As I started writing this article, I thought that maybe a better approach would be to create a list not of Madrid’s must-sees but instead one of what you can skip. It might be an easier task, and a shorter story. The fact is that Spain’s capital has a nearly inexhaustible supply of places everyone should see, the favorites of both locals and visitors. And their number keeps increasing as Madrid grows, evolves, reinvents itself, and never stops adding new parks, museums, and other sites.
Here, we have gathered together Madrid’s most iconic places, the ones that are must-sees and where you should head first, especially if your time is limited. We are talking about those places that come to mind first when people around the world think of the city.
Read our complete Madrid travel guide here, which includes:
How we choose the best things to do in Madrid
Every review on this list has been written by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that activity. When choosing things to do, our editors consider landmarks and experiences that offer an insider’s view of a destination, keeping authenticity, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
Madrid, one step at a time
One of the many pluses of Madrid is that you can explore most of its highlights on foot. Once you discover that walking is infinitely better than traveling by metro or car, you may experience a shift in your mindset. Soon when you learn a destination is a 40-minute walk away, you’ll think of it as an opportunity for a lovely stroll and a chance to see more of the city.
Fortunately, all of the locations in this story are in the center of Madrid, often just minutes from each other. We’ll start this tour at the Plaza Mayor, which is also where Madrid as we know it today originally began in the 16th century. Before there was the Plaza Mayor, this was the site of the old Plaza del Arrabal where the town’s most important market was located. It has had several names over the centuries including Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza Real, and Plaza de la República. Among the buildings that sit on the plaza are landmarks like the Casa de la Panadería and the Casa de la Carnicería with its distinctive red façade.
The plaza’s arcades now house bars and restaurants with outdoor tables that give the square its lively atmosphere. At the center of the plaza, there’s a statue of Philip III (1578-1621), placed there at the command of Isabella II (1830-1904). There are many ways to access the Plaza Mayor, but you should make a point to pass through the Arco de los Cuchilleros. This stepped passageway leads to Calle de Cuchilleros, a street that was once lined with the workshops of various cuchilleros, or knife-makers. They have been replaced by popular restaurants. For a snack, stop at the Mercado de San Miguel, right next to the plaza. There you can partake in a quintessential Madrid ritual, a vermouth paired with tapas.
