 1993 after more than a century of construction.
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22
Royal Botanical Garden
Botanical garden opened in 1781 next to the Prado, with thousands of plant species.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (13)
Lista hecha por alguien que no vive en Madrid, se nota
La Latina de cañas el domingo, eso sí que es imprescindible 🍺
Falta el Templo de Debod al atardecer, es lo más bonito de Madrid.
El Debod está bien pero está siempre a reventar a esa hora 🙄
El Prado detrás del Thyssen? Eso no se sostiene por ningún lado.
El orden da igual, los tres museos del Paseo del Arte son imprescindibles.
¿La Puerta del Sol en un top de imprescindibles? Es una plaza llena de gente y tiendas.
Es el kilómetro cero y la Nochevieja, para el que viene por primera vez es obligada.
Obligada para pasar por ella, no para visitarla. Hay mil sitios mejores.
Y el Rastro un domingo por la mañana? Para mí es más Madrid que la mitad de la lista.
Las Descalzas Reales es la joya escondida, pocos madrileños han entrado.
Madrid Río en bici un domingo, plan perfecto.
Buena lista para una primera visita. Yo metería el Matadero, que está en Madrid Río y casi siempre tiene algo gratis.